Podocyte
Podocyte
Podocyte (pronunciation: /ˈpɒdəsaɪt/) is a type of cell found in the kidney, specifically in the Bowman's capsule of the glomerulus.
Etymology
The term "podocyte" is derived from the Greek words "podos" meaning foot and "kytos" meaning cell, referring to the foot-like projections of these cells.
Function
Podocytes play a crucial role in the glomerular filtration process, which is the first step in the formation of urine. They form a part of the glomerular filtration barrier, which prevents the passage of large molecules such as proteins into the urine.
Structure
Podocytes are characterized by their unique structure, which includes a cell body, major processes, and foot processes or pedicels. The foot processes interdigitate with those of neighboring podocytes and are connected by a thin filtration slit diaphragm.
Related Terms
- Glomerulus: A network of tiny blood vessels in the kidney where the filtration of blood takes place.
- Pedicels: The foot-like projections of podocytes.
- Glomerular filtration barrier: The barrier in the kidney that prevents the passage of large molecules into the urine.
- Bowman's capsule: A part of the nephron in the kidney that encloses the glomerulus.
Diseases
Damage to podocytes can lead to various kidney diseases, including Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Minimal change disease (MCD).
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Podocyte
- Wikipedia's article - Podocyte
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