Astrocyte
Astrocyte [astrocytus - LNH (Leningrad histological nomenclature); lat. astrum, Greek. astron - star, star + gist. cytus - cell; synonyms: astroglial cell, astrogliocyte] - glial mature cell, which has a stellate shape with numerous processes. Astrocytes in the nervous tissue act as a supporting structure.
The following types of astrocytes are distinguished:
- Fibrous [fibrosus - LNH (Leningrad histological nomenclature); synonyms: fibril-forming astrocyte, fibrous astrocyte] - has long, weakly branching processes; in relation to the white matter of the brain, it performs a supporting function;
- Hypertrophic (hypertrophicus; synonyms: obese astrocyte, Nissl fattened astrocyte - nrk) - has a large body with thin processes; occurs in astrocytomas;
- Monstrous (monstruosus) - a mononuclear giant astrocyte, has long clearly-shaped fibrous processes; with syringomyelia, it occurs in foci of gliomatosis;
- Tumor (tumorosus) - a giant astrocyte, has a bizarre nucleus; occurs in some brain tumors (glioblastoma multiforme);
- Piloid (piloideus; Latin pilus - hair + Greek -eides - similar) - resembles hair in shape; occurs in astrocytomas;
- Plasmatic [plasmaticus - LNH (Leningrad histological nomenclature); synonym: A. protoplasmic] - has a large number of branched short processes; performs a supporting function in relation to the gray matter of the brain.
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