cell adhesion molecule

noun

: any of various molecules (such as cadherins, integrins, and selectins) on the surface of a cell that bring about adhesion by binding to molecules on the surface of other cells or on extracellular material

Certain of the [extracellular] matrix molecules bind well to specific molecules (cell adhesion molecules) on the growth cones and thus provide anchors for growing axons.

—John W. McDonald et al., Scientific American

—abbreviation CAM

called also adhesion molecule