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tonofibril

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.05 sec.
tonofibril /tono·fi·bril/ (ton´o-fi″bril) a bundle of fine filaments (tonofilaments) in certain cells, especially epithelial cells, the individual strands of which traverse the cytoplasm in all directions and extend into the cell processes to converge and insert on the desmosomes.
ton·o·fi·bril (tn-fbrl, -fbrl)
n.
One of a system of fibers found in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells.

tonofibril
[ton′əfī′bril]
Etymology: Gk, tonos, stretching, fibrilla, small fiber
a bundle of fine filaments found in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. The individual strands, or tonofilaments, spread throughout the cytoplasm and extend into the intercellular bridge to converge at the desmosome. The system of fibers functions as a supportive element within the cytoskeleton. In keratinizing epithelium the strands are the main precursor of keratin. Also called epitheliofibril, tenofibril. See also keratohyalin.

tonofibril (ton´fī´bril),
n a fibril emanating from epithelial cells. Recent electron microscopy has shown such fibrils to be irregular formations of the cell membrane.
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Tonsil.

tonofibril
one of the fine fibrils in epithelial cells, thought to give a supporting framework to the cell.


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