cell
(sel 
)
[L. cella, a chamber]
In the biological sciences, the basic unit of life. It is a group of self-sustaining biochemical reactions that are isolated from the environment by a selectively permeable lipid membrane. Among the key reactions are those that maintain a stable intracellular concentration of ions. For mammalian cells, typical internal concentrations include 140 mM K+, 5 to 15 mM Na+, 5 to 15 mM Cl-, and a pH of 7.2, which can be significantly different from their concentrations outside the cell. Other key reactions move molecules and molecular complexes within the cell, sometimes changing the shape of the cell. These reactions require energy; energy is generated by breaking apart hydrocarbon molecules by glycolysis and other characteristic intracellular metabolic reactions.
SEE: glycolysis; metabolism; mitochondrion.
Structure: Intracellular chemical reactions are controlled by enzymes that are organized in organelles (stable molecular complexes). The polymer-based organelles include centrioles and the cytoskeleton; nucleic acid-based organelles include ribosomes; and membrane-enclosed organelles include the nucleus, endoplasmic reticula, Golgi complexes, lysosomes, peroxisomes, mitochondria, and storage and transport vesicles.
SEE: illus.
Individual mammalian cells are usually microscopic, typically ranging from 5 to 50 µm in diameter. In humans, lymphocytes are small cells (6 µm in diameter), columnar epithelial cells (10 µm x 20 µm) are medium-size cells, and mature ova (120 to 150 µm) are some of the largest cells.Cell Division: In mammals, all new cells arise from existing cells through cell division, and an animal's growth results largely from increases in the number of its cells, most of which differentiate into specialized cell types to form the body's various tissues. Cell division involves two major processes: karyokinesis, the division of the nucleus, and cytokinesis, the division of the remainder of the cell. When generating somatic daughter cells, karyokinesis uses a process called mitosis, which produces daughter cells with a full complement of chromosomes. When generating germ cells, karyokinesis includes a process called meiosis, which produces daughter cells with half the normal number of chromosomes.
SEE: meiosis and mitosis for illus.
accessory c.A monocyte or macrophage that participates in the immune response.
SEE: antigen-presenting cell; macrophage.
SEE: acidophil.
acinar c.A cell present in the acinus of an acinous gland , e.g., of the pancreas.
adult stem c.A precursor cell that can also give rise to identical precursor cells. Daughters of a stem cell can develop into a terminally differentiated cell type, or they can remain a stem cell. Adult stem cells are found in many tissues, such as bone marrow, brain, retina, skin, intestines, liver, testis, and pancreas. SYN: somatic stem cell.
SEE: embryonic stem cell.
adventitial c.A macrophage along a blood vessel, together with its undifferentiated perivascular cells.
air c.An air-filled sinus cavity in a bone.
alpha c.1An enteroendocrine cell that produces glucagon and is found in the pancreatic islets. SYN: A cell.2An acidophil of the adenohypophysis.
SEE: acidophil (2).
alveolar c.1Either of two types of epithelial cells lining the alveoli of the lung. Type I cells are simple, thin squamous epithelial cells. Type II cells, which are smaller and more numerous than Type I cells, secrete pulmonary surfactant.2In the mammary gland s, the milk-secreting epithelial cells, which are activated during lactation.
amacrine c.A modified nerve cell in the retina that has dendrites but no axon.
SEE: neuron.
SEE: ameloblast.
amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation c.
ABBR: APUD cell
Any of the constituent cells of a diffuse neuroendocrine system, having metabolic pathways that make and utilize serotonin (5-HT). APUD cells include chromaffin cells, enterochromaffin cells, and certain cells found in the parathyroid gland , thyroid gland , pituitary gland , hypothalamus, and placenta.amphophilic c.A cell that stains with either acid (eosin) or basic (hematoxylin) stains. SYN: amphocyte; amphophil.
anterior horn c.A somatic motor neuron that has its cell body in the ventral (anterior) horn of the gray matter of the spinal cord. Its axon passes out through a ventral root and innervates skeletal muscle.
antibody-secreting c.A B lymphocyte that differentiates after stimulation by an antigen and a presenting cell to produce and release large amounts of immunoglobulin.
ABBR: APC
A cell that breaks down antigens and displays their fragments on surface receptors next to major histocompatibility complex molecules. This presentation is necessary for some T lymphocytes that are unable to recognize soluble antigens. Macrophages are the primary APCs, but B cells and dendritic cells also can act as APCs.SEE: T cell.
argentaffin c.A cell in the epithelium of the stomach, intestines, and appendix that secretes serotonin.
ABBR: AGCs
A cell that is an abnormal finding on a Pap test. These cells are divided into “favor neoplasia” or “not otherwise specified” (NOS). NOS is further subdivided into endocervical or endometrial origin. Atypical endocervical cells are important because of their risk for significant disease. SYN: atypical gland ular cell of undetermined significance.atypical gland ular c.s of undetermined significance
ABBR: AGUS
Atypical gland ular cell.B c.A lymphocyte that synthesizes and secretes antibodies. B cells originate and differentiate in the bone marrow and then populate the spleen, lymph nodes, and other lymphoid tissues. When exposed to an antigen, a B cell divides to form 1) plasma cells, which produce antigen-specific antibodies, and 2) a lesser number of memory B cells, which can quickly differentiate into plasma cells upon a second exposure to the original antigen. Antibody production is a key part of the humoral immune response of adaptive immunity. The humoral immune response is effective against bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens and provides the rationale for vaccination.SYN: B lymphocyte.
SEE: T cell.
band c.The developing leukocyte at a stage at which the nucleus is not segmented.
basal c.1A rounded or cuboidal epithelial stem cell found in the bottom layer of pseudostratified epithelia, such as the epidermis and the lining of the airways of the lung.2Either of two types of cell found in the bottom layer of the olfactory epithelium.
SEE: basal cell proper; globose cell.
3A rounded stem cell found in the taste buds and a progenitor of the specialized taste receptor cells.basal c. proper A flattened cell found in the bottom layer of the olfactory epithelium.
SEE: basal cell (2).
basket c.1A smooth muscle cell found in some epithelia. It lies between gland ular cells and the basal lamina of sweat, mammary, lacrimal, and salivary gland s. SYN: myoepithelial cell.2Any of the granule cells found in the cerebral cortex.3Any of the small interneurons found in the outermost layer of the cerebellar cortex together with stellate cells.
SEE: stellate cell.
SEE: basophil.
beta c.1Any of the insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas that constitute the bulk of the islets of Langerhans.2A basophil of the adenohypophysis.
SEE: Betz cells.
SEE: bipolar neuron.
blast c.1A precursor cell for a specific cell type.2An immature cell of a specific type.
blood c.Any cell normally found circulating in the bloodstream. Blood cells include red cells and white cells. Red cells generally remain inside blood vessels; white cells can also move into the tissues outside the blood vessel walls.
SEE: blood for illus.
bone c.An osteoblast, osteoclast, or osteocyte.
SEE: osteoblast; osteoclast (2); osteocyte.
brush c.An epithelial cell found sparsely in the lining of the bronchial tree. The surface of the cell has long stiff microvilli.
cancer c.A cell present in a neoplasm and differentiated from normal tissue cells because of its degree of anaplasia, irregularity of shape, nuclear size, changes in the structure of the nucleus and cytoplasm, increased number of mitoses, and ability to metastasize.
castration c.An enlarged and vacuolated basophil seen in the pituitary in gonadal insufficiency or following castration.
SEE: basophil.
SEE: helper cell; T cell.
SEE: helper cell; T cell.
SEE: cytotoxic T cell; suppressor T cell.
CD 34+ c.A cell with the CD34 protein on its surface membrane. Some CD34 cells that are hemopoietic stem cells can be separated out from peripheral blood.
SEE: CD34.
SEE: cementoblast.
cementocyte c.Any of the cells trapped within cementum whose metabolic activity maintains the cementum as living calcified tissue.
SEE: cementum.
centroacinar c.A duct cell of the pancreas invaginated into the lumen of an acinus.
SEE: chemoceptor.
chief c.1Any of the cells of the parathyroid gland that secretes parathyroid hormone.2Any of the cells of the gastric gland s that secretes pepsinogen.
chromaffin c.A cell that produces, stores, and secretes catecholamines. The cells are found in the medulla of the adrenal gland s and in small clusters in the sympathetic ganglia.
SEE: chromophobe.
circulating tumor c.Micrometastasis.
SEE: Clara cell.
clue c.A vaginal epithelial cell, thickly coated with coccobacillary organisms. The cells are a hallmark of bacterial vaginosis.
columnar c.An epithelial cell with height greater than its width. SYN: columnar epithelial cell.
columnar epithelial c.Columnar cell.
cone c.A cell in the retina whose scleral end forms a cone that serves as a light receptor. Vision in bright light, color vision, and acute vision depend on the function of the cones.
SEE: rod cell.
contrasuppressor c.A T cell that inhibits the activity of suppressor T cells. A contrasuppressor cell shares this function with T helper cells, but it is distinguished from other CD4+ cells by its other cell surface markers and its unique group of cytokines.
SEE: helper cell; T cell.
cortical c.A cell in the cortex of an organ, e.g., a neuron in the cerebral cortex.
cuboid c.A cell, usually epithelial, with a height approx. equal to its width and depth.
cytotoxic T c.A CD8+ T lymphocyte that can destroy microorganisms directly through the release of perforin and proteolytic enzymes. These cells are particularly important in the defense against viruses, rejection of allografts, and , possibly, new malignant cells.SYN: cytotoxic cell; killer T cell.
D c.An enteroendocrine cell that produces somatostatin and is found in the pancreatic islets, stomach, and small intestine. SYN: delta cell; somatostatin cell.
daughter c.A cell formed by cell division.
decoy c.A cell found in the urine with inclusion bodies in its nucleus. It indicates infection in renal transplant recipients.
dendritic c.An antigen-presenting cell that helps T cells respond to foreign antigens. Dendritic cells circulate in the blood and are also found in epithelial tissues, the Langerhans cells of the skin, and the interdigitating cells in lymph nodes.
SEE: Downey cell.
dust c.A macrophage that migrates into the lumen of lung aveoli and ingests debris, particles of air pollution, and pathogens to keep the airspaces clear.
EC c.1A cultured cell line of an embryonal carcinoma cell.2An enterochromaffin cell that secretes substance P and is found in the stomach and small intestine.
effector c.A cell that carries out the final response or function of a particular process. The main effector cells of the immune system are activated lymphocytes and phagocytes.
SEE: leukocyte.
ABBR: ES cell
A cell from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst that can give rise to all the somatic cells of the body. Embryonic stem cells can be maintained as pure stem cell cultures.SEE: adult stem cell.
endothelial c.Any of the epithelial cells that line blood vessels and lymph vessels. These cells are derived from mesenchyme cells of the embryo, are usually squamous, and form sheets one layer thick.
SEE: endothelium.
ABBR: EC cell
An enteroendocrine cell that is found in the small intestine and produces serotonin. Enterochromaffin cells are similar to chromaffin cells.enteroendocrine c.Any of the scattered hormone-producing cells found in the pancreatic islets and throughout the gastrointestinal mucosa.
ependymal c.Any of the epithelial cells that form a one-cell-thick layer lining the ventricles and the central canal of the central nervous system. The ventricular (apical) surfaces of many ependymal cells are covered with cilia or microvilli. Specialized regions of ependymal cells include the covering of the blood vessels and loose connective tissue of the choroid plexus. SYN: ependymoblast; ependymocyte.
SEE: choroid plexus.
epithelial c.Any of the cells forming the cellular sheets that cover surfaces inside and outside the body. Epithelial cells are closely packed and take on polyhedral shapes, from tall (columnar) through squat (cuboidal) to flat (squamous). Epithelial cells adhere strongly to one another, and one of their surfaces (the basal) sticks firmly to the basal lamina.
SEE: epithelium.
eukaryotic c.The type of cell composing multicellular and a number of unicellular organisms. Unlike prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells have many of their intracellular functions organized within organelles.
SEE: organelle.
F c.An enteroendocrine cell that produces pancreatic polypeptide and is found in the pancreatic islets.
flame c.A bone marrow cell with a bright red cytoplasm, occasionally found in the marrow of patients with multiple myeloma.
flow c.An optical cell used in photometers and cell counters. Samples and stand ards are passed for detection and measured or counted by optical or electrometric means.
SEE: cytometry.
flower c.Abnormal lymphocytes with petal-shaped nuclei.
foam c.A lipid-filled macrophage that contains vacuoles.
follicular c.1The secretory cell of the thyroid gland .
SEE: thyroid hormone.
2Any of the flattened somatic cells that form a monolayer around each primary oocyte in the ovary. After puberty, when an oocyte matures, during a monthly cycle, its follicular cells divide, become cuboidal, and form a multilayered coating for the oocyte; at this stage, the follicular cells are called granulosa cells. SYN: follicle cell.folliculostellate c.A supporting cell in the adenohypophysis. It produces bioactive peptides, including growth factors and cytokines.
foreign body giant c.Giant cell.
G c.An enteroendocrine cell that is found in the stomach and produces gastrin.
ganglion c.1Any neuron whose cell body is located within a ganglion.2A neuron of the retina of the eye whose cell body lies in the ganglion cell layer. The axons of ganglion cells form the optic nerve.
germ c.A cell whose function is to reproduce the organism. Early in development, primordial germ cells are found in the genital ridges of the embryo. Later, in the testis, the primordial germ cells are called spermatogonia, and in the ovary, they are called oogonia. When they mature, the germ cells, i.e., spermatogonia and oogonia, differentiate into haploid gametes, i.e., spermatozoa and ova.
giant c.1A multinucleated phagocyte created by several individual macrophages that have merged around a large pathogen or a substance resistant to destruction, such as a splinter or surgical suture.
SEE: granuloma; tuberculosis.
2A large multinucleated (40 to 60 nuclei) tumor cell characteristic of certain bone and tendon tumors.3A large multinucleated cell that invades the walls of the aorta and its major branches in giant cell arteritis. SYN: foreign body giant cell; multinucleated giant cell; syncytial giant cell.gitter c.A macrophage present at sites of brain injury. The cells are packed with lipoid granules from phagocytosis of damaged brain cells.
SEE: microglia.
Variant: glia cell
One of three types of cells in the central nervous system that are not neuronal. SYN: neuroglial cell; neurogliacyte.SEE: astrocyte; microglial cell; oligodendrocyte.
globose c.One of two types of basal cell found in the olfactory epithelium. It is a rounded neuroblast or neural stem cell for the olfactory receptor cells.
goblet c.A mucous cell located between nonsecretory cells, as is found in the intestinal epithelium.
SEE: under Golgi, Camillo.
graft facilitating c.Any of a group of CD8+ T-cell receptor-negative cells that help donated bone marrow engraft in the recipient.
granule c.1Any of the small neurons that pack the granular cell layer of the cerebellar cortex, immediately below the Purkinje cell layer. Granule cells receive inputs from the spinal cord and brainstem. Axons of granule cells run perpendicular to the Purkinje cell dendrites, on which they synapse.2Any of the neurons of the cerebral cortex that are not pyramidal cells. Cortical granule cells are categorized as spiny or nonspiny.3 A small neuron that has no axons, found in the olfactory bulb.
granulosa c.One of the many cuboidal cells that surround and nurture the maturing oocyte.
SEE: follicular cell.
hair c.An epithelial cell possessing stereocilia in the maculae, cristae ampullaris, and organ of Corti. These cells are receptors for the senses of position and hearing. Hair cells do not regenerate after they are damaged or lost.
heart failure c.A red lung macrophage often found in the sputum of patients with congestive heart failure. The red color is due to ingested red cells.
HeLa c.A line of human epithelial cells that grows well in culture. It is an immortal cancer cell that has been maintained in continuous tissue cultures for decades from a patient with carcinoma of the cervix. It is named for the first two letters of the patient's first and last names, Henrietta Lacks. HeLa cells have been used in thousand s of experiments on cell growth, differentiation, and cancer, and in virology, pharmacology, and other fields.
helmet c.A schistocyte or fragmented blood cell, seen in hemolytic anemias.
SEE: illus.
helper c.A type of T lymphocyte whose surface is marked by CD4 receptors; it is involved in both cell-mediated and antibody-mediated immune responses. It secretes cytokines that stimulate the activity of B cells and other T cells and binds with class II histocompatibility antigens, which are processed by macrophages and other antigen-presenting cells. SYN: helper T cell.
SEE: antigen processing; T cell; cell-mediated immunity.
hematopoietic stem c.A progenitor cell in the bone marrow that can replicate itself and produce precursor cells of the various blood cell lineages.
hilus c.An and rogen-producing cell found in the ovarian hilum and analogous to a Leydig cell.
SEE: Leydig cell.
holly leaf c.A cell found in blood smears of people with sickle cell anemia.
horizontal c.A neuron of the inner nuclear layer of the retina. The axons of these cells run horizontally and connect various parts of the retina.
SEE: Hürthle cell.
SEE: hybridoma.
hyperchromatic c.A cell that contains more than the normal number of chromosomes and hence stains more densely.
I c.An enteroendocrine cell that is found in the small intestine and produces cholecystokinin.
IgE-effector c.Any of the white blood cells, including basophils and eosinophils, released during allergic reactions.
interdigitating c.A type of antigen-presenting cell found in lymph nodes and lymphoid tissue.
interstitial c.Any of the numerous cells found in connective tissue of the ovary, in the seminiferous tubules of the testes, and in the medulla and cortex of the kidney. The cells in the testes and ovaries produce hormones such as testosterone and estrogen.
interstitial c. of Cajal Any of the nerve cells in the gastrointestinal tract that form pacemaking networks that allow normal peristalsis to occur. Diseases affecting the number or the functioning of these cells cause gastrointestinal motility disorders.
intestinal absorptive c.In the small intestine, any of the tall columnar cells topped with a brush border made of microvilli.
islet c.A cell of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas.
juvenile c.The early developmental form of a leukocyte.
juxtaglomerular c.A modified smooth muscle cell in the wall of the afferent arteriole leading to a glomerulus of the kidney. This cell secretes renin when blood pressure decreases to activate the renin-angiotensin mechanism, which increases sodium retention, thus elevating the blood pressure.
K c.An enteroendocrine cell that is found in the small intestine and produces glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide.
Kulchitsky c.An APUD cell found in the lung.
SEE: Kupffer cell.
L c.An enteroendocrine cell that is found in the small intestine and produces glucagon-like peptide-1.
labile c.A cell that is always mitotically active, such as the epithelial cells lining the stomach and the stem cells in the red bone marrow.
SEE: lactotroph.
SEE: Langerhans cell under Langerhans, Paul.
LE c.An abbreviation for lupus erythematosus (LE) cell, a polymorphonuclear leukocyte that contains the phagocytized nucleus of another cell. This cell may form when the blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is incubated and further processed according to protocol. The plasma of some patients contains an antibody to the nucleoprotein of leukocytes. These altered nuclei, which are swollen, pink, and homogeneous, are ingested by phagocytes, which are the LE cells. The ingested material, when stained properly, is lavender and displaces the nucleus of the phagocyte to the inner surface of the cell membrane. The LE cell phenomenon can be demonstrated in most patients with SLE but is not essential for diagnosis.
SEE: Leydig cell.
littoral c.A macrophage found in the sinuses of lymphatic tissue.
liver c.Any of the cells that make up 70% to 85% of the liver's cytoplasmic mass. These cells are involved in synthesis and storage of protein; the transformation of carbohydrates; the synthesis of cholesterol, bile salts and phospholipids; and the detoxification, modification, and excretion of exogenous and endogenous substances. They also initiate the formation and secretion of bile.
lutein c.A cell of the corpus luteum of the ovary that contains fatty yellowish granules. Granulose lutein cells are hypertrophied follicle cells that develop from the theca interna.
lymphokine-activated killer c.
ABBR: LAK cell
Any of the natural killer cells obtained from the patient's blood and activated in culture with interleukin-2 LAK cells. The cells can then be used to treat patients with solid malignant tumors.macroglial c.An astrocyte or an oligodendrocyte.
SEE: astrocyte; oligodendrocyte.
mast c.A large tissue cell resembling a basophil, essential for allergic and inflammatory reactions mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE). Mast cells do not circulate in the blood although the substances they release may have systemic effects. Mast cells are present throughout the body in connective tissue, but are concentrated beneath the skin and the mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive tracts. Mast cells are covered with IgE molecules, which bind with foreign antigens and stimulate degranulation, releasing such mediators as histamine, prostagland ins, leukotrienes, and proteinases from densely packed granules within the cytoplasm. These mediators produce type I (immediate) hypersensitivity reactions, e.g., urticaria, allergic rhinitis, asthma, angioedema, and systemic anaphylaxis.
SEE: illus.
mastoid air c.Any of the variable-sized, air-filled sinuses inside the mastoid process. About 20% of adult skulls have no mastoid air cells. SYN: mastoid cell.
matrix stem c.A stem cell derived from Wharton jelly.
memory c.A cell derived from B or T lymphocytes that can quickly recognize a foreign antigen to which the body has been previously exposed. Memory T cells stimulate T helper lymphocytes and cytotoxic T cells; memory B cells stimulate the production of antigen-specific antibodies by B plasma cells. Both types of memory cells survive for years, providing a durable adaptive immune response against foreign antigens.
mesectodermal c.Neural crest cell
mesenchyme c.One of the two basic somatic cell lineages. The second somatic cell lineage is the epithelial. In contrast to epithelial cells, mesenchyme cells are not polarized and are frequently motile. In the early embryo, mesenchyme cells fill many of the spaces enclosed by epithelia. Later, mesenchyme cells will secrete the space-filling extracellular matrix molecules, such as collagen and glycoproteins, that characterize connective tissue.
mesenchymal stem c.A stem cell found in connective tissue and capable of producing cells of the connective tissue lineages, such as cartilage, bone, muscle, and fat cells.
mesothelial c.The type of epithelial cell that lines serous (pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial) cavities, blood vessels, and lymph vessels. These cells are usually squamous and form sheets (mesothelia) one layer thick. They are derived from mesenchyme cells of the embryo.
SEE: mesothelium.
ABBR: M cell
1A cell in the gastrointestinal epithelium, covering patches of lymphoid tissue. M cells transport antigens from the intestinal lumen to the underlying lymphoid tissues for recognition and processing.2An APUD cell that produces melanotropin and is found in the pituitary gland .microglial c.A small glial cell of the central nervous system and retina. Microglia have spiky branched processes and are arranged homogeneously throughout the brain and spinal cord. They are activated by disease and injury, after which they become phagocytic and sometimes resume their embryonic motility, like a macrophage.
mitral c.One of the two principal neurons of the olfactory bulb. The other principal neuron of the olfactory bulb is the tufted cell. In a glomerulus, the mitral and tufted cells receive synaptic inputs from axons of the olfactory nerve. The axons of the mitral and tufted cells form the olfactory tract and synapse in the olfactory cortex.
mossy c.An astrocyte or other glial cell with many branching processes.
SEE: glial cell; neuroglia.
mother c.A cell that gives rise to similar cells through fission or budding. SYN: parent cell.
mucosal c.Any cell in a mucosal epithelium.
mucous c.An epithelial cell that secretes mucus and IgA antibodies. Mucous cells and serous cells are the two varieties of secretory cells found in exocrine gland s.
multinucleated giant c.Giant cell
multipolar c.Multipolar neuron.
multi-potential progenitor cell Stem cell.
SEE: muscle.
myeloid c.Any white blood cell other than lymphocytes. SYN: bone marrow cell.
myeloma c.A cell present in the bone marrow of patients with multiple myeloma.
myoepithelial c.Basket cell (1).
ABBR: NK cell
A large granular lymphocyte that bonds to cells and lyses them by releasing cytotoxins. NK cells are null cells and cannot be activated without previous antigen exposure. NK cells destroy cells infected with viruses and some types of tumor cells in cultures. They also secrete gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, which enhance the effect of T lymphocytes. SYN: killer cell.neural crest c.Any of the embryonic cells of the neuron-glia lineage that form along the neural folds and migrate into the developing organism to produce a variety of tissues. The migratory ability of these embryonic epithelial cells is similar to the motility of mesenchyme cells and has led neural crest cells to be called mesectodermal cells. In the neural lineage, neural crest cells give rise to the dorsal root ganglia, the placodes that will develop into the olfactory and auditory sensory organs, the pituitary gland , the peripheral autonomic nervous system, and the neurenteric and APUD cells. In the glial lineage, neural crest cells give rise to Schwann cells and other peripheral satellite cells. In addition, neural crest cells of the cranial region give rise to certain facial connective tissue, including the bones of the nasal cavities, the roof of the mouth, and the sella turcica. SYN: mesectodermal cell.
SEE: Niemann-Pick cell.
nonstem c.Any cell found in the bone marrow that cannot reconstitute the marrow or give rise to more differentiated blood cells.
null c.1A large lymphocyte without the cell markers of either a T cell or a B cell. Natural killer cells are examples of null cells.2A cell within a pituitary adenoma that neither produces nor secretes hormones.
nurse c.A cell that binds to an oocyte and stimulates its development by supplying it with messenger RNA, ribosomes, and proteins.
SEE: odontoblast.
oligodendroglial c.oligodendrocyte.
olfactory c.Olfactory receptor cell.
olfactory receptor c.A cell of the olfactory mucosa that has receptors for the sense of smell. Olfactory cells are continuously replaced from stem cells throughout adult life. SYN: olfactory cell.
osteoprogenitor c.Any of the mesenchyme precursor cells capable of producing osteoblasts and osteocytes. Osteoprogenitor cells are found in bone, bone marrow, and other connective tissue.
parabasal c.Small, ovoid, or round epithelial cells seen on cytological examination of vaginal smears. They have relatively large nuclei relative to their proportion of cytoplasm.
parietal c.A large cell on the margin of the gastric gland s of the stomach that secretes hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor. SYN: oxyntic cell.
SEE: achlorhydria; anemia, pernicious; intrinsic factor.
phalangeal c.One of the cells supporting the hair cells of the organ of Corti. These cells form several rows of Deiters cells (outer phalangeal cells) and a single row of inner phalangeal cells.
SEE: Deiters cell (under Deiters, Otto F.C.).
SEE: red cell ghost.
pigment c.Any cell that normally contains pigment granules.
pillar c.One of two groups of cells (inner and outer) resting on the basement membrane of the organ of Corti in which elongated bodies (pillars) develop. These enclose the inner tunnel (Corti tunnel).
plasma c.A cell derived from a B lymphocyte that has been sensitized to a specific foreign antigen and produces antibodies to that particular antigen. It may be found in the blood or in tissue fluid. SYN: effector B cell.
ABBR: pDC
Any of a subset of dendritic cells that, after contact with malignant cells or pathogens, migrate to lymph nodes and lymphoid organs, secrete interferons and other regulatory cytokines, and stimulate cellular immune responses by T lymphocytes. Overactivation of pDCs is commonly identified in autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis.postganglionic c.Postganglionic neuron
PP c.An enteroendocrine cell that is found in the pancreatic islets and produces pancreatic polypeptide.
pre-B c.The immediate precursor of a lymphocytic B cell.
preganglionic c.Preganglionic neuron.
prickle c.A cell with spiny processes that connect with similar processes of adjoining cells. These are found in the stratum spinosum of the keratinized epithelium of the epidermis.
primary c.In physical therapy, a device consisting of a container, two solid conducting elements, and an electrolyte for the production of electric current by chemical energy.
SEE: germ cell.
SEE: germ cell.
progenitor c.A cell (sometimes a stem cell) that produces cells of a particular lineage, e.g., a neuroblast.
prokaryotic c.A cell composing many primitive unicellular organisms, such as bacteria. Prokaryotic cells do not have nuclei, which are partitioned by an intracellular membrane; instead the DNA forms one main coil in the cell cytoplasm.
SEE: under Purkinje, Johannes E. von.
pus c.A leukocyte present in pus. Pus cells are often degenerated or necrotic.
pyramidal c.A large common neuron found in the cerebral cortex. Pyramidal cells are flask-shaped or triangular and , in the parts of the cortex with six layers, occupy the fifth layer. Pyramidal cell dendrites project up into the most superficial layer of the cortex, while pyramidal cell axons run in the opposite direction, i.e., downward and out of the cortex.
radial glial c.A structural macroglial cell that is a key component of the developing nervous system. Radial glial cells first appear in the neural tube, where their cell bodies are suspended between two thin cell processes. The apical process attaches to the inner (ventricular) surface of the neural tube, and the basal process attaches to the outer (pial) surface. Early in development, neuroblasts migrate radially along the scaffolding formed by the radial glial cell processes, and growing axons may follow the scaffolding longitudinally. Later, many radial glial cells retract their processes and differentiate into astrocytes.
ABBR: RBC
Erythrocyte.ABBR: Breg
A B lymphocyte that releases interleukin-10 and /or transforming growth factor-beta, and thereby lowers inflammation.SEE: Renshaw cell.
resting c.1A cell that is not dividing.
SEE: interphase.
2A cell not performing its normal function, e.g., a nerve cell that is not conducting an impulse or a muscle cell that is not contracting.reticular c.1An undifferentiated cell of the spleen, bone marrow, or lymphatic tissue that can develop into one of several types of connective tissue cells or into a macrophage.2A cell of reticular connective tissue.
SEE: reticular tissue.
reticuloendothelial c.A cell of the mononuclear phagocyte system.
SEE: mononuclear phagocyte system.
SEE: Rieder cell.
rod c.A cell in the retina of the eye whose scleral end is long and narrow, forming a rod-shaped sensory receptor. Rods are stimulated by light and are essential for vision in dim light.
SEE: cone cell.
rosehip c.An inhibitory neuron in the central nervous system. It synapses with pyramidal cells in the cerebral cortex.SYN: rosehip neuron.
rosette c.A rose-shaped cluster of phagocytes surrounding lysed nuclear material or red blood cells. Rosette cells occur frequently in blood in which lupus erythematosus (LE) cells are present. Rosette cells are not diagnostic of LE.
SEE: LE cell.
SEE: Rouget cell.
S c.An enteroendocrine cell that is found in the small intestine and produces secretin.
satellite c.1A stem cell associated with skeletal muscle that may form a limited number of new muscle cells after injury.2One of the neuroglia cells enclosing the cell bodies of sensory neurons in spinal ganglia. SYN: amphicyte; capsule cell.
scavenger c.A phagocyte that cleans up disintegrating tissues or cells.
SEE: Schwann cell, under Schwann, Theodore.
segmented c.A segmented neutrophil, i.e., one with a nucleus of two or more lobes connected by slender filaments.
SEE: red cell ghost.
sensory c.A cell that when stimulated gives rise to nerve impulses that are conveyed to the central nervous system.
septal c.A type II alveolar cell that is adjacent to a septum of the alveoli and secretes pulmonary surfactant.
serous c.An epithelial cell that secretes a watery fluid containing proteins, glycoproteins, and often antibodies (IgA, IgG, and IgM). Serous cells and mucous cells are the two varieties of secretory cells found in exocrine gland s.
SEE: Sertoli cell.
sickle c.An abnormal erythrocyte shaped like a sickle. SYN: drepanocyte.
SEE: sickle cell anemia.
signet-ring c.A vacuolated cell with an off-center nucleus. Mucus-secreting adenocarcinomas usually contain these cells.
SEE: muscle.
SEE: muscle.
somatic c.Any cell that is not a germ cell.
somatic stem c.Adult stem cell.
spiculed red c.Crenated red blood cells with surface projections. This is usually a normal variation in red cell equilibrium and is reversible.
SEE: acanthocyte.
squamous c.A flat epithelial cell. SYN: squamous epithelial cell.
squamous epithelial c.Squamous cell.
stellate c.1A granule cell of the cerebral cortex.2Any of the small interneurons found in the outer layer of the cerebellar cortex along with basket cells.
SEE: basket cell (3).
stellate reticuloendothelial c.A Kupffer cell, one of the macrophages that line the sinusoids of the liver.
stem c.An embryonic stem cell or an adult stem cell.
SEE: Reed-Sternberg cell.
stipple c.A red blood cell that contains small basophilic-staining dots. It is seen in lead poisoning, malaria, severe anemia, and leukemia.
SEE: muscle.
suppressor T c.A subpopulation of regulatory T lymphocytes that develop in the thymus gland and slow or stop a specific immune response. Also known as “regulatory T cell.”
sustentacular c.A supporting cell, as in the acoustic macula, organ of Corti, olfactory epithelium, taste buds, or testes.
sympathicotrophic c.One of the large epithelial cells that occur in groups in the hilus of the ovary. They are thought to be chromaffin cells.
sympathochromaffin c.A chromaffin cell of ectodermal origin present in the fetal adrenal gland . Sympathetic and medullary cells originate from these cells.
T c.A lymphocyte that responds to specific antigens, with the assistance of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). T cells arise in the bone marrow and migrate to the thymus gland , where they mature; then they circulate between blood and lymph, serving as one of the primary cells of the adaptive immune response. Immature T cells are called thymocytes. Mature T cells are antigen specific. Their surface receptors (T cell receptors) respond only to a single antigen. T cells are further categorized using another family of surface protein markers called clusters of differentiation (CDs). All T cells have a CD3 marker. Additional markers differentiate the subclasses of T cells. CD4 T helper cells serve primarily as regulators, secreting cytokines that stimulate the activities of other white blood cells. CD8 T cells (cytotoxic T cells) directly lyse (kill) organisms, an important defense against viruses; most CD8 T cells also produce gamma interferon (INFΓ), one of the strongest stimulators of macrophage activity.SYN: T lymphocyte.
SEE: immune response; lymphocyte; immunological surveillance; T-cell receptor; thymocyte.
A T cell can only recognize the “foreignness” of antigens after they have been modified by macrophages and other APCs. After this, T cells dominate the adaptive immune response by mobilizing B cells and other T cells of the cell-mediated immune pathways. T cells are responsible for type IV hypersensitivity reactions, such as graft rejection, and for tumor cell recognition and destruction.
SEE: cytokine; cell-mediated immunity.
target c.1An erythrocyte with a dark rounded central area surrounded by a lightly stained clear ring, which in turn is surrounded by a dense ring of peripheral cytoplasm. It is present in certain blood disorders, such as thalassemia, and in patients who have no spleen.
SEE: hemoglobin C disease for illus.
SYN: codocyte; leptocyte.2 The cell at which a signal, e.g., hormone or nerve impulse, is aimed.tart c.A phagocyte that has ingested the unaltered nuclei of cells. These nuclei can be observed unchanged within the phagocytes.
taste c.Any of the neuroepithelial cells within a taste bud that are receptors for the sense of taste. Each cell possesses on the free surface a short gustatory hair that projects through the inner taste pore. SYN: gustatory cell; taste receptor cell.
tear-drop c.An abnormally shaped blood cell, sometimes found on blood smears of patients with bone marrow fibrosis, iron deficiency, or thalassemias. SYN: dacrocyte.
terminally differentiated c.A cell sufficiently committed to a particular function that it can no longer divide.
thymic epithelial c.The epithelial cells that form the internal scaffolding of the thymus. These cells vary in shape and size but generally align in sheets and cords, partitioning the thymus into island s of close-packed lymphocytes in the organ's cortex. Thymic epithelial cells are not simply structural: they interact actively with adjacent lymphocytes.
thymus c.Any cell characteristic of the thymus, including thymic epithelial cells and thymocytes.
SEE: thymic epithelial cell; thymocyte.
thyroid c.Any cell characteristic of the thyroid gland , but usually referring to a thyroid follicular cell.
totipotent c.An undifferentiated embryonic cell that has the potential to develop into any type of cell.
SEE: Touton cell.
transitional c.The stretchable epithelial cells that compose the transitional epithelium, which lines most of the urinary tract. Transitional cells are strongly interconnected. They are cuboidal when not under pressure, and they become flattened and squamous when stretched. Transitional epithelia are four to six cells thick, and the top transitional cells on the lumenal surface fuse to become larger and polyploid.
trophoblast c.Any of the epithelial cells forming the surface of the spherical blastocyst stage embryo. Trophoblast cells are destined to give rise to many of the extraembryonic tissues.
SEE: Türk irritation cell.
SEE: Tzanck cell.
undifferentiated c.A cell resembling an embryonic cell in that it does not have the specific morphologic or functional characteristics of any particular adult cell type.
unipolar c.A cell with a single cell process.
Vero c.A lineage of cells isolated from kidney epithelial cells of the African green monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) and used in cell cultures.
visual c.A rod cell or cone cell of the retina.
wand ering c.A rarely used term for a cell (such as a macrophage) that moves like an ameba.
ABBR: WBC
Leukocyte.