What is "taenia"

Taenia \T[ae]"ni*a\, n.; pl. T[ae]ni[ae]. [L., a ribbon, a tapeworm.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) A genus of intestinal worms which includes the common tapeworms of man. See Tapeworm.

2. (Anat.) A band; a structural line; -- applied to several bands and lines of nervous matter in the brain.

3. (Arch.) The fillet, or band, at the bottom of a Doric frieze, separating it from the architrave.

n. 1 (context historical English) A ribbon worn in the hair in ancient Greece. 2 (context architecture Doric architecture English) A band between the frieze and architrave in the Doric order. 3 (context anatomy English) Any of several ribbon-like bands of tissue. 4 (context biology English) Any species of the genus ''Taenia'' of tapeworms.

1. n. a narrow headband or strip of ribbon worn as a headband [syn: tenia, fillet]

2. tapeworms parasitic in humans which uses the pig as its intermediate host

3. [also: taeniae (pl)]

Taenia is a genus of tapeworms (a type of helminth) that includes some important parasites of livestock. Members of the genus are responsible for taeniasis and cysticercosis in humans, which are a type of helminthiasis belonging to the group of neglected tropical diseases. More than 100 species are recorded. They are morphologically characterized by a ribbon-like body composed of a series of segments called proglottids; hence the name Taenia (Greek ταίνια, tainia meaning ribbon, bandage, or stripe). The anterior end of the body is the scolex. Not all members of the genus Taenia have an armed scolex (hooks and/or spines located in the "head" region), for example, Taenia saginata has an unarmed scolex, while Taenia solium has an armed scolex.

Proglottids have a central ovary, with a vitellarium (yolk gland) posterior to it. As in all cyclophyllid cestodes, a genital pore occurs on the side of the proglottid. Eggs are released when the proglottid deteriorates, so a uterine pore is unnecessary.

A taenia (Latin taenia; derived from the Ancient Greek ταινία ( tainía): "band" or "ribbon") is a small " fillet" molding near the top of the architrave in a Doric column.

In classical architecture, the entire structure above the columns is called the entablature. It is commonly divided into the architrave, directly above the columns; the frieze, a strip with no horizontal molding, ornamented in all but the Tuscan order; and the cornice, the projecting and protective member at the top.

The architrave, the lowest band, is split from bottom to top into the broad fascia, the guttae or "drips" (below the triglyph in the frieze), and the taenia below the projecting cymatium).

Taenia (Latin for "flat band") can refer to:

• Taenia (costume), a ribbon worn in the hair in ancient Greece
• Taenia (architecture) of Doric columns

In medicine and anatomy

• Taenia coli of the large intestine
• Taenia thalami of the mammal brain
• Taenia of fourth ventricle of the mammal brain

In zoological nomenclature

• Taenia (genus), a tapeworm genus established by Linnaeus in 1758
• Taenia, a Trichuridae roundworm genus invalidly established by Pallas in 1766; see Sclerotrichum
• Taenia, a scarab beetle genus invalidly established by Stebnicka in 2003; now Tanyana
• Taenia, a bandfish genus invalidly established by Ræse in 1793; now Cepola
• Taenia, a spelling error for the fungus moth genus Tinea