Chief cells
Chief Cells
Chief cells, also known as zymogenic cells or peptic cells, are cells in the stomach that release pepsinogen and chymosin. The term "chief cell" is derived from the Greek word "cheif", meaning "head" or "ruling", reflecting their crucial role in the stomach's function.
Pronunciation
Chief cells are pronounced as /ˈtʃiːf sɛlz/.
Etymology
The term "chief cell" is derived from the English word "chief", meaning "head" or "ruling", and the Latin word "cella", meaning "small room". The term reflects the cell's primary role in the stomach.
Function
Chief cells are found in the gastric glands of the stomach. They are responsible for secreting pepsinogen, an inactive form of pepsin. Pepsinogen is activated by the acidic environment of the stomach to become pepsin, which aids in the digestion of proteins.
Related Terms
- Gastric glands: The glands in the stomach lining that contain chief cells.
- Pepsinogen: The inactive form of pepsin that is secreted by chief cells.
- Pepsin: An enzyme that breaks down proteins in the stomach. It is activated from pepsinogen by the acidic environment of the stomach.
- Chymosin: Also known as rennin, it is an enzyme that coagulates milk protein, aiding in the digestion of dairy products. It is also secreted by chief cells.
See Also
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