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 (ăm-po͝ol′ə, -pŭl′ə)
n. pl. am·pul·lae (-po͝ol′ē, -pŭl′ē)
1. A nearly round bottle with two handles used by the ancient Romans for wine, oil, or perfume.
2. Ecclesiastical A vessel for consecrated wine or holy oil.
3. Anatomy A small dilatation in a canal or duct, especially one in the semicircular canal of the ear.

[Middle English, from Old English, from Latin, diminutive of amphora; see amphora.]

am·pul′lar adj.


n, pl -pullae (-ˈpʊliː)
1. (Anatomy) anatomy the dilated end part of certain ducts or canals, such as the end of a uterine tube
2. (Ecclesiastical Terms) Christianity
a. a vessel for containing the wine and water used at the Eucharist
b. a small flask for containing consecrated oil
3. (Archaeology) a Roman two-handled bottle for oil, wine, or perfume
[C16: from Latin, diminutive of amphora]
ampullaceous, ˌampulˈlaceal adj
ampullar, ampullary adj


(æmˈpʌl ə, -ˈpʊl ə)

n., pl. -pul•lae (-ˈpʌl i, -ˈpʊl i)
1. a dilated portion of a canal or duct, as of the semicircular canals of the ear.
2. a bottle with a bulbous body and narrow neck, used by the ancient Romans for oil, wine, or other liquids.
[1590–1600; < New Latin, Latin, =amphor(a) amphora + -la diminutive suffix]
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.ampulla - the dilated portion of a canal or duct especially of the semicircular canals of the earampulla - the dilated portion of a canal or duct especially of the semicircular canals of the ear
body part - any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity
duct, epithelial duct, canal, channel - a bodily passage or tube lined with epithelial cells and conveying a secretion or other substance; "the tear duct was obstructed"; "the alimentary canal"; "poison is released through a channel in the snake's fangs"
2.ampulla - a flask that has two handlesampulla - a flask that has two handles; used by Romans for wines or oils
flask - bottle that has a narrow neck


n pl <-e> (Hist, Eccl) → Ampulla f
References in periodicals archive ?
The electro-sensory receptor organs, the ampullae of Lorenzini, are innervated by fibers of the anterior lateral line nerve (ALLN), which project to and terminate within the first-order electrosensory nucleus of the medulia, the dorsal octavolateralis nucleus (DON).
And they're just incredibly amazing creatures with all kinds of fascinating superpowers, their incredible sense of smell to their ampullae of Lorenzini that allows them to feel electricity" and detect the heartbeats of prey hiding in the sand.
In both sea creatures, networks of organs--called ampullae of Lorenzini--constantly survey the electric fields they swim through.
We also observed that flows present during regeneration are powered by temporally and spatially synchronized contractions of the terminal ampullae. In addition, we revised previous studies of B.
They rely on special pores on their heads and snouts, called ampullae of Lorenzini, that can sense electric fields generated when nearby prey move.
For the determination of tissue distribution of agents, fragments of tail, body and head of the epididymes, testicles, ampullae of the vas deferens, seminal vesicles, bulbourethral glands, kidneys, bladder, inguinal and iliac lymph nodes, spleen, and liver were collected.
The two-cell embryos (4 embryos/oviduct) were blown slowly into the oviduct until air bubbles became visible in the ampullae.
Abstract--Previous studies indicate that elasmobranch fishes (sharks, skates and rays) detect the Earth's geomagnetic field by indirect magnetoreception through electromagnetic induction, using their ampullae of Lorenzini.
are props rods in the legs the ampullae in the nape clot
Sharks have organs on their snouts called the ampullae of Lorenzini that are specially equipped to detect electric fields.