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Scolex
(redirected from scoleces)

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical 0.01 sec.
scolex [′skō‚leks]
(invertebrate zoology)
The head of certain tapeworms, typically having a muscular pad with hooks, and two pairs of lateral suckers.

Scolex 

the head or anterior portion of the body of a tapeworm, or cestode, by which the parasite attaches itself to the wall of the host’s intestine. The scolex may have any one of various organs of attachment: bothria (longitudinal slits of which there are generally two), sucking disks, and chitinized hooks. In highly developed tapeworms the scolex has four semispheric muscular sucking disks. Many cestodes are characterized by a scolex having sucking disks and a proboscis with hooks. The structure of a scolex, especially of the organs of attachment, is often used in taxonomy for species identification.



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12 Incisional biopsy and marginal excision are contraindicated in hydatid disease because the cysts contain foreign proteins and scoleces that may precipitate anaphylaxis.
 
 
 
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