CNA Abbreviations

a, an

Without, not, lack of

analgesic

Without pain

ante

Before, in front of

antepartum

Before delivery

bi

Two, twice, double

bifocal

Two lenses

brady

Slow

bradycardia

Slow pulse, heartbeat

contra

Against

contraceptive

Prevents pregnancy

dis

Apart, free from

disinfected

Free from microorganisms

dys

Bad, painful

dysuria

Painful urination

endo

Inner

endoscope

Instrument for examining the inside of an organ

epi

On, upon, over

epidermis

Outer layer of skin

erythro

Red

erythrocyte

Red blood cell

ex

Out, away from

exhale

To breathe out

hemi

Half

hemisphere

One of two parts of the brain

hyper

Too much, high

hypertension

High blood pressure

hypo

Below, under

hypotension

Low blood pressure

inter

Between, within

interdisciplinary

Between disciplines

leuk

White

leukocyte

White blood cell

mal

Bad, illness, disorder

malformed

Badly made

micro

Small

microscopic

Too small for the eye to see

olig

Small, scant

oliguria

Small amount of urine

patho

Disease, suffering

pathology

Study of disease

per

By, through

perforate

To make a hole through

peri

Around

pericardium

Sac around the heart

poly

Many, much

polyuria

Much urine

post

After, behind

postmortem

Period after death

pre

Before, in front of

prenatal

Period before birth

sub

Under, beneath

subcutaneous

Beneath the skin

supra

Above, over

suprapelvic

Located above the pelvis

tachy

Swift, fast, rapid

tachycardia

Rapid heartbeat

abdomin (o)

Abdomen

abdominal

Pertaining to the abdomen

aden (o)

Gland

adenitis

Inflammation of a gland

angi (o)

Vessel

angioplasty

Surgical repair of a vessel using a balloon

arterio

Artery

arteriosclerosis

Hardening of artery walls

arthr (o)

Joint

arthrotomy

Cut into a joint

brachi (o)

Arm

brachial

Pertaining to the arm

bronchi, bronch (o)

Bronchus

bronchopneumonia

Inflammation of lungs

card, cardi (o)

Heart

cardiology

Study of the heart

cerebr (o)

Cerebrum

cerebrospinal

Pertaining to the brain and spinal cord

cephal (o)

Head

cephalagia

Headache

chole, chol (o)

Bile

cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gall bladder

colo

Colon

colonoscopy

Examination of the large intestine or colon with a scope

cost (o)

Rib

costochondral

Pertaining to a rib

crani (o)

Skull

craniotomy

Cutting into the skull

cyan (o)

Blue

cyanosis

Blue, gray, or purple tinge to the skin due to lack of oxygen in the blood

cyst (o)

Bladder, cyst

cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder

derm, derma

Skin

dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin

duoden (o)

Duodenum

duodenal

Pertaining to the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine

encephal (o)

Brain

encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain

gaster (o), gastro

Stomach

gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach

geron

Aged

gerontology

Study of the aged

gluco

Sweet

glucometer

Device used to measure blood glucose