Pathology · Nervous System · Medium
Gliosis
Meaning: Proliferation of supporting cells such as astrocytes in the brain or spinal cord after injury, forming a scar.
In practice: Gliosis forms a type of scar within the brain after a stroke or trauma.
Word parts
- -osis means an abnormal condition or process
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: Red, velvety patch on a mucous membrane with a high risk of malignant change.
Answer: Erythroplakia
Which word means: Usually slow-growing brain tumour arising from myelin-producing glial cells.
Answer: Oligodendroglioma
Words like gliosis 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.