CONTRACTILE RING Meaning and
Definition
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A contractile ring is a specialized protein structure found in animal cells during cell division, particularly in cytokinesis, the final stage of cell division. It is a ring-shaped bundle of actin and myosin filaments located at the equatorial region of the cell, perpendicular to the long axis. This ring structure forms around the cell, constricting and eventually dividing it into two daughter cells.
The contractile ring is responsible for the physical separation of the two daughter cells by exerting a constriction force. Actin filaments within the ring shorten through the action of myosin, leading to the contraction of the ring. This constriction gradually increases until the cell membrane of the cell pinches inward, causing the two new cell membranes to form. The process is guided by proteins that provide structural support and regulate the contractile activity.
The contractile ring plays a vital role in ensuring equal distribution of cellular components between the two daughter cells. It also aids in maintaining the proper integrity and function of each newly formed cell. The formation and regulation of this ring are highly dynamic and tightly controlled by various regulatory proteins.
Overall, the contractile ring is an essential structure in cell division that enables the successful completion of cytokinesis, ensuring the proper distribution of genetic material and cellular components to generate two identical daughter cells.
Common Misspellings for CONTRACTILE RING
- xontractile ring
- vontractile ring
- fontractile ring
- dontractile ring
- cintractile ring
- ckntractile ring
- clntractile ring
- cpntractile ring
- c0ntractile ring
- c9ntractile ring
- cobtractile ring
- comtractile ring
- cojtractile ring
- cohtractile ring
- conrractile ring
- confractile ring
- congractile ring
- conyractile ring
- con6ractile ring
- con5ractile ring
Etymology of CONTRACTILE RING
The term "contractile ring" is a scientific term used in cell biology and refers to the structure that forms during cytokinesis, the process of cell division. The etymology of the word can be understood by breaking it down into its constituent parts:
1. Contractile: The word "contractile" is derived from the Latin verb "contrahere", which means "to draw together" or "to shorten". This Latin word is a combination of "con", meaning "together", and "trahere", meaning "to pull". In the context of cell biology, "contractile" refers to the ability of a substance or structure to constrict or shorten in size.
2. Ring: The word "ring" has Old English origins and is derived from the Old Norse word "hringr". It originally referred to a circular band or hoop made of metal or other material.
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