noun, plural: fimbriae
(1) (microbiology) A short, filamentous projection on a bacterial cell, used not for motility but for adhering to other bacterial cell (especially for mating) or to animal cells.
(2) (anatomy) Finger-like projection at the terminal portion of the fallopian tubes, collecting the released ovum and then delivering the ovum into the fallopian tube.
(3) (neuroanatomy) A prominent band of nerve fibers along the medial edge of the hippocampus in the brain.
(4) (zoology) A genus of clams.
Word origin: Late Latin fimbria, fringe, back-formation from Latin fimbriae, threads, fringe.
Related forms: fimbrial (adjective)