paraphysis
noun
pa·raph·y·sis pə-ˈra-fə-səs 
plural paraphyses pə-ˈra-fə-ˌsēz
: one of the slender sterile filaments borne among the sporogenous or gametogenous organs in certain ferns, mosses, algae, and fungi
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Greek, sucker, offshoot, from paraphyein to produce at the side, from para- + phyein to bring forth — more at be
First Known Use
1800, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
paraphysis
noun
pa·raph·y·sis pə-ˈraf-ə-səs
plural paraphyses -ˌsēz
1
: one of the slender sterile often septate filaments of many cryptogamic plants (as fungi) that are borne among the spore- or gamete-forming organs, are single or branched, and are composed of one or more cells
2
: a median evagination of the roof of the telencephalon anterior to the epiphysis of certain lower vertebrates that is present only in the embryo of higher vertebrates