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| in·vag·i·na·tion [ in vàjjə náysh'n ] (plural in·vag·i·na·tions) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. medicine pushing something inside itself: the pushing of something into itself or partially inside out, like a glove finger pushed into itself, or the condition of something that results from this
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2. medicine invaginated organ: a hollow organ or body part that has been pushed back inside itself
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3. cell biology infolding of cell structure: the process of folding a portion of a cell structure inward, e.g. when the cell membrane turns inward during phagocytosis
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4. embryology forming of hollow growth inside: the pushing inward of a layer of cells to produce a hollow ingrowth in something, e.g. when the wall of the blastula forms the gastrula
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| [Mid-17th century. < modern Latin invagination-< medieval Latin invaginare "sheathe" < Latin vagina "sheath"] |
