Autosomal cells and somatic cells are terms that are often used in genetics and biology, but they refer to different concepts.
Firstly, autosomal cells refer to cells that contain autosomes, which are the non-sex chromosomes. Humans have 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes (XX or XY). Thus, when we talk about autosomal cells, we’re primarily discussing cells that contain these 22 pairs of chromosomes that are not related to the determination of an individual’s sex.
On the other hand, somatic cells encompass a broader category. Somatic cells are any cells that make up the body of an organism, excluding the germ cells (sperm and egg). This includes various types of cells like skin cells, blood cells, and nerve cells. Somatic cells contain both autosomes and sex chromosomes depending on the individual’s genetic makeup.
To summarize, while all somatic cells contain autosomes, not all autosomal cells are somatic. The term “autosomal” is specifically about the type of chromosomes present, while “somatic” refers to the broader category of body cells. So, they are not the same, although they are related in that somatic cells include autosomes.