Part 160

MIME´SIS, n. Mimicry; mocking; simulated resemblance in voice, shape, color, etc.

MIMET´IC, a. Imitative; given to mimicry. Mimetic analogy, simulated resemblance in superficial respects, such as many insects bear to the twigs or leaves they rest upon.

MIR´ROR, n. See SPECULUM. (82.)

MOL´ECULE, n. Embryo part of the impregnated ovum. See CICATRICULUM.

MOL´LIPILOSE, a. Softly downy.

MONOG´AMOUS, a. Pairing; mating with a single one of the opposite sex. Birds of which the male assists in incubation and care of the young are called doubly monogamous.

MONOG´AMY, n. The paired state.

MONOMOR´PHIC, a. Of the same or essentially similar type of structure. Opposed to polymorphic.

MONOTO´KOUS, a. Uniparous; laying a single egg.

MON´STER, n. Any malformed animal.

MORPHOL´OGY, n. The science of form. The doctrine of the laws of form. Structure itself, considered as to its principles; e.g. the morphology of the odontoid process of the axis is centrum of the atlas, the morphological interpretation of the tibial condyles is tarsal ossicles. The segment called metatarsus is, morphologically, tarso-metatarsus. Homology rests upon morphology; analogy is generally predicable upon teleology.

MOR´SUS DIABOL´ICUS, n. An epithet of the infundibuliform orifice of the oviduct which takes in the ova.

MUCIP´AROUS, a. Producing mucus.

MU´COUS MEM´BRANE, n. Lining of the alimentary and other interior tracts of the body, secreting mucus.

MU´CRO, n. A sharp spine.

MU´CRONATE, a. Spine-tipped, as the tail of a swift.

MU´CUS, n. Peculiar secretion of the mucous membrane.

MULTIF´IDUS, a. for n. A certain spinal muscle.

MULTIP´AROUS, a. Producing many young.

MUS´CLE, n. (musculus, pl. musculi). Organ of animal motion, consisting of contractile fibre, the shortening of which draws upon attached parts. With the muscular tissue is usually associated a fibrous ligament, the tendon or “leader.” Voluntary muscles have striped fibre, contracting at will of the animal; such are all those of the general system, moving the bones, effecting locomotion, mastication, etc. Involuntary muscles mostly have plain fibre contractile under special stimuli without obedience to the will; such are those of the intestines, etc.

MUS´CULAR, a. Pertaining to muscle; having muscle or composed of muscle; resulting from muscle: as, muscular fibre, muscular organ, muscular exertion. Also, strong, vigorous: the falcon is a muscular bird.

MU´TICUS, a. Unarmed; as, a toe without a claw, an unspurred tarsus. (133.)

MYELENCEPH´ALON, n. Whole cerebro-spinal column.

MY´ELON, n. The spinal cord.

MYOLEM´MA, n. Sheath of muscular fibre.

MYOL´OGY, n. Doctrine or description of the muscles.

MYX´A, n. End of the mandible, as far as the symphysis, corresponding to the dertrum of the maxilla. (25).

NAN´US, a. or n. Dwarf; pigmy.