(n. pl.) Threadlike defensive organs, composed largely of nettling cells (cnidae), thrown out of the mouth or special pores of certain Actiniae when irritated.
Example Sentences:
(1) The comparative study of the aortic trunks of Dibamus (subterranean limbless Squamate) and of the other Squamata shows the presence of an original vascular organization in the serpentiform animals submitted to the subterranean life constraints as Scolecophidia, Amphisbaenia, Dibamidae, Anniellidae, Feyliniidae, and some Scincidae (genus Acontias and Typhlosaurus).
Defensive
Definition:
(a.) Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor.
(a.) Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed to offensive; as, defensive war.
(a.) In a state or posture of defense.
(n.) That which defends; a safeguard.
Example Sentences:
(1) The defensive modifications of the functions of the ego itself seen in micropsia are closely allied to those seen in the dèjá vu experience and in depersonalization.
(2) Steroids are not recommended because they may compromise defenses against an underlying disease process.
(3) What constitutes a "mental disorder" for purposes of the insanity defense?
(4) Since neutrophils are the first line of defense against infection the vulnerability to infection of the elderly may be due, at least in part, to age-related changes in neutrophils (PMNs).
(5) Tests were chosen to assess various aspects of monocyte function that give some insight into the host defense status and the degree of "activation" of the monocyte.
(6) It has been speculated that these cigarette smoke-induced alterations contribute to the depressed pulmonary defense mechanisms commonly demonstrated in smokers.
(7) The muscle-protein breakdown is sustained and the released amino acids are taken up by the liver and other RE structures where they are used as substrates for energy and for synthesis of defense-related proteins.
(8) Two other groups were trained in a classical defensive paradigm.
(9) The paper postulates that 'anal or sphincter defensiveness' is one of the precursors of the repression barrier.
(10) The complement system provides a critical level of defense against bacterial invasion.
(11) Accordingly, the 30-fold differences in aging rate among the mammalian species could be determined in part by peroxidation defense processes.
(12) Lovely chip behind the defense on Green's goal, and almost sprung the defense with a clever free kick to play in Dempsey with time running out.
(13) The Defense Department can object to a merger involving its key suppliers during a federal antitrust review, which in this case could be led by the Justice Department.
(14) The Lerner & Lerner Scale for assessing primitive defenses is reviewed.
(15) A lot is being expected of rookie cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford, but defensive co-ordinator Mike Nolan has a good track record of keeping his units competitive.
(16) Questions are raised about the recent tendency in psychoanalytic theory to develop or invoke different theories of defense to explain a broad range of clinical phenomena.
(17) Hazard, nominated for the Ballon d’Or earlier in the day, broke away from his industrious defensive running to curl a shot on to the base of the far post early on while Willian struck the crossbar with a free-kick just after the interval.
(18) Although alpha 1-antiprotease (alpha 1-AP) binds and inactivates NE and is the major antielastase of the lower respiratory tract, antielastase defenses may be overwhelmed in CF, leading to progressive lung damage.
(19) Many child analytic patients use defenses to ward off feelings, many have not even reached the developmental level of experiencing feelings.
(20) Selective migration results in a relative preponderance of CD4 cells in the diffuse infiltrate and it is suggested that this is a mechanism likely to potentiate defensive reaction to Mycobacterium tuberculosis: any deficiency in selective migration may make immunological defences less effective and so contribute to the chronicity of the lesions of tuberculosis.