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statocyst Definition

stato·cyst (-sist′)

noun

  1. Bot. a plant cell containing plastids, starch grains, or other statoliths
  2. Zool. a sense organ found in many invertebrate animals, consisting typically of a fluid-filled sac lined with small sensory hairs and containing one or more tiny, free, sandlike grains, or statoliths: it functions as an organ of balance or equilibrium

Etymology: < Gr statos, standing < histanai, to stand + -cyst

statocyst Related Forms

stat′o·cys′·tic (-sis′tik) adjective