syncytium

American  

[sin-sish-uhm, -ee-uhm] / sɪnˈsɪʃ əm, -i əm /

noun

Biology.

plural

syncytia

1. a multinucleate mass of cytoplasm that is not separated into cells.

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syncytium British  

/ sɪnˈsɪtɪəm /

noun

1. zoology a mass of cytoplasm containing many nuclei and enclosed in a cell membrane

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Other Word Forms

• syncytial adjective

Etymology

Origin of syncytium

From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; syn-, cyto-, -ium

Example Sentences

The epidermis can be either a single layer of cells or a syncytium, which is a multinucleated cell formed from the fusion of uninucleated cells.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Attached cells form long, branching cardiac muscle fibers that are, essentially, a mechanical and electrochemical syncytium allowing the cells to synchronize their actions.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The wave of contraction that allows the heart to work as a unit, called a functional syncytium, begins with the pacemaker cells.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The cells are interconnected physically and electrochemically to act as a syncytium.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

If we keep at it, we will become a computer to end all computers, capable of fusing all the thoughts of the world into a syncytium.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas