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medical prefixes, roots, and suffixes
| prefix, root, suffix | meaning | example |
| a-, an- | without, lack of, absence of | aseptic, anaerobic, anesthetic, analgesic |
| aden(o) | gland, glandular tissue | adenitis, adenocarcinoma |
| aer(o) | air, with air, with oxygen, in gas | aerobic, aerate, aerosol, aerocele |
| alg- | pain | algometry, algogenic, algesic |
| -algia | pain | gastralgia, neuralgia, arthralgia |
| angi(o) | vessel | angioplasty, angioma |
| ante- | before, forward, in front of | antepartum, anteflexion, anteversion |
| anter(i), anter(o) | front, forward | anterior, anterolateral |
| anti- | against | antihistamine, antiinflammatory, antipyretic |
| arteri(o) | artery | arteriopathy, arteriole, arterial |
| arthr(o) | joint | arthritis, arthrotomy, arthralgia |
| -ase | enzyme | protease, urease, amylase, lactase |
| ather(o) | fatty | atheroma, atheromatosis |
| audi(o) | hearing | audiogram, auditory, audiology |
| brady- | slow | bradycardia, bradycrotic |
| bronch(o) | bronchial tube, bronchus | bronchoscope, bronchospasm, bronchitis |
| carcin(o) | cancer | carcinogenic, carcinoma |
| cardi(o) | heart | cardiotonic, cardiovascular |
| -cele | hernia, herniation | meningocele, encephalocele |
| -centesis | surgical puncture | amniocentesis, arthrocentesis, paracentesis |
| cephal(o) | head | cephalalgia, cephalic |
| cerebr(o) | cerebrum, brain | cerebrospinal, cerebrovascular |
| cervic(o) | neck, cervix | cervical, cervicectomy, cervicitis |
| chol(e) | bile, gall | cholecystogram, choleresis |
| chondr(o) | cartilage | hypochondriac, chondrodysplasia |
| circum- | around, about, encircling | circumcision, circumscribed, circumduction |
| -coccus, -cocci | bacterium, bacteria | pneumococcus, gonococcus, streptococci |
| col(o) | colon | colonoscopy, colostomy |
| contra- | against | contraindication, contraceptive |
| cortic(o) | cortex | corticosteroid, adrenocorticotropic |
| cost(o) | rib | intercostal, costectomy |
| crani(o) | skull, cranium | craniometry, craniectomy |
| cyan(o) | blue, blueness | cyanosis, cyanobacteria, acrocyanosis |
| cyst(o) | bladder | cystex, cystoscopy, cystocele, cystitis |
| cyt(o) | cell | cytology, cytoplasm |
| -cyte | cell | hepatocyte, leukocyte, monocyte |
| derm(o), dermat(o) | skin | dermatologist, acrodermatitis |
| diplo- | double, twofold | diplomyelia, diplocardiac, diploneural |
| dors(o) | back | dorsal, dorsispinal |
| dys- | difficult, abnormal, bad, painful | dysplasia, dyspnea, dyschromia |
| -ectomy | excision, excise, to cut out | appendectomy, thrombectomy |
| -emia | blood condition | anemia, septicemia |
| encephal(o) | brain, inside the head | encephalitis, electroencephalogram |
| endo- | inside, inner, within | endocardium, endoskeleton |
| enter(o) | intestine | enteric, dysentery, enterocele |
| epi- | outer, upon | epidermis, epicardium, epibulbar, epidural |
| erythr(o) | red | erythrocyte, erythrocytopenia |
| eu- | normal, easy, good | euphoria, eupnea, eupepsia |
| extra- | outside, beyond | extrauterine, extracystic, extrahepatic |
| gastr(o) | stomach | gastrostomy, gastrointestinal |
| ger(o) | old age | geriatric, gerontology, geratology |
| gingiv(o) | gum, gums | gingivitis, gingivoplasty |
| gloss(o) | tongue | glossal, hypoglossal, glossopathy |
| gluc(o) | sugar | glucose, glucogenesis, glucolipid |
| glyc(o) | sugar, sweet | hyperglycemia, glycosuria, glycogen |
| -gram | picture, graph, record | encephalogram, cholecystogram |
| -graph | recording instrument | electrocardiograph, craniograph |
| -graphy | process of making an image | echocardiography, tomography |
| gynec(o) | woman, female | gynecology, gynecologist |
| hem(o), hemat(o) | blood | hemorrhage, hemostasis, hematemesis |
| hemi- | half | hemiplegia, hemianalgesia, hemicrania |
| hepat(o) | liver | hepatitis, hepatotoxic, hepatomegaly |
| hidr(o) | sweat, sweat glands | hidradenoma, hidrosis, hidradenitis |
| hist(o) | tissue | histogenesis, histamine |
| homo- | same, alike | homogenized, homothermal, homogeneous |
| hydr | water | hydration, dehydration |
| hydro- | water | hydrocephalus, hydronephrosis |
| hyper- | excessive, high, above, upward | hypertension, hyperglycemia |
| hypo- | deficient, low, below, down | hypoallergenic, hypocalcemia, hypodermic |
| hyster(o) | uterus | hysterotomy, hysteroscopy, hysterectomy |
| -iasis | condition of disease | trichomoniasis, giardiasis, amebiasis |
| immun(o) | immune | immunodeficiency, immunization |
| infra- | below, beneath | inframammary, infracardiac, infrasonic |
| inter- | between, among | intercellular, intercerebral |
| intra- | within, inside | intravenous, intramuscular, intradermal |
| iso- | equal, same | isotonic, isometric, isomorphic |
| -itis | inflammation | colitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, laryngitis |
| kerat(o) | cornea | keratotomy, keratoplasty, keratocele |
| lact(o) | milk | lactose, lactase, lactosuria, lactic |
| lapar(o) | abdomen | laparotomy, laparoscopy |
| laryng(o) | larynx, voice box | laryngitis, laryngospasm, laryngoscope |
| later(o) | side | lateral, mediolateral |
| leuk(o) | white | leukemia, leukopenia |
| lingu(o) | tongue | sublingual, linguiform |
| lip(o) | fat | lipoprotein, liposuction |
| lith(o) | stone, calculus | nephrolithiasis, lithotripsy, urolith |
| -logist | one who studies or specializes | cardiologist, anesthesiologist |
| -logy | the study of | biology, histology |
| -lysis | destruction, dissolution, breakdown | urinalysis, histolysis, thrombolysis |
| mal- | bad, abnormal | malnutrition, malaise, malpractice |
| -malacia | soft, softening | encephalomalacia, osteomalacia |
| mamm(o) | breast, mammary gland | mammogram, mammography |
| mast(o) | breast, mammary gland | mastectomy, mastocytoma |
| megalo- | large, enlarged | megalomania, megalocephaly |
| -megaly | enlargement | cardiomegaly, acromegaly |
| melan(o) | dark pigmented, black | melanoma, melanocyte |
| men(o) | menstruation, menses | menopause, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia |
| mening(o) | meninges, membranes | meningitis, meningococcus |
| meta- | beyond, after, in succession to | metacarpus, metastasis, metatarsals |
| -meter | instrument to measure or count | cytometer, cephalometer |
| -metry | process of measuring or counting | audiometry, pelvimetry |
| my(o) | muscle | myocardial, myalgia, myofibroma |
| myc(o) | fungus, fungi | mycosis, mycelium, dermatomycosis |
| myel(o) | bone marrow, spinal cord | myelopathy, myelocele, myeloma |
| nas(o) | nose | nasal, nasosinusitis, nasotracheal |
| nephr(o) | kidney | nephropexy, nephrolysis |
| neur(o) | nerve | neurosurgery, neurolysis, neurotransmitter |
| non- | not | nonsteroidal, nonallergic, nontoxic |
| -oma | tumor, abnormal growth | carcinoma, osteosarcoma |
| onc(o) | tumor | oncology, oncogenic |
| oophor(o) | ovary, ovaries | oophorectomy, oophoroma |
| ophthalm(o) | eye | ophthalmology, ophthalmoscope |
| -opia | vision | myopia, presbyopia, nyctalopia, diplopia |
| orch(o) | testes, testis, testicle. | cryptorchidism, orchiectomy |
| -osis | condition, increase | halitosis, melanosis, leukocytosis |
| oste(o) | bone | osteoporosis, osteoarthritis |
| ot(o) | ear | otic, otalgia, otorrhea |
| para- | beside, near, beyond, abnormal | paramedic, paracystitis, parathyroid |
| -pathy | disease | myopathy, osteopathy |
| pelv(i), pelv(o) | pelvis | pelviscope, pelvic |
| -penia | deficiency, low number | eosinopenia, thrombocytopenia |
| peps(o) | digestion | peptic, pepsin |
| -pepsia | digestion | dyspepsia, eupepsia |
| peri- | near, around, surrounding | pericardium, periodontal |
| -pexy | fixation | hysteropexy, orchiopexy, gastropexy |
| phag(o) | eat, swallow | phagolysis, phagedena, phagocyte |
| -phagia | eat, swallow | dysphagia, onychophagia, aerophagia |
| pharyng(o) | pharynx, throat | pharyngomycosis, pharyngoplegia |
| phleb(o) | vein | phlebotomy, phlebosclerosis |
| -phobia | fear | hydrophobia, necrophobia |
| physi(o) | body function | physiology, physiopathology |
| -plasia | development, formation | myelodysplasia, hyperplasia |
| -plasty | surgical repair | arthroplasty, osteoplasty |
| -plegia | paralysis | paraplegia, diplegia |
| -pnea | breathing | apnea, hyperpnea, orthopnea |
| pneum(o) | air, breath, lung | pneumococcal, pneumothorax, pneumatic |
| pneumon(o) | lung | pneumonia, pneumonocentesis |
| pod(o) | foot | podiatrist, podiatric, podalic, podagra |
| poly- | much, many | polyuria, polycystic, polyarthritis |
| post- | after | postnatal, postpartum, postoperative |
| poster(i), poster(o) | back, behind | posterior, posterolateral |
| presby(o) | old age | presbyopia, presbycusis, presbyope |
| proct(o) | anus, rectum | proctoscopy, proctology |
| psych(o) | mind, mental | psychotropic, psychotherapy |
| -ptosis | prolapse, sagging, sagged | nephroptosis, colpoptosis |
| pulmon(o) | lung | pulmonary, pulmonectomy |
| py(o) | pus | pyorrhea, pyogenic, pyemia, empyema |
| pyel(o) | pelvis of kidney, renal pelvis | pyelonephritis, pyelitis, pyeloplasty |
| pyr-, pyro- | fever, fire | pyrogen, pyretic, pyrosis, pyrolysis |
| radi(o) | x-ray | radiology, radiograph |
| ren(o) | kidney | renogram, renal |
| retro- | behind, backward, in back of | retrocolic, retromammary, retroversion |
| rhin(o) | nose | rhinolith, rhinorrhea, rhinoplasty |
| -rrhagia | hemorrhage, excessive discharge | enterorrhagia, metrorrhagia |
| -rrhea | flow, discharge | diarrhea, leukorrhea |
| salping(o) | fallopian tube, uterine tube | salpingostomy, salpingectomy |
| scler(o) | hard, hardening | atherosclerosis, corneoscleral |
| -scope | instrument used to exam or look | microscope, arthroscope |
| -scopy | process of examining | arthroscopy, colposcopy, endoscopy |
| semi- | half, partly, partially | semiconscious, semicomatose, semicircular |
| spondyl(o) | spine, vertebra, vertebrae | spondylosis, spondylopathy, spondylolysis |
| stomat(o) | mouth | stomatitis, stomatoscope |
| sub- | under, below | sublingual, subcutaneous, subcostal |
| supra- | above, over, at the top of | supraspinal, suprapubic, suprarenal |
| syn- | together, with, joined, fused | synergistic, syndrome, synarthrosis |
| syphil(o) | syphilis | syphiloma, syphiloderm |
| tachy- | fast, rapid | tachycardia, tachypnea |
| thorac(o) | chest, thorax | thoracotomy, thoracoplasty |
| thromb(o) | blood clot | thrombosis, thrombogenic |
| thyr(o) | thyroid | thyroxine, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism |
| -tomy | incision, incise, to cut into | gastrotomy, duodenotomy |
| tox-, toxi-, toxo- | poison | toxin, toxic, toxicology, toxicity |
| trans- | across, over, through | transfusion, transthoracic, transurethral |
| -trophy | development, growth, nutrition | dystrophy, hypotrophy |
| urethr(o) | urethra | urethrorrhaphy, urethrotomy |
| -uria | urine | glucosuria, nocturia, albuminuria |
| vas(o) | vessel, vas deferens | vasospasm, vasectomy, vasodilator |
| ven(o) | vein | venipuncture, venous, venopressor |
| prefix, root, suffix | meaning | example |
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