Pathology Glossary
Last updated on 9/11/97
A glossary of terms associated with the medical specialty of
Pathology.
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- A-, an- (prefix)
- without.
e.g. aplasia - without or lack of formation.
- Abscess
- a localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by the disintegration
of tissue.
- Acrodermatitis
- inflammation of the skin of the extremities, particularly of the
paws or feet.
e.g. lethal acrodermatitis - an inherited autosomal
recessive disease in bull terriers relating to zinc metabolism.
- Adeno- (prefix)
- gland.
e.g. adenitis - inflammation of a gland.
- Adenocarcinoma
- a malignant tumor of epithelial cells arranged in glandular patterns.
- Adenoma
- a benign epithelial tumor in which the cells form glandular structures
or are derived from glandular epithelium.
- Agenesis
- absence, failure of formation or imperfect development of any part.
- Amelanotic
- in reference to a melanoma, amelanotic refers to a melanoma that
contains little or no pigment.
- Anis-, aniso- (prefix)
- unequal; dissimilar.
e.g. anisokaryosis - inequality in the size of the nuclei
of cells.
- -angio (suffix)
- vessel.
e.g. lymphangitis - inflammation of a lymph vessel.
- Ante- (prefix)
- before in time or space.
e.g. ante mortem - before death.
- Anti- (prefix)
- against; counteracting.
e.g. antitoxin - an antibody to a toxin.
- Aplasia
- Defective development or congenital absence
of an organ or tissue.
- Arthr(o)- (prefix)
- joint; articulation.
e.g. arthrolith - a calculous deposit within a joint.
- Atresia (adj. atretic)
- closed; absence of a normal opening or normally
patent lumen
- Atrophy
- a wasting of tissues, organs or the entire body; caused by death and
resorption of cells, diminished cellular proliferation, pressure, ischemia,
malnutrition, decreased function or hormonal changes.
- Auto- (prefix)
- self.
e.g. autolysis - self-dissolution; the post-mortem enzymatic
degradation of cells.
- Axilla
- the armpit.
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B
- Bilateral
- affecting both sides.
- Botryoid
- shaped like a bunch of grapes.
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C
- Cancer
- a group of neoplastic diseases in which there is a transformation
of normal cells into malignant cells. The cells proliferate in an abnormal
way resulting in a malignant, cellular tumor. See also
Metastatic.
- Caseous
- having a consistency like that of cottage cheese.
- Catarrh
- inflammation of a mucous membrane with free discharge.
- -cele (suffix)
- tumor; herniation.
e.g. meningocoele - hernial protrusion of meninges.
- Cellulitis
- a diffuse inflammatory process within solid tissues characterized
by edema, redness, pain and interference with function. Cellulitis often
occurs in the loose tissues beneath the skin, but may also occur in mucous
membranes and in muscle bundles surounding organs.
- -centesis (suffix)
- puncture.
e.g. thoracentesis - puncture of the pleural cavity.
- Chol- (prefix)
- bile.
e.g. cholelith - gallstone; bile stone.
- Congenital
- exsisting at birth.
referring to certain mental or physical traits or peculiarities, malformations,
diseases, which may be either hereditary or due to some influence occuring
during gestation even up to the moment of birth.
See also Hereditary.
- Contralateral
- affecting or pertaining to the opposite side.
- Corrugated
- having a ripple-like distortion.
- Cyanosis
- a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to an
excessive concentration of reduced (deoxygenated) hemoglobin in the blood.
- Cyst
- an abnormal sac filled with gas, fluid, or semi-solid material that
is lined by a membrane.
- Cyst(o)- (prefix)
- bladder.
e.g. cystitis - inflammation of the urinary bladder.
- Cyt(o)- (prefix)
- cell.
e.g. cytomegaly - marked enlargement of cells.
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D
- Derma-, dermat(o)- (prefix)
- skin.
e.g. dermatitis - inflammation of the skin.
- Dia- (prefix)
- through; between; ss.
e.g. diarrhea - fecal matter flowing through the bowel.
- Diffuse
- not definitely localized or limited; spread widely through a tissue
or substance.
- Diphtheritic membrane
- a thin coating on the surface of an epithelial lined organ (e.g.
intestine) that is composed of necrotic cellular debris, inflammatory
cells and fibrin.
- Dys- (prefix)
- difficult; bad; abnormal.
e.g. dysplasia - abnormal formation.
e.g. dyspnea - shortness of breath; difficulty breathing.
- Dysgenesis
- defective embryonic development.
- Dysplasia
- abnormal tissue development.
- Dystopia
- displacement. See also Malposition.
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E
- -ectasis (suffix)
- to stretch; dilate.
e.g. bronchiectasis - dilatation of bronchi. The noun form
is ectasia
- -ectomy (suffix)
- excision.
e.g. cholecystectomy - excision of the gallbladder.
- Ecchymosis
- A purplish patch caused by extravasation of blood into the tissues
differing from petechiae only in size. See also
Petechia and Purpura.
- Edema
- an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the cavities and intercellular
spaces of the body.
- Em-, en-, in- (prefix)
- into.
e.g. encyst - to enclose in a cyst or sac.
- Embolus
- a clot, usually part or all of a thrombus,
carried by a larger vessel and forced into a smaller vessel, thus
obstructing blood flow. See also Embolism
and Thromboembolism.
- Embolism
- the sudden blocking of an artery by a clot of material
(embolus). The process of the formation of an
embolus.
- -emesis (suffix)
- vomit.
e.g. hematemesis - vomiting blood.
- -emia (suffix)
- blood.
e.g. lipidemia - excess lipid in the blood.
- Endo- (prefix)
- within.
e.g. endocardium - the inner lining of the heart.
e.g. endometrium - the mucous membrane lining of the uterus.
- Enter(o)- (prefix)
- intestine.
e.g. enteritis - inflammation of the intestine.
- Epi- (prefix)
- upon; over.
e.g. epibulbar - situated upon the eyeball.
- Epicardium
- the inner layer of the serous pericardium which is in contact with
the heart.
- Eroded
- having a shallow or superficial ulceration.
- Etiology
- the causative agent in a lesion.
- Ex(o)- (prefix)
- out of; away from; outside of.
e.g. exophytic - projecting out from a surface.
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F
- Fibrin
- a filamentous protein formed from the precursor fibrinogen by the
enzyme thrombin.
- Fistula
- an abnormal, tube-like passage from a hollow organ to the surface,
or from one organ to another.
e.g. esophageal fistula - a communication between the esophagus
and some portion of the respiratory tract.
- Flocculent
- having downy or flaky shreds.
- Friable
- breaks apart or crumbles easily.
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G
- Gastroenteritis
- inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestine.
- -genesis(suffix)
- origin.
e.g. spermatogenesis - formation of sperm.
- Granuloma
- a focal collection of activated macrophages.
- Granulomatous
- composed of granulomas.
- Grey matter
- the grey nervous tissue of the brain and spinal cord consisting of
the cell bodies and dendrites of nerve cells rather than the
myelinated axons.
- Grumose
- lumpy or clotted.
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H
- Hema-, hemato, haemo- (british)- (prefix)
- blood
e.g. hematocrit - the volume percentage of erythrocytes in
whole blood.
- Hemangio- (prefix)
- blood vessel.
e.g. hemangiosarcoma - malignant tumor of a blood vessel.
- Hematoma
- a localized collection of extravasated blood, usually clotted.
- Hereditary
- transmitted from parent to offspring; derived from ancestry. See also
Congenital.
- Hetero- (prefix)
- dissimilar.
e.g. heterocellular - composed of more than one type of cell.
- Histiocyte
- a large, phagocytic cell of the reticuloendothelial system; a
macrophage.
- Histiocytoma
- a common neoplasm of young dogs composed of round
histiocytic cells, thought to be Langerhan's
cells. Most tumors spontaneously regress.
- Homeo-, homo- (prefix)
- similar; same.
e.g. homeotypical - resembling the normal or usual type.
- Hydro-, hygro- (prefix)
- water; fluid.
e.g. hydronephrosis - distension of the renal pelvis and calices
with urine.
- Hydroureter
- distension of the ureter with fluid due to obstruction. Hydroureter
is often accompanied by hydronephrosis if the obstruction is in the bladder
trigone or more distal.
- Hyper- (prefix)
- above and beyond; excessive.
e.g. hyperacidity - excessive acidity.
e.g. hyperchromasia - excessive pigmentation
- Hyperemia
- presence of an increased amount of blood in a part or an organ.
- Hypertrophy
- an increase in the size of a cell, tissue or organ usually as a
physiologic response to a stimulus.
- Hypoplasia
- underdevelopment of a tissue or organ usually due to a decrease in
the number of cells.
- Hypotonia
- abnormally decreased tonicity, tension or strength; ocular hypotony
refers to low intraocular pressure.
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I
- -iasis (suffix)
- a process, especially a morbid one.
e.g. amebiasis - the state of being infected with amebae.
- Idiopathic
- occurring without known cause.
- Imperforate
- atretic; closed.
- Indurated
- abnormally hard.
- Infarct
- a localized area of ischemic necrosis produced
by the occlusion of the blood vessels - either arterial supply or venous
drainage.
- Infra- (prefix)
- beneath.
e.g. infraorbital - beneath the eye.
- Inter- (prefix)
- between.
e.g. intercellular - between two cells.
- Intra- (prefix)
- within.
e.g. intracellular - within cells.
- Ipsilateral
- affecting or pertaining to the same side.
- Ischemia
- a local deficiency of blood due in part to functional constriction
or actual mechanical obstruction of a blood vessel.
- -itis (suffix)
- inflammation.
e.g. appendicitis - inflammation of the appendix.
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J
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K
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L
- Leio- (prefix)
- smooth.
e.g. leiomyoma - a benign tumor of smooth muscle cells.
- Lesion
- an alteration or abnormality in a tissue or cell; a pathological change.
- Leuc-, leuk- (prefix)
- white.
e.g. leukocyte - a white blood cell.
e.g. leukopenia - reduction in the number of leukocytes in
the blood.
- Leukoencephalitis
- inflammation of the white matter of the
brain.
- Lip(o)- (prefix)
- fat; lipid.
e.g. lipoma - a benign tumor of fat cells.
- Lith- (prefix)
- stone.
e.g. lithotomy - removal of a stone.
- Lymphangiectasia
- dilation of the lymphatic vessels; may be congenital or acquired.
- Lymphoma
- a neoplastic disorder of lymphocytes.
- -lysis (suffix)
- to dissolve.
e.g. autolysis - self-dissolution.
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M
- -malacia (suffix)
- softening.
e.g. osteomalacia - softening of the bone.
- Macro- (prefix)
- large.
e.g. macrophage - a large, mononuclear, phagocytic blood
cell.
- Malignant
- having the properties of anaplasia, invasiveness and metastasis;
Tending to become progressively worse and to result in death. See also
Cancer.
- Malposition
- faulty or abnormal position of a part of the body. See also
Dystopia.
- Mega- (prefix)
- great.
e.g. megakaryocyte - the giant cell of the bone marrow that
has a greatly lobulated nucleus and gives rise to blood platelets.
- -megaly (suffix)
- great, large.
e.g. splenomegaly - enlargement of the spleen.
- Melan- (prefix)
- black.
e.g. melanin - black pigment of the hair, skin, ciliary body,
choroid, retina, and certain nerve cells.
- Meninges
- the three membranes covering the brain and spinal cord - the dura mater,
arachnoid, and pia mater.
- Meningo- (prefix)
- membrane; meninges.
e.g. meningoencephalitis - inflammation of the brain and
its meninges.
- Mesothelium
- the layer of flat cells lining the body cavity of the embryo; in the
adult, it forms the simple squamous epithelium that covers the true
serous membranes of the body. Mesothelium is
derived from mesoderm.
- Metastatic
- a tumor that has transfered from one organ (or part) to another not
directly connected to it. See also Cancer.
- Micro- (prefix)
- small.
e.g. microhepatia - a small liver.
- Morphologic diagnosis
- the interpretation of the abnormalities in terms of severity, time,
lesion and anatomic site. For example: severe, chronic, glomerulonephritis.
- Mucous
- (adj.) relating to or resembling mucus.
- Mucus
- (n.) the glandular, free slime of the mucous membranes.
- My-, myo- (prefix)
- muscle.
e.g. leiomyosarcoma - a malignant tumor of smooth muscle
cells.
- Myelin
- the lipid substance forming a sheath around the axons of certain
nerve fibers.
- Myx- (prefix)
- mucus.
e.g. myxedema - mucinous edema (swelling).
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N
- Necr- (prefix)
- death.
e.g. necrosis - the morphologic changes indicative of cell
death, indicated by characteristic nuclear and cytoplasmic changes.
- Necropsy
- examination of a body after death.
- Nephr- (prefix)
- kidney.
e.g. nephrectomy - surgical removal of the kidney.
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O
- -oid (suffix)
- like, resembling.
e.g. leukemoid - like leukemia.
- Oligo- (prefix)
- few; scanty.
e.g. oligochromemia - deficiency of hemoglobin in the blood.
- -ologous (suffix)
- relating to.
e.g. homologous - of similar structure.
- -oma (suffix)
- tumor.
e.g. osteoma - tumor of bone.
- -opathy (suffix)
- disease.
e.g. nephropathy - any disease of the kidney.
- -orrhea (suffix)
- flow; discharge.
e.g. leukorrhea - white discharge.
- -oscopy (suffix)
- view.
e.g. endoscopy - to view the inside, specifically:
the intestine.
- -osis (suffix)
- a process, especially a morbid one.
e.g. diverticulosis - involvement with diverticula.
- Osteo- (prefix)
- bone.
e.g. osteomyelitis - inflammation of bone.
- Osteoid
- resembling bone.
- -ostomy (suffix)
- mouth.
e.g. gastrostomy - creation of an artificial gastric fistula.
- -otomy (suffix)
- cut.
e.g. cholecystotomy - incision into the gallbladder.
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P
- Panniculitits
- a rare, multifactorial inflammatory condition involving subcutaneous
fat.
- Panniculus
- a layer of membrane.
- Papillary
- having small nipple-shaped projections.
- Papilloma
- the common wart; a benign tumor derived from epithelium. They are
caused by papillomaviruses.
- Papules
- a small circumscribed, solid, elevated lesion of the skin.
- Para- (prefix)
- beside.
e.g. para-aortic - beside the aorta.
e.g. parauterine - beside the uterus.
- Parenchyma
- the essential or functional elements of an organ.
- Patent
- open, exposed or unobstructed.
e.g. patent ductus arteriosus - an abnormal persistence after
birth of an open lumen in the ductus arteriosus, between the pulmonary artery
and the aorta.
- Pathogenesis
- the sequence of events that leads to a disease or morbid process.
It may be, for example, hormonal, chemical, infectious, genetic or traumatic
in nature.
- Pathology
- the science and study of disease, especially the causes and development
of abnormal conditions both gross and microscopic.
- Pedunculated
- elevated, as on a stem (peduncle).
- -penia (suffix)
- poverty.
e.g. thrombocytopenia - decrease in blood platelets.
- Peri- (prefix)
- around.
e.g. peribronchial - around the bronchus.
- Pericardium
- the fibroserous sac enclosing the heart and the roots of the great vessels
of the heart. It is composed of a fibrous external layer and a serous inner
layer.
- Petechia
- a pinpoint, non-raised, purplish-red spot caused by intradermal or
subcutaneous hemorrhage. Plural is petechiae. These are tell-tale symptoms
of Ebola and Lassa Fevers.
- Peyer's Patches
- ovoid, elevated patches of closely packed lymphoid follicles in the
mucosa and submucosa of the small intestine. Also called aggregated
lymphoid follicles.
- -phage (suffix)
- eat; devour.
e.g. macrophage - a cell which devours (phagocytoses).
- Phago- (prefix)
- eat; devour.
e.g. phagocyte - any cell that ingests foreign material, other
cells or microorganisms.
- Pheochromocytoma
- (pheo=dusky) (chromo=color) (cyt=cell) (oma=tumor)
a small tumor of chromaffin cells, usually of the adrenal medulla, but
occasionally of the chromaffin tissue of sympathetic paraganglia.
Functional tumors secrete catecholamines.
- Phleb- (prefix)
- vein.
e.g. phlebitis - inflammation of the vein.
- Pinna
- the projecting part of the ear; also known as the auricle.
- -plasia (suffix)
- to form.
e.g. hyperplasia - an increase in the number of cells in a
tissue or organ, usually as a physiologic response to a stimulus.
- -pnea (suffix)
- breath.
e.g. dyspnea - labored or difficult breathing.
- Polyp
- a spheroidal mass that protrudes upwards or outwards from a normal
surface. Polyps may be hyperplastic,
inflammatory, or neoplastic.
e.g. pedunculated polyp - a polyp attached by a thin stalk
(peduncle).
e.g. sessile polyp - a polyp with a broad base
(sessile).
- Polypoid
- Resembling a polyp.
- Purpura
- a hemorraghic disease characterized by extravasation of blood into
the tissues producing spontaneous ecchymoses and
petechiae.
- Pus
- a protein-rich liquid inflammation product comprised
of leukocytes, a thin fluid
and cellular debris.
- Prognosis
- a prediction of the outcome of the pathological process or disease.
- -ptosis (suffix)
- falling.
e.g. ptosis - drooping, specifically: of the eyelid.
- Pyo- (prefix)
- pus.
e.g. pyometra - an accumulation of pus within the uterus.
e.g. pyogranuloma - an infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells
into an area of chronic inflammation characterized by mononuclear cells,
macrophages, lymphocytes and even plasma cells.
- Pyelonephritis (nephropyelitis)
- inflammation of the kidney and renal pelvis often by ascending bacterial
infection.
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Q
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R
- Reniform
- shaped like a kidney.
- Resilient
- having the ability to return to an original shape after having been
compressed or deformed.
- -rhage, -rrhage, -rrhagia (suffix)
- discharge.
e.g. hemorrhage - discharge of blood.
- -rrhea (suffix)
- abnormal or excessive flow.
e.g. steatorrhea - excessive lipid in the feces.
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S
- Saponification
- the hydrolysis of a fat by alkali with the formation of a soap
and glycerol.
- Sclero- (prefix)
- hard.
e.g. scleroma - a hardened patch of skin or mucous membrane.
- Serosa
- any serous membrane.
- Serous Membrane
- the membrane lining the walls of the body cavities and enclosing the
contained organs. It is a mesothelium lying
upon a connective tissue layer and secretes a watery serous fluid.
- Serpiginous
- having a wavy border.
- Serrated
- having a saw-like edge.
- Sessile
- attached by a broad base.
- -stasis (suffix)
- standing still.
e.g. hemostasis - arrest of blood circulation.
- Stea- (prefix)
- lipid.
e.g. steatorrhea - excessive lipid in the feces.
- Stenosis
- a stricture of any canal.
- Stoma- (prefix)
- mouth.
e.g. stomatology - the study of the mouth and its diseases.
- Stomatitis
- inflammation of the mucosa of the mouth.
- Suppurative
- containing pus.
- Syncope
- a temporary loss of consciousness due to insufficient cerebral blood
flow; fainting.
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T
- Thromboembolism
- the lesion created by a thromboembolus.
- Thromboembolus
- a clot of material that breaks free from a primary site, is transported
in the bloodstream and becomes lodged and adhered at a secondary site.
- -trophy (suffix)
- nourish.
e.g. dystrophy - defective or faulty nutrition.
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U
- Ulcerated
- having a local defect or excavation of the epithelium of an organ
or tissue through the basement membrane.
- Umbilicated
- marked by depressed spots resembling the umbilicus.
- Umbilicus
- the scar marking the site of entry of the umbilical cord into the fetus.
- Unilateral
- affecting only one side.
- -uria (suffix)
- urine.
e.g. proteinuria - protein in the urine.
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V
- Verruca
- a wart.
- Verrucous
- rough; wart-like.
- Viscous
- thick, coagulated; sticky or gummy.
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W
- White matter
- the white nervous tissue of the brain and spinal cord consisting of
the conducting, myelinated fibers.
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X
- Xantho- (prefix)
- yellow.
e.g. xanthoma - a yellow tumor.
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Y
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Z
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