spectrin

[ spek-trin ]
/ ˈspɛk trɪn /

noun Biochemistry.

a rodlike structural protein of the red blood cell membrane.

Origin of spectrin

1968; spect(e)r (cf. ghost def. 12) + -in2

Words nearby spectrin

spectral line, spectral luminous efficiency, spectral series, spectral type, spectre, spectrin, spectro-, spectrobolometer, spectrochemical, spectrochemistry, spectrocolorimetry

British Dictionary definitions for spectrin

spectrin
/ (ˈspɛktrɪn) /

noun

any one of a class of fibrous proteins found in the membranes of red blood cells, the brain, the intestine, etc

Word Origin for spectrin

C20: from spectr ( e) + -in, referring to the ghosts (isolated cell membranes) of red blood cells, the source of the first known member of the class

Medical definitions for spectrin

spectrin
[ spĕk′trĭn ]

n.

A contractile protein of high molecular weight that is a component of a network in the membrane of red blood cells, giving the cells flexibility.