central body
Definition
Noun: 1. A small region of cytoplasm adjacent to the nucleus in a cell; it contains the centrioles and serves to organize the microtubules. This is a specific biological term for a structure within animal cells that is crucial for cell division and the organization of the cell's internal skeleton (cytoskeleton).
Usage
- The term central body is used almost exclusively in cell biology to describe this specific organelle.
- It is a formal, scientific term. In modern biology, the term centrosome is more commonly used.
Examples
- Noun:
- During cell division, the central body duplicates and helps form the poles of the mitotic spindle.
- Researchers observed the central body under a high-powered microscope to study its role in organizing microtubules.
Advanced Usage
- The central body is considered the main microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells. It regulates the number, polarity, and spatial arrangement of microtubules.
Variants and Related Words
- Centrosome (n): The modern and more precise synonym for central body.
- Centriole (n): One of a pair of cylindrical structures found within the central body.
- Microtubule-Organizing Center (MTOC) (n): The functional category to which the central body belongs.
Synonyms
- Centrosome
- Cell center (a less common, older term)
Notes on Different Meanings
- In a general, non-scientific context, the phrase "central body" could be interpreted literally as "a main or most important physical object." For example, "The sun is the central body of our solar system." However, this is a descriptive phrase, not a fixed biological term like the one defined above. The primary and most specific meaning of central body is the biological one.
Noun
-
small region of cytoplasm adjacent to the nucleus; contains the centrioles and serves to organize the microtubules
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