The spelling of the word "principal cell" follows English language conventions. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced as [ˈprɪnsəpl sɛl]. The first syllable "prin" is pronounced with a short "i" sound, followed by the stress on the second syllable "ci". The "a" in "pal" is pronounced with a short "a" sound, and "cell" is pronounced with a soft "s" and short "e" sound. "Principal cell" refers to the most important cell in a tissue or organ, such as the principal cells in the salivary glands.
A principal cell refers to a specialized type of cell that plays a crucial and predominant role in a particular tissue or organ in an organism. These cells are vital for carrying out the main functions and maintaining the structural integrity of the tissue or organ. Principal cells are often responsible for performing the primary tasks associated with a specific physiological process, thereby influencing the overall function of the tissue or organ involved.
Principal cells are characterized by unique features or properties that distinguish them from other cell types within the same tissue. These properties may include specific cell morphology, distinctive cell surface markers, specialized enzymes, or unique gene expression patterns.
The principal cell concept is commonly used in various disciplines, such as biology, anatomy, and medicine, to describe the most important or specialized cells within a given context. For instance, in the kidney, the principal cells of the collecting duct are responsible for regulating the reabsorption of water and the excretion of waste products. In the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, the principal cells are the beta cells, which produce and release insulin. Thus, understanding the characteristics and functions of principal cells is crucial to the understanding of specific tissues, organs, and their associated physiological processes.
Adelomorphous c.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "principal" comes from the Latin word "principalis", which is derived from the noun "princeps", meaning "first" or "chief". The term "principal cell" refers to the main or most important cell within a particular context, such as in biology or sciences. The word "cell" originated from the Latin word "cella", which means "small room" or "storeroom". In this case, "principal cell" indicates a central or fundamental unit within a system, often possessing key functions or characteristics.