Adherens Junctions (also known as Adherens Junction, Junction, Adherens): Anchoring points where the CYTOSKELETON of neighboring cells are connected to each other. They are composed of specialized areas of the plasma membrane where bundles of the ACTIN CYTOSKELETON attach to the membrane through the transmembrane linke

NIH MeSH · D022005Anatomy

Adherens Junctions

Also known asAdherens Junction · Junction, Adherens · Junctions, Adherens · Zonula Adherens · Adherens, Zonula

Definition

Anchoring points where the CYTOSKELETON of neighboring cells are connected to each other. They are composed of specialized areas of the plasma membrane where bundles of the ACTIN CYTOSKELETON attach to the membrane through the transmembrane linkers, CADHERINS, which in turn attach through their extracellular domains to cadherins in the neighboring cell membranes. In sheets of cells, they form into adhesion belts (zonula adherens) that go all the way around a cell.

MeSH classification

  • A11.284.149.165.420.020

Need clinical context, treatments, or patient-language explanation?

Ask GoDavaii AI about Adherens Junctions

Common questions about Adherens Junctions

What does Adherens Junctions mean in medicine?
Anchoring points where the CYTOSKELETON of neighboring cells are connected to each other. They are composed of specialized areas of the plasma membrane where bundles of the ACTIN CYTOSKELETON attach to the membrane through the transmembrane linkers, CADHERINS, which in turn attach through their extracellular domains to cadherins in the neighboring cell membranes. In sheets of cells, they form into adhesion belts (zonula adherens) that go all the way around a cell. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Adherens Junctions known by any other names?
Yes. Adherens Junctions is also referred to as Adherens Junction, Junction, Adherens, Junctions, Adherens, Zonula Adherens in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Adherens Junctions sit in the medical classification?
Adherens Junctions falls under the broader medical category "Anatomy" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: A11.284.149.165.420.020). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Adherens Junctions?
For a plain-language explanation of Adherens Junctions - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 22+ Indian languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Adherens Junctions" above.

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D022005) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗