vacuolization

1 9.9

Small spaces that form inside cells and often hold liquid after cell damage

noun
/ˌvæk.ju.oʊ.lɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

Specialized

: vacuolización

In patients suffering from certain diseases, vacuolization of cells can indicate underlying cellular damage.

Examples

Electron microscopic examination of the excised segment of the right cochlear nerve revealed degenerative changes consisting of mild swelling and vacuolization of myelin sheaths.

Academic text (1995)
This appears primarily in the spinous zone, and intercellular vacuolization indicating severe tissue damage is not seen.

Academic text (2001)
The study showed that vacuolization occurs in cells exposed to high levels of stress and toxins.
During the examination, the pathologist noted significant vacuolization in the affected tissue samples.

Synonyms

vacuolation

vsvacuolization

Specialized

9.9

A condition when small empty spaces form inside cells or tissue

refers to the same formation but often signals disease or cellular activity

Surface Forms

vacuolization singular

vacuolizations plural

Morphology

vacuolization = vacuolize (semi-transparent) = vacuole + ize + ation

The noun is regularly formed from the verb 'vacuolize', but the technical biological sense is specialized rather than fully obvious to an average learner.

Etymology

Vacuolization begins with vacu-, which means 'empty' and appears in familiar words like vacuum and vacant, while the ending -ole means 'small', so the word points to small empty spaces called vacuoles inside cells. So, vacuolization is the process of forming those small empty pockets in cells, which is why doctors and scientists see it when cells are injured.