follicle Hear it!

follicle Definition

fol·li·cle (fäl′i kəl)

noun

  1. Anat.
    1. any small sac, cavity, or gland for excretion or secretion a hair follicle
    2. Obsolete a lymph nodule
  2. Bot. a dry seed pod with a single cavity, that splits open along only one seam to release its seeds, as a milkweed pod

Etymology: ModL folliculus < L, a small bag, husk, pod, dim. of follis, bellows < IE base *bhel-, to blow up, swell > ball, bull

follicle Related Forms

fol·lic′u·lar (fə lik′yo̵̅o̅ lər, -yə-) adjective fol·lic′u·late (---lit, -lāt′) adjective or fol·lic′u·lat′ed

follicle Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • stimulate: IGF stimulates the follicles in the ovaries, making egg production more likely in humans.
  • destroy: Pulse times have been chosen to destroy the hair follicle by heating it up to 70° C for more than 1 ms.
  • grow: The dermal papilla is in direct contact with blood capillaries in the skin to derive the nutrients for the growing hair follicle.
  • cause: Steroid acne Inflammation of hair follicles caused by internal steroids or from topical corticosteroids on the face.
  • call: The eggs grow within small fluid filled structures called follicles, the size of which can be measured by ultrasound scan.
  • develop: The nurse told us that we were unlikely to develop more follicles, what we have is what we have... .

Preposition: in

ovary: IGF stimulates the follicles in the ovaries, making egg production more likely in humans.

Adjective modifier

  • lymphoid: This is toward the outside of the lymph node, between the lymphoid follicles.
  • primordial: The ovary contains many primordial follicles, which are mostly found around the edges of the cortex.
  • ovarian: In females, FSH causes early maturation of ovarian follicles.
  • thyroid: Yes, there is evidence of tissue destruction -- the thyroid follicles are small and lined by fewer epithelial cells.
  • mature: Do you want to join the mating game... with the release of an egg from a mature follicle.
  • more: They then trigger the ovaries to begin to mature more follicles.

Modifies a noun

  • cell: Figure shows cap follicle cell clones in a fly egg chamber.
  • growth: Follicle Stimulating Hormone FSH is produced by the pituitary gland and acts on the ovaries to stimulate follicle growth.
  • size: Treatment should be tailored to the individual patient's response as assessed by measuring follicle size by ultrasound and estrogen response.
  • development: Egg cells are surrounded by densely packed fusiform cells which contribute to follicle development under the influence of hormones.
  • center: The sugar is also present on B cells, but only when they are in follicle centers.

Noun used with modifier

  • egg: By doing so the ovaries communicate back to the pituitary gland that the egg follicles have been stimulated and FSH production slows down.
  • cell: Differentiation signals for the specialized helper T cells in B cell follicles.