Medical terminology for
anatomical pathology
technicians
An overview
A.Gharib,MD,AP&CP
August 2008
What does a histopathology
technician do?
• Prepares grossing area and specimens
• Prepares and performs routine biological staining techniques;
• Assists Pathologist with setting up surgical specimens, gross
description, etc.;
• Prepares tissue specimens for routine and special procedures
• Embeds, cuts and stains tissue for histologic examination;
• Prepares frozen sections;
• Maintains and operates equipment and instruments;
• Records and files findings as directed;
• Maintains all records, updates, standard operating procedures, etc.
• Enters information such as demographics, order numbers, etc. into
automated systems;
• Attends pertinent seminars to remain abreast of methodology and
instrumentation in the field;
• May use computer applications or other automated systems such as
spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, e-mail and database
software in performing work assignments;
• May perform other incidental tasks, as needed.
 To perform all of the above tasks, a histopathology
technician requires a vocabulary of words that describe
very specific concepts unique to this field. Most of this
vocabulary is related to surgical procedures and specimens.
So in this section, we will begin with a general
description of the most common terms used in
surgical pathology section, and then proceed to specific
organ systems, explaining the specific terminology for each
part.
Introduction to anatomy
 Planes of the body:
-Vertical (frontal, coronal) plane: divides the body
to create a posterior (back) and an anterior
(front) portion.
-Mid-sagittal (median) plane: passes through the
center of head, chest and pelvis, dividing the
body into two equal right and left portions.
-Transverse (horizontal) plane: divides the body
horizontally into an upper and a lower portion.
Planes of the body
Cavities of the body
-Cranial cavity: contains the brain
-Thoracic cavity (including the pleural cavity and
the mediastinum): contains the heart, lungs and
large blood vessels.
-Abdominal cavity: contains the stomach, intestine,
kidneys, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen.
-Pelvic cavity: contains the urinary bladder,
rectum, and internal parts of the reproductive
system.
Cavities of the body
Terms describing orientation
Anterior (ventral)
Posterior(dorsal)
Superior(cephalic)
Inferior(caudal)
Medial
Lateral
Proximal
Distal
Superficial
Deep
Toward the front of body
Toward the back of body
Toward the head
Toward the feet
Toward the median plane of body
Away from median plane of body
Nearest to the trunk
Farthest from the trunk
Nearest to the skin surface
Farthest from the skin surface
Terms describing consistency
Soft
Gelatinous
Brittle
Elastic
Firm
Hard
Stony
Bony
Common Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example
Contra-
Against
Contralateral
Ex-
Out, away from
Excise
Inter-
Between
Intermuscular
Intra-
Within
Intra-abdominal
Peri-
About, around
Pericardium
Retro-
Backward
Retroperitoneum
Sub-
Under, below
subpleural
Common Suffixes
Suffix
Meaning
Example
-ectomy
Excision, surgical
removal
Tonsillectomy, appendectomy
-stomy
Surgical creation of an
opening
Colostomy
-tomy
Incision, to cut into
Laparatomy:surgical incision
of the abdomen
-pexy
Surgical fixation
Orchiopexy
-tome
Instrument for cutting
Microtome
-rrhaphy
Surgical repair, suture
Herniorraphy
-tripsy
Crushing
Lithotripsy: crushing of a stone
-cele
Protrusion of an organ
cystocele
-centesis
Puncture,tap
Thoracocentesis
Surgical terms
Excisional
biopsy
Complete removal of lesion
Incisional
biopsy
Removal of a fragment of tumor to establish
a diagnosis
En bloc
resection
Tumor and organ are completely removed
along with a large area of surrounding tissue
Anastomosis
A passage or a communication between two
vessels or organs, mostly used in
gastrointestinal surgeries
Catheterization Introduction of a tube into a passage
Debridement
Removal of dead or damaged tissue
Gross pathological description
of tumors
Cystic
Forming large spaces filled with fluid
Solid
Opposed to cystic
Fungating
Mushrooming pattern of growth
Polypoid
Growths that are like projections extending
outward from a base into a hollow space
Ulcerating
verrucous
Resembling a wart-like growth
Gastrointestinal system,
Combining forms, suffixes, and terminology
Parts of the body, Meaning
Combining forms
Example
An/o
anus
perianal
Append/o
Appendix
Appendectomy
Appendic/o
Appendix
Appendicitis
Bucc/o
Cheek
Buccal mucosa
Cec/o
Cecum
Cecal
Celi/o
Abdomen
Celiac
Cheil/o
lip
Cheilosis
Gastrointestinal system,
Combining forms,cont.
Parts of the
body
Cholecyst/o
Meaning
Example
Gallbladder
Cholecystectomy
Choledoch/o
Col/o
Common bile duct Choledochotomy
Large intestine
Colostomy
Colon/o
Large intestine
Colonoscopy
Dent/i
Tooth
Dentibuccal
Duoden/o
Duodenum
Duodenal
Enter/o
Intestine, usually
small intestine
enterocolitis
Gastrointestinal system,
Combining forms,cont.
Parts of the
body
Esophag/o
Meaning
Example
Esophagus
esophagectomy
Gastr/o
Stomach
Gastrectomy
Gingiv/o
Gums
Gingivitis
Ile/o
Ileum
Ileocecal valve
Jejun/o
Jejunun
gastrojejunostomy
Labi/o
lip
Labial
Lapar/o
abdomen
laparoscopy
Gastrointestinal system,
Combining forms,cont
Parts of body
Meaning
Example
Lingu/o
Or/o
Palat/o
Pancreat/o
Pharyng/o
Peritone/o
Tongue
Mouth
Palate
Pancreas
Throat
Peritoneum
Proct/o
Anus&
rectum
sublingual
Oral
Palatoplasty
Pancreatectomy
Pharyngeal
Peritoneal
washing
Proctocolitis
Gastrointestinal system,
substances,Combining forms,cont
substances,
Combining
forms
Amyl/o
Bil/I
Gluc/o-glyc/o
Lip/o
Lith/o
Prote/o
Steat/o
Meaning
Example
Starch
Bile
Sugar
Fat
Stone
Protein
fat
amylase
Biliary
Hyperglycemia
Lipoma
Cholelithiasis
Proteinaceous
steatorrhea
Pathology of the digestive
system
Ascites
Abnormal accumulation of
fluid in the abdomen
Achalasia
Failure of the LES to relax
Anal fistula
Abnormal tube-like
passageway near the anus
Colonic polyposis
Multiple polyps in colon
Colorectal cancer
Adenocarcinoma of colon
&rectum
Diverticula
Abnormal outpouchings in
(singular,diverticulum) the intestinal wall
Pathology of the digestive system
Hemorroids
Omphalocele
Swollen,tortuous veins in the
anorectal region
Protrusion of an organ through
the weakened muscle or fascia
Hernia of the navel
Intussusception
Telescoping of the intestines
Volvulus
Twisting of the intestine upon
itself
Chronic disease of liver with
fibrosis
Hernia
Cirrhosis
Intussusception
Intussusception
Volvulus
Procedures
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Esophagoscopy/esophageal biopsy
Endoscopy/gastric biopsy,duodenal biopsy
Colonoscopy/biopsy of colon,rectum
Liver biopsy
Cholecystectomy
Splenectomy
Intestinal resection
Total gastrectomy
Total colectomy
Respiratory tract
Combining forms, suffixes,and terminology
Combining forms
Meaning
Example
Adenoid/o
adenoids
Adenoidectomy
Alveol/o
Air sac
Alveolar
Bronch/o,
Bronchi/o
Bronchial
tube,bronchus
Bronchiol/o
Bronchiole
Bronchial
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiolitis
Epiglott/o
Epiglottis
Epiglotitis
Laryng/o
larynx
laryngectomy
Respiratory tract
Combining forms, cont.
Combining forms
Lob/o
Mediastin/o
Nas/o
Pleur/o
Pneum/o
Rhin/o
Tonsill/o
Trache/o
Thorac/o
Meaning
Lobe of lung
mediastinum
nose
pleura
Lung,air
nose
Tonsils
Trachea
chest
Example
lobectomy
Mediastinoscopy
Paranasal sinuses
Pleural effusion
Pneumothorax
Rhinoplasty
Tonsillectomy
tracheostomy
thoracotomy
Pathological terminology of the
respiratory system
Bronchiectasis
Dilation of bronchus
secondary to infection
Bronchogenic carcinoma Lung cancer
Atelectasis
Incomplete expansion of
alveoli
Emphysema
Hyperinflation of air sacs
pulmonary abscess
Mesothelioma
Pleural effusion
Collection of pus in lungs
Malignant tumor of
pleura
Escape of fluid into
pleural cavity
Procedures
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bronchoscopy/bronchial biopsy
Laryngoscopy/laryngeal biopsy
Mediastinoscopy
Thoracentesis:obtaining fluid from the pleural
cavity
Thoracoscopy
Thoracotomy/lung biopsy. lung lobectomy,lung
resection
Tracheostomy
Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB)
Urinary system
Combining forms, suffixes,and terminology
Structures,
Combining
forms
Meaning
Example
Cali/o.calic/o calyx
Caliceal
Cyst/o
Urinary bladder Cystectomy,
cystostomy
Glomerul/o
glomerulus
Glomerular
Meat/o
meatus
Meatal stenosis
Nephr/o
kidney
nephrectomy
Pyel/o
Ren/o
Renal pelvis
kidney
Pyelocaliceal
Renal
transplantation
Urinary system
Combining forms, suffixes, and terminology
Structures,
Combining
forms
Meaning
Trigon/o
Ureter/o
Trigone region of Trigonitis
bladder
ureter
Ureteroplasty
Urethr/o
urethra
Vesic/o
Urinary bladder
Example
Urethral
stricture
perivesical
Pathological terminology of the
urinary system
glomerulonephritis
nephrolithiasis
Polycystic kidneys
Pyelonephritis
Renal cell carcinoma
Wilms tumor
Bladder cancer
(transitional cell
carcinoma)
Inflammation of
glomerulus
Renal calculi
Inflammation of the renal
pelvis
Pathological terminology of the
urinary system,cont.
Ureteropelvic junction
obstruction(UPJO)
Ureterovesical junction
obstruction(UVJO)
Procedures
•
•
•
•
•
Cystoscopy
Cystectomy:resection of urinary bladder
Renal biopsy (open/needle)
Renal transplantation
Nephrectomy (radical/partial)
Female reproductive system
Combining forms, suffixes, and terminology
Combining forms Meaning
Example
Amni/o
amnion
Amniocentesis
Cervic/o
cervix
Cervicitis
Colp/o
Vagina
Colposcopy
Gynec/o
Female
Gynecomastia
Hyster/o
Uterus
Hysterectomy
Mast/o
Breast
Lactation
mamm/o
Breast
mammoplasty
Female reproductive system
Combining forms,suffixes
Combining
forms
My/o
Myom/o
Oophor/o
Ovari/o
Perine/o
Salping/o
Uter/o
Vagin/o
Vulv/o
Meaning
Example
muscle
muscle tumor
ovary
Ovary
perineum
Fallopian tubes
uterus
vagina
Vulva
Myometrium
Myomectomy
Oophorectomy
ovarian
Perineorrhaphy
Salpingectomy
Uterine prolapse
vaginoplasty
vulvectomy
Pathological terminology of the
female genital tract
Carcinoma of the cervix
SCC/Adenocarcinoma
Cervicitis
Inflammation of cervix
Fibroids
Uterine leiomyoma
Adenocarcinoma of the
endometrium
Ovarian carcinoma
Ovarian cysts
Carcinoma of the breast
Cystadenoma/cystadeno
carcinoma
Pathological terminology of the
female genital tract,cont.
Fibrocystic disease
Choriocarcinoma
Ectopic pregnancy
Implantation of the fertilized
egg outside the uterus
Upper outer quadrant, Upper
Sections of the breast
Inner quadrant, Lower outer
quadrant, Lower inner quadrant,
Areolar
Ectopic pregnancy
Implantation of the fertilized
egg outside the uterus
Procedures
• Colposcopy:visual examination of vagina &cervix
• Conization/cone biopsy: Removal of a cone-shaped section of
cervix
• Culdocentesis:needle aspiration of fluid from cul-de-sac
• Dilatation and curettage(D&C)
• Endocervical & endometrial curettage
• Tubal ligation
• Total Abdominal Hysterectomy, Bilateral salpingooophorectomy (TAH-BSO)
• Amniocentesis: surgical puncture of the amniotic sac to obtain
amniotic fluid
• Chorionic villous sampling
• Mastectomy(radical/simple)
• Quadrantectomy
• Lumpectomy
• Core needle Biopsy of breast
• FNA (fine needle aspiration) of breast
Cone biopsy of cervix
TAH-BSO
Male reproductive system
Combining
forms
Andr/o
Meaning
Example
male
androgen
Balan/o
Glans penis
Balanitis
Crypt/o
hidden
Cryptorchidism
Epididym/o
epididymis
Epididymitis
Orch/o,orchi/o,
orchid/o
Prostat/o
testis
Orchiectomy,
anorchism
Prostatitis
Semin/i
semen
prostate
Seminiferous
tubules
Male reproductive system
Combining
Meaning
forms,suffixes
Sperm/o,sperm spermatozoa
at/o
Test/o
testis
Example
Vas/o
Vasectomy
Varic/o
referring to
vasa deferens
Varicose veins
-pexy
fixation
Orchiopexy
-stomy
New opening
vasovasostomy
Spermatocele
Testicular
varicocele
Pathological conditions
Carcinoma of the
testis/prostate
Seminoma/
adenocarcinoma
Cryptorchidism
Undescended testis
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Hydrocele
Sac of fluid in the
scrotum
Testicular torsion
Twisting of spermatic
cord
varicocele
Hypo/epispadias
Congenial opening of
the urethra on the
undersurface of penis
Procedures
• Transurethral resection of prostate(TURP)
• Orchiectomy
• Vasectomy:Excision of a segment of vasa
deferens
• Needle biopsy of prostate
• prostatectomy
Central Nervous system
Organs,
combining
form
Cerebell/o
Cerebr/o
Meaning
Example
cerebellum
cerebrum
Dur/o
Dura matter
Encephal/o
Gli/o
brain
Glue,supporting
cells
Cerebellar
Cerebrospinal
fluid
Subdural/epidur
al hematoma
Encephalocele
Glioma
Central Nervous system
Organs,
combining
form
Lept/o
Mening/o,
meningi/o
My/o
Myel/o
Neur/o
Meaning
Example
Thin(pia
leptomeninges
&arachnoid
membrains)
meninges
Meningioma,
meningomyelocele
muscle
Myotomy
Spinal cord Myelomeningocele
nerve
neuropathy
Central Nervous system
Organs,
combining
form
Pont/o
Meaning
Example
Pons
cerebellopontine
Radicul/o
Nerve root
Radiculopathy
Thalam/o
thalamus
Thalamic
Thec/o
sheath
intrathecal
Vag/o
Vagus nerve vagal
Pathological conditions
Hydrocephalus
Glioma
Abnormal accumulation of CSF
in the brain
Congenital defect in spinal
column due to imperfect union of
vertebrae
Tumor of glial cells,general term
astrocytoma
Tumor of glial cells
Spina bifida
Glioblastoma
Ependymoma
meningioma
Procedure
• CSF analysis
• Lumbar puncture
• Stereotactic brain biopsy: use of a
stereotactic instrument that when fixed onto
the skull, can locate a target by 3D
Measurement.
Stereotactic brain biopsy
Skin
Combining forms & suffixes
combining
forms
Cauter/o
Meaning
Example
Heat,burn
Electrocautery
Cutane/o
skin
Subcutaneous
Derm/o
skin
Dermatitis
Ichthy/o
Scaly,dry
Ichthyosis
Melan/o
pigmented
Melanoma
Myc/o
fungus
Dermatomycosis
Onych/o
nail
onychomycosis
Combining forms & suffixes
combining
forms
Pil/o
Meaning
Example
hair
pilosebaceous
Seb/o
sebum
Sabaceous gland
Squam/o
squamous
Squamous
trich/o
hair
Trichoepithelioma
Ungu/o
nail
Subungual
Xanth/o
yellow
Xanthoma
Pathological conditions
macule
A discolored flat lesion
papule
A small elevated lesion
pustule
A small abscess
vesicle
Blister
petechia
A pinpoint hemorrhage
psoriasis
Chronic disease of skin
Nevus (plural:nevi)
Pigmented lesion of skin
Pathological conditions
keloid
Verruca
SLE/DLE
Basal cell
carcinoma(BCC)
Melanoma
Squamous cell
carcinoma(SCC)
Kaposi sarcoma
Hypertrophied scar occuring
after trauma or surgery
Wart
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Malignant tumor of skin
Malignant tumor of melanocytes
Malignant tumor of skin
Procedures
• Skin biopsy: usually in the form of an
ellipse of skin
• Skin punch biopsy: obtaining a core of
tissue
• Skin shave biopsy.
• Mohs surgery: Thin layers of a malignant
growth are removed and examined under
microscope
Skin punch biopsy
Skin,excisional biopsy