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Glossary

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albuminn. protein found in large quantities throughout the tissues of mammals
anaphylaxisn.
antibodyn. substance of immune origin directaed against an antigen
antigenn. substance, usually of biological origin, which precipitates an immune response
antivenenen. antivenom [now fairly obsolete]
antivenomn. substance of immunological origin, whose action counters that of venom
arachnidn. animal belonging to the group which includes spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites and pseudoscorpions
autoimmunea.
araneomorphadj. belonging to a group of spider species regarded as more advanced, characterised by various features, the most readily recognizable of which is the opposing action of the fangs [c.f. mygalomoprh]
n. a member of this group
bovineadj. of cattle
bradycardian. a slow heart rate
cephalothoraxn. fore part of a spider's body, distinct from the abdomen and having all four pairs of legs
coagulationn. formation of a blood clot
coagulopathyn. pathological disturbance in the process of coagulation
envenomationn. process of venom being injected into the body
equineadj. of horses
fangn. specialised tooth or toothlike structure associated with the mouth, often hollow or grooved and improving the efficiency of venom injection
genusn. in the classification of living things, a group of similar species [e.g., the brown snake species all belong to the genus Pseudonaja]
haematologicaladj. of blood
hymenopterann. animal belonging to the group comprised of the ants, bees, wasps and sawflies
hypersensitivityn.
immunoglobulinn.
invertebraten. any animal which does not have a backbone
LD50n. median lethal dose; a quantity or concentration of toxin at which half of the test subjects to whom it is administered are killed by its effects
leporineadj. of rabbits
monovalentadj. applied to antivenom, acting against a single type of venom [c.f. polyvalent]
mygalomorphadj. belonging to a group of spider species regarded as more primitive, characterised by various features, the most readily recognizable of which is the parallel action of the fangs [c.f. araneomoprh]
n. a member of this group
nematocystn. stinging cell found on the tentacles of jellyfish and certain other marine creatures
ovineadj. of sheep
polyvalentadj. applied to antivenom, acting against multiple venom types [c.f. monovalent]
radulan.
sloughv. to shed skin [applied to snakes]
spiculen.
stingn.
synapsen. junction between adjacent nerve cells across which nerve impulses travel
synapticadj. of a synapse
tachycardian. a rapid heart rate
tetrodotoxinn. potent neurotoxin in the saliva of blue-ringed octopi, named after the group of fish (tetrodontids) in which it is found native
toxinn. substance which has an adverse effect on physiology
urticarian. inflammation of the skin, typically with numerous weals and itching
venomn. toxin actively introduced into the victim's body via a specialised structure [in contrast to being passively introduced through contact or ingestion]