TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
THERMAL CHARACTER [1 record]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2023-05-25
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Marine Biology
- Mammals
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- blubber
1, record 1, English, blubber
correct, noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Blubber is a specialized subcutaneous layer of fat found only in marine mammals and is different from other types of adipose tissue in that it is anatomically and biochemically adapted to serve as an efficient and adjustable thermal insulator. The blubber layer is almost continuous across the body of marine mammals, lying over but not tightly fixed to the underlying musculature[, ] but absent on appendages.... Blubber... is composed of numerous fat cells [and is] greatly enriched in collagen and elastic fibers. This gives blubber a firm, tough, and fibrous character... Blubber also contains numerous blood vessels and specialized shunts..., which allows larger and swifter blood flow than would be possible through capillaries alone and are important to the thermoregulation process. 2, record 1, English, - blubber
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Biologie marine
- Mammifères
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- lard
1, record 1, French, lard
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- petit lard 2, record 1, French, petit%20lard
correct, masculine noun, less frequent
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Les mammifères marins doivent combattre le grand froid et la déperdition de chaleur [...] Les baleines et les rorquals [...] effectuent des migrations, passant de régions aux eaux froides à d'autres aux eaux tempérées, voire même chaudes. [...] La couche de graisse qui recouvre tout le corps, à l'exception des nageoires[,] contient à la fois des cellules adipeuses et de nombreuses fibres de tissu conjonctif [...] Ces fibres [servent] à emmagasiner, puis à restituer l'énergie mécanique des muscles [...] En même temps, ce lard possède un réseau capillaire où le système veineux, perdant de la chaleur, est recouvert par le système artériel, plus chaud. Le tout forme un contre-courant vasculaire et thermique qui participe au maintien d'un faible gradient thermique à travers la graisse et au niveau de l'interface muscle/lard. Les variations brutales de température interne ne peuvent donc se produire, d'où une économie énergétique pour la thermorégulation. 3, record 1, French, - lard
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
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