'intracytoplasmic' originates as a modern scientific formation combining the Latin prefix 'intra-' meaning 'within', the Greek root 'cyto-' (from 'kytos') meaning 'cell', the Greek 'plasma' meaning 'that which is formed or molded', and the adjectival suffix '-ic'.

'intra-' + 'cytoplasm' produced the noun 'intracytoplasm' in scientific usage (late 19th century), and the adjective form 'intracytoplasmic' emerged subsequently in 20th century biomedical literature to describe things located within the cytoplasm.

Initially it referred literally to 'within the formed substance of a cell' (the cytoplasm); over time it retained this literal sense but became standardized to describe location or phenomena 'within the cytoplasm' in modern biological contexts.