Microtubule

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A tubular structure made of protein that forms part of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells; these components play a crucial role in cell shape and transport processes; they are also involved in cellular division by forming the mitotic spindle
2. A protein filament forming part of the cytoskeletal framework of a cell, providing structural support and facilitating intracellular transport; these structures are essential during mitosis as they help segregate chromosomes; they also assist in maintaining cell integrity
3. Composed of polymerized tubulin proteins, these cylindrical structures are critical for maintaining cellular organization and function; they aid in the distribution of organelles and chromosomes during cell division; they also support overall cellular form

Etymology: "Microtubule" is a compound built from two parts that each come from Latin and Greek. The first, "micro-", comes from Ancient Greek "mīkrós", meaning "small," and entered English as a combining form. The second, "tubule", is a diminutive of "tube": it comes from Latin "tubulus", itself a little form of "tubus", meaning "pipe" or "tube." So the word literally means "a small tiny tube," with the Greek and Latin elements each adding a layer of smallness. The parts were fitted together in English, as the source's "micro- + tubule" shows, so the word is a modern scientific coinage rather than an ancient one. Ancient Greeks and Romans had no concept of protein filaments inside cells, and "microtubule" was built from existing classical building blocks to name a structure that only became visible with later microscopes.

Synonyms: filament, tube, structure