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Acanthocephala medical definition
noun
Any of various worms of the phylum Acanthocephala that live parasitically in the intestines of vertebrates and are characterized by a cylindrical, retractile proboscis that bears many rows of hooked spines. Also called spiny-headed worm.
Related Forms:
- acanthocephalan , a·canˌtho·cephˈa·lid adjective