microphage Phys.
(ˈmaɪkrəʊfeɪdʒ)
Also microphag.
[ad. G. mikrophag (Metchnikoff), f. Gr. µῑκρό-ς small + phag short for phagocyte n.]
A certain form of the white blood-corpuscles (see quot. 1903). Also attrib.
| 1890 [see macrophage]. 1893 Starling tr. Metchnikoff's Comp. Pathol. 191 In..acute inflammations it is mainly the microphages, or neutrophile polynuclear leucocytes, that are involved. 1896 Allbutt's Syst. Med. I. 953 The microphage cells in the spleen. 1903 Coats Man. Path. (ed. 5) 148 Polymorphonuclear leucocytes are called Microphags, and the cells derived from the fixed cells of the tissues, which are larger, and have large oval nuclei, are macrophags. |