medullic

[Lat., ., medull ( a ); Eng. suff. ic.] Pertaining to, contained in, or derived from IMG:content-1058.png:[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small] existing both in the form of cells and free nuclei, called "Robin [ Dict . de Med .] has described little bodies, medullocells. These are found in greater or le number in the bones at all ages, but are more abundant in proportion as the amorphous matter and the fat cells are deficient. They are spherical or slightly polyhedric, contain a few pale granulations, are rendered pale, but are not di olved by acetic acid, and measure about.00059 of an inch in diameter."-Flint: Physiol. of Man , iii. 483, 484. *mě důl-lōse, adj . [Latin medullosus , from medulla marrow, pith.] Resembling pith; having the texture of pith. Mě-du-są, mě-du-są ( pl . me-du-sæ), s . [Lat., from Gr. Medousa (see def.).] 1. Cla . Myth. (of the form Medusa): One of the Gorgons who, giving offense to Minerva, had the fine hair, on which she prided herself, turned to serpents; her eyes were also endowed with the power of converting every one who looked at her into stone. There are some unimportant variations in the myth. 2. Zoology : (1) ( Of the form medusa): Jelly-fish, the typical genus of the family Meduside (q. v.). It consists of an umbrella-like disc surrounded by numerous short filiform tentacles. From the lower part of the umbrella hang four long arms with membranous fringed margins. The most common species is Medusa aurita , which is often seen on sandy sea shores like a ma of jelly. The genus is so named because the organs of motion on the animal spread out so as to resemble the snaky hair of the fabu lous Medusa [1]. (2) Pl . (Meduse): Jelly-fishes, or Sea-nettles, a sub-cla or order of Hydrozoa. It is called also Discophora. Greene defines them as "Hydrozoa whose hydrosoma is free and oceanic, consisting of a single nectocalyx, from the roof of which a single polypite is suspended. The nectocalyx is furnished a system of canals. The reproductive organs are as proce es, either of the side of the polypite or of the nec to calycine canals." The edge of the umbrella is fringed with thread-like tentacles. Lines, often eight in number, pa from the top of the disc to the circumference, uniting in a canal pa ing all around the edge. The mouth, which is on the lower side, opens into a stomach, which is surrounded by four colored circular spots. The Jelly-fishes, or Sea-nettles, move through the water by contracting and expanding their umbrella shaped discs. The sub-cla or order Meduse (or Discophora) does not contain all Cuvier's Acalephe, and it is in further proce of reduction as various members of it are succe ively proved not to be mature species, but only the free generative buds or gonophores of other Hydrozoa. Nicholson makes the Meduse contain only one family, Meduside. Prof. Martin Duncan has two sub-orders, Pelagida and Rhizostoma (q.v.). 3. Paleont .: Soft and fugitive animals, like the Meduse, are not likely to be found fo il; but impre ions of a few seem to have been discovered. IMG:content-1059.png:[blocks in formation] meek Medusa-head, Medusa's-head, s. 1. Astron.: [ Head of Medusa.] 2. Botany: (1) Euphorbia caput - med usœ. (2) Cirrhopetalum medusa. Checkered Medusa's-head is Euphorbia tes selata ; Great Medusa's-head, E. caput-med usæ; Least Medusa's-head, E. procumbens ; Small Medusa's-head, E. fructuspina . 3. Zool.. [ Medusa - head Star.] Medusa - head Star. Zool .: A name sometimes given to As trophy ton, a genus (or As trophy tid a, an order) of Echinoderms, on account of its long, curved prehensile arms. mě-du-si-an, s. [Eng. Medus ( a ); -ian .] Zool.: An individual of the order Meduside (q. v.). mě-du-si-dæ, s. pl. [Lat., ., Medus ( a ); fem. pl. adj. suff. -idæ.] Zool.: The typical and, according to Nicholson, only family of the sub-cla or order Discophora, though other naturalists make it merely one of several families. [MEDUSA, 2 (2).]