Pathology · Pathology · Hard
Dysplasia
Meaning: Abnormal development or growth of cells or tissues.
In practice: Cervical dysplasia is a precancerous change detected by smear tests.
Word parts
- dys- means difficult or abnormal
- -plasia means formation or growth
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related pathology words.
Which word means: Inflammation of the walls of blood vessels.
Answer: Vasculitis
Which word means: Small pouch of mucosa pushing through a weak point in the gut wall, usually the colon.
Answer: Diverticulum
Words like dysplasia come up in the daily game
One medical word a day, then a quick three-question quiz. Free on iPhone, or play in your browser on Android and computer.