noun
- cells that produce keratin and form the main structural component of the epidermis (outer layer of skin)
Usage: technical/medical term; plural form; singular is keratinocyte; commonly used in dermatology and cell biology
Examples
- Keratinocytes make up about 90 percent of the cells in the epidermis.
- The sun's UV rays can damage keratinocytes and increase skin cancer risk.
- Researchers studied how keratinocytes respond to injury and inflammation.
- Healthy keratinocytes continuously shed from the skin's surface.
- Psoriasis involves abnormal growth and differentiation of keratinocytes.