trophonema

noun

troph·​o·​ne·​ma

ˌträfəˈnēmə

plural trophonemata

-ˈnēmətə -ˈnem-

: one of the glandular filaments that develop from the inner uterine surface in viviparous elasmobranchs and secrete a nutritive fluid for the embryo

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from troph- + -nema

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

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