tubercle

tu·ber·cle   (tōō'bər-kəl, tyōō'-)    n.   A small rounded projecting part or outgrowth, such as a wartlike excrescence on the roots of some leguminous plants or a knoblike process in the skin or on a bone. Pathology A nodule or swelling, especially a mass of lymphocytes and epithelioid cells forming the characteristic lesion of tuberculosis. [Latin tūberculum, diminutive of tūber, lump; see tuber.]

Main Entry: tu·ber·cle
Pronunciation: 't(y)ü-b&r-k&l
Function: noun
1 : a small knobby prominence or excrescence: as a : a prominence on the crown of a molar tooth b : a small rough prominence on a bone usually being smaller than a tuberosity and serving for the attachment of one ormore muscles or ligaments —see GREATER TUBERCLE, LESSER TUBERCLE c : an eminence near the head of a rib that articulates with the transverse process of a vertebra d : any of several prominencesin the central nervous system that mark the nuclei of various nerves tubercle>
2 : a small discrete lump in the substance of an organ or in the skin;especially : the specific lesion of tuberculosis consisting of a packed mass of epithelioid cells, giant cells, disintegration products of white blood cells and bacilli, and usually anecrotic center

tubercle tu·ber·cle (t&oomacr;'bər-kəl, ty&oomacr;'-)
n.

1. An anatomical nodule. Also called tuberculum.

2. A small elevation on the surface of a tooth.

3. A nodule or swelling, especially a mass of lymphocytes and epithelioid cells forming the characteristic granulomatous lesion of tuberculosis.