Somatic cells
Somatic Cells
Somatic cells (/soʊˈmætɪk/ cells) are any cell of a living organism other than the reproductive cells. The term "somatic" is derived from the Greek word "soma", which means body.
Definition
Somatic cells are the most common type of cell within multicellular organisms. They make up the tissues, organs, and other parts of an organism's body. Unlike germ cells, which are used to form eggs in females and sperm in males, somatic cells are not involved in sexual reproduction.
Types of Somatic Cells
There are many different types of somatic cells, including:
- Neurons: These are nerve cells that transmit information to other cells.
- Epithelial cells: These cells line the surfaces of organs and structures throughout the body.
- Muscle cells: These cells are responsible for movement in the body.
- Endothelial cells: These cells line the interior surface of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels.
Function
The primary function of somatic cells is to maintain and regenerate the body. They do this through cell division, a process known as mitosis. During mitosis, a somatic cell divides to produce two identical daughter cells. This is crucial for growth, repair, and general maintenance of the body.
Genetic Material
Somatic cells are diploid, meaning they contain two sets of chromosomes - one from each parent. This is in contrast to germ cells, which are haploid and contain only one set of chromosomes.
Related Terms
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Somatic cells
- Wikipedia's article - Somatic cells
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