Lexic.us

Definition of Nictitating membrane

1. Noun. A protective fold of skin in the eyes of reptiles and birds and some mammals.

Definition of Nictitating membrane

1. Noun. a transparent protective fold of skin acting as an inner eyelid in birds, reptiles and some mammals ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Medical Definition of Nictitating membrane

1. A transparent fold of skin lying deep to the other eyelids at the mesial side, which may be drawn over the front of the eyeball. It is the so-called third eyelid, found in reptiles and birds generally and in many mammals. (12 Dec 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Nictitating Membrane

Literary usage of Nictitating membrane

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Anatomy of the Cat by Jacob Ellsworth Reighard, Herbert Spencer Jennings (1901)
"At the medial angle of the eye is the large nictitating membrane (membrana nictitans), or "third eyelid," corresponding to the plica semilunaris of man. ..."

2. Darwin and After Darwin: An Exposition of the Darwinian Theory and a by George John Romanes, Conwy Lloyd Morgan (1892)
"Illustrations of the nictitating membrane in the various animals named, drawn from nature. The letter N indicates the membrane in each case. ..."

3. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1888)
"There is often a third eyelid, which can be drawn obliquely over the eye, and is called the nictitating membrane. A glandular structure, the lacrymal gland, ..."

4. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: “a” Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature edited by Hugh Chisholm (1911)
"Most reptiles have upper and lower lids, moved by palpebral muscles, and a third lid, the nictitating membrane, which can be drawn over the ..."

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