gap junction
noun
: an area of contact between adjacent cells characterized by modification of the plasma membranes for intercellular communication or transfer of low molecular-weight substances
Examples of gap junction in a Sentence
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That's how electrical signals are transmitted through heart muscle to induce regular contractions: the pulses travel from cell to cell via connections called gap junctions.
—
Philip Ball, Scientific American, 18 Apr. 2023
Cells have other options for exchanging molecules, most notably the structures called gap junctions and exosomes.
—Quanta Magazine, 23 Apr. 2018
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Philip Ball, Scientific American, 18 Apr. 2023
Cells have other options for exchanging molecules, most notably the structures called gap junctions and exosomes.
—Quanta Magazine, 23 Apr. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Gap junction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gap%20junction. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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gap junction
noun
: an area of contact between adjacent cells characterized by modification of the plasma membranes for intercellular communication or transfer of low molecular-weight substances
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