reticuloendothelial

reticuloendothelial /re·tic·u·lo·en·do·the·li·al/ (-en″do-the´le-al) pertaining to the reticuloendothelium or to the reticuloendothelial system.

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re·tic·u·lo·en·do·the·li·al (r-tky-l-nd-thl-l)

adj.

Of, relating to, or being the widely diffused bodily system constituting all phagocytic cells except certain white blood cells.

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reticuloendothelial [rĕ-tik″u-lo-en″do-the´le-al]

pertaining to the reticuloendothelium or to the reticuloendothelial system.

reticuloendothelial system a network of cells and tissues found throughout the body, especially in the blood, general connective tissue, spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. They have both endothelial and reticular attributes and the ability to take up colloidal dye particles. Some of the reticuloendothelial cells found in the blood and in the general connective tissue are unusually large in size. These cells are concerned with blood cell formation and destruction, storage of fatty materials, and metabolism of iron and pigment, and they play a role in inflammation and immunity. Some of the cells are motile—that is, capable of spontaneous motion—and phagocytic—they can ingest and destroy unwanted foreign material.



The reticuloendothelial cells of the spleen possess the ability to dispose of disintegrated erythrocytes. They do not, however, destroy hemoglobin, which is liberated in the process.

The reticuloendothelial cells located in the blood cavities of the liver are called Kupffer cells. These cells, together with the cells of the general connective tissue and bone marrow, are capable of transforming into bile pigment the hemoglobin released by disintegrated erythrocytes.

Reticuloendothelial system. From Frazier et al., 1996.