Definition of siphuncle in English:
siphuncle
noun ˈsʌɪfʌŋk(ə)lˈsaɪˌfəŋk(ə)l
Zoology (in shelled cephalopods such as nautiloids and ammonoids) a calcareous tube containing living tissue running through all the shell chambers, serving to pump fluid out of vacant chambers in order to adjust buoyancy.
Example sentencesExamples
- Outwardly indistinguishable from other ammonoids, clymeniids are distinguished internally by their dorsal siphuncle, contrasted to a ventral siphuncle in almost all other ammonoids.
- As shown above, a dorsal siphuncle is about 50% smaller than a ventral siphuncle of the same diameter.
- The higher the value, the nearer the siphuncle is toward the concave side of the conch.
- The dorsal siphuncles of the Clymeniida tend to be larger than the ventral siphuncles of other ammonoid clades.
- Given that the shell that covers the siphuncle is its only permeable surface, the interchange of fluids can take place only through this structure.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from Latin siphunculus 'small tube'.
Definition of siphuncle in US English:
siphuncle
nounˈsīˌfəNGk(ə)lˈsaɪˌfəŋk(ə)l
Zoology (in shelled cephalopods such as nautiloids and ammonoids) a calcareous tube containing living tissue running through all the shell chambers, serving to pump fluid out of vacant chambers in order to adjust buoyancy.
Example sentencesExamples
- The higher the value, the nearer the siphuncle is toward the concave side of the conch.
- The dorsal siphuncles of the Clymeniida tend to be larger than the ventral siphuncles of other ammonoid clades.
- As shown above, a dorsal siphuncle is about 50% smaller than a ventral siphuncle of the same diameter.
- Given that the shell that covers the siphuncle is its only permeable surface, the interchange of fluids can take place only through this structure.
- Outwardly indistinguishable from other ammonoids, clymeniids are distinguished internally by their dorsal siphuncle, contrasted to a ventral siphuncle in almost all other ammonoids.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from Latin siphunculus ‘small tube’.