spindleshaped

Spindleshaped, also spelled spindle-shaped, is an adjective used to describe objects or organisms whose form resembles a spindle: elongated with a wider middle and tapered ends. The term, derived from the spindle used in weaving, is widely employed across biology, botany, and materials science to characterize shapes that are narrower at both ends than at the center.

In biology and medicine, spindleshaped describes a common cellular morphology. Spindle-shaped cells are elongated and taper at both ends, a pattern seen in fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, among others. In pathology, spindle-shaped cells are used descriptively for certain neoplasms and scar tissue, where the cells appear elongated and tapered rather than round or polygonal. The descriptor can apply to entire cells or to cellular components within tissues.

In botany and plant sciences, spindle-shaped can describe leaves, seeds, pollen grains, or other organs that are slender and taper toward the tips; the term helps distinguish this form from more cylindrical or spherical morphologies. In materials science and engineering, spindle-shaped particles or fibers are those with a central bulge and tapered ends, a shape that can influence packing, flow, and mechanical properties.

See also: spindle, spindle-shaped cell, leaf shape varieties.