oil gland

oil gland
[1825-35]

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      any of a variety of skin structures that secrete oily or greasy substances of various functions. In birds, the preen gland, or uropygial gland, located on the back at the base of the tail, supplies oil that is spread upon the feathers during preening. In mammals, sebaceous glands (sebaceous gland) provide a grease that serves as a protectant and lubricant for hair and skin. Scent glands of certain mammals secrete an often oily material of distinctive odour that serves to mark territorial boundaries.

      In some plants the fragrance of flowers is due to essential oils secreted in specialized glands called osmophors. See also preen gland.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Oil gland — Oil Oil (oil), n. [OE. oile, OF. oile, F. huile, fr. L. oleum; akin to Gr. ?. Cf. {Olive}.] Any one of a great variety of unctuous combustible substances, more viscous than and not miscible with water; as, olive oil, whale oil, rock oil, etc.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • oil gland — n a gland (as of the skin) that produces an oily secretion specif SEBACEOUS GLAND * * * glandula sebacea …   Medical dictionary

  • oil gland — oil′ gland n. 1) anat. orn uropygial gland 2) anat. sebaceous gland • Etymology: 1825–35 …   From formal English to slang

  • oil gland — noun a gland that secretes oil • Hypernyms: ↑exocrine gland, ↑exocrine, ↑duct gland • Hyponyms: ↑uropygial gland, ↑preen gland, ↑sebaceous gland, ↑sebaceous follicle, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Oil gland — An oil gland is a sebaceous (or sebiferous) gland that secretes sebaceous matter. Oil glands are part of the body s integumentary system and serve to protect the body against germs. They are mainly situated in the corium or true skin. True oil… …   Wikipedia

  • oil gland — noun Botany & Zoology a gland which secretes oil. ↘Ornithology another term for preen gland …   English new terms dictionary

  • oil gland — noun Date: circa 1836 a gland (as of the skin) that produces an oily secretion: as a. a sebaceous gland b. uropygial gland …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Oil — (oil), n. [OE. oile, OF. oile, F. huile, fr. L. oleum; akin to Gr. ?. Cf. {Olive}.] Any one of a great variety of unctuous combustible substances, more viscous than and not miscible with water; as, olive oil, whale oil, rock oil, etc. They are of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Oil bag — Oil Oil (oil), n. [OE. oile, OF. oile, F. huile, fr. L. oleum; akin to Gr. ?. Cf. {Olive}.] Any one of a great variety of unctuous combustible substances, more viscous than and not miscible with water; as, olive oil, whale oil, rock oil, etc.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Oil beetle — Oil Oil (oil), n. [OE. oile, OF. oile, F. huile, fr. L. oleum; akin to Gr. ?. Cf. {Olive}.] Any one of a great variety of unctuous combustible substances, more viscous than and not miscible with water; as, olive oil, whale oil, rock oil, etc.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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