rhynchocœle, a. and n. Zool.
(ˈrɪŋkəʊsiːl)
[ad. mod.L. Rhynchocœla, f. Gr. ῥύγχος snout + κοῖλος hollow.]
A. adj. Belonging to the Rhynchocœla, a group of turbellarians comprising the Nemerteans.
| 1877 Huxley Anat. Inv. Anim. iv. 184 The Rhynchocœle Turbellaria, or Nemerteans. |
B. n.
1. A rhynchocœle turbellarian.
| 1878 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. Ser. v. I. 491 The Rhyncocœles or Nemertians. |
2. Zool. Also -cœl, † -cœlum. A body cavity in nemertean worms that contains the introverted proboscis.
| 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXXI. 121 (caption) Rhynchocœl. Ibid., The cavity into which the proboscis is retracted, the rhynchocœlum, is formed by a split which appears in the mesoblast surrounding the epiblastic pit. 1932 Borradaile & Potts Invertebrata vii. 205 When the muscles of the proboscis sheath contract and press upon the fluid in the rhynchocoel the proboscis is everted. 1972 M. S. Gardiner Biol. Invertebrates ii. 51/1 Except for this rhynchocoele, the body is solid in the sense that the digestive tract and other organs are surrounded by parenchyma cells. |
Hence rhynchoˈcœlic a., of or pertaining to the rhynchocœle; rhynchoˈcœlous a. = rhynchocœle a.
| 1880 Rolleston & Jackson Anim. Life p. clxi, The Nemertine Turbellaria which are called ‘Rhynchocœlous’, from possessing a proboscis armed with a calcareous style. 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXXI. 121 (caption) Rhynchocoelic blood-vessel. |