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Glite Dictionary
sustentacular

sustentacular

9.9
Helping to support cells or body tissue
  • adjective
  • /səˌstɛnˈtækjələr/
  • Specialized
: sustentacular
  • The sustentacular cells in the tissue help support the structure of the organ.

Examples

  • Histologically, these tumors appear highly vascular and are composed of clusters (Zellballen, which is German for "cell balls") of chief cells supported by sustentacular cells and small blood vessels.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Sustentacular cells of paragangliomas stain strongly for S-100 protein.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The sustentacular cells play an essential role in maintaining the function of nerve tissues.

  • In the retina, sustentacular cells provide structural support to the photoreceptors.

Synonyms

stromal
vssustentacular
  • Specialized
1 8.6

Relating to the soft tissue that supports an organ, cell, or tumor

focuses on individual supporting cells rather than the larger connective tissue

How Supportive

sustentacular
  • Specialized
9.9
supportive
335 2.8
auxiliary
61 6.5

Surface Forms

sustentacular positive

Etymology

Sustentacular comes from an old Latin root meaning 'to hold up' and shares the same root as the familiar word sustain. So, sustentacular describes something that 'supports' or 'holds up' a structure or function, like the support cells you find in tissues.