First Known Use: 1945
Dictionary
bursa of Fabricius
bursa of Fa·bri·cius \-fə-ˈbrē-sh(ē-)əs, -ˈbri-, -s(ē-)əs\
Definition of BURSA OF FABRICIUS
: a lymphoid organ that opens into the cloaca of birds and functions in B cell production
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Origin of BURSA OF FABRICIUS
Johan C. Fabricius †1808 Danish entomologist
Medical Dictionary
bursa of Fabricius
noun bursa of Fa·bri·cius \-fə-ˈbrish(-ē)-əs\
Medical Definition of BURSA OF FABRICIUS
: a blind glandular sac that opens into the cloaca of birds and functions in B cell production
Biographical Note for BURSA OF FABRICIUS
Fabricius, Johann Christian (1745–1808), Danish entomologist. Fabricius was one of the outstanding entomologists of his time. A student of Carolus Linnaeus, he is known for his extensive taxonomic research that led to his classifying insects according to the structure of their mouthparts and not of their wings. His entomological classification was first published in 1775 followed by another work a year later. Eventually he named and described about 10,000 insects. He is also remembered for his views on evolution. He held that new species and varieties could arise through hybridization and by environmental influences on structure and function.
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