Spinules are small spines or thorns[1] (vertebral columns) that are part of biological and manmade structures. The word originates from the Latin word Latin: spinula and is often used in botany and zoology.
The presence or absence of spinules, and their shape, can differentiate species and is used to describe and distinguish anatomical features.[2] The development of spinules in the eye may be affected by dopamine, circadian rhythms, and exposure to light or dark environments, according to a studies of controlling mechanisms.[3] [4]
liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) can employ an anisotropic conducting film (ACF) that "consists of an epoxy resin and nickel particles with spinules".[5]