histology

his·tol·o·gy

noun \his-ˈtä-lə-jē\

plural his·tol·o·gies

Definition of HISTOLOGY

1

: a branch of anatomy that deals with the minute structure of animal and plant tissues as discernible with the microscope

2

: tissue structure or organization

— his·to·log·i·cal \ˌhis-tə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ or his·to·log·ic \-ˈlä-jik\ adjective

— his·to·log·i·cal·ly \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— his·tol·o·gist \his-ˈtä-lə-jist\ noun

Origin of HISTOLOGY

French histologie, from hist- + -logie -logy

First Known Use: circa 1847

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with HISTOLOGY

andrology, anthology, apology, astrology, biology, bryology, cetology, Christology, chronology, conchology, cosmology, cryptology, cytology, dendrology, doxology, ecology, enology, ethnology, ethology, fetology, garbology, gemology, geology, graphology, haplology, homology, horology, hydrology, hymnology, Indology, limnology, lithology, mixology, morphology, mycology, myology, mythology, necrology, nephrology, neurology, nosology, oncology, ontology, oology, pathology, pedology, penology, petrology, phlebology, phonology, phrenology, phycology, proctology, psychology, scatology, seismology, serology, sexology, sinology, symbology, tautology, technology, tetralogy, theology, topology, trichology, typology, ufology, urology, virology, zoology

his·tol·o·gy

noun \his-ˈtäl-ə-jē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; his·tol·o·gies

Medical Definition of HISTOLOGY

1

: a branch of anatomy that deals with the minute structure of animal and plant tissues as discernible with the microscope—compare gross anatomy

2

: a treatise on histology

3

: tissue structure or organization

—his·to·log·i·cal \ˌhis-tə-ˈläj-i-kəl\ (audio pronunciation) or his·to·log·ic \-ˈläj-ik\ (audio pronunciation) adjective

—his·to·log·i·cal·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ (audio pronunciation) adverb

histology

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Branch of biology concerned with the composition and structure of plant and animal tissues in relation to their specialized functions. Its aim is to determine how tissues are organized at all structural levels, from cells and intercellular substances to organs. Histologists examine extremely thin slices of human tissue under microscopes, using dye to increase the contrast between cellular components.