Medical Prefixes and Suffixes

A, an-

lack of or without

Anti

counteracting or effective against

-ation

indicates a process

Brady

slow

Cyano

blue; dark blue

Dys-

Abnormal, difficult, or painful

-ectomy

surgical removal of something

emia

pertaining to blood

-ism

a condition of

-ismus

indicates a spasm or contraction

-itis

signifies inflammation

hema

blood

hypo

low/decreased

hyper

high/elevated

-lysis

decomposition, destruction, or breaking down

macro-

large in size

melan/o-

black or dark in color

megal

large, great, grand

micro-

small in size

-ology

The study of a particular concentration

-osis

indicates something that is abnormal

ortho

straight or erect

-otomy

to cut into

-pathy

disease or disease process

-plasty

surgical repair

poly-

many

pseudo-

False or deceptive, usually in regard to appearance

pyrexia

fever; increased body temperature

-scop/y/ic

scope procedure

tachy

fast; rapid

tension

pressure within a vessel