Protoplasm
Protoplasm
Protoplasm (/proʊˈtɒplæzəm/), from the Greek protos meaning "first" and plasma meaning "something molded or created", is a term used to describe the living content of a cell that is surrounded by a plasma membrane.
Etymology
The term "protoplasm" comes from the Greek words protos meaning "first" and plasma meaning "something molded or created". It was first used in 1846 by the Czech physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkinje to describe the substance in living cells.
Definition
Protoplasm is the living part of a cell that is surrounded by a plasma membrane. It includes the cytoplasm, nucleus, and other organelles. Protoplasm is composed mainly of water, salts, proteins, and lipids, and it is where most of the cell's metabolic reactions occur.
Related Terms
- Cytoplasm: The material or protoplasm within a living cell, excluding the nucleus.
- Nucleus: The central and most important part of an object, movement, or group, forming the basis for its activity and growth, specifically it is an organelle present in most eukaryotic cells, typically a single rounded structure bounded by a double membrane, containing the genetic material.
- Plasma Membrane: The semipermeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell.
- Organelle: Any of a number of organized or specialized structures within a living cell.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Protoplasm
- Wikipedia's article - Protoplasm
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