PECTORAL GLAND Meaning and
Definition
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The "pectoral gland" refers to a specific organ found in certain animals, predominantly in birds. This gland, commonly known as the "preen gland," is located on the upper portion of the breast or chest, near the pectoral muscles. It is an exocrine gland that secretes a waxy or oily substance known as "preen oil" or "preen secretion."
The pectoral gland plays a crucial role in the maintenance of the animal's feathers. Birds use their beaks to collect the preen oil secreted by the gland, then distribute it across their feathers during preening. This oil helps to condition, waterproof, and maintain the health of the feathers by keeping them flexible, preventing breakage, and repelling water.
The preen oil consists of a mixture of lipids, consisting mainly of wax esters and fatty acids. These substances are produced by the pectoral gland cells, then stored in a specialized duct. When needed, the gland is compressed, enabling the secretion to be discharged onto the bird's bill.
While the pectoral gland is primarily associated with birds, it is also present in some other groups of animals, including reptiles and mammals, such as bats and some rodents. In these species, the gland might serve slightly different functions, such as scent marking or the maintenance of fur. However, the overall function of the pectoral gland remains to produce and distribute an oily secretion essential for the well-being of the animal's integumentary system.
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One of the lymph-glands lying along the course of the long thoracic artery.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PECTORAL GLAND
- oectoral gland
- lectoral gland
- -ectoral gland
- 0ectoral gland
- pwctoral gland
- psctoral gland
- pdctoral gland
- prctoral gland
- p4ctoral gland
- p3ctoral gland
- pextoral gland
- pevtoral gland
- peftoral gland
- pedtoral gland
- pecroral gland
- pecforal gland
- pecgoral gland
- pecyoral gland
- pec6oral gland
- pec5oral gland
Etymology of PECTORAL GLAND
The word "pectoral gland" is derived from Latin.
The term "pectoral" comes from the Latin word "pectoralis", which means "of the chest". It is derived from the Latin word "pectus", meaning "chest" or "breast".
The word "gland" also has Latin origins, derived from the Latin word "glandula", meaning "acorn" or "gland". This is because certain glands, such as salivary glands, were shaped similar to acorns.
When combined, "pectoral gland" refers to a gland located in the chest area.
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