Thymocyte
Thymocyte
Thymocyte (/θaɪˈmoʊsaɪt/; from Greek thymos meaning "life force" and -cyte meaning "cell") is a lymphocyte that originates from bone marrow and matures in the thymus. Thymocytes are responsible for the development of T-cells, a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune response.
Etymology
The term "thymocyte" is derived from the Greek words thymos, which translates to "life force", and -cyte, a suffix used in scientific terminology to denote "cell". The term thus refers to the cells that reside in the thymus and are vital for the immune system.
Function
Thymocytes are precursors to T-cells, which are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune response. They originate in the bone marrow and migrate to the thymus, where they mature and differentiate into various types of T-cells, including helper T-cells, cytotoxic T-cells, and regulatory T-cells.
Related Terms
- Lymphocyte: A type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system. Thymocytes are a subtype of lymphocytes.
- T-cell: A type of lymphocyte that matures in the thymus. Thymocytes are precursors to T-cells.
- Thymus: A lymphoid organ where thymocytes mature.
- Bone marrow: The spongy tissue inside some bones where blood cells, including thymocytes, are produced.
- Immune response: The body's defensive reaction to foreign substances or organisms. T-cells, which are derived from thymocytes, play a crucial role in the immune response.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Thymocyte
- Wikipedia's article - Thymocyte
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski