THYMOCYTE Meaning and
Definition
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A thymocyte refers to a type of immature T-cell that originates in the bone marrow and migrates to the thymus gland, where it further matures and differentiates into functional T-cells. Thymocytes are integral components of the immune system and play a crucial role in the body's defense mechanisms against pathogens and abnormal cells.
Thymocytes undergo a complex process of development and selection within the thymus gland, guided by interactions with other cells and the thymic microenvironment. These cellular interactions and signals are essential for the differentiation of thymocytes into mature T-cells with a specific receptor repertoire capable of identifying and targeting foreign antigens.
The thymus provides a specialized environment that enables thymocytes to undergo positive and negative selection, which determines the survival and functional capability of the T-cells. Positive selection leads to the preservation of thymocytes with T-cell receptors (TCRs) that can weakly bind to self-antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, ensuring the recognition of self-MHC. Conversely, negative selection eliminates thymocytes that bind too strongly to self-antigens, preventing the development of autoreactive T-cells and promoting self-tolerance.
Once thymocytes successfully complete the processes of selection and maturation, they exit the thymus as mature T-cells and distribute throughout the body, ready to combat infections, cancerous cells, or other aberrant cellular activities. Thus, the thymocyte serves as a critical precursor in the intricate assembly of the adaptive immune response.
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A lymphocyte originating in the thymus gland.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for THYMOCYTE
- rhymocyte
- fhymocyte
- ghymocyte
- yhymocyte
- 6hymocyte
- 5hymocyte
- tgymocyte
- tbymocyte
- tnymocyte
- tjymocyte
- tuymocyte
- tyymocyte
- thtmocyte
- thgmocyte
- thhmocyte
- thumocyte
- th7mocyte
- th6mocyte
- thynocyte
- thykocyte
Etymology of THYMOCYTE
The word "thymocyte" is derived from the combination of two roots: "thymo-" and "-cyte".
The first part, "thymo-", comes from the Greek word "thymos", which means "soul" or "spirit". In ancient Greek philosophy, the thymos was considered one of the three parts of the soul along with the logos (reason) and eros (passion or desire). In modern usage, the term "thymos" is often associated with emotional or spiritual aspects.
The second part, "-cyte", is a common suffix used in biology to denote a cell. It is derived from the Greek word "kutos", meaning "hollow vessel" or "receptacle".
Similar spelling words for THYMOCYTE
