blepharoplast Biol.
(ˈblɛfərəʊplɑːst, -æ-)
[f. blepharo- + -plast.]
a. A centrosome-like protoplasmic body found in the sperm-cells of certain plants. b. In protozoans, a minute granule at the base of each flagellum.
| 1897 H. J. Webber in Bot. Gaz. Oct. 233, I would..suggest the name blepharoplast to distinguish them from other organs of the cell. 1908 Practitioner Feb. 227 Flagellated forms [possess] a nucleus and blepharoplast. 1964 M. Hynes Med. Bacteriol. (ed. 8) xxviii. 433 In the anterior half of the cell (Trichomonas vaginalis) are the nucleus and the blepharoplast from which arises a cluster of four flagella of equal length. |
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[b.] Substitute for def.: = kinetosome n.; also (rare), = kinetoplast n. a. (Further examples.)
| 1907 D. Nabarro tr. Laveran & Mesnil's Trypanosomes iii. 52 In view of the meaning attributed to the word blepharoplast by Webber, who introduced it..the Geisselwurzl [of a flagellum] is a blepharoplast. 1912, etc. [see parabasal a. (n.) 2]. 1925, etc. [see kinetoplast n.]. 1940 L. H. Hyman Invertebrates I. iii. 109 The basal granule is accompanied by another granule, variously called blepharoplast, kinetoplast, kinetonucleus, etc. 1961, 1974 [see kinetosome n.]. 1986 M. Kogut tr. Schlegel's Gen. Microbiol. v. 155 The flagella conform to the typical eukaryotic model; they originate from a blepharoplast in the cytoplasm. |