| intercellular junctions | Direct contact of a cell with a neighboring cell. most such junctions are too small to be resolved by light microscopy, but they can be visualised by conventional or freeze-fracture electron microscopy, both of which show that the interacting cell membrane and often the underlying cytoplasm and the intervening extracellular space are highly specialised in these regions. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| gap junctions | Connections between cells which allow passage of small molecules and electric current. Gap junctions were first described anatomically as regions of close apposition between cells with a narrow (1-2 nm) gap between cell membranes. The variety in the properties of gap junctions is reflected in the number of connexins, the family of proteins which form the junctions. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| impermeable cell junctions | <cell biology> Specialised intercellular junction in which the two plasma membranes are separated by only 1-2nm. Found near the apical surface of cells in simple epithelia, forms a sealing gasket around the cell. Prevents fluid moving through the intercellular gap and the lateral diffusion of intrinsic membrane proteins between apical and baso lateral domains of the plasma membrane. (18 Nov 1997) |
| tight junctions | Cell-cell junctions that seal adjacent epithelial cells together, preventing the passage of most dissolved molecules from one side of the epithelial sheet to the other. (alberts et al., molecular biology of the cell, 2nd ed, pg-22) (12 Dec 1998) |
| junctions | See: adherens junction, desmosome, gap junction, zonula occludens. (18 Nov 1997) |
| intercellular | Between cells: can be used either in the sense of connections between cells (as in intercellular junctions) or as an antonym for intra cellular. (18 Nov 1997) |
| intercellular adhesion molecule | See: ICAM. (18 Nov 1997) |
| intercellular adhesion molecule-1 | <chemical> A cell-surface ligand with a role in leukocyte adhesion and inflammation. Its production is induced by gamma-interferon and it is required for neutrophil migration into inflamed tissue. Chemical name: Glycoprotein ICAM 1 (human clone pHRVr1 deblocked protein moiety reduced) (12 Dec 1998) |
| intercellular bridges | Slender cytoplasmic strands connecting adjacent cells; in histological sections of the epidermis and other stratified squamous epithelia, the bridge's are processes attached by a desmosome and are shrinkage artifacts of fixation; true bridge's with cytoplasmic confluence exist between incompletely divided germ cells. Synonym: cell bridges, cytoplasmic bridges. (05 Mar 2000) |
| intercellular canaliculus | One of the fine channels between adjoining secretory cells, such as those between serous cells in salivary glands. (05 Mar 2000) |
| intercellular cement | A hypothetical adhesive substance formerly believed to occur between some epithelial cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| intercellular digestion | Digestion in a cavity by means of secretions from the surrounding cells, such as occurs in the metazoa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| intercellular lymph | The fluid in the potential spaces between cells in the various organs and tissues. (05 Mar 2000) |