Réticulations

Réticulations, or reticulations in English, refer to net-like or lattice-like patterns formed by interconnecting elements. The term is used across disciplines to describe a network rather than a single structure, and it derives from Latin reticulum, meaning a small net.

In biology and medicine, reticulation describes several connective or cellular networks. Reticular tissue is a loose connective tissue whose framework is built from reticular fibers (type III collagen) that form a delicate three-dimensional mesh supporting lymphoid organs such as the spleen and lymph nodes, as well as bone marrow and liver sinusoids. In cell biology, the endoplasmic reticulum is described as a reticulum because of its extensive, interconnected membrane network that extends throughout the cytoplasm; rough ER specializes in protein synthesis, while smooth ER functions in lipid metabolism and detoxification.

In botany, reticulation refers to leaf venation that forms a net-like network of interconnecting veins. The term also applies to surface patterns on seeds and pollen grains, where the exine may be reticulate (net-like).

In geology and mineralogy, reticulate textures describe mosaic networks of intergrown minerals or grains, producing a net-like appearance in certain metamorphic or igneous rocks.

The concept also appears in textiles, archaeology, and geography to describe patterns or infrastructures that resemble a network, such as reticulated fabrics or road networks. By describing form rather than substance, reticulations provide a versatile descriptive tool across fields.