roots, suffixes, and prefixes

-ache

pain -Example:headache, backache, earache, toothache

aden(o)

gland, glandular tissue -Example:adenoids, adenocarcinoma

aer(o)

air, with air, with oxygen, in gas -Example:aerobic, aerate

alg-

pain -Example:analgesic

-algia

pain -Example:neuralgia, arthralgia, fibromyalgia

angi(o)

blood vessel -Example:angioplasty, angioma

ante-

before, forward, in front of -Example:antepartum

anti-

against -Example:antihistamine, antinflammatory, antipyretic

arteri(o)

artery -Example:arteriopathy, arteriosclerosis, arterial

arthr(o)

joint -Example:arthritis, arthralgia

-ase

enzyme -Example:protease, urease, amylase, lactase

audi(o)

hearing -Example:auditory, audiology

brady-

slow -Example:bradycardia, bradypnea, bradyphasia

bronch(o)

bronchial tube, bronchus -Example:bronchoscope, bronchospasm, bronchitis

carcin(o)

cancer -Example:carcinogen, carcinoma, carcinogenic

cardi, cardia, cardio

heart -Example:cardiac, cardiovascular, cardiopathy

-cele

hernia, protrusion, tumor -Example:cystocele, meningocele, encephalocele

-centesis

surgical puncture -Example:amniocentesis, arthrocentesis, paracentesis

cephal(o)

head -Example:cephalalgia, cephalic

cerebr(o)

cerebrum, brain -Example:cerebrospinal, cerebral, cerebrovascular

cervic(o)

neck, cervix -Example:cervical, cervicitis

chol(e)

bile, gall -Example:cholecystitis

chondr(o)

cartilage -Example:costochondritis

-coccus, -cocci

bacterium, bacteria, organism -Example:pneumococcus, streptococci

col(o)

colon -Example:colitis, colonoscopy, colectomy

cortic(o)

cortex -Example:corticosteroid

cost(o)

rib -Example:costal, intercostal

crani(o)

skull, cranium -Example:craniometry, craniotomy, cranial

cyan(o)

blue, blueness -Example:cyanosis

cyst(o)

bladder -Example:cystitis

cyt(o)

cell -Example:cytology, cytoplasm, cytosome

-cyte

cell -Example:hepatocyte, leukocyte, monocyte

dent-

tooth -Example:dental, dentist, dentistry

derm(o), dermat(o)

skin -Example:dermis, dermatologist, dermatitis

dipl(o)

double, twofold -Example:diplopia

dors(o)

back -Example:dorsal, dorsolateral

dys-

difficult, abnormal, bad, painful -Example:dysfunction, dyspnea

-ectomy

excision, removal, to cut out -Example:appendectomy, thrombectomy, gastrectomy

-emia

blood condition -Example:anemia, septicemia, leukemia, uremia

encephal(o)

brain, inside the head -Example:encephalitis, electroencephalogram

end(o)-

inside, internal, within -Example:endocrine, endoskeleton

enter(o)

intestine -Example:enteric, dysentery

epi-

outer, upon -Example:epidermis, epidural

erythr(o)

red -Example:erythrocyte

eu-

normal, well, good -Example:euphoria

extra-

outside, beyond -Example:extrauterine, extracystic, extrahepatic

gastr(o)

stomach -Example:gastrostomy, gastrointestinal, gastritis

-genic

producing, originating, forming -Example:pyogenic, carcinogenic

ger(o)

old age -Example:geriatric

gingiv(o)

gum, gums -Example:gingivitis, gingivostomatitis

gloss(o)

tongue -Example:glossal, hypoglossal

gluc(o)

sugar -Example:glucose, glucagon

glyc(o)

sugar, sweet -Example:hyperglycemia

-gram

picture, graph, record -Example:angiogram

-graph

recording instrument -Example:dermatographia

hemo-, hema-

blood -Example:hemorrhage, hemoglobin

hemat(o)

blood -Example:hematoma, hematemesis,

hemi-

half -Example:hemiplegia

hepat(o)

liver -Example:hepatitis, hepatotoxic, hepatomegaly

hidr(o)

sweat, sweat glands -Example:hidrosis

hist(o)

tissue -Example:histamine

homo-

same, alike, similar -Example:homologous, homosexual, homogeneous

hydr

water -Example:hydration, dehydration

hydro-

water, fluid, liquid -Example:hydrocephalus, hydronephrosis, hydrotherapy

hyper-

excessive, high, above, upward -Example:hypertension, hyperglycemia

hypo-

deficient, low, below, down, under -Example:hypocalcemia, hypodermic

hyster(o)

uterus, womb -Example:hysteroscopy, hysterectomy

-iasis

condition of disease -Example:trichomoniasis, giardiasis, amebiasis

immun(o)

immune -Example:immunodeficiency, immunization, immunity

infra-

below, beneath -Example:infracardiac, infrarenal

inter-

between, among -Example:intercostal, intercellular, intercerebral

intra-

within, inside -Example:intravenous, intramuscular, intracranial

iso-

equal, same -Example:isometric

-itis

inflammation -Example:arthritis, colitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, laryngitis

kerat(o)

cornea -Example:keratitis

lact(o)

milk -Example:lactate

laryng(o)

larynx, voice box -Example:laryngitis, laryngospasm, laryngoscope

leuk(o)

white -Example:leukemia, leukopenia, leukocyte

lingu

tongue -Example:sublingual

lip(o)

fat -Example:lipid, lipoma

lith(o)

stone, calculus -Example:nephrolithiasis, lithotripsy

-logist

one who studies or specializes -Example:cardiologist, anesthesiologist, urologist

-logy

the study of -Example:biology, gynecology, dermatology

-lysis

breakdown, destruction, dissolution -Example:urinalysis, thrombolysis

macro-

large -Example:macrocyte, macromolecule

mal-

bad, abnormal, inadequate -Example:malnutrition, malpractice, malformed

-malacia

soft, softening, softness -Example:encephalomalacia, osteomalacia,

mamm-

breast, mammary gland -Example:mammogram

megalo-

large, enlarged, grandiose -Example:megalopolis

-megaly

enlargement -Example:cardiomegaly, acromegaly, hepatomegaly

melan(o)

dark pigmented, black -Example:melanoma

men(o)

menstruation, menses -Example:menopause, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia

mening(o)

meninges -Example:meningitis, meningococcus, meningeal

-metry

process of measuring or counting -Example:telemetry

micro-

small -Example:microscope, microorganism

my(o)

muscle -Example:myalgia

myc(o)

fungus, fungi -Example:onchomycosis

myel(o)

bone marrow, spinal cord -Example:transverse myelitis

nas(o)

nose -Example:nasal, nasogastric

-natal

birth, infant -Example:prenatal, neonatal, postnatal, perinatal