Hyalocytes, also known as vitreous cells, are cells of the
vitreous body
The vitreous body (''vitreous'' meaning "glass-like"; , ) is the clear gel that fills the space between the Lens (vision), lens and the retina of the eye, eyeball (the vitreous chamber) in humans and other vertebrates. It is often referred to as ...
, which is the clear gel that fills the space between the lens and the retina of the
eye
An eye is a sensory organ that allows an organism to perceive visual information. It detects light and converts it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons (neurones). It is part of an organism's visual system.
In higher organisms, the ey ...
. Hyalocytes occur in the peripheral part of the vitreous body, and may produce
hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid (; abbreviated HA; conjugate base hyaluronate), also called hyaluronan, is an anionic, nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan distributed widely throughout connective, epithelial, and neural tissues. It is unique among glycosaminog ...
and
collagen fibrils
Collagen () is the main structural protein in the extracellular matrix of the connective tissues of many animals. It is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up 25% to 35% of protein content. Amino acids are bound together to form a tri ...
,
Hyalocytes are star-shaped (stellate) cells with oval
nuclei.
The development of the vitreous is organized into three stages: primary, secondary, and tertiary.
During the primary stage, which occurs from 3–6 weeks, the basic components of the vitreous begin to form from the
mesenchyme
Mesenchyme () is a type of loosely organized animal embryonic connective tissue of undifferentiated cells that give rise to most tissues, such as skin, blood, or bone. The interactions between mesenchyme and epithelium help to form nearly ever ...
embryonic cell
In biology, a blastomere is a type of cell produced by cell division (cleavage) of the zygote after fertilization; blastomeres are an essential part of blastula formation, and blastocyst formation in mammals.
Human blastomere characteristics
In ...
layer.
Hyalocytes likely develop from the vascular primary vitreous.
See also
List of distinct cell types in the adult human body
The list of human cell types provides an enumeration and description of the various specialized cells found within the human body, highlighting their distinct functions, characteristics, and contributions to overall physiological processes. Cell ...
References
Eye
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