prickle cell
- noun
- /ˈprɪkəl sɛl/
- Specialized
:
célula espinosa
- The prickle cell is easily identified under the microscope by its spiny extensions.
Examples
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In cases of certain skin conditions, the prickle cells may show abnormal growth patterns.
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The prickle cells help provide structure to the skin.
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Damage to the prickle cell layer can lead to compromised skin function.
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A prickle cell is found in the epidermis.
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Under the microscope, a prickle cell can be recognized by its distinctive spiny projections.
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In the epidermis, prickle cells play a vital role in supporting the skin's structure.
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When examining a skin sample, the presence of prickle cells indicates the lower layer of the epidermis.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly descriptive: 'prickle' (a small sharp spine) modifies 'cell' (a biological unit), so the phrase denotes a cell with spiny projections, which is exactly the provided definition. This noun‑noun compositional pattern is regular and cross‑linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
The noun prickle cell comes from the word prickle because the cell looks 'prickly' under a microscope, with small spines that touch nearby cells. So, prickle cell refers to the skin cells in the lower layer of the skin that have these spiny parts.
