cells

DEFINITION:

See definitions for "cell."

organ

DEFINITION:

A somewhat independent part of the body that performs a special function or functions.

effector organ - An organ that produces an effect, e.g., contraction or secretion, in response to nerve stimulation.

chief cells

DEFINITION:

1. Epithelial cells, either columnar or cuboidal, that line the lower portions of the gastric glands and secrete pepsin; called also "central cells," "Heidenhain cells, "peptic cells," and "zymogenic cells."

cells

DEFINITION:

See definitions for "cell."

parathyroid glands

DEFINITION:

Small bodies apposed to the posterior surface of the thyroid gland, developed from the endoderm of the branchial clefts, occurring in a variable number of pairs, commonly two ("glandula parathyroidea inferior" and "glandula parathyroidea superior"). The parenchyma comprises masses and cords of epithelial cells, which have been divided into two main types: chief cells and oxyphil cells, but intermediate forms exist. The chief cells secrete parathyroid hormone, a major regulator of calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Called also "Gley's glands," "Sandström's bodies," "parathyroids," and "epithelial bodies" or "parathyroid bodies."

granular

DEFINITION:

Made up of or marked by the presence of granules or grains.

cytoplasm

DEFINITION:

The protoplasm of a cell exclusive of that of the nucleus; it consists of a continuous aqueous solution and the organelles and inclusions suspended in it, and is the site of most of the chemical activities of the cell.

vesicular

DEFINITION:

1. Composed of or relating to small, saclike bodies.

2. Pertaining to or made up of vesicles on the skin.

nuclei

DEFINITION:

Plural of nucleus .

plates

DEFINITION:

1. Flat structures or layers, such as a thin layer of bone.
2. Any flat container, usually a Petri dish, containing sterile solid medium for the culture of microorganisms.
3. In singular form, to prepare a culture medium in a Petri dish, or to inoculate such a medium with a bacterial culture.

glycogen

DEFINITION:

A large polysaccharide similar to amylopectin but more highly branched, consisting of chains of glucose residues in a-(1,4) linkage with branches created by a-(1,6) linkages. It constitutes the major carbohydrate reserve of animals, stored primarily in liver and muscle, and is synthesized and degraded for energy as demanded.

cells

DEFINITION:

See definitions for "cell."

numerous

DEFINITION:

Consisting of, including, or relating to a great number; many.

nuclei

DEFINITION:

Plural of nucleus .

cytoplasm

DEFINITION:

The protoplasm of a cell exclusive of that of the nucleus; it consists of a continuous aqueous solution and the organelles and inclusions suspended in it, and is the site of most of the chemical activities of the cell.

granules

DEFINITION:

Small particles or grains, as the small bead-like masses of tissue formed on the surface of wounds, or the insoluble nonmembranous particles found in cytoplasm.

cells

DEFINITION:

See definitions for "cell."

nuclei

DEFINITION:

Plural of nucleus .

granular

DEFINITION:

Made up of or marked by the presence of granules or grains.

cytoplasm

DEFINITION:

The protoplasm of a cell exclusive of that of the nucleus; it consists of a continuous aqueous solution and the organelles and inclusions suspended in it, and is the site of most of the chemical activities of the cell.

granules

DEFINITION:

Small particles or grains, as the small bead-like masses of tissue formed on the surface of wounds, or the insoluble nonmembranous particles found in cytoplasm.

intermediate

DEFINITION:

1. Placed between.

2. Resembling, in part, each of two extremes.

3. A substance formed in a chemical process that is essential to the formation of the end product of the process.