Langerhans cells
Langerhans Cells
Langerhans cells (pronunciation: lang-er-hanz cells) are a type of dendritic cell found in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. They are named after the German physician Paul Langerhans, who first described them in 1868.
Etymology
The term "Langerhans cells" is derived from the name of Paul Langerhans, who discovered these cells during his medical research. The suffix "-hans" is a common Germanic patronymic, indicating "son of."
Function
Langerhans cells are part of the immune system and play a crucial role in the body's defense against infections. They are responsible for capturing, processing, and presenting antigens to the T-cells, thus initiating an immune response.
Related Terms
- Dendritic Cells: These are antigen-presenting cells that process antigen material and present it on the cell surface to the T-cells of the immune system. Langerhans cells are a specific type of dendritic cell.
- Epidermis: The outermost layer of the skin where Langerhans cells are primarily located.
- Antigens: Substances that can induce an immune response. They are captured and presented by Langerhans cells to T-cells.
- T-cells: A type of white blood cell that is essential for immune responses. They are activated by the antigens presented by Langerhans cells.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Langerhans cells
- Wikipedia's article - Langerhans cells
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