enterocyte

noun

en·​tero·​cyte ˈen-tə-rō-ˌsīt 

plural enterocytes

: any of numerous columnar, absorptive, epithelial cells that line the villi of the small intestine and have microvilli projecting from the cell membrane to form a brush border

At age 28 years she had a small-intestine biopsy; the findings were not consistent with celiac disease but rather revealed lipid-engorged enterocytes.

—Daniel J. Rader et al.

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French entérocyte, from entéro- entero- + -cyte -cyte

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

enterocyte

noun

en·​tero·​cyte ˈen-tə-rō-ˌsīt 

: any of numerous columnar, absorptive, epithelial cells that line the villi of the small intestine and have microvilli projecting from the cell membrane to form a brush border

The most abundant type of gut epithelial cell, the enterocyte, has many finger-like projections at its apical surface called microvilli, which are rich in digestive enzymes known as hydrolases.

—Aparna Lakkaraju et al.