electrocyten.
/ᵻˈlɛktrə(ʊ)sʌɪt/, U.S. /əˈlɛktrəˌsaɪt/, /iˈlɛktrəˌsaɪt/ Zoology.
Any of the electricity-generating cells in the electric organ of a fish (see quot. 1970). Cf. earlier electroplaque n., electroplax n., electroplate n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > action of nervous system > [noun] > electrical phenomena > production of electricity > cells generating electricity
electroplax1906
electroplate1953
electroplaque1954
electrocyte1970
1970 M. V. L. Bennett in Ann. Rev. Physiol. 32 474 The terms electroplaque(s), or what I find less satisfactory, electroplax(es) and electroplate(s), were originally used to describe generating cells that were markedly flattened. In some weakly electric fish the generating cells may be drum-shaped to tubular or may even be spinal neurons... I propose the more general term, electrocyte, to denote the generating cells of electric organs.
1982 L. S. Smith Introd. Fish Physiol. vii. 190 The basic mechanism for producing electricity in an electrocyte (also called electroplax, electroplacque [sic] and electroplate) involves a broadly flattened cell which develops resting potentials similar to those of other muscle cells.
2002 Evolution 56 600/1 Mormyrids generate electric discharges using four parallel columns of electrocytes in the caudal peduncle.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1970