trichina

noun

tri·​chi·​na tri-ˈkī-nə 

plural trichinae tri-ˈkī-(ˌ)nē  also trichinas

: a small slender nematode worm (Trichinella spiralis) that is a parasite of flesh-eating mammals (such as humans and swine) with larvae that migrate from the intestines to striated muscles where they become encysted

trichinal

tri-ˈkī-nᵊl 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek trichinos made of hair, from trich-, thrix hair

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

trichina

noun

tri·​chi·​na trik-ˈī-nə 

plural trichinae -nē  also trichinas

: a small slender nematode worm which enters the body of flesh-eating mammals (as the hog and human beings) when infected meat is eaten and whose larvae travel to and form cysts in striated muscles causing trichinosis

Medical Definition

trichina

1 of 2 noun

tri·​chi·​na tri-ˈkī-nə 

plural trichinae -(ˌ)nē  also trichinas

: a small slender nematode worm of the genus Trichinella (T. spiralis) that as an adult is a short-lived parasite of the intestines of a flesh-eating mammal (as a human being, rat, or pig) where it produces immense numbers of larvae which migrate to the striated muscles either directly or through the blood, establish themselves in or between the muscle fibers where they become encysted and may persist for years, and if consumed by a new host in raw or insufficiently cooked meat are liberated by the digestive processes and rapidly become adult to initiate a new parasitic cycle see trichinosis

Trichina

2 of 2 noun

taxonomic synonym of trichinella