586 GLOSSARY 



action pattern. The structural and functional relationships in an organism which 

 determine the character of its behavior. 



ad- (ad). L. ; to, toward. 



adaptation (ad ap ta' shtin). The fitness of an organism for a certain environment; 

 the process of adjustment involved; or a characteristic which so adjusts an 

 animal. 



adductor (a duk' ter). A muscle acting so as to draw a part toward a median line. 



adipose (ad' Ipos). Pertaining to fat. 



adjustor neuron. A neuron in a nerve center by which an impulse is passed from the 

 receptor neuron to the effector cell in a reflex act. 



adolescence (ad o l6s' 6ns). The period of life between childhood and maturity. 



adrenal (ad re' nal). A ductless gland near the kidney; in man, often called supra- 

 renal; the hormone produced is adrenalin (ad r6n' a lln). 



aeri(a'er][). L.; air. aero (a' er 6). G.; air. 



afferent (af er 6nt). Incoming, toward a center. 



ala (a' la). L.; a wing. 



albinism (al' bi niz'm). Lack of pigment when normally it is present; in higher 

 vertebrates shows itself in the lack of color in skin, hair or feathers, and iris. 



alimentary (al I m6n' ta ri). Pertaining to food. 



allantois (a Ian' to Is). An embryonic membrane in land vertebrates, primarily for 

 respiration; adj., allantoic (a Ian to' Ik). 



allelomorphs (a le' 16 morfs). A pair of corresponding genes in homologous chromo- 

 somes; but each produces a different character. 



allergy (al' er jl). In a broad sense, a modification of the reaction of the body to a 

 substance after having been once subjected to the action of that substance, 

 including both immunity and anaphylaxis; in a narrow sense, natural acute 

 sensitiveness to a substance which does not act like a poison by causing the 

 development of an antitoxin. 



alternation of generations. Metagenesis. 



altricial (al trish' al). Pertaming to birds hatched in a naked, blind, and weak 

 condition. 



alveolar (al ve' 6 lar). Pertaining to an alveolus, which is a small cavity, or pit. 



ambergris (am' ber gres). A substance produced in the stomach of a sperm whale 

 and used in the manufacture of perfumes. 



ambulacral (am ht la' kral). Pertaining to the tube feet of an echinoderm. 



ameboid (a me' bold). Like an ameba; putting out pseudopodia. 



amitosis (am I to' sis). Direct nuclear division, neither spindle nor asters being 

 formed. 



amnion (am' nl 6n). An embryonic membrane in land vertebrates serving for the 

 protection of the embryo; adj., amniotic (am nl 6t' Ik). 



amphi- (am' fl). G.; on both sides, of both kinds. 



amphiaster (am' fl as ter). The mitotic figure at its fullest development. 



amphibious (am fib' I us). Capable of living both in water and outside it. 



amphimixis (am fl mik' sis). The union of a sperm cell and an egg cell. 



ampulla (am ptil' a). A flasklike dilatation. 



amylopsin (am Il6p' sin). An enzyme produced by the pancreas, which changes 



starches to sugars. 

 ana- (an' a). G.; up, back, or again. 

 anabolism (an ab' 6 llz'm). The building-up steps in metabolism, from ingestion to 



assimilation, inclusive. 

 analogy (a nal' 6 jl). Resemblance involving function but not structural plan, 

 anaphase (an' afaz). The phase in mitosis during which the chromosomes migrate 

 from the equator of the spindle to the poles. 



