DIAPEDESIS Meaning and
Definition
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Diapedesis is a term commonly used in biology and medicine to describe the process through which blood cells, particularly white blood cells, exit the bloodstream and enter into the surrounding tissues. It refers to the migration of these cells through the walls of blood vessels, specifically the capillaries, and into the interstitial spaces where they can perform their functions effectively.
During diapedesis, white blood cells undergo a series of intricate steps. First, they roll and stick to the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels. Then, they squeeze through the gaps between these cells or penetrate through them, aided by the release of chemical signals and cell adhesion molecules. This process allows white blood cells to reach sites of infection, inflammation, or injury, where they play a vital role in the body's immune response.
Diapedesis is an essential mechanism for the proper functioning of the body's immune system. It helps deliver immune cells to the sites of infection or tissue damage, enabling them to interact with pathogens or damaged cells and initiate a defensive response. This process also contributes to the regulation of inflammation and tissue repair.
Overall, diapedesis plays a pivotal role in facilitating the movement of white blood cells from the bloodstream into tissues, enabling them to respond to threats and maintain tissue homeostasis. It is a fundamental process for understanding and studying immune responses and various disease states.
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The transudation of blood or any of its formed elements, especially the erythrocytes, through the unruptured walls of the blood-vessels.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for DIAPEDESIS
- siapedesis
- xiapedesis
- ciapedesis
- fiapedesis
- riapedesis
- eiapedesis
- duapedesis
- djapedesis
- dkapedesis
- doapedesis
- d9apedesis
- d8apedesis
- dizpedesis
- dispedesis
- diwpedesis
- diqpedesis
- diaoedesis
- dialedesis
- dia-edesis
- diapedesias
Etymology of DIAPEDESIS
The word "diapedesis" comes from the Ancient Greek roots "dia-" meaning through and "pēsis" meaning a jumping or leaping. In Greek, "dia-" is a prefix indicating movement through or across, and "pēsis" is a noun derived from the verb "πῆδος" (pēdos) meaning "I jump" or "I leap". Therefore, "diapedesis" literally translates to "a jumping or leaping through", which describes the process of white blood cells passing through blood vessel walls to reach tissues during inflammation or immune responses.
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