1. Specialized cell-to-cell junctions that provide strong adhesion between adjacent cells, particularly in tissues subject to mechanical stress such as skin and heart muscle.
Usage: biology/cell biology term; plural form; singular is desmosome; also called macula adherens

Examples

• Desmosomes are crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of the epidermis.
• The heart muscle relies on desmosomes to withstand the constant mechanical stress of contractions.
• Mutations affecting desmosome proteins can lead to blistering disorders of the skin.
• Under the electron microscope, desmosomes appear as dense, button-like structures between cells.
• Desmosomes contain cadherins and other adhesion proteins that link the cytoskeletons of neighboring cells.