Microglia
Research has discovered dystrophic (defective development) human microglia. "These cells are characterized by abnormalities in their cytoplasmic structure, such as deramified, atrophic, fragmented or unusually tortuous processes, frequently bearing spheroidal or bulbous swellings." The incidence of dystrophic microglia increases with aging. Microglial degeneration and death have been reported in research on Prion disease, Schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease, indicating that microglial deterioration might be involved in neurodegenerative diseases. A complication of this theory is the fact that it is difficult to distinguish between "activated" and "dystrophic" microglia in the human brain.
Microtis (plant)
The genus "Microtis" was first formally described by Robert Brown in 1810 and the description was published in "Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae". Brown described five species at the time ("M. parviflora", "M. rara", "M. media", "M. alba" and "M. pulchella") but did not nominate a type species. The name "Microtis" is derived from the Ancient Greek words "mikros" meaning "small" and "otos" meaning "ear"' referring to the small, ear-like appendages on the column.