noun
- A mucus-secreting cell found in mucous glands and tissues, particularly in the respiratory and digestive systems.
Usage: technical; biology
Examples
- Myxocytes in the stomach lining produce protective mucus that prevents acid damage.
- The respiratory tract contains numerous myxocytes that secrete mucus to trap pathogens.
- Under the microscope, myxocytes appear as specialized cells with granular cytoplasm.
- Damage to myxocytes can reduce mucus production and compromise the body's protective barriers.
- Histologists identify myxocytes by their characteristic mucus-filled appearance in tissue samples.