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Transcellular Transport

Meaning

Transcellular transport is a mechanism by which substances move across an epithelial or endothelial cell layer by passing directly through the cell itself, rather than moving between adjacent cells. This process involves the substance traversing both the apical and basolateral cell membranes, often requiring active transport proteins, endocytosis, or specific channels. For hormonal delivery, this pathway is crucial for lipophobic or large molecules that cannot passively diffuse across tissue barriers.