branchial cleft

cleft (kleft) a fissure, especially one occurring during embryonic development.

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anal cleft  gluteal c.

branchial cleft 

1. any of the slitlike openings in the gills of fish, between the branchial arches.

2. pharyngeal groove.

facial cleft 

1. any of the clefts between the embryonic prominences that normally unite to form the face.

2. prosoposchisis; failure of union of a facial cleft, causing a developmental defect such as cleft cheek or lip.

gluteal cleft  that which separates the buttocks.

subneural clefts  evenly spaced lamella-like clefts within the primary synaptic cleft, formed by infoldings of the sarcolemma into the underlying muscle sarcolemma.

synaptic cleft 

1. a narrow extracellular cleft between the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes.

2. synaptic trough.

visceral cleft  pharyngeal groove.

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branchial cleft

n.

1. One of a bilateral series of slitlike openings into the pharynx through which water is drawn by aquatic animals.

2. Any of the homologous branchialectodermal grooves of the mammalian embryo.

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branchial cleft

Etymology: Gk, branchia, gills; ME, clift

a linear depression in the pharynx of the early embryo opposite a branchial or pharyngeal pouch.