spireme

American  

[spahy-reem] / ˈspaɪ rim /

noun

Cell Biology.

1. the threadlike chromatin of a cell nucleus, present during early meiosis or mitosis.

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spireme British  

/ ˈspaɪriːm /

noun

1. cytology the tangled mass of chromatin threads into which the nucleus of a cell is resolved at the start of mitosis

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Etymology

Origin of spireme

1885–90; < Greek speírēma coil, equivalent to speirē-, variant stem of speirâsthai to be coiled around + -ma noun suffix of result

Example Sentences

First spermatocyte, spireme stage, x the heterochromosome group.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part II by Stevens, Nettie Maria

First spermatocyte, spireme stages, showing the heterochromosome group. 133-135.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part II by Stevens, Nettie Maria

In figure 107 one sees the spireme divided into segments still joined by linin bridges.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part I by Stevens, Nettie Maria

As the thread contracts, its granular origin becomes less evident, and at the same time the coils become fewer in number; the “close” spireme of earlier stages becomes the “loose” spireme of later stages.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 "Cube" to "Daguerre, Louis" by Various

In iron-hæmatoxylin preparations this pair is often obscured by parts of the spireme which are tangled around it.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part II by Stevens, Nettie Maria