salt gland

Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Wikipedia, Hutchinson

0.01 sec.

salt gland [′sȯlt ‚gland]

(vertebrate zoology)

A compound tubular gland, located around the eyes and nasal passages in certain marine turtles, snakes, and birds, which copiously secretes a watery fluid containing a high percentage of salt.

Salt gland

A specialized gland located around the eyes and nasal passages in marine turtles, snakes, and lizards, and in birds such as the petrels, gulls, and albatrosses, which spend much time at sea. In the marine turtle it is an accessory lacrimal gland which opens into the conjunctival sac. In seagoing birds and in marine lizards it opens into the nasal passageway. Salt glands copiously secrete a watery fluid containing a high percentage of salt, higher than the salt content of urine in these species. As a consequence, these animals are able to drink salt-laden sea water without experiencing the dehydration necessary to eliminate the excess salt via the kidney route. See Gland

How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.

?Page tools

Printer friendly
Cite / link

Feedback

Mentioned in	?		References in periodicals archive	?		Encyclopedia browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found			S gaffneyi had enlarged eye sockets, indicating that huge lachrymal salt glands surrounded their eyes, according to Ren Hirayama of Teikyo, Heisei University in Ichihara, Japan. A sea turtle's salty tale by Monastersky, Richard / Science News For example, says Olson, the two groups of birds have salt glands located between the eyes and the skull, whereas the salt glands on most other seabirds--including albatrosses--are found in deep grooves on top of the skull. Fossil skeleton gets seabird size record by Bower, Bruce / Science News			salsa Salsette Island salsify Salsk Salsk Sheep Salsola Salsola Arbuscula salsoline Salt salt anticline salt bath salt bottom salt bridge salt burst salt cake salt crust salt dome salt error salt field salt fingers salt flat salt flowers Salt Fork State Park salt garden salt glacier salt gland salt glaze salt grainer salt haze salt hill Salt Industry Salt Lake Salt Lake City Salt Lake County Salt Lakes salt lick Salt March Salt marsh salt mine salt mines salt of Lemery salt of sorrel salt of tartar salt pan salt pillow salt pit Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge salt plug Salt Point State Park salt polygon Salt River			Salt deficiency Salt deficiency salt depletion salt depletion salt depletion salt depletion salt dome salt dome Salt domes Salt domes salt down salt error salt fever salt field salt finger salt fingers Salt fish salt flat salt flat salt flat Salt Flats Salt Flats Salt Flats Salt Flats Speed Shop salt flowers Salt Fork State Park Salt garden Salt garden Salt gauge Salt glacier salt gland Salt Glaze Salt glaze pottery salt glazes Salt glazing salt glow salt grainer salt grass salt hay salt haze Salt Hill Salt horse salt hunger salt hunger salt hunger salt hunger SALT I SALT I SALT I SALT I and After SALT I treaty SALT I treaty SALT I treaty SALT II SALT II SALT II Salt Industry Salt Institute Salt junk Salt lake Salt lake

Encyclopedia

Free Tools:	For surfers: Free toolbar & extensions \| Word of the Day \| Help For webmasters: Free content \| Linking \| Lookup box \| Double-click lookup \| Partner with us

Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.