a network of fibrous proteins that governs the shape and movement of a biological cell
cytoskeleton in American English
(ˌsaitəˈskelɪtn)
noun
Biology
a shifting lattice arrangement of structural and contractile components distributed throughout the cell cytoplasm, composed of microtubules, microfilaments, and larger filaments, functioning as a structural support and transport mechanism
Derived forms
cytoskeletal
adjective
Word origin
[cyto- + skeleton]cyto- is a combining form meaning “cell,” used in the formation of compound words. Otherwords that use the affix cyto- include: cytochemistry, cytogenetics, cytopathogenic, cytosol, endocytobiology
Examples of 'cytoskeleton' in a sentence
cytoskeleton
How many proteins does it take to build a cytoskeleton?
The Scientist (2000)
The broth also contains filaments of various dimensions that collectively comprise the cell's cytoskeleton.