| cellular slime mould | See: Acrasidae. (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| cellular tumour | A tumour composed mainly of closely packed cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cellularity | The degree, quality, or condition of cells that are present. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cellulase | <enzyme> Enzymes that break down cellulose and are involved in cell wall breakdown in higher plants, especially during abscission. Produced in large amounts by certain fungi and bacteria. Degradation of cellulose microfibrils requires the concerted action of several cellulases. (26 Mar 1998) |
| cellule | 1. In gross anatomy, a small but macroscopic compartment. Synonym: cellule. 2. In histology, a cell. Origin: L. A small chamber, dim. Of cella (05 Mar 2000) |
| cellulicidal | Destructive to cells. Origin: cellula + L. Caedo, to kill (05 Mar 2000) |
| cellulifugal | Moving from, or extending in a direction away from, a cell or cell body; denoting certain cells repelled by other cells, or processes extending from the body of a cell. Origin: cellula + L. Fugio, to flee (05 Mar 2000) |
| cellulin | <plant biology> A straight chain polysaccharide composed of _(1-4) linked glucose subunits. A major component of plant cell walls where it is found as microfibrils laid down in orthogonal layers. (13 Nov 1997) |
| cellulipetal | Moving toward, or extending in a direction toward, a cell or cell body. Origin: cellula + L. Peto, to seek (05 Mar 2000) |
| cellulite | 1. Colloquial term for deposits of fat and fibrous tissue causing dimpling of the overlying skin. Synonym: lipoedema. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cellulitic phlegmasia | Inflammatory swelling of the leg, following childbirth, due to septic inflammation of the connective tissue. Synonym: phlegmasia dolens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cellulitis | <dermatology> An acute, diffuse, spreading, oedematous, suppurative inflammation of the deep subcutaneous tissues and sometimes muscle, which may be associated with abscess formation. It is usually caused by infection of an operative or traumatic wound, burn or other cutaneous lesion by various bacteria, but group A streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus are the most common aetiological agents. Cellulitis may also occur in immunocompromised hosts or it may follow erysipelas. It tends to spread to tissue spaces and cleavage planes owing to bacterial elaboration of large amounts of hyaluronidases that, break down polysaccharide ground substance, fibrinolysins that digest fibrin barriers and lecithinases that destroy cell membranes. Clinical manifestations include an area of oedema, warmth and tenderness with indistinct margins. Compare: erysipelas. (13 Nov 1997) |
| cellulocutaneous flap | A flap of skin and subcutaneous tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| celluloid strip | A clear plastic strip used as a matrix when inserting a silicate cement or acrylic resin cement in proximal cavity preparations of anterior teeth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cellulosan | <plant biology> Class of plant cell wall polysaccharide that cannot be extracted from the wall by hot water or chelating agents, but can be extracted by aqueous alkali. Includes xylan, glucuronoxylan, arabinoxylan, arabinogalactan II, glucomannan, xyloglucan and galactomannan. Part of the cell wall matrix. (18 Nov 1997) |