CELL MIGRATION Meaning and
Definition
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Cell migration refers to the collective movement of cells from one location to another within an organism. It is a fundamental process during embryonic development, tissue repair, and immune response. This coordinated movement of cells is essential for various biological processes, including the formation of organs and tissues, wound healing, and immune cell trafficking.
Cell migration involves a series of highly complex and tightly regulated events. It begins with the detachment of cells from their original location, followed by their movement towards a specific destination. This migration can occur individually or collectively, with cells often interacting and communicating with each other to ensure proper coordination.
There are different modes of cell migration, including amoeboid and mesenchymal migration. Amoeboid migration involves a round cell shape and relies on protrusive structures called pseudopodia, while mesenchymal migration is characterized by an elongated cell shape and requires the breakdown and formation of cell-cell adhesions.
Cell migration is mediated by a variety of molecular mechanisms, including changes in cell adhesion, cytoskeletal dynamics, and signaling pathways. Guidance cues, such as chemical gradients or physical cues, help determine the direction of cell migration. Cells respond to these cues through the activation of intracellular signaling pathways, which control processes like cell polarization, protrusion formation, and adhesion modulation.
Understanding cell migration is crucial for various fields, including developmental biology, regenerative medicine, and cancer research. Alterations in cell migration can lead to developmental defects, impaired wound healing, or pathological conditions such as metastasis, where cancer cells migrate to distant sites in the body.
Common Misspellings for CELL MIGRATION
- xell migration
- vell migration
- fell migration
- dell migration
- cwll migration
- csll migration
- cdll migration
- crll migration
- c4ll migration
- c3ll migration
- cekl migration
- cepl migration
- ceol migration
- celk migration
- celp migration
- celo migration
- cell nigration
- cell kigration
- cell jigration
- cell mugration
Etymology of CELL MIGRATION
The term "cell migration" comes from the combination of two words: "cell" and "migration".
The word "cell" originated from Latin "cellula", which means "small room" or "small chamber". It was first used in a biological context by Robert Hooke in the 17th century to describe the basic unit of life, as he observed the tiny compartments in cork under a microscope. Since then, "cell" has been commonly used to refer to the structural and functional unit of living organisms.
The word "migration" comes from Latin "migratus", which means "to change one's residence" or "to move from place to place". It can be traced back to the Indo-European root "mei", meaning "to change" or "to move".
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