CORPUSCLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does corpuscle mean? 

• CORPUSCLE (noun)
  The noun CORPUSCLE has 2 senses:

1. (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything

2. either of two types of cells (erythrocytes and leukocytes) and sometimes including platelets

  Familiarity information: CORPUSCLE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CORPUSCLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

atom; corpuscle; molecule; mote; particle; speck

Hypernyms ("corpuscle" is a kind of...):

material; stuff (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "corpuscle"):

grain (a relatively small granular particle of a substance)

grinding (material resulting from the process of grinding)

chylomicron (a microscopic particle of triglycerides produced in the intestines during digestion; in the bloodstream they release their fatty acids into the blood)

flyspeck (a tiny dark speck made by the excrement of a fly)

identification particle (a tiny particle of material that can be added to a product to indicate the source of manufacture)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Either of two types of cells (erythrocytes and leukocytes) and sometimes including platelets

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

blood cell; blood corpuscle; corpuscle

Hypernyms ("corpuscle" is a kind of...):

somatic cell; vegetative cell (any of the cells of a plant or animal except the reproductive cells; a cell that does not participate in the production of gametes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "corpuscle"):

leucocyte; leukocyte; WBC; white blood cell; white blood corpuscle; white cell; white corpuscle (blood cells that engulf and digest bacteria and fungi; an important part of the body's defense system)

packed cells (a preparation of blood cells separated from the liquid plasma)

erythrocyte; RBC; red blood cell (a mature blood cell that contains hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the bodily tissues; a biconcave disc that has no nucleus)

Holonyms ("corpuscle" is a part of...):

blood (the fluid (red in vertebrates) that is pumped through the body by the heart and contains plasma, blood cells, and platelets)

Derivation:

corpuscular (of or relating to corpuscles)

 Context examples 

SYN meniscus tactus, Merkel's corpuscle, Merkel's tactile cell, Merkel's tactile disk, tactile disk.

(Merkel's Corpuscle, NCI Thesaurus)

Do not confuse with Merkel's corpuscle which is a combination of a neuron and and epidermal cell.

(Murine Merkel Cells, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

A neurofibroma characterized by the presence of structures which resemble Vater-Pacini corpuscles.

(Pacinian Neurofibroma, NCI Thesaurus)

It is characterized by acinar differentiation, the formation of squamoid corpuscles, and the formation of stromal bands.

(Pancreatoblastoma, NCI Thesaurus)

A nephron with its corpuscle in the cortex and Loop of Henle in the renal medulla close to its junction with the renal cortex.

(Cortical Nephron, NCI Thesaurus)

SYN corpusculum tactus, oval corpuscle, touch corpuscle.

(Meissner Corpuscle, NCI Thesaurus)

Cellular population adjacent to the renal corpuscle, composed of the macula densa, the juxtaglomerular cells, and the extraglomerular mesangial cells.

(Juxtaglomerular Apparatus, NCI Thesaurus)

One of the three layers comprising the basal lamina of the renal corpuscle membrane that is between the lamina densa and the endothelial cells.

(Lamina Rara Interna, NCI Thesaurus)

One of the three layers comprising the basal lamina of the renal corpuscle membrane that is between the podocytes and the lamina densa.

(Lamina Rara Externa, NCI Thesaurus)

A nephron in which the renal corpuscle is in close proximity to the renal medulla while the proximal convoluted tubule and loop of Henle are located much deeper in the kidney.

(Juxtamedullary Nephron, NCI Thesaurus)