visceral clefts

1 definition found

visceral clefts - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Visceral \Vis"cer*al\, a. [Cf. F. visc['e]ral, LL. visceralis.]
     1. (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or affecting the viscera;
        splanchnic.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Fig.: Having deep sensibility. [R.] --Bp. Reynolds.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. proceeding from emotion or instinct rather than from
        intellect; deeply emotional; -- as, a visceral reaction.
        [PJC]
  
     4. dealing with coarse or base emotions; -- as, a visceral
        literary style. --[RHUD]
        [PJC]
  
     Visceral arches (Anat.), the bars or ridges between the
        visceral clefts.
  
     Visceral cavity or Visceral tube (Anat.), the ventral
        cavity of a vertebrate, which contains the alimentary
        canal, as distinguished from the dorsal, or
        cerebro-spinal, canal.
  
     Visceral clefts (Anat.), transverse clefts on the sides
        just back of the mouth in the vertebrate embryo, which
        open into the pharyngeal portion of the alimentary canal,
        and correspond to the branchial clefts in adult fishes.
        [1913 Webster]