noun
- a mass of cytoplasm containing several nuclei formed by the fusion of cells or by nuclear division without cell division
Usage: biology; technical
Examples
- The muscle fibers form a syncytium that allows coordinated contraction.
- Certain fungi develop as a syncytium rather than individual cells.
- The placental syncytium facilitates nutrient exchange between mother and fetus.
- Viral infections can cause cells to fuse into a syncytium.
- The syncytium contains multiple nuclei within a single cell membrane.
- Researchers studied the formation of syncytia in tissue cultures.