Meaning & use
histo-
Last updated
Meanings
prefixmedicalbiology
Relating to body tissue, especially in medical and scientific words.
Grammar: Attached to roots to form nouns and adjectives: histology, histological, histamine.
Patterns
- histo- + noun
- histo- + adjective
Histology is the study of the microscopic structure of tissues.
The biopsy sample was sent for histopathological examination.
Histamine is a chemical released by cells during an allergic reaction.
prefixmedicaltechnical
Used in terms for medical procedures or tests involving tissue samples.
Grammar: Common in words like histochemistry and histocompatibility.
Histochemistry uses chemical stains to show different parts of cells.
Histocompatibility testing is important before organ transplants.
The lab specializes in histotechnology.
Common combinations
- histology
- She took a course in histology to learn about tissue structure.
- histamine
- Antihistamines block the effects of histamine.
- histocompatibility
- Histocompatibility between donor and recipient reduces the risk of rejection.
Word family
- histology noun
- The scientific study of the microscopic structure of tissues.
- histologist noun
- A scientist who studies tissue structure.
- histamine noun
- A substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms.
Commonly confused: histo- or history?
histo- vs history
History is the study of past events. Histo- is a prefix meaning 'tissue' in medical words. They share a similar beginning but are unrelated.
Practice
Which word means 'the study of body tissues'?
Choose one answer.
Histology is the study of the microscopic structure of tissues. Histamine is a chemical, histocompatibility is about matching tissues for transplant, and histochemistry is about chemical processes in tissues.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “histo-”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.