Parafollicular

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Clusters of cells found near hair follicles that play significant roles in several physiological activities
2. Type of endocrine cells positioned between hair follicles that contribute to hormone-driven processes affecting hair and skin
3. Refers to specialized cells located next to hair follicles that influence various bodily functions

Etymology: Parafollicular is a plain scientific compound: the prefix "para-", from Greek "para" meaning "beside" or "alongside," joined to "follicular," the adjective from "follicle." A follicle is a small sac or pouch, from Latin "folliculus," a diminutive of "follis," meaning "bellows" or "leather bag." So the whole word literally describes something lying beside a small sac. In anatomy, the term is applied to cells that sit alongside the follicles rather than inside them. The "para-" prefix does the real work here, distinguishing these cell clusters from the follicle cells proper. The prefix is widely used in medical and biological terminology in exactly this way, marking a structure as adjacent to or outside another.