cytoskeleton

cytoskeleton
The tonofilaments, keratin, desmin, neurofilaments, or other intermediate filaments serving to act as supportive cytoplasmic elements to stiffen cells or to organize intracellular organelles.

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cy·to·skel·e·ton .sīt-ō-'skel-ət-ən n the network of protein filaments and microtubules in the cytoplasm that controls cell shape, maintains intracellular organization, and is involved in cell movement
cy·to·skel·e·tal -əl adj

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cy·to·skel·e·ton (si″to-skelґə-tən) a three-dimensional cytoplasmic network of protein polymers (microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules), occurring in eukaryotes, that supports and maintains the shape of the cell and provides motility (both of the whole cell and of organelles and vesicles within the cell). cytoskeletal adj

Cytoskeleton, shown in a color-enhanced electron micrograph. N, nucleus; arrowheads, intermediate filaments; arrows, microtubules.


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • cytoskeleton — cy to*skel e*ton (s[imac] t[ o]*sk[e^]l [i^]*t n), n. (Cell Biology) An arrangement of microtubules, microfilaments, and larger filaments within a cell serving to provide structural support of components of the cell, and to transport components… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cytoskeleton — The eukaryotic cytoskeleton. Actin filaments are shown in red, microtubules in green, and the nuclei are in blue. The cytoskeleton (also CSK) is a cellular scaffolding or skeleton contained within a cell s cytoplasm and is made out of protein.… …   Wikipedia

  • cytoskeleton — cytoskeletal, adj. /suy teuh skel i tn/, n. Cell Biol. a shifting lattice arrangement of structural and contractile components distributed throughout the cell cytoplasm, composed of microtubules, microfilaments, and larger filaments, functioning… …   Universalium

  • cytoskeleton — General term for the internal components of animal cells which give them structural strength and motility: plant cells and bacteria use an extracellular cell wall instead. The major components of cytoskeleton are the microfilaments (of actin),… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • Cytoskeleton — ląstelės griaučiai statusas T sritis histologija, ląstelių chemija, histologinė chemija, audinių kultūra atitikmenys: lot. Cytoskeleton ryšiai: platesnis terminas – citoplazmos organelės ir intarpai …   Veterinarinės anatomijos, histologijos ir embriologijos terminai

  • Cytoskeleton — ląstelės griaučiai statusas T sritis histologija atitikmenys: lot. Cytoskeleton ryšiai: platesnis terminas – citoplazmos organelės ir intarpai …   Medicininės histologijos ir embriologijos vardynas

  • Cytoskeleton (journal) — Cytoskeleton   Former name(s) Cell Motility, Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton Abbreviated title (ISO) …   Wikipedia

  • cytoskeleton — noun Date: 1940 the network of protein filaments and microtubules in the cytoplasm that controls cell shape, maintains intracellular organization, and is involved in cell movement • cytoskeletal adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cytoskeleton — (si to skel ē ton) A network of microfilaments, microtubules, intermediate filaments, and other components in the cytoplasm of eucaryotic cells that helps give them shape …   Dictionary of microbiology

  • cytoskeleton — noun A cellular structure like a skeleton, contained within the cytoplasm …   Wiktionary

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