Definition of cysticercus in English:
cysticercus
nounPlural cysticerci ˌsɪstɪˈsəːkəs
Zoology A larval tapeworm at a stage in which the scolex is inverted in a sac, typically found encysted in the muscle tissue of the host.
Example sentencesExamples
- Pharmacological treatment is now widely accessible and effective even in cases of giant cysticerci or ventricular cysts, which used to be the exclusive domain of neurosurgery.
- Once inside the stomach, the tapeworm egg hatches, penetrates the intestine, travels through the bloodstream and may develop into cysticerci in the muscles, brain, or eyes.
- The classic intestinal infection with Taenia solium results when humans ingest pork with viable cysticerci that exocyst in the small intestine.
Derivatives
adjective & noun
Zoology The larvae develop into the cysticercoid stage in the tissue and migrate back into the lumen of the small intestine, where they attach to the mucosa.
Example sentencesExamples
- The tapeworm eggs are ingested by flea larvae, where development reaches the larval cysticercoid stage.
- The cysticercoids may, when present in large numbers, occupy a considerable amount of space in the body of the host.
- The digested mites release cysticercoids where they attach to the ileocecal junction in the horse.
- After hatching, they invade into the body cavity and become cysticercoid larvae, which are infectious for humans.
Origin
Mid 19th century: modern Latin (originally the name of a supposed genus), from Greek kustis 'bladder' + kerkos 'tail'.