www.TakeRx.com
Medical Terminology
medical prefixes, roots, and suffixes
Source: U.S. National Institutes of Health and U.S. National Library of Medicine
| prefix, root, suffix | meaning | example |
| -ache | pain | headache, backache, earache, toothache |
| aden(o) | gland, glandular tissue | adenitis, adenotomy, adenoids, adenocarcinoma |
| aer(o) | air, with air, with oxygen, in gas | aerobic, aerate, aerosol, aerocele |
| alg- | pain | algometry, algogenic, algesic |
| -algia | pain | gastralgia, neuralgia, arthralgia, fibromyalgia |
| angi(o) | blood vessel | angioplasty, angioma, angiogenesis |
| ante- | before, forward, in front of | antepartum, anteflexion, anteversion |
| anti- | against | antihistamine, antiinflammatory, antipyretic |
| arteri(o) | artery | arteriopathy, arteriosclerosis, arterial |
| arthr(o) | joint | arthritis, arthrotomy, arthralgia |
| -ase | enzyme | protease, urease, amylase, lactase |
| audi(o) | hearing | audiogram, auditory, audiology |
| brady- | slow | bradycardia, bradypnea, bradyphasia |
| bronch(o) | bronchial tube, bronchus | bronchoscope, bronchospasm, bronchitis |
| carcin(o) | cancer | carcinogen, carcinoma, carcinogenic |
| cardi, cardia, cardio | heart | cardiac, cardiotonic, cardiovascular, cardiopathy |
| -cele | hernia, protrusion, tumor | cystocele, meningocele, encephalocele |
| -centesis | surgical puncture | amniocentesis, arthrocentesis, paracentesis |
| cephal(o) | head | cephalogram, cephalalgia, cephalic |
| cerebr(o) | cerebrum, brain | cerebrospinal, cerebral, cerebrovascular |
| cervic(o) | neck, cervix | cervical, cervicectomy, cervicitis |
| chol(e) | bile, gall | cholorrhea, cholecystogram, choleresis |
| chondr(o) | cartilage | chondral, chondrotomy, hypochondriac |
| -coccus, -cocci | bacterium, bacteria, organism | pneumococcus, gonococcus, streptococci |
| col(o) | colon | colitis, colonoscopy, colotomy |
| cortic(o) | cortex | corticosteroid, cortical, adrenocorticotropic |
| cost(o) | rib | costal, intercostal, costectomy |
| crani(o) | skull, cranium | craniometry, craniectomy, cranial |
| cyan(o) | blue, blueness | cyanosis, cyanobacteria, acrocyanosis |
| cyst(o) | bladder | cystoscopy, cystocele, cystitis |
| cyt(o) | cell | cytology, cytoplasm, cytosome |
| -cyte | cell | hepatocyte, leukocyte, microcyte, monocyte |
| dent- | tooth | dental, dentist, dentistry |
| derm(o), dermat(o) | skin | dermis, dermatologist, dermatitis, acrodermatitis |
| dipl(o) | double, twofold | diplopia, diplocardia, diploic, diplegia |
| dors(o) | back | dorsal, dorsispinal, dorsolateral |
| dys- | difficult, abnormal, bad, painful | dysfunction, dysplasia, dyspnea, dyschromia |
| -ectomy | excision, removal, to cut out | appendectomy, thrombectomy, gastrectomy |
| -emia | blood condition | anemia, septicemia, leukemia, uremia |
| encephal(o) | brain, inside the head | encephalitis, electroencephalogram |
| end(o)- | inside, internal, within | endaural, endocrine, endoskeleton |
| enter(o) | intestine | enteric, dysentery, enterocele |
| epi- | outer, upon | epidermis, epibulbar, epidural |
| erythr(o) | red | erythrocyte, erythrosis, erythrocytopenia |
| eu- | normal, well, good | euphoria, eupnea, eupepsia |
| extra- | outside, beyond | extrauterine, extracystic, extrahepatic |
| gastr(o) | stomach | gastrostomy, gastrointestinal, gastritis |
| -genic | producing, originating, forming | pyogenic, carcinogenic, nephrogenic |
| ger(o) | old age | geriatric, gerontology, geratology, geroderma |
| gingiv(o) | gum, gums | gingivitis, gingivoplasty, gingivostomatitis |
| gloss(o) | tongue | glossitis, glossal, hypoglossal, glossopathy |
| gluc(o) | sugar | glucose, glucagon, glucosuria |
| glyc(o) | sugar, sweet | hyperglycemia, glycosuria, glycogen |
| -gram | picture, graph, record | encephalogram, cardiogram, cholecystogram |
| -graph | recording instrument | polygraph, cardiograph, craniograph |
| hemo-, hema- | blood | hemorrhage, hemoglobin, hemostasis, hemal |
| hemat(o) | blood | hematoma, hematemesis, hematogenous |
| hemi- | half | hemiplegia, hemianalgesia, hemicrania |
| hepat(o) | liver | hepatitis, hepatotoxic, hepatomegaly |
| hidr(o) | sweat, sweat glands | hidradenoma, hidrosis, hidradenitis |
| hist(o) | tissue | histogenesis, histamine, histology |
| homo- | same, alike, similar | homologous, homosexual, homogeneous |
| hydr | water | hydration, dehydration, hydremia |
| hydro- | water, fluid, liquid | hydrocephalus, hydronephrosis, hydrotherapy |
| hyper- | excessive, high, above, upward | hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertonic |
| hypo- | deficient, low, below, down, under | hypoallergenic, hypocalcemia, hypodermic |
| hyster(o) | uterus, womb | hysterotomy, hysteroscopy, hysterectomy |
| -iasis | condition of disease | trichomoniasis, giardiasis, amebiasis |
| immun(o) | immune | immunodeficiency, immunization, immunity |
| infra- | below, beneath | inframammary, infracardiac, infrasonic, infrarenal |
| inter- | between, among | intercostal, intercellular, intercerebral |
| intra- | within, inside | intravenous, intramuscular, intrarenal, intradermal |
| iso- | equal, same | isotonic, isometric, isomorphic |
| -itis | inflammation | arthritis, colitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, laryngitis |
| kerat(o) | cornea | keratitis, keratotomy, keratoplasty, keratocele |
| lact(o) | milk | lactose, lactase, lactosuria, lactic |
| laryng(o) | larynx, voice box | laryngitis, laryngospasm, laryngoscope |
| leuk(o) | white | leukemia, leukopenia, leukorrhea, leukocyte |
| lingu | tongue | sublingual, linguiform, lingual |
| lip(o) | fat | lipid, lipoprotein, liposuction, lipoma |
| lith(o) | stone, calculus | nephrolithiasis, lithotripsy, urolith |
| -logist | one who studies or specializes | cardiologist, anesthesiologist, urologist |
| -logy | the study of | biology, gynecology, dermatology |
| -lysis | breakdown, destruction, dissolution | neurolysis, urinalysis, histolysis, thrombolysis |
| macro- | large | macrocyte, macromania, macromolecule |
| mal- | bad, abnormal, inadequate | malnutrition, malpractice, malformed |
| -malacia | soft, softening, softness | encephalomalacia, osteomalacia, chondromalacia |
| mamm- | breast, mammary gland | mammogram, mammography, mammaplasty |
| megalo- | large, enlarged, grandiose | megalomania, megalocephaly, megalocyte |
| -megaly | enlargement | cardiomegaly, acromegaly, hepatomegaly |
| melan(o) | dark pigmented, black | melanoma, melanoderma, melanogenesis |
| men(o) | menstruation, menses | menopause, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia |
| mening(o) | meninges | meningitis, meningococcus, meningeal |
| -metry | process of measuring or counting | audiometry, pelvimetry, biometry, fetometry |
| micro- | small | microscope, microgram, microorganism |
| my(o) | muscle | myocardial, myalgia, myofibroma, fibromyalgia |
| myc(o) | fungus, fungi | mycosis, mycelium, mycology, dermatomycosis |
| myel(o) | bone marrow, spinal cord | myelopathy, myelocyte, myeloma |
| nas(o) | nose | nasal, nasosinusitis, nasogastric |
| -natal | birth, infant | prenatal, intranatal, neonatal, postnatal, perinatal |
| nephr(o) | kidney | nephrectomy, nephropexy, nephrolysis |
| neur(o) | nerve | neurology, neurosurgery, neurotransmitter |
| non- | not | nonsteroidal, nonallergic, nontoxic |
| odont | tooth | odontitis, odontology, orthodontist |
| -oma | tumor, abnormal growth | carcinoma, osteosarcoma, adenoma |
| onco- | tumor | oncology, oncogenic, oncogene, oncolysis |
| onych- | nail of the finger or toe | onychectomy, onychauxis, onychodystrophy |
| ophthalm(o) | vision, eye | ophthalmology, ophthalmoscope, ophthalmia |
| -opia | vision, eye | myopia, presbyopia, nyctalopia, diplopia |
| opt- | vision, eye | optician, optical, optometry, optokinetic |
| orchi | testes, testis | cryptorchidism, orchiectomy, orchidopexy |
| -osis | condition, increase, disorder | halitosis, leukocytosis, neurosis, acidosis |
| oste(o) | bone | osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, osteoclast |
| ot(o) | ear | otic, otitis, otalgia, otorrhea, otoplasty, otoscope |
| -pathy | disease, anomaly | neuropathy, myopathy, osteopathy |
| pelv(i), pelv(o) | pelvis | pelvimetry, pelvic |
| -penia | deficiency, low number | eosinopenia, thrombocytopenia, erythropenia |
| -pepsia | digestion | dyspepsia, eupepsia |
| peri- | near, around, surrounding | pericardium, periodontal, perineurium |
| -pexy | fixation | hysteropexy, orchiopexy, gastropexy |
| phag(o) | eat, swallow, consume | phagolysis, phagedena, phagocyte |
| pharyng(o) | pharynx | pharyngitis, pharyngeal, pharyngoesophageal |
| phleb(o) | vein | phlebitis, phlebotomy, phlebosclerosis |
| -phobia | fear of | hydrophobia, acrophobia, necrophobia |
| physi(o) | body function, bodily process | physiology, physiopathology, physique |
| -plasia | development, formation | neoplasia, myelodysplasia, hyperplasia |
| -plasty | surgical repair or restoration | arthroplasty, osteoplasty, rhinoplasty |
| -plegia | paralysis | paraplegia, diplegia, hemiplegia, monoplegia |
| -pnea | breathing, breath | apnea, hyperpnea, orthopnea |
| pneum(o) | air, lung | pneumonia, pneumothorax, pneumonocentesis |
| pod(o) | foot | podiatrist, podiatric, podalic, podagra |
| poly- | much, many, several, excessive | polyuria, polycystic, polyarthritis, polymorphism |
| post- | after | postnatal, postcoronary, postoperative |
| pre- | before, in front of, earlier than | prenatal, preoperative, premature, preanal |
| presby(o) | old age | presbyopia, presbycusis, presbyophrenia |
| proct(o) | anus, rectum | proctitis, proctoscopy, proctology |
| psych(o) | mind, mental | psychology, psychotropic, psychiatry |
| -ptosis | prolapse, sagging, sagged | blepharoptosis, nephroptosis, proptosis |
| pulmon- | lung | pulmonary, pulmonology, pulmonectomy |
| py(o) | pus | pyorrhea, pyogenic, pyemia, empyema |
| pyel(o) | pelvis of kidney, renal pelvis | pyelonephritis, pyelitis, pyeloplasty |
| pyr-, pyro- | fever, heat | pyrogen, pyrolysis, pyrogenic |
| radi(o) | x-ray, radiation | radiology, radiograph, radioactive, radiotherapy |
| ren(o) | kidney | renogram, renal, renoprival |
| retro- | behind, backward, in back of | retroocular, retrocolic, retroflexion, retrolental |
| rhin(o) | nose | rhinorrhea, rhinitis, rhinoplasty |
| -rrhagia | excessive discharge or flow | enterorrhagia, metrorrhagia, menorrhagia |
| -rrhea | excessive discharge or flow | gonorrhea, diarrhea, leukorrhea |
| salping(o) | fallopian tube | salpingitis, salpingostomy, salpingectomy |
| scler(o) | hard, hardening | atherosclerosis, myelosclerosis, arteriosclerosis |
| -scope | instrument used to exam or look | microscope, arthroscope, otoscope, anoscope |
| -scopy | examining, viewing | arthroscopy, endoscopy, colposcopy, anoscopy |
| -spasm | involuntary contraction | angiospasm, vasospasm, bronchospasm |
| spondyl(o) | spine, vertebra, vertebrae | spondylosis, spondylopathy, spondylolysis |
| -stomy | surgical opening | enterostomy, colostomy, gastrostomy |
| sub- | under, beneath, below | sublingual, subcutaneous, subcostal |
| tachy- | fast, rapid | tachypnea, tachycardia, tachyarrhythmia |
| thorac(o) | chest, thorax | thoracotomy, thoracodorsal, thoracoscopy |
| thromb(o) | blood clot | thrombosis, thrombogenic, thrombus |
| thyr(o) | thyroid | thyroxine, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism |
| -tomy | incision, incise, to cut into | gastrotomy, duodenotomy, laparotomy |
| toxi- | poison | toxic, toxicology, toxicity |
| trache- | trachea, windpipe | tracheitis, tracheoscopy, tracheostomy |
| trans- | across, over, through, transfer | transdermal, transfusion, transthoracic, transurethral |
| -trophy | growth, development | hypertrophy, hypotrophy, dystrophy |
| urethr(o) | urethra | urethritis, urethrotomy, urethroscope |
| -uria | urine | pyuria, nocturia, polyuria, albuminuria |
| vas(o) | blood vessel, vas deferens | vascular, vasospasm, vasectomy, vasodilator |
| ven(o) | vein | venipuncture, venous, venopressor, intravenous |
| prefix, root, suffix | meaning | example |
www.takerx.com
© 2006