Chondrocyte
/ˈkɒn.drə.saɪt/noun
A cell that forms and maintains cartilage.
Did you know?The -cyte ending comes from Greek *kytos* (“hollow vessel, cell”), the same ancient root behind scientific words like *cytoplasm* and *leukocyte*, showing how biology still speaks in classical code.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
chondros
“cartilage; grain”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kytos
“hollow vessel; container”
Modern Scientific Latin
Latin
chondrocytus
“cartilage cell”
19th Century
English
chondrocyte
“a cartilage cell”
Modern English
English
chondrocyte
“a cell that forms and maintains cartilage”
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