Glossary
Abrasion Superficial injury to skin or mucous membrane
Acantholysis Separation between adjacent Malpighian
cells of the epidermis, following loss of function of the
desmosomes
Acid-fast Bacteria not decolourised by weak acids e.g.
mycobacteria
Acidophilic A substance within a cell or tissue that stains
with an acid dye (e.g. eosin)
Acinus Any of the smallest lobules of a compound gland
Acute Characterised by a short and relatively severe course
Adenoma Benign neoplasia of glandular epithelium
Adhesion Joining of two structures by connective tissue
which would normally be apart
Adjuvant An agent that may enhance the immune system
and increase the response to a vaccine
Adipose Of a fatty nature
Adventitia The outermost connective tissue covering of
any organ, vessel, or other structure
Aetiology Study of the causation of disease, both direct and
predisposing
Afferent Leading or flowing into a named body e.g.
glomerulus
Agglutination Clumping of bacteria or red blood cells in a
fluid
Agranulocytosis Deficiency or absence of white blood
cells
Amorphous Having no distinct form
Amyloid Glassy, homogenous substance appearing in the
cytoplasm
Anaemia Deficiency of haemoglobin concentration in the
blood or decreased number of red blood cells
Anamorphic Changing to a more complex form
Anaplasia Loss of the distinctive characteristics of a cell,
associated with proliferative activity
Anastomosis Connection of the branches of two or more
arteries or veins
Aneurysm Blood-filled dilatation or bulge of a vessel
Angioma Benign neoplasia of vascular tissue
Anisocytosis Unequal size of red blood cells
Ankylosis Stiffening of the joints between the vertebrae
(and sometimes a fusion and shortening)
Anopthalmia Congenital absence of one or both eyes
Anorexia Loss or deficiency of appetite for food
Anoxia Inadequate supply of oxygen to the body tissues
Anterior The front end
Anterolateral Front and side
Anitschkow-like Large mononuclear cells found in the
myocardium with an undulating, ribbon-like formation
of nuclear chromatin
Aplasia Incomplete or defective development of tissue or
organ
Aplastic Defective development or congenital absence of a
tissue
Aplastic anaemia Defective, or a cessation of, regeneration
of red blood cells e.g. drug induced
Apoptosis Programmed cell death, a normal component of
the development and health of multicellular organisms
Artifact Artificial product or reaction resulting from
physical or chemical process
Arteriosclerosis Chronic thickening and rigidity involving
predominantly the middle coat of medium-sized arteries
Ascites Abnormal free serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity
Asphyxia Condition of suffocation, increased carbon dioxide
tension in the blood
Asymptomatic An organism carrying a disease or an infectious agent but showing no overt signs of disease
Ataxia Defective muscular control resulting in irregular
and jerky movements
Atheroma Deposits of lipid material in the inner wall of the
arteries
Atherosclerosis Disease of the arteries in which lipid-like
plaques develop on the inner wall lining
Atresia Abnormal closure, or congenital absence of a
natural opening
Atriomegaly Increase in the inner size of the atrium
Atrium Thin-walled chamber of the heart
Atrophy Wasting, diminution in size and function, as a
result of disuse, nutritional insufficiency
Atypical Not correlating with normal
Autoimmunity Failure of an organism to recognize its own
constituent parts as self, which allows an immune
response against its own cells
Autolysis Auto-digestion following release of digestive
fluids or own enzymes
D.W. Bruno et al., A Colour Atlas of Salmonid Diseases,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-2010-7, # Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013
195
Abrasion Superficial injury to skin or mucous membrane
Acantholysis Separation between adjacent Malpighian
cells of the epidermis, following loss of function of the
desmosomes
Acid-fast Bacteria not decolourised by weak acids e.g.
mycobacteria
Acidophilic A substance within a cell or tissue that stains
with an acid dye (e.g. eosin)
Acinus Any of the smallest lobules of a compound gland
Acute Characterised by a short and relatively severe course
Adenoma Benign neoplasia of glandular epithelium
Adhesion Joining of two structures by connective tissue
which would normally be apart
Adjuvant An agent that may enhance the immune system
and increase the response to a vaccine
Adipose Of a fatty nature
Adventitia The outermost connective tissue covering of
any organ, vessel, or other structure
Aetiology Study of the causation of disease, both direct and
predisposing
Afferent Leading or flowing into a named body e.g.
glomerulus
Agglutination Clumping of bacteria or red blood cells in a
fluid
Agranulocytosis Deficiency or absence of white blood
cells
Amorphous Having no distinct form
Amyloid Glassy, homogenous substance appearing in the
cytoplasm
Anaemia Deficiency of haemoglobin concentration in the
blood or decreased number of red blood cells
Anamorphic Changing to a more complex form
Anaplasia Loss of the distinctive characteristics of a cell,
associated with proliferative activity
Anastomosis Connection of the branches of two or more
arteries or veins
Aneurysm Blood-filled dilatation or bulge of a vessel
Angioma Benign neoplasia of vascular tissue
Anisocytosis Unequal size of red blood cells
Ankylosis Stiffening of the joints between the vertebrae
(and sometimes a fusion and shortening)
Anopthalmia Congenital absence of one or both eyes
Anorexia Loss or deficiency of appetite for food
Anoxia Inadequate supply of oxygen to the body tissues
Anterior The front end
Anterolateral Front and side
Anitschkow-like Large mononuclear cells found in the
myocardium with an undulating, ribbon-like formation
of nuclear chromatin
Aplasia Incomplete or defective development of tissue or
organ
Aplastic Defective development or congenital absence of a
tissue
Aplastic anaemia Defective, or a cessation of, regeneration
of red blood cells e.g. drug induced
Apoptosis Programmed cell death, a normal component of
the development and health of multicellular organisms
Artifact Artificial product or reaction resulting from
physical or chemical process
Arteriosclerosis Chronic thickening and rigidity involving
predominantly the middle coat of medium-sized arteries
Ascites Abnormal free serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity
Asphyxia Condition of suffocation, increased carbon dioxide
tension in the blood
Asymptomatic An organism carrying a disease or an infectious agent but showing no overt signs of disease
Ataxia Defective muscular control resulting in irregular
and jerky movements
Atheroma Deposits of lipid material in the inner wall of the
arteries
Atherosclerosis Disease of the arteries in which lipid-like
plaques develop on the inner wall lining
Atresia Abnormal closure, or congenital absence of a
natural opening
Atriomegaly Increase in the inner size of the atrium
Atrium Thin-walled chamber of the heart
Atrophy Wasting, diminution in size and function, as a
result of disuse, nutritional insufficiency
Atypical Not correlating with normal
Autoimmunity Failure of an organism to recognize its own
constituent parts as self, which allows an immune
response against its own cells
Autolysis Auto-digestion following release of digestive
fluids or own enzymes
D.W. Bruno et al., A Colour Atlas of Salmonid Diseases,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-2010-7, # Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013
195