vortex

vortex

 [vor´teks] (L.)

a whorled or spiral arrangement or pattern, as of muscle fibers, or of the ridges or hairs of the skin.

ver·ti·cil

(ver'ti-sil),

A collection of similar parts radiating from a common axis.

Synonym(s): vortex (1) , whorl (4)

[L. verticillus, the whirl of a spindle, dim. of vertex, a whirl]

vortex

/vor·tex/ (vor´teks) pl. vor´tices   [L.] a whorled or spiral arrangement or pattern, as of muscle fibers, or of the ridges or hairs of the skin.

vortex

pl. vortexes, vortices

Etymology: L, whirl

a whirlpool effect produced by the whirling of a more or less cylindric mass of fluid (liquid or gas). The velocity of the motion increases as the radius of the circle described by the motion decreases; the velocity decreases as the radius increases. Tornadoes and whirlpools are examples of free vortexes.

ver·ti·cil

(vĕr'ti-sil)

A collection of similar parts radiating from a common axis.
Synonym(s): vortex (1) , whorl (4) .

[L. verticillus, the whirl of a spindle, dim. of vertex, a whirl]

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vor·tex len·tis

(vōr'teks len'tis)

One of the stellar figures on the surface of the lens of the eye.
Synonym(s): vortex (3) .

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whorl

(wŏrl)

1. A turn of the spiral cochlea of the ear.

2. Synonym(s): vortex of heart.

3. A turn of a concha nasalis.

4. Synonym(s): verticil.

5. An area of hair growing in a radial manner suggesting whirling or twisting.
Synonym(s): vortex (2) .

6. One of the distinguishing patterns in the Galton system of classification of fingerprints.
See also: hair whorls

vortex

pl. vortices [L.] a whorled or spiral arrangement or pattern, as of muscle fibers, or of the ridges or hairs of the skin.

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vortex cordis

the spiral pattern of the loops of muscle fibers at the apex of the heart.

vortex pilorum

the meeting place of hair streams to form whorls.