Decoding Life-Science Terms: CYTE, ENDO-, EXO-, -ITIS

Use Greek parts to decode biology vocabulary about cells and the body.

Life science is full of Greek-built terms, and a few parts unlock many of them. '-cyte' (from a Greek word for a hollow container) means cell: a leukocyte is a white blood cell (leuko means white); an erythrocyte is a red blood cell (erythro means red). 'Endo-' means within: endoskeleton, the skeleton inside the body, like ours. 'Exo-' means outside: exoskeleton, the hard outer covering of insects and crabs. '-itis' means inflammation, swelling and soreness: tonsillitis, arthritis (arthr means joint).

'Derm' means skin: a dermatologist treats skin. Try: 'Unlike vertebrates, which have an endoskeleton, beetles are protected by an exoskeleton. ' Inside skeleton versus outside skeleton, and you have the comparison the sentence makes. These parts let you read a biology chapter without stopping every line, and they will keep paying off in high school science.

• 1-CYTE means cell.
• 2ENDO- means within; EXO- means outside.
• 3-ITIS means inflammation; DERM means skin.