How Do You Spell SYNCYTIUM?

Pronunciation: [sɪnsˈɪti͡əm] (IPA)

The word "syncytium" refers to a type of tissue that appears as a single entity but is composed of multiple cells. The spelling of "syncytium" can be a bit tricky, but it is pronounced as /sɪnˈsɪtiəm/. The IPA phonetic transcription shows that the first syllable is pronounced as "sin," with the stress on the first syllable. The following syllables are pronounced as "sit-ee-um." This unique spelling of "syncytium" is derived from its Greek roots, which used the letters "syn" to denote "together" and "kytos" meaning "container" or "cell."

SYNCYTIUM Meaning and Definition

1. Syncytium is a term used in biology to describe a multinucleated cell formed by the fusion of several individual cells. It refers to a type of cell structure that lacks distinct cell boundaries and appears as a continuous mass of cytoplasm containing multiple nuclei. This fusion can occur through various mechanisms, such as the fusion of cell membranes or the dissolution of cell walls. Syncytia are commonly found in multicellular organisms, including animals, plants, and fungi.

   In animals, syncytia can be observed in various tissues and organs, serving different functions. For instance, syncytial tissues play a crucial role in muscle contraction, particularly in cardiac and smooth muscles. They also contribute to the formation of some epithelial tissues, such as the placenta, by allowing the exchange of essential substances between maternal and fetal blood. Furthermore, syncytia are involved in certain viral infections, wherein the virus hijacks cellular machinery to promote the fusion of neighboring cells, facilitating the spread of infection.

   Syncytia are also prevalent in the plant kingdom. In plants, syncytia can form as a response to pathogen invasion, serving as a barrier against the spread of infectious agents. These structures are typically created by the fusion of plant cells and aid in the transmission of defense signals, enabling a coordinated immune response.

   Overall, syncytium refers to a fused, multinucleated cell that plays important roles in development, tissue function, and disease processes in a wide range of organisms.

2. 1 A multinucleated protoplasmic mass, seemingly an aggregation of several cells but without any perceptible cell-outlines. 2. A nucleated protoplasmic membrane, without cell-outlines, lining the blood lacunae of the placenta; placental plasmodium.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for SYNCYTIUM

• synchytirum
• ayncytium
• zyncytium
• xyncytium
• dyncytium
• eyncytium
• wyncytium
• stncytium
• sgncytium
• shncytium
• suncytium
• s7ncytium
• s6ncytium
• sybcytium
• symcytium
• syjcytium
• syhcytium
• synxytium
• synvytium
• synfytium
• syncytum
• synagnium
• synclytism
• syncaelum
• synchtism

Etymology of SYNCYTIUM

The word "syncytium" is derived from the Greek roots "syn", meaning "together", and "kytos", meaning "cell". The term was first coined and used in the field of biology to describe a multinucleated cell formed by the fusion of multiple individual cells.

Similar spelling word for SYNCYTIUM

• synchytrium.

Plural form of SYNCYTIUM is SYNCYTIA