Leptomeningitis Inflammation of the pia or of the arachnoid
membrane
Lesion Abnormality in the tissue of an organism
Lethargic Fatigue, exhaustion
Leucopenia Decreased number of white blood cells
Lipid Loose term, substance usually of fatty acids which
are insoluble in water
Lipoid A group of compounds having a wide range of
different lipid structures but which are insoluble in water
Lipoidosis Any disease of lipid metabolism within the cells
of the body
Lipoma A benign neoplasia of fat cells
Lobule A small lobe or a subdivision of a lobe
Localise To limit the spread
Lordosis Concavity of the vertebral column (spine) which
is directed downwards
Lunules Disc-like cups on the ventral surface of the
anterior margin of the body (e.g. Caligus spp.)
Lymphocyte One type of white blood cell
Lymphocytopenia Reduced number of lymphocytes
Lymphocytosis An increase in lymphocytes in the blood
Lymphoid Pertaining to lymph
Lysis Dissolution and disintegration of cell membrane by
the action of a lysin
Macrocephaly Abnormally large head
Macrognathia Refers to an overgrown lower jaw that juts
out beyond the upper jaw
Macrophage A large mononuclear phagocyte white blood
cell
Macroscopic Visible with the naked eye
Malignant Denoting aggressive, harmful growth which
may spread to distant sites
Melanin Tyrosine derived black or brown pigment
Melanoma Neoplasia whose parenchyma is composed of
pigment producing cells
Melanomacrophage Distinct group of phagocytic pigment
cells
Melanophores Dark, pigment containing cells in the dermis
Melanosis Abnormal deposition of dark pigment of the skin
Meningitis Inflammation of the membranes of the brain
and spinal cord
Mesangial cell Smooth muscle-like cell that occupies a
central position in the renal glomerulus
Mesenchymal Part of the embryonic mesoderm, consisting
of loosely packed, unspecialized cells set in a gelatinous
ground substance
Metacercaria Encysted infective trematode larva in the
intermediate host
Metachromasia Different colour staining of tissues than
that of the original stain
Metaplasia Term applied to a change of one kind of tissue
into another
Metastasis Process by which malignant disease spreads to
other parts, of the body
Microcytic Undersized red blood cell
Micrognathia Condition where the jaw is undersized
Micropyle Pore in the membrane covering the ovum
through which a spermatozoon can enter
Microstomia Abnormally small mouth
Microtome Instrument equipped with a steel blade which
is used to cut thin sections of tissues embedded in
paraffin wax
Mild Not severe
Milliary Term, expressive of size (about the size of millet
seeds)
Miracidium Free-swimming ciliated larval form in the life
cycle of a digenic trematode
Mitosis A type of cell division in which a single cell
produces two identical daughter cells
Moderate Not excessive
Monocytes Partially differentiated end cells, leucocytes
Morbidity Frequency with which a disease appears in a
population
Moribund Progressing towards death
Morphological Of form and structure
Mortality Fatal outcome
Mucosa A mucous membrane lining a cavity or organ
lumen, composed of epithelial cells
Multicellular Many cells
Multinuclear Possessing many nuclei
Multivalent Vaccines that contain antigens from several
different bacteria and viruses
Mural Pertaining to the wall of a cavity, organ or vessel
Mutagen An agent which produces a mutation or enhances
the rate of mutation
Mycelium Mass of branching filaments of fungi or moulds
Mycetoma Chronic subcutaneous infection caused by actinomycetes or fungi, that can also appear in the brain,
kidney, or other organs.
Mycosis Disease caused by the growth of any fungus
Myocarditis Inflammation of the myocardium of the heart
Myofibril Fibre, composed of a bundle of myofilaments
that is found in striated muscle
Myophagia Invasion of degenerated muscle sarcoplasm by
histiocytes
Myocardium Muscular tissue of the heart
Mycosis Any disease caused by fungi, or oomycete
Myodegeneration Muscle degeneration
Myolysis Disintegration or degeneration of muscle tissue
Myoma A neoplasia which consists almost totally of
muscular tissue
Myotome A block of ‘W’ or ‘V’-shaped segmental muscle
Myopathy Any abnormal condition or disease of muscular
tissue
200
Glossary
membrane
Lesion Abnormality in the tissue of an organism
Lethargic Fatigue, exhaustion
Leucopenia Decreased number of white blood cells
Lipid Loose term, substance usually of fatty acids which
are insoluble in water
Lipoid A group of compounds having a wide range of
different lipid structures but which are insoluble in water
Lipoidosis Any disease of lipid metabolism within the cells
of the body
Lipoma A benign neoplasia of fat cells
Lobule A small lobe or a subdivision of a lobe
Localise To limit the spread
Lordosis Concavity of the vertebral column (spine) which
is directed downwards
Lunules Disc-like cups on the ventral surface of the
anterior margin of the body (e.g. Caligus spp.)
Lymphocyte One type of white blood cell
Lymphocytopenia Reduced number of lymphocytes
Lymphocytosis An increase in lymphocytes in the blood
Lymphoid Pertaining to lymph
Lysis Dissolution and disintegration of cell membrane by
the action of a lysin
Macrocephaly Abnormally large head
Macrognathia Refers to an overgrown lower jaw that juts
out beyond the upper jaw
Macrophage A large mononuclear phagocyte white blood
cell
Macroscopic Visible with the naked eye
Malignant Denoting aggressive, harmful growth which
may spread to distant sites
Melanin Tyrosine derived black or brown pigment
Melanoma Neoplasia whose parenchyma is composed of
pigment producing cells
Melanomacrophage Distinct group of phagocytic pigment
cells
Melanophores Dark, pigment containing cells in the dermis
Melanosis Abnormal deposition of dark pigment of the skin
Meningitis Inflammation of the membranes of the brain
and spinal cord
Mesangial cell Smooth muscle-like cell that occupies a
central position in the renal glomerulus
Mesenchymal Part of the embryonic mesoderm, consisting
of loosely packed, unspecialized cells set in a gelatinous
ground substance
Metacercaria Encysted infective trematode larva in the
intermediate host
Metachromasia Different colour staining of tissues than
that of the original stain
Metaplasia Term applied to a change of one kind of tissue
into another
Metastasis Process by which malignant disease spreads to
other parts, of the body
Microcytic Undersized red blood cell
Micrognathia Condition where the jaw is undersized
Micropyle Pore in the membrane covering the ovum
through which a spermatozoon can enter
Microstomia Abnormally small mouth
Microtome Instrument equipped with a steel blade which
is used to cut thin sections of tissues embedded in
paraffin wax
Mild Not severe
Milliary Term, expressive of size (about the size of millet
seeds)
Miracidium Free-swimming ciliated larval form in the life
cycle of a digenic trematode
Mitosis A type of cell division in which a single cell
produces two identical daughter cells
Moderate Not excessive
Monocytes Partially differentiated end cells, leucocytes
Morbidity Frequency with which a disease appears in a
population
Moribund Progressing towards death
Morphological Of form and structure
Mortality Fatal outcome
Mucosa A mucous membrane lining a cavity or organ
lumen, composed of epithelial cells
Multicellular Many cells
Multinuclear Possessing many nuclei
Multivalent Vaccines that contain antigens from several
different bacteria and viruses
Mural Pertaining to the wall of a cavity, organ or vessel
Mutagen An agent which produces a mutation or enhances
the rate of mutation
Mycelium Mass of branching filaments of fungi or moulds
Mycetoma Chronic subcutaneous infection caused by actinomycetes or fungi, that can also appear in the brain,
kidney, or other organs.
Mycosis Disease caused by the growth of any fungus
Myocarditis Inflammation of the myocardium of the heart
Myofibril Fibre, composed of a bundle of myofilaments
that is found in striated muscle
Myophagia Invasion of degenerated muscle sarcoplasm by
histiocytes
Myocardium Muscular tissue of the heart
Mycosis Any disease caused by fungi, or oomycete
Myodegeneration Muscle degeneration
Myolysis Disintegration or degeneration of muscle tissue
Myoma A neoplasia which consists almost totally of
muscular tissue
Myotome A block of ‘W’ or ‘V’-shaped segmental muscle
Myopathy Any abnormal condition or disease of muscular
tissue
200
Glossary