Artefactual spherical particle, not present in the living cell, derived from pieces
of the endoplasmic reticulum present in homogenates of tissues or cells: microsomes
sediment from such homogenates when centrifuged at

and higher: the microsomal fraction obtained in this way is often used as a source
of mono-oxygenase
enzymes.
Source:
PAC, 1993, 65, 2003
(Glossary for chemists of terms used in toxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 1993))
on page 2070