The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word TRABECULA
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
T
R
A
B
E
C
U
L
A
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "cell" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case cell = trabecula.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TRABECULA mean?
TRABECULA noun- A small supporting beam.
- A small mineralized spicule that forms a network in spongy bone.
- A fibrous strand of connective tissue that supports it in place.
- Either of a pair of movable appendages on the head, in front of the antennae, of some mallophagous insects.
- One of the fleshy columns, or columnae carneae, in the ventricle of the heart, to which the chordae tendineae are attached.
- A projection from the cell wall across the cell cavity of the ducts of certain plants.