1. A spot-like junction between adjacent cells that provides strong mechanical attachment and helps cells resist separation.
Usage: biology; cell biology; technical

Examples

• Desmosomes are particularly abundant in tissues that experience mechanical stress, such as skin and heart muscle.
• The desmosome contains specialized proteins called desmogleins and desmocollins that link adjacent cells together.
• Mutations affecting desmosome proteins can lead to blistering disorders and weakened cell-to-cell connections.
• Under the electron microscope, desmosomes appear as dense, disc-shaped structures on the cell membrane.
• Desmosomes work alongside other cell junctions to maintain the structural integrity of epithelial tissues.