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decidua

 - 4 dictionary results

de⋅cid⋅u⋅a

[di-sij-oo-uh]
–noun, plural -cid⋅u⋅as, -cid⋅u⋅ae [-sij-oo-ee] . Embryology.
the endometrium of a pregnant uterus that in many of the higher mammals is cast off at parturition.

Origin:
1775–85; < NL, n. use of fem. of L dēciduus falling; see deciduous


de⋅cid⋅u⋅al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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de·cid·u·a   (dĭ-sĭj'ōō-ə)   
n.   pl. de·cid·u·as or de·cid·u·ae (-ōō-ē')
A mucous membrane lining the uterus, modified during pregnancy and shed at parturition or during menstruation.

[New Latin (membrāna) dēcidua, (membrane) that falls off, from Latin dēciduus, falling off; see deciduous.]
de·cid'u·al adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: de·cid·ua
Pronunciation: di-'sij-&-w&
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural de·cid·uae /-"wE/
1 : the part of the mucous membrane lining the uterus that in higher placental mammals undergoes special modifications in preparation for and during pregnancy andis cast off at parturition, being made up in the human of a part lining the uterus, a part enveloping the embryo, and a part participating with the chorion in the formation of the placenta —seeDECIDUA BASALIS, DECIDUA CAPSULARIS,DECIDUA PARIETALIS
2 : the mucous membrane of the uterus cast off in the ordinary process ofmenstruation —de·cid·u·al /-&-w&l/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

decidua de·cid·u·a (dĭ-sĭj'&oomacr;-ə)
n. pl. de·cid·u·as or de·cid·u·ae (-&oomacr;-ē')
A mucous membrane lining the uterus, modified during pregnancy and shed at parturition or during menstruation. Also called deciduous membrane.


de·cid'u·al adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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