Birbeck granules

Birbeck granules

Birbeck granules are "tennis-racket" or rod shaped cytoplasmic organelles with a central linear density and a striated appearance. Function is under question, but one theory is that they migrate to the periphery of the Langerhans cells and release its contents into the extracellular matrix. Another theory is that the Birbeck granule functions in receptor-mediated endocytosis, similar to clathrin-coated pits.

Birbeck granules were discovered by Michael Stanley Clive Birbeck (1925-2005), a British scientist and electron microscopist who worked at the Chester Beatty Cancer Research Institute, London from 1950 until 1981. [WhoNamedIt|synd|2221]

References

Frienkel RK, Woodley DT. The Biology of the Skin. Parthenon Publishing. 2001

External links

* [http://moon.ouhsc.edu/kfung/jty1/NeuroTest/Q41-Ans.htm Image at ouhsc.edu]
* [http://medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/EM/EM011.html Image at utah.edu]
* [http://www.humpath.com/article.php3?id_article=5997 Image at humpath.com]
* [http://zappa.ultrakohl.com/Wsit97/Aug97/aug97p4.htm Image at ultrakohl.com]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Birbeck granules — membrane bound, rod or tennis racquet–shaped inclusions with a central linear, longitudinally striated nucleus, found in the cytoplasm of Langerhans cells. Called also Langerhans g s. Birbeck granules (arrows) in the cytoplasm of a Langerhans… …   Medical dictionary

  • Birbeck granules — Characteristic inclusion bodies seen by electron microscopy in histiocytes (Langerhans cells) of patients with histiocytosis X, a group of diseases with uncertain pathogenesis …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • Gránulos de Birbeck — Los gránulos de Birbeck son orgánulos citoplasmáticos[1] en forma de barra o de raqueta de tenis con una densidad lineal central y aspecto estriado. Son un hallazgo microscópica característico en la histiocitosis de células de Langerhans… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Langerhans cells granules islets (islands) — Lan·ger·hans cells, granules, islets (islands) (lahngґər hahnz) [Paul Langerhans, German pathologist, 1847–1888] see under cell and islet and see Birbeck granules, under granule …   Medical dictionary

  • Langerhans granules — Birbeck g s …   Medical dictionary

  • vermiform granules — Birbeck g s …   Medical dictionary

  • Granule de Birbeck — En biologie, les granules de Birbeck sont des organites en forme de raquette dont le « manche » est strié. On ne retrouve ces granules que dans les cellules de Langerhans (les cellules dendritiques de l’épiderme), et ils permettent donc …   Wikipédia en Français

  • HX bodies — Birbeck granules …   Medical dictionary

  • CD207 — CD207, langerin (Cluster of Differentiation 207) is a human protein encoded by the gene|CD207 gene.cite web | title = Entrez Gene: CD207 CD207 molecule, langerin| url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=gene Cmd=ShowDetailView… …   Wikipedia

  • Langerhans cell — Not to be confused with the beta cells making up the islets of Langerhans. Langerhans cells are dendritic cells abundant in epidermis, containing large granules called Birbeck granules. They are normally present in lymph nodes, and can be found… …   Wikipedia

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