| 释义 |
plexus|ˈplɛksəs|
Pl. plexuses (in 8 plexus's), rarely plexus.
[a. L. plexu-s (u-stem), pl. plexūs, f. plectĕre, plex- to plait, interweave.]
1. Anat. A structure in the animal body consisting of a bundle of minute fibres or tubes, as nerves, blood-vessels, or lymphatics, closely interwoven and intercommunicating; a network of fibres or vessels.
Usually named from its relation to or situation in some part or organ, or from its form, as brachial p., cardiac p., carotid p., choroid p., cœliac p., coronary p., gastric p., hepatic p., lumbar p., mesenteric p., pampiniform p., pelvic p., pulmonary p., sacral p., solar p., splenic p., etc.
1682T. Gibson Anat. 19 Fallopius will have it to proceed from the superiour and inferiour plexus of Nerves of the Abdomen. 1702J. Purcell Cholick (1714) 13 If these Animal Spirits or Recrements can continue their Motion down the minute Channels of the little Nerves, into these Plexus's, Why should they stop there? 1727–41Chambers Cycl., Plexus,..a name common to several parts in the body, consisting of bundles of little vessels interwoven in form of net-work. Ibid., Several branches both from the hepatic and splenic plexus..form the mesenteric plexus. 1872Huxley Phys. xi. 271 Great net-works, or plexuses.
2. gen. Any intertwined or interwoven mass; a complex body, collection, or set of things (material or immaterial); a web, network, complication.
1769E. Bancroft Guiana 33 Their footstalks are inclosed in a strong reticular web-like plexus, which is the cloathing this tree has been said to afford. 1863H. Spencer Ess. III. 24 Relations each of which has for its terms a complete plexus of antecedents and a complete plexus of consequents. 1875Maine Hist. Inst. iv. 106 A dissolution of the plexus of mutual rights and a partition of the family property. 1891J. W. Powell in Scribner's Mag. Oct. 465 The partial channels sometimes interlock so as to form a plexus over the area of the delta.
3. Math. (See quot.)
1860Cayley Coll. Math. Papers IV. 603 Such a system of equations, or generally the system of equations required for the complete expression of the relations existing between a set of quantities (and which are in general more numerous than the relations themselves) is said to be a Plexus. |