infundibulum

views updated May 18 2018

infundibulum
1. In Ctenophora, a part of the gastrovascular cavity from which the radial canals originate.

2. In vertebrate embryos, an outpushing from the floor of the brain which, together with the hypophysis, develops into the pituitary body.

3. In Equidae, a lingual concavity, often called the ‘cup’, in the lower incisors.

infundibulum

views updated May 14 2018

infundibulum (in-fun-dib-yoo-lŭm) n. any funnel-shaped channel or passage, particularly the hollow conical stalk that extends downwards from the hypothalamus and is continuous with the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland.