glòbuls

Glòbuls is the plural of glòbul, a term used in Catalan to describe small, rounded particles or droplets found in biological contexts. The word comes from Latin globulus, meaning a small globe. In science, globules denote discrete, spherical bodies within a medium, from fluids to tissues, and the term is used across disciplines to describe similar shapes with varying composition and function.

In biology and medicine, globules occur in several forms. Milk fat globules are microscopic droplets of fat surrounded by a membranous envelope, typically ranging from about 0.1 to 18 micrometers, which helps stabilize fat in milk. Lipid droplets inside cells serve as intracellular stores of neutral lipids and are bounded by a phospholipid layer with associated proteins. Mucus and other secretions can contain globules formed by mucins and related substances, appearing as discrete, visible units under certain conditions.

Size, composition, and role of glòbuls vary with context. Some function as storage droplets, others as transport carriers or secretory entities. They are often studied using light or electron microscopy and can be characterized through staining, chemical analysis, or particle-sizing techniques.

The term glòbuls conveys a general concept of small, spherical bodies in biology. While it identifies a broad idea, the exact meaning depends on the specific tissue, fluid, or organism under consideration. In English and other languages, similar terms—globules or globules—serve analogous descriptive purposes.