astro-
6.3
Star-shaped, having parts that spread out like rays in living things
- other
- Specialized
:
astro-
- The astro-cytes in the brain are essential for supporting and protecting neurons due to their star-shaped structure.
Examples
-
An astro-cyte is a type of cell that has a star-shaped appearance and helps in the repair of nervous tissue.
-
During development, astro-cytes play a critical role in guiding the formation of the nervous system.
-
And this sort of results in the the the Astro astrocytes moving away from the parasites and the basement membrane.
Surface Forms
astro- main
Etymology
Astro- comes from the Greek word astron meaning 'star', and in biology it often means 'star-shaped', as in astrocyte or the small star mark asterisk. That's why astro- is used for parts or cells that spread out like a star.
