How Do You Spell TONOFILAMENT?

Pronunciation: [tˈɒnəfˌɪləmənt] (IPA)

The word "tonofilament" refers to a protein filament found in cells, specifically in the cells of epithelial tissues. The spelling of this word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as: /ˈtɒnəʊfɪləmənt/. This pronunciation breaks the word down into its individual sounds, with the stress falling on the second syllable. The "o" in "tono" is pronounced as in "pot", while the "i" in "filament" is pronounced as in "sit". The word is of Greek origin, with "tonos" meaning tension and "filamentum" meaning thread.

TONOFILAMENT Meaning and Definition

1. A tonofilament refers to a thin, thread-like structure that is commonly found in the cytoplasm of various animal cells, particularly in epithelial tissues. It is considered a crucial component of cytoskeletal filaments, along with microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Tonofilaments are primarily composed of the protein keratin, which provides structural support and stability to cells.

   These filaments are responsible for maintaining the integrity of certain cell types and tissues, as they form a network that plays a vital role in cell-cell adhesion. Tonofilaments serve as anchor points for the protein complexes called desmosomes, which facilitate strong intercellular connections between adjacent cells. This allows for the creation of robust cell structures, especially in tissues exposed to mechanical stress, like the epidermis.

   Tonofilaments are especially abundant in epithelial tissues, including skin, hair, nails, and the lining of various organs, where they contribute to the rigidity and resilience of these structures. The arrangement and organization of tonofilaments can vary depending on the specific tissue type and function, but their presence is consistently associated with the reinforcement of tissue architecture and barrier functions.

   In summary, tonofilaments are thin protein structures made of keratin that form a major part of the cytoskeleton in animal cells, providing structural support and ensuring tissue integrity by mediating cell-cell adhesion.

Common Misspellings for TONOFILAMENT

• ronofilament
• fonofilament
• gonofilament
• yonofilament
• 6onofilament
• 5onofilament
• tinofilament
• tknofilament
• tlnofilament
• tpnofilament
• t0nofilament
• t9nofilament
• tobofilament
• tomofilament
• tojofilament
• tohofilament
• tonifilament
• tonkfilament
• tonlfilament
• tonpfilament

Etymology of TONOFILAMENT

The word "tonofilament" is derived from two Latin roots: "tonus" meaning tone or tension, and "filum" meaning thread or filament. Together, they form "tonofilament", which refers to a thread-like structure found in epithelial cells, particularly in the stratified squamous epithelium of the skin. These filamentous structures are composed of keratin proteins and are responsible for providing strength and rigidity to the cells.