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extracellular

American  
[ek-struh-sel-yuh-ler] / ˌɛk strəˈsɛl jə lər /

adjective

Biology.
  1. outside a cell or cells.


extracellular British  
/ ˌɛkstrəˈsɛljʊlə /

adjective

  1. biology situated or occurring outside a cell or cells

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

extracellular Scientific  
/ ĕk′strə-sĕl′yə-lər /
  1. Located or occurring outside a cell or cells.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of extracellular

First recorded in 1865–70; extra- + cellular


Vocabulary lists containing extracellular

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Using in vivo microdialysis, the researchers also detected higher levels of proteins associated with inflammation and stress in the extracellular environment surrounding brain cells.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

The extracellular matrix is the network of proteins and other molecules that surrounds cells and gives tissues their structure.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

The team next investigated whether extracellular vesicles released by the organoids could serve as biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease or help researchers evaluate how tissue responds to treatment.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

With additional research, she hopes extracellular vesicles might one day function as a type of liquid biopsy.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

Further growth is restricted, practically, to the extracellular regions, and the epimerite often comes to appear ultimately as a small appendage at the anterior end of the protomerite.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 5 "Greek Law" to "Ground-Squirrel" by Various

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