Adipocyte
Definition
A specialized cell of adipose connective tissue, responsible for the synthesis, storage, and metabolism of lipids as triglycerides; this structural unit contains a voluminous central lipid droplet that pushes the nucleus and cytoplasm to the periphery. Adipocytes play an essential role in body energy homeostasis, thermal insulation, and the secretion of specific hormones (adipokines), such as leptin.
Bilingual Equivalents
- Adipocyte
- Fat cell
Grammatical & Source Details
| Inflection Type | Neuter noun, regular structural plural variations aligned with standard modern cytology vocabulary. |
| Formation | Scientific compound built from 'adipo-' (fat) and the suffix '-cyte' (cell), rooted in Latin and Ancient Greek. |
| Spelling / Pronunciation | [a.di.po.ˈtʃit] |
| Source | Stedman's Medical Dictionary and Cellular Ultrastructure Manual |
Contextual Usage Examples
RO: La microscopul electronic, fiecare adipocit matur apare ca un inel cu pecete din cauza picăturii mari de grăsime.
EN: Under the electron microscope, each mature adipocyte appears as a signet ring due to the large fat droplet.
RO: Obezitatea se caracterizează atât prin mărirea în volum a fiecărui adipocit, cât și prin proliferarea lor numerică.
EN: Obesity is characterized both by the enlargement in volume of each adipocyte and by their numerical proliferation.
RO: Cercetătorii au studiat modul în care insulina stimulează captarea glucozei de către un adipocit izolat.
EN: The researchers studied how insulin stimulates glucose uptake by an isolated adipocyte.
Idioms & Phrases
Adipocit alb / White adipocyte
RO: Celulă uniloculară sferică predominantă în organism, destinată în principal stocării de energie pe termen lung.
EN: Spherical unilocular cell predominant in the body, primarily intended for long-term energy storage.
Adipocit brun / Brown adipocyte
RO: Celulă multiloculară bogată în mitocondrii, specializată structural în generarea de căldură prin termogeneză.
EN: Multilocular cell rich in mitochondria, structurally specialized in heat generation through thermogenesis.
Diferențiere de adipocit / Adipocyte differentiation
RO: Procesul biologic (adipogeneză) prin care celulele stem mezenchimale se transformă în celule adipoase mature.
EN: The biological process (adipogenesis) through which mesenchymal stem cells transform into mature adipose cells.
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