RADS 1010 – Basic Component Parts of Medical Words

A set of medical-terminology flashcards covering roots, prefixes, & suffixes.

Root Word

The root word is the foundation of the word and it can stand alone, be used with a prefix or suffix or combined with other root words.

Suffix

The suffix is the word ending. It modifies the root word and makes it more specific. It can stand alone or be used with a root word.

Prefix

The prefix is the word beginning. It modifies the root word and makes it more specific. It cannot stand alone.

Combining Vowel

A vowel which is usually "o" linking the root to the suffix or to another root. Sometimes "i" and "u" are used

Combining Form

The combination of a root word with the combining vowel (e.g., gastr/o).

norm/o

Rule ; order

ox/o

Oxygen

opthalm/o

Eye

trache/o

Windpipe; trachea

the/o

Put:place

seps/o

Infection

immun/o

Protection

glyc/o

Sugar

Gloss/o

Tongue

dactyl/o

Fingers; toes

cost/o

Rib

gnesis

Condition of producing, or forming

gastr/o

Stomach.

hepat/o

Liver.

cardi/o

Heart.

path/o

Disease.

mamm/o

Breast.

oste/o

Bone.

derm/o

Skin.

hemat/o

Blood.

arthr/o

Joint.

ped/o

Child.

neur/o

Nerve.

carcin/o

Cancer.

rhin/o

Nose.

radi/o

X-rays or radiation.

nephr/o & ren/o

Kidney.

abdomin/o

Abdomen.

acr/o

Extremities.

cyst/o

Urinary bladder.

aden/o

Gland.

hydr/o

Water or fluid.

angi/o

Vessel.

lapar/o

Abdominal wall or abdomen.

mast/o

Breast.

arteri/o

Artery.

myel/o

Spinal cord or bone marrow.

col/o

Colon (large intestine).

my/o

Muscle.

ven/o

Vein.

viscer/o

Internal organs.

ophthalm/o

Eye.

leuk/o

White (white blood cell).

necr/o

Death.

pulmon/o

Lung.

pneum/o

Lung or air.

thorac/o

Chest.

epi-

Above or upon.

trans-

Across or through.

a- / an-

Not; without.

ab-

Away from.

ad-

Toward.

contra-

Against; opposite.

ante-

Before; forward.

dia-

Through; complete.

anti-

Against.

dys-

Bad; difficult; painful.

auto-

Self; own.

ec- / ecto-

Out; outside.

bi-

Two; both.

endo- / en-

Within; in.

brady-

Slow.

con-

With; together.

ex-

Out; away from.

macro-

Large.

hemi-

Half.

mal-

Bad.

hyper-

Excessive; above.

micro-

Small.

hypo-

Deficient; below.

pan-

All.

infra-

Within

para-

Near; beside; abnormal; apart from

inter-

Between.

per-

surrounding.

intra-

Within; in

poly-

Many; much.

tachy-

Fast.

post-

After; behind.

pre-

Before; in front of.

uni-

One; single.

pro-

Before; forward.

retro-

Behind; backward.

sub-

Under;

supra-

Above; upper.

-itis

Inflammation.

-opsy

To view.

-ic

Pertaining to.

-pathy

Disease condition.

-gram

Record of

-algia

Pain.

-oma

Tumor; swelling.

-graphy

Process of recording.

-osis

condition which is usually abnormal

-cele

Hernia.