(kap′sŭl)

(kap′sool″)
[L. capsula, a little box]

1. A sheath or continuous enclosure around an organ or structure; a capsula.
2. A special container made of gelatin, sized for a single dose of a drug. The enclosure prevents the patient from tasting the drug.

articular capsule

SEE: Joint capsule.

auditory capsule

The embryonic cartilaginous capsule that encloses the developing ear.

bacterial capsule

The polysaccharide or polypeptide layer that surrounds the cell wall of some bacteria; it provides resistance to phagocytosis. Capsules are antigenic. Their antigens are used to manufacture several common vaccines.

Bowman capsule

SEE: Bowman, Sir William

brood capsule

A cystlike body that develops within a hydatid cyst of Echinococcus granulosus.

cartilage capsule

The layer of matrix that forms the innermost portion of the wall of a lacuna enclosing a single cell or a group of cartilage cells. It is basophilic.

Crosby capsule

SEE: Crosby capsule

fibrous capsule of the liver

SEE: Glisson, Francis

Gerota's capsule

SEE: Gerota's capsule

Glisson's capsule

SEE: Glisson, Francis

glomerular capsule

SEE: Bowman, Sir William

internal capsule

A large bidirectional fiber tract connecting the cerebral cortex with the ipsilateral thalamus and sending axons from the cerebral cortex to the brainstem and spinal cord.

joint capsule

The sleevelike membrane that encloses the ends of bones in a diarthrodial joint. It consists of an outer fibrous layer and an inner synovial layer and contains synovial fluid.
SYN: SEE: articular capsule

capsule of the kidney

SEE: Renal capsule.

lens capsule

A transparent, elastic, connective tissue membrane that surrounds and encloses the lens of the eye.

M2A capsule

A plastic container, measuring about 1 x ½ in, that holds a video camera, batteries, antennas, and flash. It is swallowed and allowed to pass through the intestinal tract, where it is used to obtain images of the small intestine.

PATIENT CARE
The device is typically used to find the cause of gastrointestinal blood loss in patients who have no evidence of bleeding in the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and colon.

malpighian capsule

Old term for a renal corpuscle.
SEE: nephron

nasal capsule

The cartilaginous capsule that develops in the embryonic skull to enclose the nasal cavity.

optic capsule

The cartilaginous capsule that develops in the embryonic skull to enclose the eye.

otic capsule

The cartilaginous capsule that develops in the embryonic skull to enclose the ear.

renal capsule

The fibrous membrane on the outer surface of a kidney, enclosed by perirenal fat.
SYN: SEE: capsule of the kidney

suprarenal capsule

A tough connective tissue capsule that encloses the adrenal gland.

temporomandibular joint capsule

The fibrous covering of the synovial joint between the skull and mandible on each side of the head.

Tenon capsule

SEE: Tenon, Jacques R.