SBI 3U
Biology and Vocabulary!
Name: _____________
Date: ________________
Students who are just beginning to study biology often complain that there are too many new
words to learn. Many biological terms reflect their Greek and Latin origins. Consequently, the
words may seem long, foreign, and difficult. But with this specialized terminology, you are
actually able to communicate more precisely. Consider the term dermatomyositis. Even if
you haven’t heard the word before, you would be able to determine that it means ‘a disorder
causing both skin and muscle to become inflamed’. See below for some root terms:
Root
-autocardicarnicerebrchemochlorochromocyto-, -cyte
-derm-ductendo-epierythroexohypointra-itis
leuko-
Meaning
Self
Of the heart
Meat
Of the brain
Chemical
Green
Coloured
Cell, of the cell
Layer, skin
Tube
On or towards inside
Upon, on top
Red
On or toward outside
Under
Within, inside
Inflammation, infection
White
Root
-lysis
morphmyoneuro-ology
-osis
osteoova (i,u)
peri-phyte
-podpseudoskeleton
-some
-spino
-spore
-vore
xero-
Meaning
Burst or break apart
Form
Of muscles
Of the nerves
Study of
Condition, disease
Of the bone
Egg
Around, surrounding
Plant
Of the foot
False
Part left after drying
Body
Of the spine
Seed-like structure
Feeding
Dry
*Note that some roots may be prefixes or suffixes. Ie. dermatitis and epidermis
hypo- means under
-derm means skin
so hypodermic refers to something that is placed under the skin (like a hypodermic needle)
1. Using the table above, define the following terms:
Autolysis
Dermatitis
Epidermis
Erythrocyte
Exoskeleton
Leukocyte
Morphology
Oviduct
Periosteum
Pseudopod
Xerophytic
Myocardial
Osteoporosis
2. Which body parts are affected by each of the following disorders?
Appendicitis
Dermatitis
Gastritis
Laryngitis
Osteomyelitis
3. Using the table, come up with words for each of the following definitions:
a) study of the heart
b) inside the cell
c) coloured body or part
d) membrane around the heart
e) bone cell
f) spore-producing plant
g) inflammation of the nerves
h) use of chemical energy to produce body substances
i) transport materials away from a cell
j) fluid that cushions the brain and the spinal cord against shock