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Information about Myoepithelium

myoepithelial cells cells (sometimes referred to as Myoepithelium) are cells usually found in glandular epithelium as a thin layer above the basement membrane but generally beneath the luminal cells. These may be positive for alpha smooth muscle actin and can contract and expel the secretions of exocrine glands. They are found in the sweat gland, mammary gland, lacrimal gland, and salivary gland. Myoepithelial cells in these cases constitute the basal layer of an epithelium that harbors the epithelial progenitor/stem cells. In the case of wound healing, myoepithelial cells reactively proliferate. Presence of myoepithelial cells in a hyperplastic tissue proves the benign-ness of the gland and, when absent, indicates cancer. Only rare cancers like adenoid cystic carcinomas contains myofibroblasts as one of the malignant components.

Markers

Myoepithelial cells are true epithelial cells positive for keratins not to be confused with myofibroblasts which are true mesenchymal cells positive for vimentin. These cells are generally poritive for alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA), cytokeratin 5/6 and other high molecular weight cytokeratins, p63 amd caldesmon.

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Secretion is the process of segregating, elaborating, and releasing chemicals from a cell, or a secreted chemical substance or amount of substance.

Eukaryotic cells have a highly evolved process of secretion.
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Exocrine glands are glands that secrete their products (enzymes) into ducts (duct glands). They are the counterparts to endocrine glands, which secrete their products (hormones) directly into the bloodstream (ductless glands).
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In humans, there are four kinds of sudoriferous or sweat glands which differ greatly in both the composition of the sweat and its purpose.
  • eccrine glands - sweat (normal sweat used in temperature control)
  • apocrine glands - sweat,fats,proteins (slightly more viscous sweat)

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Mammary glands are the organs that, in the female mammal, produce milk for the sustenance of the young. These exocrine glands are enlarged and modified sweat glands and are the characteristic of mammals which gave the class its name.
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The lacrimal glands are paired glands, one for each eye, that secrete the aqueous layer of the tear film. They are situated in the upper, outer portion of each orbit.

Anatomy


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The salivary glands in mammals are exocrine glands that produce saliva. In other taxa such as insects, salivary glands are often used to produce biologically important proteins such as silk or glues.
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Hyperplasia (or "hypergenesis") is a general term referring to the proliferation of cells within an organ or tissue beyond that which is ordinarily seen. Hyperplasia may result in the gross enlargement of an organ, the formation of a benign tumor, or may be visible only under a
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Adenoid cystic carcinoma
Classification & external resources

ICD-O: M 8200/3 }

Adenoid cystic cancer (AdCC) is a very rare type of cancer that can exist in many different body sites.
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Keratins are a family of fibrous structural proteins; tough and insoluble, they form the hard but nonmineralized structures found in reptiles, birds, amphibians and mammals. They are rivaled as biological materials in toughness only by chitin.
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Vimentin is a member of the intermediate filament family of proteins. Intermediate filaments are an important structural feature of eukaryotic cells. They, along with microtubules and actin microfilaments, make up the cytoskeleton.
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Caldesmon is a calmodulin binding protein.

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  • MeSH Caldesmon

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eMedicine is an online clinical medical knowledge base that was founded in 1996 by Scott Plantz and Richard Lavely, two medical doctors. It was sold to WebMD in January 2006.
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Dorland's is the brand name of several different medical dictionaries and ancillary products, chiefly Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary (currently in its 31st edition) and Dorland's Pocket Medical Dictionary (currently in its 27th edition).
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University of Oklahoma, abbreviated OU, is a coeducational public research university located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma.
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University of Kansas (often referred to as KU or just Kansas) is an institution of higher learning in Lawrence, Kansas. The main campus resides atop Mount Oread. The University was founded in 1865 by the citizens of Lawrence under a charter from the Kansas Legislature.
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Medical College of Georgia is the smallest of four research schools in the University System of Georgia (USG). MCG currently has 5 undergraduate and graduate schools on campus: The School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, School of Allied Health, and Graduate
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