| bipolar cell | <cell biology, physiology> A class of retinal interneurons, named after their morphology, that receive input from the photoreceptors and send it to the ganglion cells. Bipolar cells are nonspiking, their response to light is evenly graded and shows lateral inhibition. (19 Jan 1998) |
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| blast cell | <haematology> A immature cell of a proliferative compartment in a cell lineage that normally represent up to 5% of the cells in the bone marrow. An over-production of blasts in the marrow is characteristic of leukaemia when the blast cells often spill out into the blood stream. (17 Mar 1998) |
| blood cell | <haematology> There are three main types of cell in the blood stream. The red cell, which carries oxygen, the white cell, which fights infections and the platelet, which helps prevent bleeding. The correct balance between each cell type must be maintained for the body to remain healthy. (13 Nov 1997) |
| blood cell count | A count of the number of leukocytes and erythrocytes per unit volume in a sample of venous blood. A complete blood count (cbc) also includes measurement of the haemoglobin, haematocrit, and erythrocyte indices. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bone cell | <pathology> Osteoblast that is embedded in bony tissue and which is relatively inactive. (18 Nov 1997) |
| bottle cell | <embryology> The first cells to migrate inwards at the blastopore during amphibian gastrulation. The neck of the bottle is at the outer surface of the embryo. (18 Nov 1997) |
| bristle cell | Hair cell of the inner ear. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bronchiolar exocrine cell | A rounded, club-shaped, nonciliated cell protruding between ciliated cell's in bronchiolar epithelium; believed to be secretory in function. Synonym: bronchiolar exocrine cell. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brood cell | A cell which, by division, gives rise to two or more daughter cell's. Synonym: brood cell, metrocyte, parent cell. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brown fat cell | <pathology> Brown fat is specialised for heat production and the adipocytes have many mitochondria in which an inner membrane protein can act as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation allowing rapid thermogenesis. (18 Nov 1997) |
| burr cell | Triangular helmet shaped cells found in blood, usually indicative of disorders of small blood vessels. (18 Nov 1997) |
| Cajal's cell | A small fusiform cell found in the superficial layer of the cerebral cortex with its long axis placed horizontally. Synonym: Cajal's cell. (05 Mar 2000) |
| caliciform cell | 1. <pathology> Cell of the epithelial lining of small intestine that secretes mucus and has a very well developed Golgi apparatus. 2. <zoology> Cell type characteristic of larval lepidopteran midgut, containing a potent H ATPase and thought to be involved in maintenance of ion and pH gradients. (10 Oct 1997) |
| cameloid cell | An elliptical red blood corpuscle found normally in the lower vertebrates with the exception of Cyclostomata; in mammals it occurs normally only among the camels (family Camelidae), hence cameloid cell. Synonym: cameloid cell, ovalocyte. Origin: G. Elleipsis, a leaving out, an ellipse, + kytos, cell (05 Mar 2000) |
| cancer cell | A cell that divides and reproduces abnormally with uncontrolled growth. This cell can break away and travel to other parts of the body and set up another site, referred to as metastasis. (09 Oct 1997) |