Anatomy and Physiology Root Words

a- an-

not, without

adeno-

gland

adip-

fat

aero-

air

-al, -ary, -ic

relating to

albi-, leuko-

white

ana-

up

andro-

man

angi-, vaso-

vessel (lymph; blood)

ante-

in front of, before

anti-, contra-

against

arthr-

joint

-ase

break down enzyme

athero-

gruel

auto-

self, same

baro-

heavy

bi-, di-

two

blasto-

bud

brachi-

arm

brady-

slow

carcino-

cancer

cardi-

heart

cauda-

tail

cephalo-

head

cervi-

neck

chondro-

cartilage

clast-

destroy

co-

together

corpo-, soma-

body

costa-

rib bone

cutane-, cuti-, derm-

skin

cyto-

cell

demi-, hemi-, semi-

half

dorsi-

back

dys-

bad

ecto-, exo-

outside

encephalo-

brain

endo-

inside

epi-

upon

eryth-, erythro-

red

eu-

good

-form

shape

gastro-

stomach

-gen, -genesis

to produce

glia-

glue

glosso-

tongue

gluco-, glyco-

sweet

hemo-

blood

hepato-

liver

hetero-

different

histo-

tissue

homeo-

same

homo-

human

hydro-

water

hyper-

over

hypo-

under

-ia

condition

infra-

below

inter-

between

intra-

within

iso-

equal

-itis

disease

juxta-

near

lacto-

milk

lamella, lamina, strata

layer, slice

latero-

side, flank

luteus-

yellow

lyso-, lyto-

loosening, breaking down, parting

macro-

large, long

medi-, meso

middle, neutral, mid, middle of

mega-

big, vast

meta-

beyond, after, later

micro-

small

mono-, uni-

one

morpho-

form, shape, kind, sort

myo-, mysi-

muscle

neo-

new

nephro-, reno-

kidney

neuro-

nervous system

oo-

egg

oculo-

eye

-ology

study/science of

-oma

swelling, tumor

osteo-

bone

ot-

ear

oxy-

oxygen

para-

beside, near

pappilae-

nipple, dug

pariet-

wall, outer layer

patho-

suffering, misfortune

pedi-

foot, development

peri-

around

phago-

eating, feeding

philo-

enjoying, loving

phobo-

fear

physio-

nature, physical function

pleuro-

side

pnuemo-, pulmono-

lung

poly-

many, much, too much, excessive

pro-

in favor, before