histiocyte

Introduction

A macrophage present in connective tissue. Histiocytes derive from cells in the bone marrow that migrate to & differentiate in connective tissue.

Histiocytes include:

• Kupffer cells (liver)
• alveolar macrophages
• giant cells in granulomas
• osteoclasts
• Langerhans cells (epidermis)

More general terms

• macrophage

More specific terms

• Anitschkow cell (caterpillar cell)

Additional terms

• histiocytic infiltrate
• histiocytic neoplasm
• histiocytosis
• Kikuchi's disease (histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis)