Birbeck granule

English

Birbeck granules in a patient with Langerhans cell histiocytosis

Etymology

Named after Michael Stanley Clive Birbeck, who described it in 1961.

Noun

Birbeck granule (plural Birbeck granules)

1. (anatomy, ultrastructure) A rod or tennis racket-shaped cytoplasmic organelle solely found in Langerhans cells and hence a marker for Langerhans cell histiocytoses.

Synonyms

• Birbeck body
• characteristic granule (originally)