SPOROZOOID Meaning and
Definition
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A sporozooid refers to an asexual, motile form of a protozoan parasite belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. It is a specialized cell that is capable of asexual reproduction, particularly within the life cycle of certain sporozoan organisms. Sporozooids are commonly found in the class Sporozoa, which includes the well-known Plasmodium species responsible for causing malaria in humans.
Typically, sporozooids are minute, single-celled structures that possess a specialized organelle called the apical complex. This complex enables the sporozooid to invade host cells, upon which it typically feeds and reproduces. Due to their small size and ability to move, sporozooids can traverse through various tissues of the host and target specific organs.
The life cycle of sporozoans generally involves the production of sporozooids, which are produced from specialized cells known as sporoblasts or sporocyte. These sporozooids are released into the host's bloodstream or tissues, where they may infect new cells, differentiate into other forms, or undergo asexual reproduction to form new sporozooids.
Overall, sporozooids serve as crucial components in the complex life cycles of many parasitic organisms. Their ability to reproduce asexually and move within the host's body allows them to perpetuate the infection, making them significant targets for understanding and combating diseases caused by Apicomplexan parasites.
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A falciform figure seen in certain cancerous tumors, regarded by some as a sporozoan spore or sporozoite.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SPOROZOOID
- sporozoids
- sporozoid
- aporozooid
- zporozooid
- xporozooid
- dporozooid
- eporozooid
- wporozooid
- soorozooid
- slorozooid
- s-orozooid
- s0orozooid
- spirozooid
- spkrozooid
- splrozooid
- spprozooid
- sp0rozooid
- sp9rozooid
- spoeozooid
- spodozooid
Etymology of SPOROZOOID
The word "sporozooid" is derived from two roots: "sporo" and "zooid".
The first part, "sporo", comes from the Greek word "sporos", which means "seed" or "spore". In biology, a spore refers to a reproductive structure that is capable of developing into a new organism.
The second part, "zooid", also has Greek origins. It is derived from the word "zoion", meaning "animal" or "living being". In biology, a zooid refers to an individual that is part of a colonial or cooperative organism.
Combining these two roots, "sporozooid" refers to a type of non-motile or immobile reproductive cell or individual that gives rise to spores.
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