VetMed terms

Terms, prefixes, and suffixes from MATC's Veterinary Medical Terminology course

pre-

Before

peri-

Around

Post-

After

Ventral

Underside

Dorsal

Back

Cranial

Towards head

Caudal

Away from head

Rostral

Towards nose

Proximal

Towards body

Distal

Away from body

Palmar

Hand

Plantar

Feet

What does the midsagittal plane do?

Divides in even left and right halves

What does the sagittal plane do?

Divides into left and right sections

What does the dorsal plane do?

Divides into front and back sections parallel to spine

What does the transverse plane do?

Divides into front and back parts perpendicular to spine

Naso

Nose

Rhino

Nose

Reno

Kidney

Nephro

Kidney

Leuko

White

pan-

All

-penia

Deficiency

Panleukopenia

Deficiency in all types of white blood cells

Gastro

Stomach

Entero

Intestines

-itis

Inflammation

Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the stomach and intestines

Ovario

Ovary

Metro

Uterus

Hystero

Uterus

-ectomy

Surgical removal

Ovariohysterectomy

Surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus

Cavity

Hollow space

Thorasic

Chest

Lingual

Relating to tongue

Buccal

Relating to cheek

Labial

Relating to Lips

Dental arcade

Curved structure housing teeth

Occlusal surface

Chewing surface of tooth

Mesial Surface

Tooth surface towards front of mouth

Distal Surface

Tooth surface towards back of mouth

Adduction

Movement towards midline

Abduction

Movement away from midline

Flexion

Decreasing angle at a joint

Extension

Increasing angle at a joint

Pronation

Palm facing back or downwards

Supination

Palm facing front or upwards

Cyto

Cell

Genetic

Pertaining to genes

-plasia is used for

Describing formation, development, and growth of tissue and cell numbers

-trophy is used for

Describing formation, development, and increased size of tissue and cells

-plasia

Growth, cellular multiplication

-trophy

Nutrition, nourishment, growth

a-

Without

hypo-

Less

hyper-

More

dys-

Bad

ana-

Without

neo-

New

Osteo

Bone

Ossi/Osse

Bone

Osteoblast

Bone creating cells

Osseous

Consisting of bone

Ossicles

Tiny bones

Cortex

Shell

Cancelli

Crossbar

Cortical bone

Compact bone, outer layer of bone

Cancellous bone

Spongy bone, inner layer of bone

Diaphysis

Shaft of bone

Epiphyses

Ends of bone

Medullary

inner region

Medullary cavity

Space containing bone marrow

Hematopoesis

Formation of blood cells

Hemato

Blood

-poesis

To make

Chondro

Cartilage

Arthro

Joints

Ligamento

Ligaments

Teno

Tendon

Tendo

Tendon

Tendino

Tendon

Axle

Pivot

Appendere

to hang on

Axial skeleton

Skull and Spine

Appendicular skeleton

Everything not skull and spine

Cranio

Cranium

Vertebro

Vertebrae

Spondylo

Vertrebrae

Costo

Ribs

Onycho

Nail or claw

Fossa

Shallow depression on bone

Tubercle

Small rounded projection on bone

Trochlea

Groove in bone for pully-like system

Crest

Ridge on bone

Spine (of bone)

Extension on bone

Fascio

Fascia

Fasci

Fascia

Myo

Muscle

Fibro

Fibrous tissue