protocnemen.
/ˈprəʊtəkniːm/, /ˈprəʊtɒkniːm/, /prəʊˈtɒkniːm/, U.S. /ˈproʊdəˌknim/, /proʊˈtɑkˌnim/ Zoology. Now rare.
In zoantharian coelenterates, esp. sea anemones and stony corals: any of the primary mesenteries, which are usually arranged in six pairs.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Diploblastica > phylum Coelenterata > [noun] > class Anthozoa Actinozoa > order Zoantharia > suborder Madreporaria > member of > pair of primary mesenteries
protocneme1900
1900 J. E. Duerden in Johns Hopkins Univ. Circular 19 47/2 The first six pairs of mesenteries are found to differ so essentially in their mode of origin and significance from the mesenteries appearing later that I find it convenient to have some word which will include them either as a whole or individually. I therefore propose for them the term ‘Protocnemes’, and shall refer to the mesenteries subsequently developed as ‘Metacnemes’.
1926 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) B. 214 352 The terms primary, secondary, protocnemes, metacnemes are applicable to the developmental sequence of mesenteries.
1956 J. W. Wells in R. C. Moore Treat. Invertebr. Paleont. f 333/2 When the first 6 mesenteric pairs (comprising 12 protocnemes) have developed the embryonic period [of scleractinians] is terminated.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1900