The following list is by no means complete, but it may help in understanding some difficult terminology. The following abbreviations are used ; Gr., for the Greek ; L., for the Latin. A a-or an- (Gr., without or absent), asexual, without sex anaerobe organism that lives without free oxygen. ab- (L., away from or without), aboral, away from the mouth ad- (L., toward, upon, or equal), adrenal , relating to the kidney; adduct, to draw one part towards another. ae (L., plural ending of singular Latin nouns ending in a) alga and algae acr, acri-, acis (Gr-akris) Outermost top, point, tip actin-actino (Gr., ktis-ray) aer-(Gr, air), aerobe , organism that requires free air. alb (L., white), albino , organism exhibiting no pigment. algia (Gr., pain), neuralgia , pain in a nerve. ambi- (L., both), ambidextrous , being able to use eitherhand. ambly (Gr., ambulus, dull, dim) e.g. amblypoda, rangeextinct animals of the Eocene period. amphi- (Gr., on both sides), Amphibia , class of vertebrateanimals living in water and on land. amyl- (L., starch), amylase enzyme that changes starch to sugar. ana- (Gr., back or again), anabolism , building-up processof metabolism. angio- (Gr., enclosed), angiosperm , plant with enclosed or protected seeds. ante- (L., before in time or space), antedorsal , placed before dorsal. anti- (Gr., opposed or opposite), antitoxin , antibody opposed to or neutralizing a toxin. antho- (Gr., anthos = flower), Anthozoa-flower-like coelenterates. antr- (L., cavity), antrum , cavity of a bone. apo- (Gr., away or separate), apodeme , ingrowth from the exo-skeleton of most arthropods. aqua- (L., water), aquatic , living in water. arch- (Gr., early or chief), archenteron , early digestive tract or enteron ; Archeozoic , earliest era of geologic history. areol- (L., space), areolar , containing minute spaces. arthr- (Gr., joint), Arthropoda , phylum of invertebrateanimals with jointed appendages or feet. asco- (Gr., sac or bag), Ascomycetes , class of sac-bearing fungi. -ase (suffix designating an enzyme), protease enzyme that acts on proteins. aster- (Gr., star), Asteroidea , class of echinoderms resembling stars. auto- (Gr., self), autosynthesis , self-building up. axo, ax, axio, axon (Gr., axine-axis)-pertaining to an axis. B bactér- (Gr., baktron , a stick), bacteria , rod-shaped organisms. basi- (Gr., base) basidiospore , spore formed at the baseof a basidium. bi (Gr., base), bilateral , similar on both sides. bio- (Gr., life), biology , science of life. blast- (Gr., bud or young), blastoderm , primitive germlayer. brachy- (Gr., short), brachydactyly , abnormal shortness of the digits. brady (Gr., boadus, slow) brevis (L., short), adductor brevis , short adductor muscle. bryo- (Gr., moss), bryophyte , plant of the phylum comprising the mosses. C caec- (L., blind), cecum , ( caecum ), blind pouch. calci- (L., lime), calcareous , containing lime. -carp (Gr., fruit), pericarp , wall around the plant ovary. cata- (Gr., down), catabolism , breaking-down process of metabolism. cauda- (L., tail), caudal , relating to a tail. cay— (L., hollow), vena cava , hollow vein. ceno- (Gr., recent), Cenozoic , recent era of geologic history. centr- (L., center), centrosome , Léntre of activity during mitosis. cephalo— (Gr., head), cephalic , relating to, or toward the head. chior- (Gr., green), chlorophyll, green colouring matter of plants. -chondro (Gr., green), mitochondria , small, granular parts of protoplasm. chondro- (Gr., cartilage), chondrocranium , part of the cranium developing from cartilage. chrom- (Gr., color), chromatophore , colour-bearing cell. -cide (L., kill), insecticide , agent that kills insects. cili (L., eyelash), cilia , minute, hair-like processes. circum- (L., around), circumoesophageal , around the oesophagus. cloaca (L., sewer), cloaca , outlet for excretions. cnido- (Gr., nettle), cnidoblast , nettle cell of certain animals. coel- (Gr., hollow), coelom ( celom ), hollow body cavity. coeno- (Gr., common), coenosarc , common tissue in certain animals. coleo- (Gr., sheathed), Coleoptera , order of sheathedinsects, such as beetles. corn- (L., together), commensalism , living together. con- (L., cone), conifer , cone-bearing tree ; or (L., with), concretion , something that has grown together. cotyl- (Gr., cup shaped), cotyledon , cup-shaped seed leaf. creta- (L., chalk), Cretaceous , chalk period of geologic times. cyan- (Gr., blue), Cyanophyta ,phylum of blue-green algae. cyst- (Gr., sac), cyst, pouch or sac. cyt- (Gr., cell), cytology , branch of biology studying cell structure and function. D de- (L., off), degenerate , to lose generative ability, dehydration. dendr- (Gr., brush or tree), dendrite , tree-like structure of a nerve cell. derrn- (Gr., skin), dermis , part of the skin. di- (Gr., twice), diploblastic , possessing two germ layers ; dicotyledon , plant possessing two cotyledons. dis- (L., away), distal , away from the point of origin. -dont (Gr., odontos, tooth) or Thecodont. dors- (L., back), dorsal , pertaining to the back. dura- (L., tough), duramater, tough, outer covering of the brain and spinal cord. E e- (L., out of, without), egest , to pass outside. ec- (Gr., house or environment), ecology , study of the habitats of an organism. ecto- (Gr., outside), ectoderm , outer layer of cells. -ectorny (Gr., cut), appendectomy , removal of the appendix. -emia (Gr., blood), anaemia, blood deficiency. en- (Gr., in or within), encyst, to cover with a membranous cyst. endo- or ento- (Gr., within), endoderm , inner layer of cells. eo- (Gr., dawn, or early), Eocene , early geologic period. epi- (Gr., upon), epidermis , epithelial layer upon the dennis. equi- (L., horse), Equisetineae , class to which the horsetails belong. eu- (Gr., good or well), eugenic , being fitted for the production of good offspring. ex- (Gr., external), exoskeleton , external skeleton. extra- (L., beyond), extracellular , beyond or outside the cell. F -fer (L., to bear), Porifera , phylum comprising pore- bearing sponges. flu- (L., thread), filiform , thread-like. flex- (L,. bend), flexor , muscle that bends joints. -form (L., shape), uniform , all one shape. G gam- (Gr., marriage), gamete , reproductive cell. gastr- (Gr., stomach), gastric , pertaining to the stomach. -gen (Gr., to produce), pathogenic , capable of causing disease. geo- (Gr., earth), geology , science of the earth. -gest (Gr., to bear or hold), ingest, to take in. -glea (Gr., jelly), mesoglea, middle, jelly-like layer in certain animals. glyc- (Gr., sweet or carbohydrate), glycogen animal starch. gono- (Gr., seed or reproduction), gonad , organ of reproduction. gymn- (Gr., naked), gymnosperm, class of seed plants whose seeds are not enclosed in an ovary. H haem- (Gr., blood), haemoglobin, (haemoglobin), substance in the blood. hemi- (Gr., half), hemisphere , one half of a sphere. hepat- (Gr., liver), hepatic, pertaining to the liver. hetero- (Gr., other or different), heterogeneous, consisting of different constituents. hex- (Gr., six), hexagonal, six sided. homo- (Gr., same), homogeneous, of a similar kind. hyal- (Gr., glass), hyaline, something that is transparent or glass-like. hydr- (Gr., water), dehydrate, to remove water. hymen- (Gr., membrane), Hymenoptera, order of insects with membranous wings. hyper- (Gr., above), hypersensitive, especially sensitive. hypo- (Gr., under), hypoglossal, situated under the tongue. I in- (L., in, into, not, without), invaginate , to infold one part within another. infra- (L., below), infraorbital, below the orbit. inter- (L., between), intercellular, between cells. intra- (L., inside), intracellular, within a cell. iso(Gr., equal), isothermic, having equal temperatures. -itis (Gr., inflammation), appendicitis, inflammation of the appendix. L labi- (L., lip), labium, lip. lac- (L., milk), lactose , milk sugar. later- (L., side), lateral , relating to the side. -lemma (Gr., covering), neurilemma , covering of a nerve. lepi- (Gr., scale), Lepidoptera , order of insects with scale wings. leuko- (Gr., white), leukocyte , white blood cell. lip- (Gr., fatty), lipoid , fatty substance. -log (Gr., study), zoology , study of animals. luci- (L., light), luciferin , light-producing material. lysis (Gr., destroy), bacteriolysis , desçruction of bacteria. M macro- (Gr. , large), macronucleus , large nucleus. mal- (Gr., bad), malnutrition , bad nutrition. mega- (Gr., large), megaspore , large spore. mens- (L., table), commensalism , eating at a common source of food. -mere (Gr., part), micromere , small part. meso- (Gr., middle), mesoderm , middle cellular layer. meta- (Gr., after), metaphase , later phase of mitosis. micro- (Gr., small), micronucleus , small nucleus. miii- (Gr., thousand), millipede , animal with a “thousand” legs. mio- (Gr., less), Miocene , less recent period in geologichistory. mito- (Gr., thread), mitosis , cell division with the formation of thread-like structures. mono- (Gr., one), monograph, , something written about one subject. morph- (Gr., form), morphology , study of form. multi- (L., many), multi coloured , of many colours. muta- (L., to change), mutation , abrupt hereditary change. myco- (Gr., fungus), mycology , study of fungi. myxo- (Gr., slime), Myxomycophyta , phylum comprising the slime moulds. N nema- (Gr., thread), nematocyst , thread-like structure of coelenterates. neo- (Or., young or recent), Neotropical , constituting a recent biogeographic region in the tropics. nephro- (Gr., kidney), iiephridium , tubular excretory organ. non- (L., not), non-irritant , not irritating. noto- (Gr. notos, The back), e.g. notochord. nuc- (L., kernel or centre), nucleus , central portion of a cell. O octo- (L., eight), octopus , animal with eight appendages. oedo- (Gr., swollen), edema (oedema), swollen condition. -oid (Gr., like), amoeboid ( amoeboid ), like an Amoeba. oligo- (Gr., few or little), oligotrichous , having few cilia. -oma(Gr., swelling or tumor), carcinoma , malignant growth (cancer). omni- (L., omnis-all) e.g. omnivore. Oo- (Gr., egg), oogenesis , formation and development of an egg. or- (L., mouth), oral , pertaining to the mouth. ortho- (Gr., straight), Orthoptera , order of insects with straight wings. Os- (Gr., bone), osseQus , pertaining to bone. ovi- (L., egg), ovum , egg.oviparous mammals P pakiio- (Gr., ancient), palaeontology , study of ancient life. para- (Gr., beside), parapodia , appendages beside others. path- (gr., disease), pathogenic , capable of causing disease. ped- (L., feet), pedal , pertaining to the foot. peri- (Gr., around), peristome , region around an opening or mouth. phaeo- (Or., dark or brown), Phaeophyta , phylum of brown algae. phago- (Or., to eat), phagocyte , cell that eats or destroys. phor- (Or., to bear), sporophore , part of a sporophyte that bears spores. photo- (Or., light), photosynthesis , formation of carbohydrates in the presence of light. -phil! (Or., loving), thermophile , heat-loving organism. phyco- (Or., alga, or seaweed), Phycomycetes , alga like fungus. -phyll (Or., leaf), mesophyll , middle part of a leaf. physio- ( Or., nature), physiology , study of the nature or function of living matter. -phyte (Or., plant), sporophyte , spore-bearing plant. -pkism (Or., formed), ectoplasm , outer region of the cell cytoplasm. platy- (Or., nat), Platyhelminthes, phylum of Flatworms. plio- (Or., more), Pliocene , more recent geologic period. poly- (Or., many), Polymorphous , having many for iris. post- (L., after), postnatal , after birth. -porous (Or., foot), octopus , animal with eight feet or appendages. pre- (L. before), prenatal , before birth. pro- (Or., before), prostomium , portion ofthe head situated before the mouth of certain worms and molluscs. proto- (Or., first of essential), protoplasm , essential material of all plant and animal cells. prox- (L., nearest), proximal , nearest. pseudo- (Or., false), pseudopodia , false feet. -ptero (Or., wing), Diptera , order of insect with two wings. R re- (I. ., again or back), regenerate , to form again. ren- (I.., kidney), renal , pertaining to the kidney. rept- (I. ., creeping), reptile , creeping animal. retro- (I. ., backward), retrolingual , backward from the tongue. rhabdo (Or., rhabdos-rod), e.g. rhab, possessing straight rod-like intestine. rhizo- (Or., root), Rhizopoda , subclass of animals with root-like appendages. rhodo- (Or., red), Rhodophyta , phylum of red algae. roti- (I.., wheel), rotifer , animal with a wheel-like structure on its head. S -sare (Or., flesh), ectosarc , outer flesh or layer of protoplasm. schizo- (Or., to divide), Schizomycophyta , phylum of fission fungi (bacteria). scler- (Or., hard), sclerotic , hard. -scope (Or., see) microscope , instrument enabling one to see minute ‘objects. -see! (I. ., to cut), dissect , to cut. -semi- (L., half), semicircle , half of a circle. sept- (L., wall), septum , partition. set- (L., bristle), seta , bristle-like structure. sinu- (L., hollow), sinus , hollow cavity. soma- (Gr., body), somatoplasm , protoplasm of the body. spor- (Gr., seed), spore , reproductive structure. stoma- (Gr., opening), stoma , opening, such as is found in leaves. sub- (Gr., under), submaxillary , under the maxilla. super- (L., over or above), superior , higher, upper, or above. supra- (L., above), suprarenal , above the kidney . sym- (Gr., together), symbiosis , living together. syn- (Gr., together), synapsis , association or union. T taxo-, taxi-, taxis (Gr., taxis-arrangement). telo- (Gr., complete or end), telophase , end stage of cell division. terato- (Gr., marvel, or monster),teratology, study ofmonstrosities or deviations from the normal. tetra- (Gr., four), tetrapod , something that has four feet. -thec (Gr., case), spermatheca , sperm-case. thermo- (Gr., heat), thermotropism , reaction to heat. thigmo- (Gr., contact), thigmotropism , reaction to contact. -tome (Gr., to cut), microtome , instrument to cut small sections. toxi- (Gr., poison), toxin , poison. trans- (Gr., across), transfer , to carry across. tri- (Gr., three), trilobed , having three lobes. tricho- (Gr., hair), trichocyst , hair-like structure. trop- (Gr., reaction), tropism , reaction to stimuli. U ultra- (L., beyond), ultramicroscopic, so small that it is beyond the microscope. uni- (L, one), unilateral , on one side. -ur (Gr., tail, Anura , animals without tails. V vas- (L., vessel), vas deferens , vessel to transmit male sex cells. ventr- (Gr., belly), ventral , pertaining to the lower or belly side. ti- (L., to turn), Vorticella , animal that turns as it moves. X xantho- (Gr., xanthos, yellow) : eg. xanthophyll, yellowpigment. xiphi- (Gr., xiphos, a sword) : e.g. xiphiosura, king crabs the hind part bearing a long tail spine xen-, xeno- (Gr., xen-strange-different) xero- (Gr., xeros-dry) e.g. xerophyte e.g. climatic plant