An
ampulla (plural "ampullae") was, in Ancient Rome, a "small nearly globular flask or bottle, with two handles" (OED). The word is used of these in archaeology, and of later, often handle-less flasks for
holy waterIn Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Old Catholicism, Oriental Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and some other churches, holy water is water which has been sanctified by a priest or bishop for the purpose of baptism or for the blessing of persons, places, or things.Holy water is water that has been...
or
holy oilHoly oil may refer to:* Holy anointing oil, a perfume used to anoint the vessels of the Jewish Tabernacle* Holy Oil , a consecrated oil used in the administration of certain sacraments and ecclesiastical functions...
in the Middle Ages, often bought as souvenirs of pilgrimages.
- Part of the British Crown Jewels is the Ampulla, a hollow, gold, eagle-shaped vessel from which the anointing oil is poured by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Also see Leaders of ChristianityThe Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury, the see that churches must be in communion with in order to be...
at the anointing of a new British sovereignThe Monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
at their coronationThe Coronation of the British Monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
.
- By extension, in scientific contexts, it may mean a dilated segment in a tubular structure.
Discussion
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An
ampulla (plural "ampullae") was, in Ancient Rome, a "small nearly globular flask or bottle, with two handles" (OED). The word is used of these in archaeology, and of later, often handle-less flasks for
holy waterIn Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Old Catholicism, Oriental Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and some other churches, holy water is water which has been sanctified by a priest or bishop for the purpose of baptism or for the blessing of persons, places, or things.Holy water is water that has been...
or
holy oilHoly oil may refer to:* Holy anointing oil, a perfume used to anoint the vessels of the Jewish Tabernacle* Holy Oil , a consecrated oil used in the administration of certain sacraments and ecclesiastical functions...
in the Middle Ages, often bought as souvenirs of pilgrimages.
- Part of the British Crown Jewels is the Ampulla, a hollow, gold, eagle-shaped vessel from which the anointing oil is poured by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Also see Leaders of ChristianityThe Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury, the see that churches must be in communion with in order to be...
at the anointing of a new British sovereignThe Monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
at their coronationThe Coronation of the British Monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
.
Medicine and science
- By extension, in scientific contexts, it may mean a dilated segment in a tubular structure. It is used to describe several anatomical structures:
- Ampullae of Lorenzini
The ampullae of Lorenzini are special sensing organs called electroreceptors, forming a network of jelly-filled canals. They are mostly discussed as being found in cartilaginous fishes ; however, they are also reported to be found in Chondrostei such as Reedfish and sturgeon. Lungfish have also...
- ampulla of uterine tube
The ampulla is the second portion of the uterine tube. It is an intermediate dilated portion, which curves over the ovary.It is the most common site of human fertilization.The word ampulla is from the Latin for flask....
- ampulla of ductus deferens
At the fundus of the bladder the ductus deferens becomes enlarged and tortuous, and this portion is termed the ampulla....
- hepatopancreatic ampulla, also called ampulla of Vater.
- The Duodenal ampulla or Duodenal cap
The duodenal cap or duodenal ampulla is the very first part of the duodenum which is slightly dilated.It is the part which is intraperitoneal and is about 2cm long.It is mobile and has a mesentary. It is also smooth walled....
(not to be confused with the previous disambiguation link). This is the very first part of the duodenum, which is not retroperitoneal.
- rectal ampulla
The rectal ampulla is the dilated section of the rectum where feces are stored until they are eliminated via the anal canal. The caliber of the rectum at its commencement is similar to that of the sigmoid colon, but near its termination it dilates, forming the ampulla....
- osseous ampullae
The bony semicircular canals are three in number, superior, posterior, and lateral, and are situated above and behind the vestibule. They are unequal in length, compressed from side to side, and each describes the greater part of a circle. Each measures about 0.8 mm...
- Ampullae are also bulb-like structures above the tube feet
Tube feet are the many small tubular projections found most famously on the oral face of a sea star's arms, but are characteristic of the water vascular system of the echinoderm phylum which also includes sea urchins, sand dollars and sea cucumbers and many other sea creatures.Tube feet function in...
in echinoderms, and in arthropodAn arthropod is an invertebrate that has an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed attachments called appendages. Arthropods are animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
male genitals.