Transmission and scanning electron microscopy of the human ceruminous apocrine gland. II. Myoepithelial cells. 1976

I Kawabata, and K Kurosumi

The myoepithelial cells of the human ceruminous apocrine gland were observed with transmission and scanning electron microscopes. The myoepithelial cells are long fibrous cells about 100-150 mum in length and 3-5 mum in width. They are arranged in parallel with each other, and their long axes are parallel to that of the secretory tubule itself. The tips of cells are often sharply pointed and their lateral tapering surface may be contiguous with adjacent cells forming a side-by-side contact, while other cells may have a blunt tip which is conjuncted with a similar tip of the next cell forming an end-to-end junction. The myoepithelial cells are joined to each other by desmosomes and there are also desmosomes at their junction with secretory cells. The outer surface of the cell abutting on the basal lamina has some exaggerated densities which are undoubtedly identical to the hemidesmosomes of epidermal cells. There are well developed foldings in the plasma membrane of the secretory cells, but the surface of the myoepithelial cells has very few foldings and projections. The relative shortage of intercellular attachment devices between the secretory and myeopithelial cells makes it easy to peel off the secretory cells to disclose the myoepithelium, a useful feature of scanning electron microscopy. The nucleus-containing part of the cell protrudes slightly upward and invades the secretory epithelium. The cytoplasmic rim surrounding the nucleus contains a small Golgi apparatus and some other organelles. The cytoplasm of the basal half of the cell contains closely packed myofilaments running parallel to the long axis of the cell. There is no definite arrangement of thin and thick myofilaments. Microtubules which often occur in pairs are arranged parallel to the myofilaments.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D008855 Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Microscopy in which the object is examined directly by an electron beam scanning the specimen point-by-point. The image is constructed by detecting the products of specimen interactions that are projected above the plane of the sample, such as backscattered electrons. Although SCANNING TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY also scans the specimen point by point with the electron beam, the image is constructed by detecting the electrons, or their interaction products that are transmitted through the sample plane, so that is a form of TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY. Scanning Electron Microscopy,Electron Scanning Microscopy,Electron Microscopies, Scanning,Electron Microscopy, Scanning,Electron Scanning Microscopies,Microscopies, Electron Scanning,Microscopies, Scanning Electron,Microscopy, Electron Scanning,Microscopy, Scanning Electron,Scanning Electron Microscopies,Scanning Microscopies, Electron,Scanning Microscopy, Electron
D009130 Muscle, Smooth Unstriated and unstriped muscle, one of the muscles of the internal organs, blood vessels, hair follicles, etc. Contractile elements are elongated, usually spindle-shaped cells with centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle fibers are bound together into sheets or bundles by reticular fibers and frequently elastic nets are also abundant. (From Stedman, 25th ed) Muscle, Involuntary,Smooth Muscle,Involuntary Muscle,Involuntary Muscles,Muscles, Involuntary,Muscles, Smooth,Smooth Muscles
D009940 Organoids An organization of cells into an organ-like structure. Organoids can be generated in culture, e.g., self-organized three-dimensional tissue structures derived from STEM CELLS (see MICROPHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS). They are also found in certain NEOPLASMS. Organoid
D002462 Cell Membrane The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D002571 Cerumen The yellow or brown waxy secretions produced by vestigial apocrine sweat glands in the external ear canal. Ear Wax,Wax, Ear
D003896 Desmosomes A type of junction that attaches one cell to its neighbor. One of a number of differentiated regions which occur, for example, where the cytoplasmic membranes of adjacent epithelial cells are closely apposed. It consists of a circular region of each membrane together with associated intracellular microfilaments and an intercellular material which may include, for example, mucopolysaccharides. (From Glick, Glossary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990; Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed) Desmosome
D004424 Ear Canal The narrow passage way that conducts the sound collected by the EAR AURICLE to the TYMPANIC MEMBRANE. Auditory Canal, External,External Acoustic Canal,External Acoustic Meatus,External Auditory Canal,External Ear Canal,Acoustic Canal, External,Acoustic Canals, External,Acoustic Meatus, External,Auditory Canals, External,Canal, Ear,Canal, External Ear,Canals, Ear,Canals, External Ear,Ear Canal, External,Ear Canals,Ear Canals, External,External Acoustic Canals,External Auditory Canals,External Ear Canals
D004847 Epithelial Cells Cells that line the inner and outer surfaces of the body by forming cellular layers (EPITHELIUM) or masses. Epithelial cells lining the SKIN; the MOUTH; the NOSE; and the ANAL CANAL derive from ectoderm; those lining the RESPIRATORY SYSTEM and the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM derive from endoderm; others (CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM and LYMPHATIC SYSTEM) derive from mesoderm. Epithelial cells can be classified mainly by cell shape and function into squamous, glandular and transitional epithelial cells. Adenomatous Epithelial Cells,Columnar Glandular Epithelial Cells,Cuboidal Glandular Epithelial Cells,Glandular Epithelial Cells,Squamous Cells,Squamous Epithelial Cells,Transitional Epithelial Cells,Adenomatous Epithelial Cell,Cell, Adenomatous Epithelial,Cell, Epithelial,Cell, Glandular Epithelial,Cell, Squamous,Cell, Squamous Epithelial,Cell, Transitional Epithelial,Cells, Adenomatous Epithelial,Cells, Epithelial,Cells, Glandular Epithelial,Cells, Squamous,Cells, Squamous Epithelial,Cells, Transitional Epithelial,Epithelial Cell,Epithelial Cell, Adenomatous,Epithelial Cell, Glandular,Epithelial Cell, Squamous,Epithelial Cell, Transitional,Epithelial Cells, Adenomatous,Epithelial Cells, Glandular,Epithelial Cells, Squamous,Epithelial Cells, Transitional,Glandular Epithelial Cell,Squamous Cell,Squamous Epithelial Cell,Transitional Epithelial Cell
D004848 Epithelium The layers of EPITHELIAL CELLS which cover the inner and outer surfaces of the cutaneous, mucus, and serous tissues and glands of the body. Mesothelium,Epithelial Tissue,Mesothelial Tissue,Epithelial Tissues,Mesothelial Tissues,Tissue, Epithelial,Tissue, Mesothelial,Tissues, Epithelial,Tissues, Mesothelial

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