medical terminology — prefixes

A-, An-

without; lacking

Andr/o-

male

Anti-

against

Auto-

self

Bio-

life

Chem/o-

chemistry

Contra-

against

Cyt/o-

cell

Dis-

separation; taking apart

Dys-

difficult; abnormal

Eu-

good; well

Fibr/o-

fiber

Gluco-, Glyco-

glucose; sugar

Gyn/o-, Gynec-

female

Hydr/o-

water

Idio-

self; one’s own

Lyso-, Lys-

break down; destruction; dissolving

Mal-

bad; abnormal

Myc/o-

fungus

Necr/o-

death

Neo-

new

Oxy-

sharp; acute; oxygen

Pan-, Pant/o

all; everywhere

Pharmaco-

drug; medicine

Re-

again; backward

Somat/o-, Somatico-

body; bodily

Acous/o-

hearing

Aden/o-

gland

Adip/o-

fat

Adren/o-

gland

Angi/o-

blood vessel

Arteri/o-

artery

Arthr/o-

joint

Bucc/o-

cheek

Bronch/i-

bronchus

Burs/o-

bursa

Carcin/o-

cancer

Cardi/o-

heart

Cephal/o-

head

Chol-

bile

Chondri-

cartilage

Coron-

heart

Cost-

rib

Crani/o-

brain

Cutane-

skin

Cyst/o-, Cysti-

bladder; sac

Derm-, Dermat/o-

skin

Duoden/o-

duodenum

Gastr-

stomach

Gloss-

tongue

Hem-, Hema-, Hemat-, Hemo-, Hemat/o-

blood

Hepat/o, Hepatico-

liver

Hist/o-, Histio-

tissue

Hyster/o-

uterus

Ileo-

ileum

Ischi/o-

ischium

Kerat/o-

cornea (eye or skin)

Lacrim/o-

tear from eye

Lact/o-, Lacti-

milk

Laryng/o-

larynx

Lingu/o-

tongue

Lip/o-

fat

Lymph/o-

lymph

Mamm-, Mast/o-

breast

Mening/o-

meninges

Muscul/o-

muscle

My/o-

muscle

Myel/o-

spinal cord; bone marrow

Nephr/o-

kidney

Neur/i-, Neur/o-

nerve

Oculo-

eye

Onco-

tumor; bulk; volume

Onych/o-

fingernail; toenail

Oo-

egg; ovary

Oophor/o-

ovary

Op-, Opt-

vision

Ophthalm/o-

eye

Orchid/o-, Orchio-

testis

Orth/o-

straight; normal; correct

Osseo-

bony

Ossi-

bone

Ost-, Oste/o-

bone

Ot/o-

ear

Ovar/i-, Ovario-, Ovi-, Ovo-

ovary

Phalang-

phalanx

Pharang/o-

pharaynx; throat

Phleb/o-

vein

Phren/i-, Phreno-, Phrenico-

diaphragm

Pleur-, Pleur/a-, Pleur/o-

rib; pleura

Pneum/a-, Pneumat/o-

air; lung

Proct/o-

anus; rectum

Prostat-

prostate

Pseudo-

false

Psych/o-, Psyche-

mind

Radio-

radiation; radius

Ren/o-

kidney

Retin-

retina (of the eye)

Rhin/o-

nose

Salping/o-

tube

Sarco-

muscular; flesh-like