Transitional cells
Transitional Cells
Transitional cells (pronunciation: tran-zish-uh-nl selz) are a type of cell found in the urinary system, specifically in the urinary bladder, ureters, and part of the urethra. They are also known as urothelial cells or urothelium.
Etymology
The term "transitional" is derived from the Latin word "transitio" which means "going across" or "passage". This refers to the ability of these cells to change shape and stretch, allowing for the passage and storage of urine.
Function
Transitional cells have a unique ability to stretch and return to their normal shape. This is crucial for their function in the urinary system, where they line the urinary bladder and other parts of the urinary tract, allowing these organs to stretch when filled with urine and return to their normal shape when empty.
Related Terms
- Urothelium: Another term for transitional cells, referring to their location in the urinary system.
- Urinary bladder: An organ that stores urine, lined with transitional cells.
- Ureters: Tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, also lined with transitional cells.
- Urethra: The tube through which urine is expelled from the body, partially lined with transitional cells.
- Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of all organisms.
Diseases and Conditions
Transitional cells can be affected by various diseases and conditions, most notably transitional cell carcinoma, a type of cancer that affects the urinary system. This cancer typically starts in the cells lining the bladder but can also affect the ureters and urethra.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Transitional cells
- Wikipedia's article - Transitional cells
This WikiMD 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