Canadian Medical Guide > Anatomy > Cells > Epithelial Cells Terms and Definitions

Epithelial Cells

Medical Definition:	Cells that line the inner and outer surfaces of the body.
Guide Notes:	do not confuse with EPITHELIOID CELLS (type of macrophage)
Previously Indexed:	Epithelial Cells (1966-1977),Epithelium/cytology (1978-1997)

Epithelial Cells Categories.

	Ameloblasts - Cylindrical epithelial cells in the innermost layer of the ENAMEL ORGAN. Their functions include contribution to the development of the dentinoenamel junction by the deposition of a layer of the matrix, thus producing the foundation for the prisms (the structural units of the DENTAL ENAMEL), and production of the matrix for the enamel prisms and interprismatic substance. (From Jablonski's Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992)
	Chromatophores - The large pigment cells of fish, amphibia, reptiles and many invertebrates which actively disperse and aggregate their pigment granules. These cells include MELANOPHORES, erythrophores, xanthophores, leucophores and iridiophores. (In algae, chromatophores refer to CHLOROPLASTS. In phototrophic bacteria chromatophores refer to membranous organelles (BACTERIAL CHROMATOPHORES).)
	Hepatocytes - The main structural component of the LIVER. They are specialized EPITHELIAL CELLS that are organized into interconnected plates called lobules.
	Keratinocytes - Epidermal cells which synthesize keratin and undergo characteristic changes as they move upward from the basal layers of the epidermis to the cornified (horny) layer of the skin. Successive stages of differentiation of the keratinocytes forming the epidermal layers are basal cell, spinous or prickle cell, and the granular cell.
	Melanocytes - Epidermal dendritic pigment cells which control long-term morphological color changes by alteration in their number or in the amount of pigment they produce and store in the pigment containing organelles called MELANOSOMES; MELANOPHORES are larger cells which do not exist in mammals.

Epithelial Cells Medical Definitions and Terms

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