72. Cells

See also 44. BIOLOGY .

auxesis

growth, especially owing to an increase in cell size. Cf. merisis . — auxetic, adj.

basophile

a cell or tissue that stains easily. — basophilic, basophilous, adj.

chromatolysis

the breakdown of the protoplasm that contains the genes in the cell nucleus.

cytochemistry

the branch of cytology that deals with the chemistry of living cells. — cytochemical, adj.

cytology

the branch of biology that studies the structure, function, multiplication, and life history of cells. — cytologist, n. — cytologie, cytological, adj.

cytolysis

the degeneration of cells. — cytolytic, adj.

cytoplasm

the protoplasm of a cell, not including the nucleus. — cytoplasmic, adj.

cytotechnology

the study of human cells, especially to detect signs of cancer. — cytotechnologist, n. — cytotechnologic, adj.

ectoplasm

the outer part of the cytoplasm of a cell. Cf. endoplasm . — ectoplasmic, adj.

embryogeny

the formation and growth of an embryo. — embryogenic, — embryogenetic, adj.

endoplasm

the inner part of the cytoplasm of a cell. Cf. ectoplasm . — endoplasmic, adj.

epigenesis

the formation of a cell as a new product and not as the result of development from some existing cell. — epigenetic, adj.

karyology

a branch of cytology dealing with the structure of cell nuclei, especially chromosomes. — karyologic, karyological, adj.

karyoplasm

the substance forming the nucleus of a cell. — karyoplasmic, karyoplasmatic, adj.

karyotype

the aggregate of morphological characteristics of the chromosomes in a cell. — karyotypic, karyotypical, adj.

lysis

the destruction of cells by the action of certain lysins. See also 197. HEALTH . — lytic , adj .

merisis

any form of growth, especially as a product of cell division. Cf . auxesis .

mitosis

the normal process of cell division. — mitotic , adj .

monad

any simple, single-cell organism. — monadic, monadical, monadal , adj .

neutrophile

a cell or tissue that accepts a stain from a neutral solution. — neutrophilous , adj .

osmosis

the process by which fluids pass through a semipermeable membrane into a solution of lower concentration to equalize the concentration on both sides of the membrane. — osmotic , adj .

phagocytosis

the action of phagocytes in ingesting and destroying cells.

trophoplasm

the form of protoplasm that constitutes the nutritive element of a cell. — trophoplasmic, trophoplasmatic , adj .

trophotropism

the movement of cells in relation to food or nutritive matter. — trophotropic , adj .