Zoology: General

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operculum

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | Copyright

operculum
1. (in zoology) A lid or flap of skin covering an aperture, such as the gill slit cover of fish and larval amphibians and the horny calcareous operculum secreted by many gastropod molluscs, which closes the opening of the shell when the animal is inside.

2. (in botany) The cone-shaped lid of the capsule of mosses, which is forcibly detached to release the spores.

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operculum

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

operculum (oh-per-kew-lŭm) n. (pl. opercula) a plug of mucus that blocks the cervical canal of the uterus in a pregnant woman. When the cervix begins to dilate at the start of labour, the operculum, slightly stained with blood, comes away as a discharge (‘show’).

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"operculum." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-operculum.html

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operculum

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | | Copyright

operculum
1. In animals, a lid or cover, sometimes hinged, occurring, for example, in some cylindrical rugose corals, some bryozoans, and in gastropods.

2. A flap of skin covering the gills in bony fish (Osteichthyes).

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "operculum." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "operculum." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-operculum.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "operculum." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-operculum.html

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operculum

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Copyright

operculum (pl. opercula) A little lid or cover. In Prosobranchia, a rounded, horny or calcareous plate, carried on the foot, that closes the aperture when the animal withdraws into its shell. See also GILL COVER.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "operculum." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-operculum.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "operculum." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-operculum.html

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operculum

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | | Copyright

operculum A little lid. In plants, the term usually refers to the dehiscent cap present on certain moss capsules or other types of sporangia.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "operculum." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "operculum." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-operculum.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "operculum." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-operculum.html

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operculum

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

operculum (zool., etc.) cover. lid. XVIII. — L., f. operīre cover, close, parallel formation to aperīre open; see -CULE.

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T. F. HOAD. "operculum." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "operculum." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-operculum.html

T. F. HOAD. "operculum." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-operculum.html

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