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siphuncle

siphuncle


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Siphon  \Si"phon\,  n.  [F.  siphon,  L.  sipho,  -onis,  fr  Gr  ???  a 
  siphon,  tube,  pipe.] 
  1.  A  device,  consisting  of  a  pipe  or  tube  bent  so  as  to  form 
  two  branches  or  legs  of  unequal  length,  by  which  a  liquid 
  can  be  transferred  to  a  lower  level,  as  from  one  vessel  to 
  another,  over  an  intermediate  elevation,  by  the  action  of 
  the  pressure  of  the  atmosphere  in  forcing  the  liquid  up 
  the  shorter  branch  of  the  pipe  immersed  in  it  while  the 
  continued  excess  of  weight  of  the  liquid  in  the  longer 
  branch  (when  once  filled)  causes  a  continuous  flow.  The 
  flow  takes  place  only  when  the  discharging  extremity  of 
  the  pipe  ia  lower  than  the  higher  liquid  surface,  and  when 
  no  part  of  the  pipe  is  higher  above  the  surface  than  the 
  same  liquid  will  rise  by  atmospheric  pressure;  that  is 
  about  33  feet  for  water,  and  30  inches  for  mercury,  near 
  the  sea  level. 
 
  2.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  One  of  the  tubes  or  folds  of  the  mantle  border  of  a 
  bivalve  or  gastropod  mollusk  by  which  water  is 
  conducted  into  the  gill  cavity.  See  Illust.  under 
  {Mya},  and  {Lamellibranchiata}. 
  b  The  anterior  prolongation  of  the  margin  of  any 
  gastropod  shell  for  the  protection  of  the  soft  siphon. 
  c  The  tubular  organ  through  which  water  is  ejected  from 
  the  gill  cavity  of  a  cephaloid.  It  serves  as  a 
  locomotive  organ,  by  guiding  and  confining  the  jet  of 
  water.  Called  also  {siphuncle}.  See  Illust.  under 
  {Loligo},  and  {Dibranchiata}. 
  d  The  siphuncle  of  a  cephalopod  shell. 
  e  The  sucking  proboscis  of  certain  parasitic  insects  and 
  crustaceans. 
  f  A  sproutlike  prolongation  in  front  of  the  mouth  of 
  many  gephyreans. 
  g  A  tubular  organ  connected  both  with  the  esophagus  and 
  the  intestine  of  certain  sea  urchins  and  annelids. 
 
  3.  A  siphon  bottle. 
 
  {Inverted  siphon},  a  tube  bent  like  a  siphon,  but  having  the 
  branches  turned  upward;  specifically  (Hydraulic 
  Engineering),  a  pipe  for  conducting  water  beneath  a 
  depressed  place  as  from  one  hill  to  another  across  an 
  intervening  valley,  following  the  depression  of  the 
  ground. 
 
  {Siphon  barometer}.  See  under  {Barometer}. 
 
  {Siphon  bottle},  a  bottle  for  holding  a["e]rated  water,  which 
  is  driven  out  through  a  bent  tube  in  the  neck  by  the  gas 
  within  the  bottle  when  a  valve  in  the  tube  is  opened;  -- 
  called  also  {gazogene},  and  {siphoid}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Siphuncle  \Si"phun`cle\,  n.  [L.  siphunculus  sipunculus  dim.  of 
  sipho.  See  {Siphon}.]  (Zo["o]l.) 
  The  tube  which  runs  through  the  partitions  of  chambered 
  cephalopod  shells.