Caste
Caste (Medicine)
Caste (pronounced: /kæst/ or /kɑːst/) is a term used in medicine to describe a type of cell or organism that has a specific role in the body or colony. The term is derived from the Latin castus, meaning "pure", and the Portuguese casta, meaning "race" or "lineage".
Etymology
The term "caste" was first used in the 16th century to describe the social stratification in India, where individuals were divided into hierarchical groups based on their occupation and social status. The term was later adopted in biology and medicine to describe a similar hierarchical organization within a colony of organisms or cells.
Medical Usage
In medicine, the term "caste" is often used to describe a group of cells or organisms that have a specific function within the body or colony. For example, in a colony of bees, there are worker bees, drone bees, and queen bees, each with a specific role to play. Similarly, in the human body, there are different types of cells, such as neurons, muscle cells, and red blood cells, each with a specific function.
Related Terms
- Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of all organisms.
- Organism: An individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form.
- Bee: A flying insect known for its role in pollination and producing honey and beeswax.
- Neuron: A specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.
- Muscle cell: A cell that makes up the tissues in muscles.
- Red blood cell: Cells in the blood that carry oxygen to the body's tissues.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Caste
- Wikipedia's article - Caste
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