What does ampullae mean?
Ampullae is the plural of ampulla, a word describing small, flask-shaped vessels or swellings. In anatomy, it refers to natural dilations of tubular organs — such as the widened portion of the fallopian tube where fertilisation typically occurs, or the fluid-filled chambers of the inner ear involved in balance. In zoology, the term names the remarkable electroreceptive organs found in sharks and rays, known as the ampullae of Lorenzini, which detect the minute electric fields produced by other animals. Archaeologists use ampullae for the small ceramic or glass flasks that Romans and later pilgrims filled with oils, perfumes, or holy water. The word derives from the Latin ampulla, meaning a small jar or bottle, and retains a distinctly scholarly register. It appears most often in medical, scientific, and historical writing rather than everyday conversation.
nounAmpullae is the plural of ampulla, meaning small flask-shaped structures or vessels, whether anatomical dilations of a tubular organ or ancient containers used for holding liquids such as oils, perfumes, or holy water.
- Anatomical sense: flask-shaped dilations of a tubular structure, such as the ampulla of the fallopian tube or the semicircular canals of the ear.
- Archaeological/historical sense: small flasks used in the ancient and medieval world to hold oils, perfumes, or holy water.
- Zoological sense: sensory organs in fish and sharks, notably the ampullae of Lorenzini.
"The archaeologists catalogued dozens of glass ampullae unearthed from the Roman villa."
"The fertilised egg implants in the uterus after travelling from the ampullae of the fallopian tubes."
"Pilgrims carried home holy water in small lead ampullae bought at shrines across medieval Europe."
The Latin plural 'ampullae' is standard in technical and scholarly contexts; singular is 'ampulla'.
"The surgeon examined the ampullae during the procedure."
Sharks navigate the ocean using tiny jelly-filled sensors called ampullae of Lorenzini — they can detect the faint electric fields of prey hiding beneath the sand.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ampullae
Ampullae comes directly from the Latin ampulla, meaning a small globular flask or bottle. The same root gives English the related words ampoule, ample, and amplify, all tracing back through the Latin amplus ('large' or 'spacious'). The word entered English via scholarly and medical usage, retaining its Latin plural form alongside the anglicised alternative 'ampullas'.
Related word forms
How ampullae is actually used
Ampullae is a formal, technical plural used chiefly in anatomy, archaeology, zoology, and liturgical studies. In general writing, 'ampullas' is an accepted anglicised alternative, though the Latin-style plural predominates in scholarly contexts.
Easily confused with ampullae
An ampoule is a small sealed glass capsule for a single dose of medicine, while ampullae (plural of ampulla) refers to flask-shaped anatomical dilations or ancient vessels for liquids.