The fibrous or gel-like matrix within the cytoplasm of a cell, excluding organelles.
From cyto- (Greek kytos, 'cell') + stroma (Greek stroma, 'bed' or 'mattress'). This term emerged as electron microscopy revealed the background material within cells.
The cytostroma is like the cellular 'jello' that holds everything in place—it's mostly water, but it's crowded with proteins and molecules that scientists are still discovering!
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