Veterinary Terms - Prefixes and Suffixes; Directional Terms; General Terms.

Prefix: ab- (as in abduction)

Means “away from.”

Prefix: dys- (as in dysphagia)

Means “difficult, painful, or bad.”

Prefix: endo- (as in endoparasite)

Means “within or inside.”

Prefix: hyper- (as in hyperglycemia)

Means “increased or more than normal.”

Prefix: inter- (as in intercostal)

Means “between.”

Prefix: poly- (as in polyuria)

Means “many or frequent.”

Prefix: pre- (as in preanesthetic)

Means “before.”

Prefix: peri- (as in perioperative)

Means “around; before, during, or after an event.”

Prefix: sub- (as in sublingual)

Means “below, under, or less.”

Prefix: a- (as in atraumatic); an- (as in anuria)

Means “without or no.”

Prefix: ad- (as in adduction)

Means “towards.”

Prefix: anti- (as in antiemetics)

Means “against.”

Prefix: eu- (as in euthyroid)

Means “good, easy, or normal.”

Prefix: ex- or exo- (as in exocrine)

Means “without, out of, outside, or away from.”

Prefix: ecto- (as in ectoparasite)

Means “outside.”

Prefix: hypo- (as in hypothermia)

Means “decreased or less than normal.”

Prefix: intra- (as in intramuscular)

Means “within.”

Prefix: oligo- (as in oligouria)

Means “scant or little.”

Prefix: post- (as in postanesthetic)

Means “after.”

Prefix: super- (as in supernumerary)'; supra- (as in suprascapular)

Means “above, beyond, or excessive.”

Suffix: -ectomy (as in mastectomy)

Means “surgical removal.”

Suffix: -stomy (as in colostomy)

Means “to surgically create a new opening.”

Suffix: -tomy (as in laparotomy)

Means “cutting into.”

Suffix: -pexy (as in gastropexy)

Means “suture to stabilize.”

Suffix: -plasty (as in rhinoplasty)

Means “surgical repair.”

Suffix: -centesis (as in cystocentesis)

Refers to a surgical puncture to remove fluid or gas (either for diagnosis or to remove excess fluid or gas).

Suffix: -gram (as in electrocardiogram)

Means “a record of.”

Suffix: -graph (as in radiography)

Means “a procedure that records.”

Suffix: -lysis (as in urinalysis)

Means “separation or breakdown.”

Suffix: -scope (as in microscope)

Means “instrument to visually examine.”

Suffix: -scopy (as in endoscopy)

Means a “procedure to visually examine.”

Suffix: -therapy (as in chemotherapy)

Means “treatment.”

Suffix: -rrhagia or -rrhage (as in hemorrhage)

Means “bursting forth.”

Suffix: -rrhaphy (as in enterorrhaphy)

Means “to suture.”

Suffix: -rrhea (as in diarrhea)

Means “flow, discharge.”

Suffix: -rrhexis (as in myorrhexis)

Means “rupture.”

Suffix: -algia (as in arthralgia) and -dynia (as in arthodynia)

Means “pain.”

Suffix: -itis (as in hepatitis)

Means “inflammation.”

Suffix: -malacia (as in osteomalacia)

Means “abnormal softening.”

Suffix: -megaly (as in cardiomegaly)

Means “enlargement.”

Suffix: -osis (as in cardiosis)

Means “abnormal condition.”

Suffix: -pathy (as in enteropathy)

Means “disease.”

Suffix: -sclerosis (as in arteriosclerosis)

Means “abnormal hardening.”

Suffix: -um (as in pericardium)

Means “structure.”

Midsagittal plane

The plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves; also called the median plane and the midline.

Sagittal plane

The plane that divides the body into unequal right and left halves; lateral to the midsagittal plane.

Dorsal plane

The plane that divides the body into dorsal (back) and ventral (belly) parts; also called the frontal plane or coronal plane.

• In humans, this plane is a vertical plane due to the fact that people stand erect.

Transverse plane

The plane that divides the body into cranial and caudal parts; also called the horizontal plane or cross-sectional plane.

• This plane may also be used to describe a perpendicular transection to the long axis of an appendage.

Ventral

Refers to the belly or underside of a body or body part.

Cranial

Means “towards the head.”

Anterior

Means “front of the body”; used more in description of organs or body parts rather than body positioning.

Rostral

Refers to the nose end of the head.

Cephalic

Means “pertaining to the head.”

Medial

Means “towards the midline.”

Superior

Means “uppermost, above, or toward the head.”

Proximal

Refers to the nearest midline or beginning of a structure (often used in reference to limbs/limb structures).

Superficial

Means “near the surface;” also called external.

Palmar

Refers to the bottom of the front foot or hoof; refers to anything distal to the carpus.

Dorsal

Refers to the back.

Caudal

Means “towards the tail.”

Posterior

Means “rear of the body;” used more in description of organs or body parts rather than body positioning.

Lateral

Means “away from the midline.”

Inferior

Means “lowermost, below, or towards the tail.”

Distal

Means “furthest from the midline or beginning of a structure” (often used in reference to limbs/limb structures).

Deep

Means “away from the surface”; also called internal.

Plantar

Refers to the bottom of the rear foot or hoof; refers to anything distal to the tarsus.

Suffix: -ology (as in physiology)

Means “the study of.”

Anatomy

The study of body structures.

Physiology

The study of body function(s).

Pathology

The study of the nature, causes, and development of abnormal conditions.

Pathophysiology

The study of changes in function caused by disease.

Etiology

The study of disease causes.

What is an arcade?

A series of arches; (dental) - term used to describe how individual teeth are arranged in the mouth.

What is the lingual surface of a tooth?

The tooth surface of the mandible that faces the tongue; sometimes used to describe the tooth surface that faces the tongue on both the maxilla and mandible.

What is the palatal surface of a tooth?

The tooth surface of the maxilla that faces the tongue.

What is the buccal surface of a tooth?

The aspect of a tooth that faces the cheek; sometimes called the vestibular surface.

What are the occlusal surfaces of a tooth?

The aspects of the teeth that meet during mastication.

What are the contact surfaces of a tooth?

The aspects of the tooth that touch other teeth - divided into mesial and distal contact surfaces.

• Mesial surface → closest to the midline of the dental arcade

• Distal surface → furthest from the midline of the dental arcade

What are the labial surfaces of a tooth?

The aspects of a tooth facing the lips.

What is a body cavity?

A hole or hollow space within the body that contains and protects internal organs.

Cranial cavity

Refers to the hollow space that contains the brain in the skull.

Spinal cavity

Refers to the hollow space that contains the spinal cord within the spinal column.

Thoracic/Chest cavity

Refers to the hollow space that contains the heart and lungs within the ribs between the neck and diaphragm.

Abdominal cavity

Refers to the hollow space that contains the major organs of digestion between the diaphragm and the pelvic cavity; often incorrectly referred to as the peritoneal cavity.

Peritoneal cavity

Refers to the hollow space within the abdominal cavity, between the parietal peritoneum and the visceral peritoneum.

Pelvic cavity

Refers to the hollow space that contains the reproductive and some excretory system organs formed by the pelvic bones.

What is the abdomen?

The portion of the body between the thorax and the pelvis containing the abdominal cavity.

What is the thorax?

The chest region located between the neck and the diaphragm.

What is the groin?

The lower region of the abdomen between itself and the thigh; also known as the inguinal area.

What are membranes?

Thin layers of tissue that cover a surface, line a cavity, or divide a space or organ.

Peritoneum

The membrane lining the walls of the abdominal and pelvic cavities and covers some organs in this area; may be divided into parietal (outer) layer and the visceral (inner) layer.

Umbilicus

The pit in the abdominal wall marking the point where the umbilical cord entered the fetus; also referred to as the navel.

Mesentery

The layer of the peritoneum that suspends parts of the intestine within the abdominal cavity.

Dorsal recumbency

Lying on the back.

Ventral/sternal recumbency

Lying on the belly.

Lateral recumbency

Lying on the side; referred to as left or right lateral recumbency depending on the side.

Prone

Means “lying in ventral or sternal recumbency.”

Supine

Means “lying in dorsal recumbency.”

Adduction

Means “to move towards the midline.”

Abduction

Means “to move away from the midline.”