Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Target cell
Introduction
Target cell is a term given to one of three different concepts in medicine.
- In hematology, target cells are abnormal red blood cells, that have a bullseye appearance. (See main article: codocyte)
- In endocrinology, target cells can refer to the cells where hormones have their effect. Target cells are capable of responding to hormones because they bear receptors to which the hormone can bind. Hormones will float along the bloodstream until they find an appropriate target cell.
- In immunology, target cells are the direct recipient of a T cell‘s effector functions, and are therefore targeted for cytotoxic destruction.
Diagnosis
Pathology
