Download glossary/definition cytology and histology

GLOSSARY/DEFINITION CYTOLOGY AND HISTOLOGY
Adipocytes from Latin Adipo, fat AND cyte, hollow vessel. Meaning: a cell specialized for the storage
of fat.
Adipose- from Latin Adipo, fat. Meaning; pertaining to fat cells or tissue.
Alveoli- from Latin Alveus, a cavity or hollow. Meaning a small cell containing air in the lungs.
Anatomy- from Latin anatomia dissection. Meaning: The study, classification and science of the
physical structure of organisms and the inter relationship of their parts.
Areolar- from LATIN, small area. Meaning; a loose, spongy connective tissue, usually in small spaces
between other tissues.
ATP- acronym for Adenosine, adenine molecule plus ribosome tri-phoshate, 3 phosphate molecules.
Meaning: a form of chemical energy used for biological processes
Carbohydrate: from carbo carbon, hydr, hydrogen and ate oxygen. Meaning: Any of a group of
organic compounds that includes sugars, starches, celluloses, and gums and serves as a major energy
source in the diet of animals; they are produced by photosynthetic plants and contain only carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen, usually in the ratio 1:2:1.
Cartilage; from Latin, cartilāgō, cartilage or gristle. Meaning; A specialized, fibrous connective
tissue present in adults, and forming the temporary skeleton in the embryo, providing a model in
which the bones develop, and constituting a part of the organism's growth mechanism;
Centrioles- from Latin, centrum, centre. Meaning; two cylindrical organelles, responsible for creating
the spindle which is essential for cell division.
Chromosome- from Greek chroma, colour and soma, body. Meaning: A thread like linear strand of
DNA and associated proteins in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells that carries the genes and functions in
the transmission of hereditary information.
Cilia- from Latin cilium, eyelid, eyelash. Meaning; minute hair like processes that extend from a cell
surface. They beat rhythmically to move the cell or to move fluid or mucus over the surface.
Cirrhosis- from Greek, kirrhós, yellowish, tawny AND osis, process. Meaning: a chronic degenerative
disease in which normal liver cells are damaged and are then replaced by scar tissue.
Cutaneous-ENGLISH MODERN MEDICINE. Meaning; pertaining to the skin.
Cytology: from Greek, cyte, hollow vessel AND logos, study. Meaning; the study of cells.
Cytoplasm- from Greek cyte, hollow vessel AND plasma, form/shape. Meaning: all of the substance
of a cell other than the nucleus and the cell wall.
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Cytosol- from Greek, cyte, hollow vessel and solution (ENG MED). Meaning; the fluid component of
cytoplasm of a cell, excluding organelles and the insoluble, usually suspended, i.e. cytoplasmic
components.
Differentiation - The process by which cells or tissues undergo a change toward a more specialized
form or function, especially during embryonic development. ‘In the cambial zone, at least three
patterns of cell differentiation can be distinguished.’
Diffusion- from Latin, diffundere, to spread out. Meaning: the process in which particles in a fluid
move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, resulting in an even
distribution of the particles in the fluid. Little or no energy is required. ‘The rate of diffusion of a gas’.
Diploid-from Greek diploos, double AND eidos, form. Meaning: having two sets of chromosomes, as
normally found in the somatic cells; in humans, the diploid number is 46. ‘Oocytes and sperm are
haploid, with one set of chromosomes, whereas somatic cells are diploid, with two chromosomal
sets.’
DNA- MOD ENG MED acronym for deoxyribose nucleic acid. Meaning; a nucleic acid that consists of
two long chains of nucleotides twisted together into a double helix and joined by hydrogen bonds
between complementary bases. It carries the cell's genetic information and hereditary
characteristics via its nucleotides and their sequence and is capable of self-replication and RNA
synthesis.
Endocrine; from Greek endo, from within AND krnein, to separate. Meaning: relating to endocrine
(hormone secreting) glands or the hormones secreted by them.
Endoplasmic reticulum: from Greek, endon, within AND plasma, form AND Latin reticulum, a small
net. Meaning; an extensive intracellular membrane system whose functions include synthesis and
transport of lipids and, in regions where ribosomes are attached, of proteins
Epithelium: from Greek épi, on AND thêlê, nipple. Membranous tissue composed of one or more
layers of cells separated by very little intercellular substance and forming the covering of most
internal and external surfaces of the body and its organs.
Ciliated Epithelium – from cilia and epithelium (see above) Meaning; epithelial cells bearing
vibrating cilia on the free surface.
Columnar epithelium- from Latin, column AND epithelium, (see above). Meaning; epithelial cells
composed of columnar cells, column shaped cells.
Cuboidal epithelium- from Latin, cube shaped AND epithelium, (see above). Meaning; epithelium
composed of cuboidal cells, cube shaped cells.
Pseudostratified epithelium – from Greek pseudo, false AND stratified, layer AND epithelium (see
above). Meaning; a type of epithelium that looks stratified but is not, because its cells are arranged
with their nuclei at different levels.
Simple epithelium from Latin, simplus, simple AND epithelium (see above). Meaning; epithelium
composed of a single layer of cells.
Squamous epithelium from Latin, squāma, scale AND epithelium (see above). Meaning; epithelium
composed of squamous cells (Covered with or formed of scales).
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Stratified epithelium from Greek stratified , layer AND epithelium (see above). Meaning; epithelium
composed of cells arranged in layers.
Erythrocytes; from Greek Eyrthro, red AND cyte, hollow vessel. Meaning; a blood cell of vertebrates
that transports oxygen and carbon dioxide, combined with the red pigment haemoglobin, to and
from the tissues also called red blood cell.
Eukaryotes; from Greek eu, true AND karuōtos, having nuts (from karuon, nut). Meaning: A singlecelled or multicellular organism whose cells contain a distinct membrane-bound nucleus. ‘The
condensin complex is essential for chromosome condensation in higher eukaryotes.’
Exocrine: from Greek exo, outside AND krnein, to separate. Meaning; secreting externally, directly
or through a duct, by an exocrine gland.
Exocytosis; from Greek, exo, outside AND cyte, hollow vessel AND osis process. Meaning: A process
of cellular secretion or excretion in which substances contained in vesicles are discharged from the
cell by fusion of the vesicular membrane with the outer cell membrane. ‘Membrane fusion is a key
event in many essential cell processes, such as exocytosis, endocytosis, membrane recycling, protein
sorting and transport, fertilization, and cell division.’
Fibroblasts: from Latin, fibro, fibrous tissue AND blast, germ or cell. Meaning; a cell in connective
tissue that synthesizes collagen.
Fibro-cartilage; from Latin fibro, fibrous tissue AND cartilago, cartilage. Meaning; Cartilage that
contains numerous thick bundles of collagen fibers.
Flagella; from Latin flagellum, whip. Meaning; plural of flagellum; a long, threadlike appendage,
especially a whip-like extension of certain cells or unicellular organisms that functions as an organ of
locomotion.
Genes; from Latin, gen, begetting, AND Greek genos, race, offspring. Meaning: A hereditary unit
consisting of a sequence of DNA that occupies a specific location on a chromosome and determines
a particular characteristic in an organism. Genes undergo mutation when their DNA sequence
changes.
Golgi Apparatus; from Golgi, Camillo Golgi, an Italian physician AND Latin, apparatus, equipment.
Meaning; A network of stacked membranous vesicles present in most living cells that functions in
the formation of secretions within the cell.
Haemophilia; from Greek haem, blood AND philia, tendancy toward. Meaning: an inheritable
disease, usually affecting only males but transmitted by women to their male children, characterized
by loss or impairment of the normal clotting ability of blood so that a minor wound may result in
fatal bleeding.
Haploid; from Greek, haplous, single AND eidos, form. Meaning; having a single set of each
chromosome in a cell or cell nucleus. In most animals, only the gametes (reproductive cells) are
haploid. ‘The number of linkage groups resolved agrees well with the cytologically determined
haploid chromosome number of 21.’
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Histology: from Greek, histo, tissue AND ology or logos, to study. The study of tissue.
Homeostasis; from the Greek: homeo, unchanging AND stasis, standing. Meaning; the tendency of
an organism or cell to regulate its internal conditions, such as the chemical composition of its body
fluids, so as to maintain health and functioning, regardless of outside conditions. ‘Tissue
homeostasis depends not only on the rate of cell proliferation, but also on the rate of cell death.’
Hyaline cartilage: from Greek, hualinos, of glass AND cartilage (see above). Meaning;
Semitransparent, opalescent cartilage with a blue tint, consisting of cells that synthesize a
surrounding matrix of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and protein. It forms most of the foetal skeleton and
is found in the trachea, larynx, and joint surfaces of the adult.
Hydrophilic; from Geek, hydros, water and philic, loving or tendancy to. Meaning: Having an affinity
for water; readily absorbing or dissolving in water.
Hydrophobic: from Greek, hydros, water AND phobic, hating or aversion to. Meaning; repelling,
tending not to combine with, or incapable of dissolving in water.
Hypertonic: from Greek Hyper, above AND tonos, pressure. Meaning: having a higher osmotic
pressure than that of a specified, generally physiological, solution.
Hypothesis: from Greek, hupothesis proposal, supposition. Meaning; A tentative explanation for an
observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.
Hypotonic: from Hypo, below AND tonos, pressure. Meaning: having a lower osmotic pressure than
that of a specified, generally physiological, solution.
Immunological: from immunis, exemption. Meaning; the branch of biomedicine concerned with the
structure and function of the immune system, innate and acquired immunity, the bodily distinction
of self from non-self, and laboratory techniques involving the interaction of antigens with specific
antibodies.
Isotonic: from Greek, iso, equal AND tonos , pressure. Meaning: having the same concentration of
solutes as the blood.
Joints; (ENG MOD MED). Meaning; A point of articulation between two or more bones, especially
such a connection that allows motion.
Leukocytes; from Greek, Leuko, white AND cyte, hollow vessel. Meaning; any of the various large
unpigmented cells in the blood of vertebrates, also called white blood cell.
Lysosome; from Greek lysis, dissolution or destruction, and soma, body. Meaning; a membranebound organelle in the cytoplasm of most cells containing various hydrolytic enzymes that function
in intracellular digestion.
Macrophages: from Greek, Macro, large and Phage, to eat. Meaning; any large phagocytic cell
occurring in the blood, lymph, and connective tissue.
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Mast cells; (ENG MOD MED). A cell found in connective tissue that contains numerous basophilic
granules and releases substances such as heparin and histamine in response to injury or
inflammation of bodily tissues.
Matrix; from Latin, Matrice, womb. Meaning; The component of an animal or plant tissue that is
outside the cells. Bone cells are embedded in a matrix of collagen fibers and mineral salts.
Connective tissue consists of cells and extracellular fibers in a liquid called ground substance. Also
called extracellular matrix.
Meiosis; from Greek meioun, to diminish. Meaning; a type of cell division in which a nucleus divides
into four daughter nuclei, each containing half the chromosome number of the parent nucleus:
occurs in all sexually reproducing organisms in which haploid gametes or spores are produced. ‘My
personal hope is that students will have some intuitive understanding of meiosis as the physical
basis of genetics.’
Mesenchyme: from Greek mes, middle AND enchyma, infusion. Meaning; the part of the mesoderm
that develops into connective tissue, cartilage, lymph, blood, etc.
Metabolism; from Greek, metabole, to change. Meaning; series of processes by which food is
converted to the energy needed to sustain life.
Microtubules; from Greek micro, small AND tubules, tube like structure. Microtubules are fibrous,
hollow rods that function primarily to help support and shape the cell. They also function as routes
along which organelles can move. They are typically found in all eukaryotic cells and are a
component of the cytoskeleton, as well as cilia and flagella.
Mitochondria; from Greek, mitos, thread AND khondrion, little granule. Meaning; Spherical or rodshaped organelles found within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells, and are referred to as the
powerhouse of the cell since they act as the site for the production of high-energy compounds (e.g.
ATP), which are vital energy source for several cellular processes.
Mitosis; from Greek, mitos, warp thread AND osis, process. The process where a single cell divides
resulting in generally two identical cells, each containing the same number of chromosomes and
genetic content as that of the original cell. ‘It is generally assumed that DNA chains are randomly
segregated to daughter cells during mitosis.’
mRNA; Acronym for messenger Ribose Nucleic Acid. Meaning; the type of RNA that codes for the
chemical blueprint for a protein (during protein synthesis).
Mucous; from Latin, slimy. Meaning; the viscous slippery substance that consists chiefly of mucin,
water, cells, and inorganic salts and that is secreted as a protective lubricant coating by the cells and
glands of the mucous membranes.
Nucleolus: from Latin, kernel or Nut AND olus, small. Meaning; the round granular structure within
the nucleus of a cell, and composed of protein and RNA.
Organelle; from Mod Latin organum, instrument, organ. Meaning; A differentiated structure within
a cell, such as a mitochondrion, vacuole, or chloroplast that performs a specific function.
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Osmosis; from Greek osmos, impulse AND osis, condition/process. Meaning; Diffusion of fluid
through a semi-permeable membrane from a solution with a low solute concentration to a solution
with a higher solute concentration until there is an equal concentration of fluid on both sides of the
membrane. ‘Therefore, water tends to flow into the cell by osmosis, down its concentration
gradient.’
Pathology; from Greek pathos, suffering AND logos, to study. Meaning; the scientific study of the
nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences.
Phagocytosis; from Greek phago, to eat AND cyte , hollow vessel AND osis, process. Meaning; the
engulfing of microorganisms or other cells and foreign particles by phagocytes. ‘Destruction of the
red cells occurs as a result of the red cell-bound autoantibodies to the Fc receptors on monocytes
and macrophages; phagocytosis and cytotoxic lysis of the red cells subsequently occur.’
Phalanges; from Greek phalanges, fingers. The bones of the fingers and toes
Phospho-lipid; from MOD ENG phosphate AND Greek lipid , fat. Meaning; a lipid (fat molecule) with
one or more phosphate groups attached to it.
Physiology; from Greek, Physus , nature AND logos, study. Meaning; 1: the branch of biology that
deals with the internal workings of living things, including such functions as metabolism, respiration
and reproduction, rather than their shape and structure.2; the way a particular body, organism or
organ functions.
Pinocytosis; from Greek, pino, drink and cyte, hollow vessel AND osis, process. Meaning; A process
of taking in fluid together with its contents into the cell by forming narrow channels through its
membrane that pinch off into vesicles, and fuse with lysosomes that hydrolyze or break down
contents. ‘However, small areas of low emission could be found in the cytoplasm, showing that the
compound was taken up by the cells, probably by pinocytosis.’
Plasma cells; from Greek plasma, form or shape AND cell. Meaning; A lymphocyte that originates
from a B (immune) cell and produces antibodies as part of a humoral immune response.
Prokaryotes; from Greek Pro, before and karyote, root. Any of the group of organisms primarily
characterized by the lack of true nucleus and other membrane-bound cell compartments: such as
mitochondria and chloroplasts, and by the possession of a single loop of stable chromosomal DNA.
Reproduction; (MOD MED). Meaning; the production of offspring by organised bodies.
Ribosomes; from ribonucleic acid AND Greek, soma, body. Meaning; the production of offspring by
organised bodies.
semi-permeable; from Laitn, semi, half AND permeable. Meaning; allowing passage of certain,
especially small, molecules or ions but acting as a barrier to others.
Serous membrane; from Latin serosus, watery fluid AND membrum, limb or member of the body.
Meaning; any of the smooth moist delicate membranes, such as the pleura or peritoneum that line
the closed cavities of the body and secrete a watery exudate.
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Synovial; from Greek, syn, with AND ovum, egg. Meaning; A clear, viscid lubricating fluid secreted by
membranes in joint cavities, sheaths of tendons, and bursae.
Thoracic; from Greek, thorax, soldiers breastplate. Meaning; of, relating to, or situated in or near
the thorax: the thoracic vertebrae; the thoracic cavity.
Turgidity; from Latin, turgidus to swell. Meaning; the state of being turgid or swollen, especially due
to high fluid content. “Turgidity is essential in plant cells to make them keep standing upright. Plant
cells that lose much water have less turgor pressure, and tend to become flaccid. Further water loss
eventually results in the wilting of the plant.”
Vacuoles; from Latin vocare, to empty. Meaning; a membrane-bound vesicle found in the cytoplasm
of a cell whose function includes intracellular secretion, excretion, storage, and digestion.
Vesicles; from Latin, vesicular, bladder or blister. Meaning; a bubble-like membranous structure that
stores and transports cellular products, and digests metabolic wastes within the cell; an intracellular
membranous sac that is separated from the cytosol by at least one lipid bilayer.
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