centrosome

American  

[sen-truh-sohm] / ˈsɛn trəˌsoʊm /

noun

Cell Biology.

1. a small region near the nucleus in the cell cytoplasm, containing the centrioles.

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centrosome British  

/ ˌsɛntrəˈsɒmɪk, ˈsɛntrəˌsəʊm /

noun

1. Also called: centrosphere.  a small body in a cell where microtubules are produced. In animal cells it surrounds the centriole

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centrosome Scientific  

/ sĕn′trə-sōm′ /

1. A specialized region of the cytoplasm that is located next to the nucleus of a cell and contains the centrioles. The cells of most eukaryotes except plants have centrosomes.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• centrosomic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of centrosome

First recorded in 1895–1900; centro- + -some ³

Compare meaning

How does centrosome compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• centrosome vs. centromere

Example Sentences

The centrosome has two bodies perpendicular to each other, the centrioles, and has an unknown purpose in cell division.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

However, the exact function of the centrioles in cell division isn’t clear, because cells that have had the centrosome removed can still divide, and plant cells, which lack centrosomes, are capable of cell division.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Animal cells each have a centrosome and lysosomes, whereas most plant cells do not.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The centrosome has two bodies, the centrioles, with an unknown role in cell division.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

But the egg substance is derived from the mother alone; the centrosome, at least in some cases and perhaps in all, is derived only from the father, while the chromosomes are derived from both parents.

From The Story of the Living Machine A Review of the Conclusions of Modern Biology in Regard to the Mechanism Which Controls the Phenomena of Living Activity by Conn, H. W. (Herbert William)