tapetum lucidum

noun

tapetum lu·​ci·​dum -ˈlü-si-dəm How to pronounce tapetum lucidum (audio)
: a layer in the choroid chiefly of nocturnal mammals that reflects light causing the eyes to glow when light strikes them at night and that is made up of several layers of flattened cells covered by a zone of doubly refracting crystals

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Cite this Entry

“Tapetum lucidum.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/tapetum%20lucidum. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

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