Anatomy
nictitating membrane Audio
nic·ti·tat·ing mem·brane
Subclass of:
Animal Structures
Definitions related to nictitating membrane:
  • A fold of the mucous membrane of the CONJUNCTIVA in many animals. At rest, it is hidden in the medial canthus. It can extend to cover part or all of the cornea to help clean the CORNEA.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
  • A translucent membrane present in the eye of some animals, also called the third eyelid. It is part of the conjunctiva and protects the eye from debris and dry air.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Third eyelid, present in many animals and vestigial in man, capable of being drawn across the eye ball for protection.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
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