Medical Root Words and Terminology Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on medical root words, suffixes, and terminology including definitions and word breakdowns.

ACU-

sharp

Acuity

sharp/process of (seeing sharply or clearly)

Acute

quick, sudden, sharply

AUTO-

self

Autohypnosis

self/sleep/condition of (simulated sleep in alpha brain state of consciousness)

Autism

self/state of

CHIRO-

hand (mano also means hand)

Chiropractor

hand/practice/one who

FLEX-

to bend (related term: -FLECT)

Anteflexion

before/to bend or divert/process of (to decrease angle of joint)

HEALTH

wholeness

HOLIST/O-

whole (alternate spelling: HOLO-)

Holistic medicine

whole/state of: remedy or drug (refers to treating the whole individual - comprehensive total patient care: physical, mental, social, and economic)

HOMEO-

same, constant, or unchanged (related term: HOMO-)

Homeopathy

same, constant, or unchanged/disease/process of

HYPN/O-

sleep (related term: somn/o-)

Hypnosis

sleep/condition (alpha state of brainwave patterns: this is not true sleep)

IR/O-

rainbow (related term: IRID/O-)

Iris

rainbow/refers to

Iridescent

rainbow/having or exhibiting

MASSEUR

male massager; French term for a male that gives massages (related term: MASSEUSE)

PHREN/O-

mind or diaphragm

Phrenia

mind (mental disorder)/pertains to

Phrenic

diaphragm/pertains to (as in the phrenic nerve)