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'''maceration''' L. ''macerare '' = to make soft; process of softening a solid by steeping it in a liquid. | |||
'''macrophage''' G. ''makros '' = large + ''phagein '' = to eat, hence big-eater; connective tissue cell (derived from monocyte) digesting foreign particles, etc. | |||
'''macroscopic '''G. " + ''skopein '' = to examine; pertaining to the anatomy seen with the naked eye, i.e., gross anatomy. | |||
'''macula adherens''' '''(maculae adherentes)''' L. = a spot, a mark + ''adhaerere '' = to stick to. | |||
'''macula cribosa''' L. " + ''cribrum '' = a sieve; site of foramina transmit nerves to saccule, utricle & ampullae of membranous labyrinth. | |||
'''macula densa''' L. " + ''densa '' = thick; local accumulation of nuclei in distal convoluted tubule of kidney; cf. juxtaglomerular complex. | |||
'''macula lutea''' L. " + ''luteus '' = yellow; yellow region in the fundus of the eye containing the fovea centralis. | |||
'''macula sacculi''' L. " + ''sacculus '' = little sac; plaque of thickened sensory epithelium in wall of saccule of membranous labyrinth. | |||
'''macula utriculi''' L. " + ''utriculus '' = little bag; plaque of thickened sensory epithelium in wall of utricle of membranous labyrinth. | |||
'''Magendie''',''' '''François. 1783-1855''' '''Paris pathologist & physiologist; foramen of M. = median aperture of fourth ventricle (1828). | |||
'''Maier''',''' '''Rudolf. 1824-1888 German physician;''' '''sinus of M. = a depression in lacrimal sac into which open the canaliculi of the lacrimal gland. | |||
'''malleus''' L. = a hammer; one of auditory ossicles shaped like round-headed Roman hammer used by butchers for stunning oxen. | |||
'''Mallory''', Frank. 1862-1941 American pathologist; histological stains; M.'s trichrome. | |||
'''Malpighi''', Marcello. 1628-1694 Rome and Bologna anatomist, a founder of microscopic anatomy; Malpighian capsule = splenic capsule; M. corpuscles = white pulp of spleen (1669); M. corpuscles = renal corpuscles; rete Malpighii = stratum germinativum of epidermis; pulmonary alveoli of M.; canal of M. = longitudinal duct of epoöphoron. | |||
'''mammary '''adj.''' '''L. ''mamma '' = breast. | |||
'''mamillary ''' adj.''' '''L. = like a little breast. | |||
'''manchette '''F. = a wristband or cuff; collar-like structure forming at neck of developing spermatozoon during spermiogenesis. | |||
'''Masson''', C.L. Pierre. Montreal pathologist 1880-1959; histological trichrome stain. | |||
'''mast cell''' Ge. ''masten '' = to (over-) feed; connective tissue cell (cf. Ehrlich) filled with many granules of heparin, histamine. | |||
'''matrix '''L.= a female animal kept for breeding purposes; a synonym for L. ''uterus '' = womb; later, the material which harbours something, as in "mother-of-pearl"; the ground substance of cartilage harbouring the chondrocytes. | |||
'''Mayer''', Paul. German histologist 1848-1923; stain of haematoxylin, alum and iodate. | |||
'''Meckel''', Johann Friedrich (the elder). 1724-1774 Berlin anatomist, botanist & gynaecologist; M.'s cave = dural space lodging the trigeminal ganglion (1748); M.'s ganglion = pterygopalatine ganglion. | |||
'''Meckel''', Johann Friedrich (the younger, grandson of above). 1781-1833 Halle anatomist & surgeon; M.'s cartilage = a bar of cartilage around which embryo's mandible develops (1820); M.'s diverticulum = congenital diverticulum of ileum. | |||
'''meconium '''G. ''mekonion '' = discharge from bowels of a newborn infant, from G. ''mecon '' = poppy (discharge thought by Aristotle to resemble poppy juice). | |||
'''mediastinum''' probably a contraction of L. ''per medium tensum '' = that which is tight down the middle (not from L. ''mediastinus '' = a subordinate domestic slave, a servant at the public baths in Rome); now refers to the mass of connective tissue in the central zone of a region or organ; the central region of the thorax. | |||
'''mediastinum cerebri '''an early term for falx cerebri. | |||
'''mediastinum testis '''thickened portion of tunica albuginea on the posterior surface of the testis, making a keel-like projection into the region of the rete testis in the interior; body of Highmore, q.v. | |||
'''medulla (-ae)''' L. = pith, marrow, inner portion of an organ (from L. ''medius '' = in the middle), in contrast to cortex. | |||
'''medulla oblongata '''L. " + a barbarism from L. ''oblongus '' = rather long; enlarged portion of spinal cord as it enters foramen magnum of occipital bone; a term introduced by Heister (c. 1740) and Haller (c. 1750) which replaced the earlier, more correct term ''medulla prolongata ''(L. ''prologatus '' = prolonged); cf. ligamentum nuchae. | |||
'''medulla spinalis''' L. = spinal cord. | |||
'''megakaryocyte''' G. ''megas '' = large + ''karyon '' = nucleus + ''kytos '' = hollow vessel; giant cell in bone marrow with multilobed nucleus. | |||
'''Meibom''', Heinrich. 1638-1700 Helmstädt physician, historian & poet; Meibomian glands = tarsal glands of eyelid (1666). | |||
'''meiosis '''G. ''meion '' = less; 1. contraction of the pupil; 2. division of a germ cell (gamete) where the number of chromosomes is halved from diploid to haploid. | |||
'''Meissner''', Georg. 1829-1905 Basle histologist & Göttingen physiologist; M.'s corpuscles = sensory corpuscles in dermal papillae of glabrous skin (1852); M.'s plexus = submucosal plexus in intestine (1862). | |||
'''melanin '''G. ''melas '' = black; natural intracellular brown pigment in eye, skin, etc. ( ''melancholia '' = black bile, one of four humours). | |||
'''melanocyte''' G. ''melas '' = black + ''kytos '' = hollow vessel. | |||
'''melanosome''' G. " + ''soma '' = body; intracellular melanin pigment granules. | |||
'''membrane ''' any structure in the form of a sheet that separates one region from another, e.g., a layer of cells, a thin layer of connective tissue, a layer of glycocalyx, etc.; plasma (q.v.) membrane = cell membrane. | |||
'''meniscus''' G. ''meniskos '' = crescent; intra-articular fibrocartilage with crescentic shape. | |||
'''menix (meninges)''' G. ''menix '' = a membrane, skin on old wine; a membrane in general; specifically, the three membranes around the central nervous system. | |||
'''menopause''' G. ''men '' = month + ''pausis '' = cessation; end of menstrual activity. | |||
'''menstrual '''adj. L. ''menstruus '' = monthly, from G. ''men '' = month; relating to the monthly female sexual cycle. | |||
'''Merkel''',''' '''Friedrich Sigmund. 1849-1919 German anatomist;''' '''M. cell or M. disc = sensory epithelial cell in stratum basal of epidermis. | |||
'''merocrine''' G. ''meros '' = a part of + ''krinein '' = to separate; exocrine secretion where bulk of cell remains intact during secretion process. | |||
'''mesangial''' adj. G. ''mesos '' = between + ''aggeion '' = a blood vessel (G. " ''gg ''" is pronounced " ''ng ''"); 1. the mesentery suspending a developing blood vessel; 2. the extravascular tissue of the renal glomerulus. | |||
'''mesenchyme''' G. ''mesos '' = middle + ''enchyma '' = infusion; cells, fibres & fluids derived from mesoderm (middle layer) of embryo. | |||
'''mesentery''' G. ''mesenterion '' from G. " + ''enteron '' = intestine; peritoneal fold encircling most of intestine and reflected onto posterior abdominal wall. | |||
'''mesoderm''' G. " + ''derma '' = skin; middle cell layer of embryo giving rise to connective tissues, most muscle, circulatory system, urogenital system, etc. | |||
'''mesonephros '''G. " + ''nephros '' = kidney; embryonic kidney (or Wolffian body) whose function is eventually replaced by metanephros (definitive kidney); middle of 3 stages in animals whose embryos have a pronephros as the first stage. | |||
'''mesosalpinx''' G. " + ''salpinx '' = tube, trumpet; free margin of broad ligament containing uterine tube. | |||
'''mesothelium''' G. " + ''thele '' = nipple; epithelium lining coelomic body cavities; most superfical layer of a serous membrane (tunica serosa). | |||
'''mesovarium''' NA. = mesentery of the ovary, q.v. (" ''ovarium ''" is not Latin). | |||
'''meta-''' G. = after, beyond, over. | |||
'''metachromasia''' G. " + ''chroma '' = colour; change in colour of a dye when it binds to different components of tissue; a metachromatic dye may stain one component differently to the background (or ground substance). | |||
'''metaphase''' G. " + ''phasis '' = to appear; mitotic stage after prophase when chromosomes appear and line up in equatorial plane. | |||
'''metaphysis''' G. " + ''phyein '' = to grow; growth region of a long bone, situated between epiphysis and diaphysis. | |||
'''metaplasia '''G. " + ''plasma '' = something formed; transformation of one kind of tissue into another. | |||
'''Methyl green''' a green dye. | |||
'''microfibril '''a''' '''subunit of a''' '''fibril, q.v. | |||
'''microglia''' G. ''mikros '' = small + ''glia '' = glue; a small migratory, phagocytic neuroglial cell of central nervous system. | |||
'''microscope''' G. " + ''skopein '' = to examine; adj. microscopic, relating to the anatomy seen with a microscope, as opposed to macroscopic anatomy. | |||
'''microsome '''G. " + ''soma '' = a body; particles derived from centrifugation (at 10,000 times force of gravity) of endoplasmic reticulum. | |||
'''microtome''' G " + ''tome '' = a cutting, incision; machine for cutting sections for LM. | |||
'''microvillus''' G. " + L. ''villus '' = tuft of hair; the electron microscopic structure forming striated border of intestinal epithelial cells (Granger & Baker, 1950). | |||
'''mitochondrion''' G. ''mitos '' = thread + ''chondrion '' = grain, granule; cell organelle of variable shape, sometimes thread-like, sometimes granular (Benda, 1897). | |||
'''mitosis''' G. " + ''osis '' = a condition of; indirect division of somatic cells, in which chromosomes become threads (W. Fleming, 1882); cf. amitosis. | |||
'''mitral '''adj.''' '''L. ''mitra '' from G. = a scarf, a waistband, a turban, a snood (a scarf with strings which could be secured to head); mitral cell = a cell in an olfactory glomerulus, q.v.; mitral valve = the bicuspid left atrioventicular valve. | |||
'''modiolus''' L. = a serrated screw or borer; bony axial pillar of cochlea (Eustachius, 1563). | |||
'''molar '''L. ''mola '' = mill (for grinding). | |||
'''molecular''' L. ''molecula '' = a little mass; | |||
'''molecular layer''' a layer of cerebellar layer consisting mostly of unmyelinated fibres and only a few scattered cells, like the molecules of a gas. | |||
'''Moll''', Jacob Anton. 1832-1914 The Hague ophthalmologist; glands of M. = ciliary glands = apocrine sweat glands of the eyelashes at border of eyelid. | |||
'''Monro''',''' '''Alexander (Primus).''' '''1697-1767 Edinburgh anatomist; bursa of M. = bursa intratendinea olecrani. | |||
'''Monro''',''' '''Alexander (Secundus).''' '''1733-1817''' ''' Succeeded his father (Primus) as Edinburgh anatomist; foramen of M. = interventricular foramen between lateral and third ventricles of brain (1783). | |||
'''Monro''',''' '''Alexander (Tertius). 1773-1859 Succeeded his father (Secundus) as Edinburgh anatomist; hypothalamic sulcus of M. | |||
'''Montgomery''', William Fetherston. 1797-1859 Dublin obstetrician;''' '''M.'s glands or tubercles = enlarged sebaceous glands projecting from surface of areola of nipple during early pregnancy. | |||
'''mordant''' L. ''mordere '' = to bite; a substance (e.g., ferric chloride) which allows dye (e.g., Haematoxylin) to bind more efficiently to tissue components. | |||
'''Morgagni''', Giovanni Battista. 1682-1771 Padua anatomist; columns of M. = anal columns; foramen of M. = foramen caecum of tongue; fossa of M. = navicular fossa of urethra; hydatid of M. = appendix testis; lacunae of M. = urethral lacunae; sinus of M. = laryngeal ventricle. | |||
'''morphology''' G. ''morphe '' = form + ''logos '' = study, knowledge. | |||
'''motile''' L. ''motilis '' = moving; able to move. | |||
'''motor end-plate '''a plaque-like''' '''site of multiple synapses between a motor nerve and a muscle. | |||
'''mucin''' L. ''mucus '' from G. ''muxa '' = snot, slime; protein constituent of all mucus; occurs as granules in secretory cells. | |||
'''mucoid''' L. " + G. ''-oeides '' = form; of a type of connective tissue with much mucus; Wharton's jelly. | |||
'''mucosa''' (-ae) L. = mucous membrane. | |||
'''mucus '''L. = slime (adj. mucous). | |||
'''Müller''',''' '''Heinrich. 1820-1864 Würzburg anatomist;''' '''M.'s cells or fibres = radial glial cells of retina (1856); M.'s muscle = 1. tarsal or palpebral muscle, 2. circular fibres of ciliary muscle. | |||
'''Müller''',''' '''Johannes Peter. 1801-1858 Famous anatomist & physiologist at Berlin (son of a Koblenz bootmaker); teacher of Henle, Virchow, Kölliker, Helmholtz, etc.; Müllerian duct = paramesonephric duct of embryo (1825). | |||
'''multiparous '''adj.''' '''L. ''multus '' = much, many + ''parire '' = to bear children. | |||
'''multipolar '''L. " '' ''+ ''polus '' = pole; cell with many processes, e.g., a ventral horn motor neurone. | |||
'''muralium''' L. ''murus '' = a stone wall; system of cells or tissues in interconnected sheets. | |||
'''muralium osseum''' L. ''murus '' = a stone wall + os = bone; network of cancellous bone. | |||
'''muscle '''L. ''musculus '', dim. from G. ''mys '' = a mouse, a rat (whose body represents the belly of a muscle, with head and tail representing the tendons). | |||
'''musculotendinous junction '''a junction between skeletal muscle and tendon involving endomysium. | |||
'''myelin''' G. ''myelos '' = marrow; lipoprotein sheath around axons (Virchow, 1854). | |||
'''myelocoele '''G. " + ''koilos '' = hollow; the marrow cavity of the spine; pathological protrusion of spinal medulla. | |||
'''myeloid''' adj. G. " + ''-oeides '' = form; of bone marrow tissue. | |||
'''myenteric''' G. ''mys '' = muscle + ''enteron '' = intestine (cf. Auerbach). | |||
'''myo- '''G. ''mys '' = a mouse, a muscle, q.v. | |||
'''myocardium''' G."+ ''kardia '' = heart. | |||
'''myoepithelial''' a contactile cell derived from ectoderm (as opposed to mesoderm). | |||
'''myofibril''' G. ''mys '' = a mouse, a muscle + L. ''fibrilla '' = small fibre; intracellular arrangement of contractile proteins in myocytes. | |||
'''myofilament '''muscle protein filament, made mainly of actin, or myosin. | |||
'''myometrium''' G. " + ''metra '' = uterus. | |||
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A Glossary of Histological and Micro-Anatomical Terms
Histology Glossary: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
Including historical origins and eponyms compiled by Dr Brian Freeman, Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, revised 2000. |
ANAT2241 Support | Histology | Histology Stains | Historic Terminology | Embryology Glossary
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Abbreviations: ( ) plural form in brackets, A. Arabic, abb. abbreviation, c. circa =about, F. French adj. adjective, G. Greek, Ge. German, cf. compare, L. Latin, dim. diminutive, NA. Nomina anatomica, q.v. which see, OF. Old French |
maceration L. macerare = to make soft; process of softening a solid by steeping it in a liquid.
macrophage G. makros = large + phagein = to eat, hence big-eater; connective tissue cell (derived from monocyte) digesting foreign particles, etc.
macroscopic G. " + skopein = to examine; pertaining to the anatomy seen with the naked eye, i.e., gross anatomy.
macula adherens (maculae adherentes) L. = a spot, a mark + adhaerere = to stick to.
macula cribosa L. " + cribrum = a sieve; site of foramina transmit nerves to saccule, utricle & ampullae of membranous labyrinth.
macula densa L. " + densa = thick; local accumulation of nuclei in distal convoluted tubule of kidney; cf. juxtaglomerular complex.
macula lutea L. " + luteus = yellow; yellow region in the fundus of the eye containing the fovea centralis.
macula sacculi L. " + sacculus = little sac; plaque of thickened sensory epithelium in wall of saccule of membranous labyrinth.
macula utriculi L. " + utriculus = little bag; plaque of thickened sensory epithelium in wall of utricle of membranous labyrinth.
Magendie, François. 1783-1855 Paris pathologist & physiologist; foramen of M. = median aperture of fourth ventricle (1828).
Maier, Rudolf. 1824-1888 German physician; sinus of M. = a depression in lacrimal sac into which open the canaliculi of the lacrimal gland.
malleus L. = a hammer; one of auditory ossicles shaped like round-headed Roman hammer used by butchers for stunning oxen.
Mallory, Frank. 1862-1941 American pathologist; histological stains; M.'s trichrome.
Malpighi, Marcello. 1628-1694 Rome and Bologna anatomist, a founder of microscopic anatomy; Malpighian capsule = splenic capsule; M. corpuscles = white pulp of spleen (1669); M. corpuscles = renal corpuscles; rete Malpighii = stratum germinativum of epidermis; pulmonary alveoli of M.; canal of M. = longitudinal duct of epoöphoron.
mammary adj. L. mamma = breast.
mamillary adj. L. = like a little breast.
manchette F. = a wristband or cuff; collar-like structure forming at neck of developing spermatozoon during spermiogenesis.
Masson, C.L. Pierre. Montreal pathologist 1880-1959; histological trichrome stain.
mast cell Ge. masten = to (over-) feed; connective tissue cell (cf. Ehrlich) filled with many granules of heparin, histamine.
matrix L.= a female animal kept for breeding purposes; a synonym for L. uterus = womb; later, the material which harbours something, as in "mother-of-pearl"; the ground substance of cartilage harbouring the chondrocytes.
Mayer, Paul. German histologist 1848-1923; stain of haematoxylin, alum and iodate.
Meckel, Johann Friedrich (the elder). 1724-1774 Berlin anatomist, botanist & gynaecologist; M.'s cave = dural space lodging the trigeminal ganglion (1748); M.'s ganglion = pterygopalatine ganglion.
Meckel, Johann Friedrich (the younger, grandson of above). 1781-1833 Halle anatomist & surgeon; M.'s cartilage = a bar of cartilage around which embryo's mandible develops (1820); M.'s diverticulum = congenital diverticulum of ileum.
meconium G. mekonion = discharge from bowels of a newborn infant, from G. mecon = poppy (discharge thought by Aristotle to resemble poppy juice).
mediastinum probably a contraction of L. per medium tensum = that which is tight down the middle (not from L. mediastinus = a subordinate domestic slave, a servant at the public baths in Rome); now refers to the mass of connective tissue in the central zone of a region or organ; the central region of the thorax.
mediastinum cerebri an early term for falx cerebri.
mediastinum testis thickened portion of tunica albuginea on the posterior surface of the testis, making a keel-like projection into the region of the rete testis in the interior; body of Highmore, q.v.
medulla (-ae) L. = pith, marrow, inner portion of an organ (from L. medius = in the middle), in contrast to cortex.
medulla oblongata L. " + a barbarism from L. oblongus = rather long; enlarged portion of spinal cord as it enters foramen magnum of occipital bone; a term introduced by Heister (c. 1740) and Haller (c. 1750) which replaced the earlier, more correct term medulla prolongata (L. prologatus = prolonged); cf. ligamentum nuchae.
medulla spinalis L. = spinal cord.
megakaryocyte G. megas = large + karyon = nucleus + kytos = hollow vessel; giant cell in bone marrow with multilobed nucleus.
Meibom, Heinrich. 1638-1700 Helmstädt physician, historian & poet; Meibomian glands = tarsal glands of eyelid (1666).
meiosis G. meion = less; 1. contraction of the pupil; 2. division of a germ cell (gamete) where the number of chromosomes is halved from diploid to haploid.
Meissner, Georg. 1829-1905 Basle histologist & Göttingen physiologist; M.'s corpuscles = sensory corpuscles in dermal papillae of glabrous skin (1852); M.'s plexus = submucosal plexus in intestine (1862).
melanin G. melas = black; natural intracellular brown pigment in eye, skin, etc. ( melancholia = black bile, one of four humours).
melanocyte G. melas = black + kytos = hollow vessel.
melanosome G. " + soma = body; intracellular melanin pigment granules.
membrane any structure in the form of a sheet that separates one region from another, e.g., a layer of cells, a thin layer of connective tissue, a layer of glycocalyx, etc.; plasma (q.v.) membrane = cell membrane.
meniscus G. meniskos = crescent; intra-articular fibrocartilage with crescentic shape.
menix (meninges) G. menix = a membrane, skin on old wine; a membrane in general; specifically, the three membranes around the central nervous system.
menopause G. men = month + pausis = cessation; end of menstrual activity.
menstrual adj. L. menstruus = monthly, from G. men = month; relating to the monthly female sexual cycle.
Merkel, Friedrich Sigmund. 1849-1919 German anatomist; M. cell or M. disc = sensory epithelial cell in stratum basal of epidermis.
merocrine G. meros = a part of + krinein = to separate; exocrine secretion where bulk of cell remains intact during secretion process.
mesangial adj. G. mesos = between + aggeion = a blood vessel (G. " gg " is pronounced " ng "); 1. the mesentery suspending a developing blood vessel; 2. the extravascular tissue of the renal glomerulus.
mesenchyme G. mesos = middle + enchyma = infusion; cells, fibres & fluids derived from mesoderm (middle layer) of embryo.
mesentery G. mesenterion from G. " + enteron = intestine; peritoneal fold encircling most of intestine and reflected onto posterior abdominal wall.
mesoderm G. " + derma = skin; middle cell layer of embryo giving rise to connective tissues, most muscle, circulatory system, urogenital system, etc.
mesonephros G. " + nephros = kidney; embryonic kidney (or Wolffian body) whose function is eventually replaced by metanephros (definitive kidney); middle of 3 stages in animals whose embryos have a pronephros as the first stage.
mesosalpinx G. " + salpinx = tube, trumpet; free margin of broad ligament containing uterine tube.
mesothelium G. " + thele = nipple; epithelium lining coelomic body cavities; most superfical layer of a serous membrane (tunica serosa).
mesovarium NA. = mesentery of the ovary, q.v. (" ovarium " is not Latin).
meta- G. = after, beyond, over.
metachromasia G. " + chroma = colour; change in colour of a dye when it binds to different components of tissue; a metachromatic dye may stain one component differently to the background (or ground substance).
metaphase G. " + phasis = to appear; mitotic stage after prophase when chromosomes appear and line up in equatorial plane.
metaphysis G. " + phyein = to grow; growth region of a long bone, situated between epiphysis and diaphysis.
metaplasia G. " + plasma = something formed; transformation of one kind of tissue into another.
Methyl green a green dye.
microfibril a subunit of a fibril, q.v.
microglia G. mikros = small + glia = glue; a small migratory, phagocytic neuroglial cell of central nervous system.
microscope G. " + skopein = to examine; adj. microscopic, relating to the anatomy seen with a microscope, as opposed to macroscopic anatomy.
microsome G. " + soma = a body; particles derived from centrifugation (at 10,000 times force of gravity) of endoplasmic reticulum.
microtome G " + tome = a cutting, incision; machine for cutting sections for LM.
microvillus G. " + L. villus = tuft of hair; the electron microscopic structure forming striated border of intestinal epithelial cells (Granger & Baker, 1950).
mitochondrion G. mitos = thread + chondrion = grain, granule; cell organelle of variable shape, sometimes thread-like, sometimes granular (Benda, 1897).
mitosis G. " + osis = a condition of; indirect division of somatic cells, in which chromosomes become threads (W. Fleming, 1882); cf. amitosis.
mitral adj. L. mitra from G. = a scarf, a waistband, a turban, a snood (a scarf with strings which could be secured to head); mitral cell = a cell in an olfactory glomerulus, q.v.; mitral valve = the bicuspid left atrioventicular valve.
modiolus L. = a serrated screw or borer; bony axial pillar of cochlea (Eustachius, 1563).
molar L. mola = mill (for grinding).
molecular L. molecula = a little mass;
molecular layer a layer of cerebellar layer consisting mostly of unmyelinated fibres and only a few scattered cells, like the molecules of a gas.
Moll, Jacob Anton. 1832-1914 The Hague ophthalmologist; glands of M. = ciliary glands = apocrine sweat glands of the eyelashes at border of eyelid.
Monro, Alexander (Primus). 1697-1767 Edinburgh anatomist; bursa of M. = bursa intratendinea olecrani.
Monro, Alexander (Secundus). 1733-1817 Succeeded his father (Primus) as Edinburgh anatomist; foramen of M. = interventricular foramen between lateral and third ventricles of brain (1783).
Monro, Alexander (Tertius). 1773-1859 Succeeded his father (Secundus) as Edinburgh anatomist; hypothalamic sulcus of M.
Montgomery, William Fetherston. 1797-1859 Dublin obstetrician; M.'s glands or tubercles = enlarged sebaceous glands projecting from surface of areola of nipple during early pregnancy.
mordant L. mordere = to bite; a substance (e.g., ferric chloride) which allows dye (e.g., Haematoxylin) to bind more efficiently to tissue components.
Morgagni, Giovanni Battista. 1682-1771 Padua anatomist; columns of M. = anal columns; foramen of M. = foramen caecum of tongue; fossa of M. = navicular fossa of urethra; hydatid of M. = appendix testis; lacunae of M. = urethral lacunae; sinus of M. = laryngeal ventricle.
morphology G. morphe = form + logos = study, knowledge.
motile L. motilis = moving; able to move.
motor end-plate a plaque-like site of multiple synapses between a motor nerve and a muscle.
mucin L. mucus from G. muxa = snot, slime; protein constituent of all mucus; occurs as granules in secretory cells.
mucoid L. " + G. -oeides = form; of a type of connective tissue with much mucus; Wharton's jelly.
mucosa (-ae) L. = mucous membrane.
mucus L. = slime (adj. mucous).
Müller, Heinrich. 1820-1864 Würzburg anatomist; M.'s cells or fibres = radial glial cells of retina (1856); M.'s muscle = 1. tarsal or palpebral muscle, 2. circular fibres of ciliary muscle.
Müller, Johannes Peter. 1801-1858 Famous anatomist & physiologist at Berlin (son of a Koblenz bootmaker); teacher of Henle, Virchow, Kölliker, Helmholtz, etc.; Müllerian duct = paramesonephric duct of embryo (1825).
multiparous adj. L. multus = much, many + parire = to bear children.
multipolar L. " + polus = pole; cell with many processes, e.g., a ventral horn motor neurone.
muralium L. murus = a stone wall; system of cells or tissues in interconnected sheets.
muralium osseum L. murus = a stone wall + os = bone; network of cancellous bone.
muscle L. musculus , dim. from G. mys = a mouse, a rat (whose body represents the belly of a muscle, with head and tail representing the tendons).
musculotendinous junction a junction between skeletal muscle and tendon involving endomysium.
myelin G. myelos = marrow; lipoprotein sheath around axons (Virchow, 1854).
myelocoele G. " + koilos = hollow; the marrow cavity of the spine; pathological protrusion of spinal medulla.
myeloid adj. G. " + -oeides = form; of bone marrow tissue.
myenteric G. mys = muscle + enteron = intestine (cf. Auerbach).
myo- G. mys = a mouse, a muscle, q.v.
myocardium G."+ kardia = heart.
myoepithelial a contactile cell derived from ectoderm (as opposed to mesoderm).
myofibril G. mys = a mouse, a muscle + L. fibrilla = small fibre; intracellular arrangement of contractile proteins in myocytes.
myofilament muscle protein filament, made mainly of actin, or myosin.
myometrium G. " + metra = uterus.
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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, June 3) Embryology Histology Glossary - M. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Histology_Glossary_-_M
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