pycnotic

9.9

Having a small, dark cell nucleus that shows the cell is dying

adjective
/pɪkˈnɒtɪk/

Specialized

: picnótico

The pathologist noted several pycnotic nuclei in the tissue sample.

Examples

Under the microscope, pycnotic changes indicated that the cells were undergoing apoptosis.
A pycnotic nucleus is often seen in cells affected by necrosis.
The pycnotic nuclei were observed under the microscope.
In cancer cells, pycnotic changes indicate cell death.
The pathologist noted several pycnotic nuclei in the tissue sample.
A pycnotic nucleus is often seen in cells affected by necrosis.
Under the microscope, pycnotic changes indicated that the cells were undergoing apoptosis.

Synonyms

pyknotic

vspycnotic

Specialized

1 9.9

A cell nucleus that becomes small and very dark when the cell is dying

is the same idea but uses an alternate spelling

Surface Forms

pycnotic positive

Morphology

pycnotic = pycnosis (opaque) = pycno + tic

Formally derived from the medical noun 'pycnosis' with the adjective-forming suffix '-tic', but the term is specialized and the combining form 'pycno-' is not familiar to average learners.

Etymology

Pycnotic comes from the Greek root pyknos, which means 'thick' or 'dense'. So a pycnotic nucleus is one that has become small and very dense, the 'condensed' look we see in cells that are dying.