NYMPHAE
\nˈɪmfiː], \nˈɪmfiː], \n_ˈɪ_m_f_iː]\
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By J.H. Kenneth
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Two membranous folds, which arise from the lateral parts of the prepuce of the clitoris, and descend on the inner surface of the labia majora; terminating, by becoming gradually thinner, about the middle of the circumference of the orifice of the vagina. They are formed each of two folds of the mucous membrane of the vulva; and contain, in their substance, a thin layer of spongy erectile tissue. Their use seems to be,-not, as was once supposed, to direct the course of the urine, which notion gave rise to their name, but to favour the elongation and dilatation of the vagina in pregnancy and labour.
By Robley Dunglison
Word of the day
basidiomycota
- comprises fungi bearing the spores on basidium: Gasteromycetes (puffballs); Tiliomycetes (comprising orders Ustilaginales (smuts) and Uredinales (rusts)); Hymenomycetes (mushrooms; toadstools; agarics; bracket fungi); in some classification systems considered a division of kingdom comprises fungi bearing spores on a basidium; includes Gasteromycetes (puffballs) Tiliomycetes comprising the orders Ustilaginales (smuts) and Uredinales (rusts) Hymenomycetes (mushrooms, toadstools, agarics bracket fungi).