Clasmatocyte

/klæzˈmætəˌsaɪt/ noun

Definition

A type of white blood cell that breaks down debris and dead cells in the body.

Etymology

From Greek 'klasma' (fragment, break) and '-cyte' (cell), coined in the 19th century to describe cells that fragment or break material inside the body.

Kelly Says

These cells are like the body's recycling workers—they literally break things apart into smaller pieces so the body can reuse or remove them. Scientists named them based on their 'breaking' action, which is visible under a microscope.

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