Pl. ampullae [L.] a flasklike dilatation of a tubular structure, especially of the expanded ends of the semicircular canals of the ear. See also ampullar.
- a. chyli — cisterna chyli.
- a. coli — the enormously dilated part of the right dorsal colon of the horse.
- a. ductus deferentis — the enlarged glandular urethral end of the ductus deferens.
- Henle's a. — ampulla ductus deferentis.
- hepatopancreatic a. — ampulla of Vater; in humans, a flasklike cavity in the major duodenal papilla into which the common bile duct and pancreatic duct open.
- Lieberkühn's a. — the blind termination of the lacteals in the villi of the intestines.
- ampullae membranaceae — the dilatations at one end of each of the three semicircular ducts.
- ampullae osseae — the dilatations at one of the ends of the semicircular canals.
- phrenic a. — the dilatation at the diaphragmatic end of the esophagus in some species.
- rectal a. — the dilated portion of the rectum just proximal to the anal canal, prominent in the horse.
- a. of Thoma — one of the small terminal expansions of an interlobar artery in the pulp of the spleen.
- uterine tube a. — the longest and widest portion of the uterine tube, between the infundibulum and the isthmus of the tube.
- vas deferens a. — dilatation of the terminal part of the vas deferens caused by glandular thickening of the wall.
- a. of Vater — hepatopancreatic ampulla.
