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Glite Dictionary
Sertoli cell

Sertoli cell

1 7.4
A long cell in the tubes of the testis that supports and feeds growing sperm cells
  • noun
  • /sərˈtoʊli ˌsɛl/
  • Specialized
: célula de Sertoli
  • Sertoli cells are essential for supporting the development of sperm in the testes.

Examples

  • Oral exposure to lead acetate changed the arrangement and shape of and reduced the number of Sertoli cells.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Oral exposure to lead acetate changed the arrangement and shape of spermatogonial cells and reduced the number of Sertoli cells.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The function of Sertoli cells includes nourishing and protecting the growing sperm cells.

  • Damage to Sertoli cells can lead to decreased sperm production in males.

Surface Forms

Sertoli cell singular
Sertoli cells plural

Morphology

Sertoli + cell

The element 'Sertoli' is a proper name/eponym with no independent lexical meaning a B1 learner could use to infer function, and 'cell' only signals a generic biological unit. Knowing both constituents therefore does not allow a learner to derive that this specific cell supports and nourishes developing sperm, so the compound is not compositional for learners.

Etymology

Sertoli cell is named after the Italian scientist Enrico Sertoli, who first described these long cells in the testes. Picture a nurse holding and feeding tiny developing sperm, and you get why these cells are said to 'support' and 'nourish' sperm.