| TWBC | total white blood cells; total white blood count |
|---|---|
| Verc | vervet (African green monkey) kidney cells |
| VK | vervet (African green monkey) kidney cells |
| VPC | vapor-phase chromatography; ventricular premature complex; ventricular premature contraction; volume... |
| VPRBC | volume of packed red blood cells |
| enterochromaffin cells | Group of basal granular cells of the gut whose granules stain readily with silver and chromium salts. The cells secrete serotonin, substance p, and enkephalins. There are three types: gastric (antral mucosa), duodenal, and intestinal. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| enterochromaffin-like cells | Irregular-shaped argyrophilic cells which produce histamine, chromogranin a/pancreastatin, and an as yet unidentified peptide hormone. They are the predominant endocrine cell type of the oxyntic (acid-producing) mucosa of the stomach. Ecl cells respond to gastrin by releasing their secretory products and this source of histamine acts as the positive paracrine stimulator of the release of hydrochloric acid from the parietal cell. (12 Dec 1998) |
| enteroendocrine cells | Cell's with granules that may be either argentaffinic or argyrophilic; the cell's, scattered throughout the digestive tract, are of several varieties and are believed to produce at least 20 different gastrointestinal hormones and neurotransmitters. Synonym: enterochromaffin cells, Kulchitsky cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| entodermal cells | Embryonic cell's forming the yolk sac and giving rise to the epithelium of the alimentary and respiratory tracts and to the parenchyma of associated glands. Synonym: entodermal cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| epithelial cells | Cells that cover the surface of the body and line its cavities. (12 Dec 1998) |
| epithelioid cells | Characteristic cells of granulomatous hypersensitivity. They appear as large, flattened cells with increased endoplasmic reticulum. They are believed to be activated macrophages that have differentiated as a result of prolonged antigenic stimulation. Further differentiation or fusion of epithelioid cells is thought to produce multinucleated giant cells (giant cells). (12 Dec 1998) |
| erythroid progenitor cells | Committed, erythroid stem cells derived from myeloid stem cells. The progenitor cells develop in two phases: erythroid burst-forming units (bfu-e) followed by erythroid colony-forming units (cfu-e). Bfu-e differentiate into cfu-e on stimulation by erythropoietin, and then further differentiate into erythroblasts when stimulated by other factors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tubal air cells | Occasional small air cells in the inferior wall of the auditory tube, near the tympanic orifice, communicating with the tympanic cavity. Synonym: cellulae pneumaticae tubae auditivae, air cells of auditory tube. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ethmoid air cells | The numerous small air-filled cells of the ethmoidal labyrinth. See: anterior ethmoidal air cells, middle ethmoidal air cells, posterior ethmoidal air cells. Synonym: cellulae ethmoidales, sinus ethmoidales, ethmoidal cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ethmoidal cells | The numerous small air-filled cells of the ethmoidal labyrinth. See: anterior ethmoidal air cells, middle ethmoidal air cells, posterior ethmoidal air cells. Synonym: cellulae ethmoidales, sinus ethmoidales, ethmoidal cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tumour cells, cultured | Cells grown in vitro from neoplastic tissue for use in studying the proliferative and metabolic capacities of tumour cells, in predicting clinical responses to chemotherapy, in screening new antitumour agents, and in basic biological research. They include carcinoma cell lines. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tumour stem cells | <cell biology> Colony-forming cells which give rise to neoplasms. (12 Dec 1998) |
| eukaryotic cells | Cells of the higher organisms, containing a true nucleus bounded by a nuclear membrane. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tunnel cells | Cell's forming the outer and inner walls of the tunnel in the organ of Corti. Synonym: Corti's pillars, Corti's rods, pillar cells of Corti, tunnel cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tympanic air cells | Numerous groovelike depressions in the walls of the tympanic cavity, communicating with the tubal air cells. Synonym: cellulae tympanicae, tympanic cells. (05 Mar 2000) |