Medical Dictionary
Main Entry:
Alt·mann's granules Pronunciation:
'olt-m&nz-, 'ält-"mänz- Function:
noun plural : minute granules in protoplasm onceregarded as its ultimate formative units but now physically equated with mitochondria
Altmann, Richard (1852–1900) German histologist. Around 1890 Altmann advanced histheory that the fundamental units of protoplasm are granular particles whose existence he inferred from particles observed at the limits of resolution of the light microscope. They subsequently becameidentified with his name. The particles now are thought to be cellular organelles known as mitochondria whose morphology and cellular function have been worked out with the aid of the much greaterresolving power of the electron microscope.
