somatic gonad precursor
any of two cells that generate all somatic tissues of the gonad proper (i.e. ovary or testis ) and genital ducts (e.g. uterus, vas deferens).
accessory cell
cells that support sensory neurons, similar to glial cells in vertebrates. A category which collectively refers to socket cells, sheath cells, and structural cells, or their processes. All of these cells extend long processes which serve a supporting role, rather like glia, to form a protective environment around sensory neuron endings. In addition, some of these cells extend broad thin processes from their somata which wrap around neuronal ganglia, again in a glia-like fashion
rectal epithelial cell
These cells include: B, F, Y, U, K' and K. All rectal epithelial cells contain secretory membrane stacks along this region facing the lumenal cuticle and produce some portion of the cuticular lining of the rectum. These are interfacial cells that connect the alimentary system to the main body syncytium.
muscular system
the organ system that allows the animal move, includes all muscles.
somatic gonad
The components of the gonad that are separate from the germline proper. In hermaphrodite, these include five tissues which are all derived from the somatic primordium : the distal tip cells, the gonadal sheath, the spermatheca, the spermatheca-uterine valve (sp-ut) and the uterus.
ganglion
A cluster of nerve cells and associated glial cells (nuclear location).
e1D
Pharyngeal epithelial cells
e3VL
Pharyngeal epithelial cells
e1VR
Pharyngeal epithelial cells
e2DL
Pharyngeal epithelial cells
e3D
Pharyngeal epithelial cells
e1VL
Pharyngeal epithelial cells
e2DR
Pharyngeal epithelial cells
e2V
Pharyngeal epithelial cells
e3VR
Pharyngeal epithelial cells
vas deferens precursor
blast cell that divides to become mostly vas deferens cells (and a few seminal vesicle cells).
epithelial cell
cell of epithelium, the layer of cells that cover the external surface of an organism as well as forming an inner lining between the tissues and organs of that organism and the external environment. In C. elegans epithelial cells include epithelium of the alimentary tract, intestinal cells, hypodermis, interfacial cells and somatic gonad cells.
uterine rho cell
any of six ventral uterine intermediate precursor cells that are not directly adjacent to the anchor cell and whose progeny are fated to become uterine cells other than
uv1 and utse cells.
MCR
Pharyngeal neurons that synapse onto marginal cells
MCL
Pharyngeal neurons that synapse onto marginal cells
ventral ganglion
ganglion lies beside the nerve ring in the head, just anterior of the retrovesicular ganglion. It contains about 20 interneuron and motorneuron cell bodies that all send their neuronal processes into the ring. The cell bodies are divided into two groups by the intrusion of the excretory duct and canal. The cells are bounded by a basal lamina which physically separates them from the lateral ganglion even though they are adjacent to one another.
H1L.aa
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree H1L.aa.
R9
Precursor of cells that form male sensory ray 9.
uv2
uterine-vulval cell, medial position of three ut cells.
V1R.pappp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V1R.pappp.
V2L.ppppp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V2L.ppppp.
V2R.ppppp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V2R.ppppp.
V3R.ppppp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V3R.ppppp.
V4R.ppppp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V4R.ppppp.
R5
Precursor of cells that form male sensory ray 5.
R6
Precursor of cells that form male sensory ray 6.
R8
Precursor of cells that form male sensory ray 8.
V3L.pappp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V3L.pappp.
R1
Precursor of cells that form male sensory ray 1.
R7
Precursor of cells that form male sensory ray 7.
V1L.pappp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V1L.pappp.
V2L.pappp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V2L.pappp.
V3L.ppppp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V3L.ppppp.
V4L.ppppp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V4L.ppppp.
H1L.appp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree H1L.appp.
H1R.aa
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree H1R.aa.
H2L.pppp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree H2L.pppp.
R2
Precursor of cells that form male sensory ray 2.
R3
Precursor of cells that form male sensory ray 3.
R4
Precursor of cells that form male sensory ray 4.
V3R.pappp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae, of pedigree V3R.pappp.
V4R.pappp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V4R.pappp.
H1R.appp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree H1R.appp.
H2R.pppp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree H2R.pppp
sensillum
sensory organ, consists of sensory neurons and supporting cells.
V1L.ppppp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; pf pedigree V1L.ppppp.
V1R.ppppp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V1R.ppppp.
V2R.pappp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V2R.pappp.
V4L.pappp
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae; of pedigree V4L.pappp.
uterine pi cell
any of six ventral uterine intermediate precursor cells that are adjacent to the anchor cell and whose progeny are fated to become
uv1 and utse cells.
rect_VL
Rectal epithelial cells, adjacent to intestino-rectal valve, have microvilli
W cell
Postembryonic neuroblast, analogous to Pn.a cells, also known as P0.
rect_D
Rectal epithelial cells, adjacent to intestino-rectal valve, have microvilli
sex myoblast
Blast cell which divides to product sex-specific muscle cells.
rect_VR
Rectal epithelial cells, adjacent to intestino-rectal valve, have microvilli
se_male
post-embryonic seam cells that make alae in the male.
BAGL
Neuron, ciliated ending in head, no supporting cells, associated with ILso
BAGR
Neuron, ciliated ending in head, no supporting cells, associated with ILso
Excretory duct
The extracellular sinus formed by the excretory duct and pore cells.
FLPL
Neuron, ciliated ending in head, no supporting cells, associated with ILso
FLPR
Neuron, ciliated ending in head, no supporting cells, associated with ILso
Time
concerns with temporal aspects of cells and anatomical parts, e.g. development
uv3
uterine-vulva cell, distal (of three ut cells) to the vulva.
CA9
Male specific cells in ventral cord, neuron-like but lack synapses.
organ
a collection of cells or cell groups that collectively perform a function
GLR
set of six cells that form a thin cylindrical sheet between pharynx and ring neuropile; no chemical synapses, but gap junctions with muscle arms and RME motor neurons, might be glial cells
g1ARP
Syncytial
g1 gland cell, formed by fusion between
g1AR and
g1P cells.
se seam cell
Postembryonic seam hypodermal cells, make alae, found in both male and hermaphrodite.
H cell
Head lateral ectoblast which gives rise to hypodermal cells in the head.
V5R.pppapp
Male V5R.pppapp lineage cell, fuses into postembryonic seam hypodermal cells that makes alae.
V5L.pppapp
Male V5L.pppapp lineage cell, fuses into postembryonic seam hypodermal cells that makes alae.
body region
region of the body by which tissues, cells or cell parts are classified
linker_killer
One of these cells, sometimes fused with U.l/ra, phagocytoses the male linker cell
V cell
Ventrolateral ectoblast of the body that gives rise to neurons, hypodermis and seam cells.
pharyngeal-intestinal valve
A group of six equivalent cells forms a tightly constructed 'valve' that links the posterior bulb of the pharynx to the anterior four cells of the intestine. These six cells comprise a small epithelial channel with a cuticular lining in continuity with the pharyngeal cuticle and link the lumen of the pharynx to the large lumen of the anterior intestine.
AWAL
Amphid wing cells, neurons having ciliated sheet-like sensory endings closely associated with amphid sheath
AWBL
Amphid wing cells, neurons having ciliated sheet-like sensory endings closely associated with amphid sheath
AWCL
Amphid wing cells, neurons having ciliated sheet-like sensory endings closely associated with amphid sheath
R1_hyp
Ray 1 hypodermal cell, fuses with other ray hypodermal cells to form the tail seam.
Tissue
Association of cells with a common embryological origin or pathway and similar structure and function. Usually, cells of a tissue are contiguous at cell membranes and may be of one or more types. Tissues aggregate to form organs.
AWAR
Amphid wing cells, neurons having ciliated sheet-like sensory endings closely associated with amphid sheath
AWBR
Amphid wing cells, neurons having ciliated sheet-like sensory endings closely associated with amphid sheath
AWCR
Amphid wing cells, neurons having ciliated sheet-like sensory endings closely associated with amphid sheath
R2_hyp
Ray 2 hypodermal cell, fuses with other ray hypodermal cells to form the tail seam
intestine
A chain of very large cuboidal cells forming a wide central lumen in which food arrives from the posterior pharynx, is digested, and from which waste products proceed to the rectum. Intestinal rings form in groups of two and four cells surrounding the common lumen; thus the epithelium is only one cell deep at any point, with neighboring cells firmly secured to their neighbors by apical adherens junctions. These cells have very large nuclei and many large vacuoles, yolk granules, and other inclusions; the latter increase in number and electron density as the animal ages.
anterior distal tip cell
Anterior distal tip cell, inhibit meiosis in neighbouring germ cells, lead gonad during morphogenesis, herm gonad
posterior distal tip cell
Posterior distal tip cell, inhibit meiosis in neighbouring germ cells, lead gonad during morphogenesis, herm gonad
dorsal uterine cell
cell forming dorsal epithelium in central region of the uterus; formed by fusion of four cells.
intestinal cell
any of 20 large epithelial cells which form a tube and are mostly situated as bilaterally symmetric pairs around the tubular lumen. Each of these cell pairs forms an intestinal ring ( II-IX int rings). The most anterior intestinal ring (int ring I), however, is made of four cells. Intestinal cells contain large nuclei with large nucleoli and numerous autofluorescent granules in their cytoplasm.
P3/4R
Postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1
P1/2R
Postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1
P11/12L
Postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
P3/4L
Postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1
P5/6L
Postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1
P7/8R
Postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1
R4_hyp
Male sensory ray 4 hypodermal cell, fuses with other ray hypodermal cells to form the tail seam
R5_hyp
Male sensory ray 5 hypodermal cell, fuses with other ray hypodermal cells to form the tail seam
AWA
Neuron class of two ciliated neurons that are associated with the sheath cells of the amphid sensilla.
R3_hyp
Male sensory ray 3 hypodermal cell, fuses with other ray hypodermal cells to form the tail seam
P1/2L
Postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1
P11
Postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1
P11/12R
Postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
P12
Postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1
P5/6R
Postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1
P7/8L
Postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1
Anatomy
entity of anatomical origin that is either entirely acellular or is a collection of cells and acellular parts.
blastopore
A hole in the ventral/posterior side of the embryo caused by the inward flow of cells during gastrulation.
gonadal primordium
a region around premature germline, consists of cells of pedigree Z1 and Z4, which develops to become the somatic gonad.
body wall
exterior tube of two concentric tubes that make up the body, includes the epidermal cells and the attached neurons and muscles.
head muscle
body wall muscle in the head, including first eight cells of each muscle quadrants which are innervated by nerve ring neurons.
In.a nucleus
Postembryonic intestinal cell nucleus, the anterior one from nuclear division of any of 10-14 cells in mid-section of intestine.
In.p nucleus
Postembryonic intestinal cell nucleus, the posterior one from nuclear division of any of 10-14 cells in mid-section of intestine.
AWB
Neuron class of two ciliated neurons with flattened, sheet-like endings that are associated with the sheath cells of the amphid sensilla
vas deferens cuboidal cell region
a region of vas deferens, positioned posterior to the valve and anterior to the elongated cell region, formed by cells of cuboidal morphology.
AWC
Neuron class of two ciliated neurons with large, flattened, sheet-like endings that are associated with the sheath cells of the amphid sensilla.
pseudocoelom
A fluid-filled space enclosed on the outside by the basal laminae of the bodywall tissues, principally those of the bodywall muscles and the hypodermis. Within this space the digestive tract and reproductive tract lie separately, each enclosed by its own basal lamina. Intercellular signals, nutrients and waste products can travel between all tissues bordering this space.
P3
The third (count from anterior-most) of twelve postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
P6
The sixth (count from anterior-most) of twelve postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
P7
The seventh (count from anterior-most) of twelve postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
P2
The second (count from anterior-most) of twelve postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
P4
The fourth (count from anterior-most) of twelve postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
P5
The fifth (count from anterior-most) of twelve postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
P8
The eighth (count from anterior-most) of twelve postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
P10
The tenth (count from anterior-most) of twelve postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
P9
The ninth (count from anterior-most) of twelve postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
MCM
Neuron class of male specific interneurons (mystery cells of the male) that are born at the early L4 stage, when the male undergoes sexual maturation.
P1
The first (count from anterior-most) of twelve postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
seam cell
a group of hypodermal cells that lie along the apical midline of the hypodermis, at the extreme left and right sides between nose and tail
XXX cell
Two embryonic hypodermal cells (XXXL, XXXR) that may provide a scaffold for the early organization of ventral bodywall muscles and the various socket cells in the lateral and ventral lips. Their cell bodies soon crawl posteriorly, and their processes separate the amphid nerve from the mechanosensory nerves in the late embryo. The XXX processes later retract, and the XXX cell bodies remain in the ventrolateral bodywall near the cell bodies of the posterior arcade and some socket cells where they perform a neurohumoral function, as they retain short processes bordering the pseudocoelom and contain some secretory vesicles.
body wall musculature
Longitudinal bands of muscle cells surrounding animal body, with one band running in each quadrant of the body, regulated contraction and relaxation of these muscles cause locomotion.
polar body
One of two small cells produced, each during one of the two meiotic cell divisions, which are then discarded in the creation of the haploid germ cell.
AFD
Neuron class of two ciliated neurons that are part of the amphid sensillum; the endings of AFD have numerous villi, which poke into the amphid sheath cells.
gland cell
A variety of very different cell types which share cytoplasmic features (such as large membrane-bound granules) that suggest a role in secretion, thus termed gland cells.
arcade cell
Interfacial (hypodermal) cells which connect the hypodermal epithelium of the lips to the pharyngeal epithelium, firmly binding the inner tissue (the pharynx) to the outer bodywall (the hypodermis).
GLRDL
Set of six cells that form a thin cylindrical sheet between pharynx and ring neuropile; no chemical synapses, but gap junctions with muscle arms and RME motor neurons
GLRDR
Set of six cells that form a thin cylindrical sheet between pharynx and ring neuropile; no chemical synapses, but gap junctions with muscle arms and RME motor neurons
GLRL
Set of six cells that form a thin cylindrical sheet between pharynx and ring neuropile; no chemical synapses, but gap junctions with muscle arms and RME motor neurons
GLRVL
Set of six cells that form a thin cylindrical sheet between pharynx and ring neuropile; no chemical synapses, but gap junctions with muscle arms and RME motor neurons
GLRVR
Set of six cells that form a thin cylindrical sheet between pharynx and ring neuropile; no chemical synapses, but gap junctions with muscle arms and RME motor neurons
GLRR
Set of six cells that form a thin cylindrical sheet between pharynx and ring neuropile; no chemical synapses, but gap junctions with muscle arms and RME motor neurons
P9/10R
Cell of lineage ABprapapap, born in embryo, one of a group of postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
P9/10L
Cell of lineage ABplapapap, born in embryo, one of a group of postembryonic blast cells for ventral cord motorneurons, ventral hypodermis, vulva, male preanal ganglion; ventral hypodermis in L1.
ventral cord blast cell
Blast cell lying ventrolaterally in the late embryo and L1 larval stage which divides during the late L1 larva in stereotypical reiterated fashion to give rise to many motor neurons which begin function in the ventral cord and preanal ganglion of the early L2 larva, as well as hypodermal cells (which fuse into
hyp7) and a series of programmed cell deaths. In addition, the Pn.p daughters of P3 through P8 lineages persist without fusing into the
hyp7 syncytium until mid L3 stage when they can be induced to divide further to produce vulval epithelial cells (vulA - vulF) or more
hyp7 cells. P0 is also known as W.
gonadal sheath cell
five pairs of thin gonadal sheath cells form a single layer covering the germ line component of each arm, each pair occupying a stereotyped position along the gonad proximal-distal axis.
nervous system
Complement of nervous tissue (neurones, nerves, receptors and support cells) serving to detect, relay and coordinate information about an animal's internal and external environments and to initiate and integrate its effector responses and activities.
vas deferens
That portion of the male reproductive tract, through which sperm are delivered to the proctodeum and then the cloaca in the tail. Thus that portion which is distal to the testis, made of a total of 30 cells.
FLP
Neuron class of two neurons, which have ciliated endings situated immediately dorsal to the lateral inner labial sensilla in the head but have no associated sheath or socket cells; they have flattened processes in this region of the cilium.
secondary spermatocyte
A haploid immature germ cell which forms in the gonad by the division of a diploid primary spermatocyte. It undergoes a second meiotic division to complete meiosis, at which time the daughter cells detach from the residual body to become spermatids.
blastocoel
The fluid-filled compartment inside the developing embryo at the onset of gastrulation, surrounded by the early blastomeres, into which some cells begin to migrate at gastrulation to create a multi-layered embryo. This internal space later is converted into the pseudocoelom as the embryo develops.
neuronal sheath cell
a structural (glial) cell which forms an specialized environment surrounding the sensory ending(s) of one or more neurons; sometimes accompanied by a more distal socket cell. In early development of the sensory nerves and of the nerve ring some sheath cells (cephalics and labials) may also provide a substrate for axon guidance
cuticle
a rigid external coating which is secreted by the hypodermis, seam and some transitional epithelial cells which covers the outer body, the major openings into the body cavity from the exterior, and two large sensory bristles, the male spicules. The cuticle of the spicules, the hook, and of some portions of the spicule channels is especially rigid and is probably sclerotized. Similar sclerotic features are occasionally noted in the ventral surface of the male tail fan.
cuticular ala
Small linear ridges running along the lateral lines of the cuticle, lengthwise along the body; these thickenings lie in register with the seam cells which likely produce them and are present in the cuticle of the L1, dauer and adult stages, but not in other larval stages. The alae are suspected to provide better traction when the animal generates a bodywave. Since the animal usually lies on its side, the alae are in perfect position to catch against the substrate.