Medical Terminology (prefixes and suffixes)

acou-

hearing / sound

adeno-

gland / glandular

angio-

vessel

brachy-

short / close

ex: brachytherapy → deliver radioactive source close to tumor

bucco-

mouth / cheek

carcino-

cancer

ex:

• carcinogen → substance causing cancer

• carcinoma → specific type of cancer starting in the skin / tissue lining of organ

cardio-

heart

→ relate to cardiovascular system

col- / colo .

colon / large intestine

ex: colectomy: surgical removal of all parts of colon

colp- / colp

vagina

ex: colposcopy → examination of the vagina and cervix

cyst-

sac, bladder, pouch

derm

skin

endo-

inside, within, internal

ex: endometrium → inner lining of uterus

exo-

outside, out of, outer

ex: exothermique → release of heat out in surroundings

gast- / gastro

stomach, belly

glosso-

tongue

hepato-

liver

ex: hepatitis → inflammation of the liver

hyster-

uterus / womb

ex: hysteroscopy → inspection of the uerus

labio-

lip

myo-

muscle

ex: myocardium → muscular tissue of heart

naso-

nose

ex: nasogastric tube → tube instertic from nose to stomach

necro-

death

ex: necrosis → dead tissue

nephro-

kidney

ex: nephropathy → disease or damafe to kidneys

odyn-

pain

ex: odynophagia → pain swallowing

patho-

disease / suffering

ex: pathogen → agent that causes disease

pulmo-

lung

ex: pulmonology → specialty concerning the study and treatment of the respiratory system

semin-

semen / seed

ex: seminiferous → describes tubes in testicle that produce sperm

sub-

below / under / beneath

supra-

above / over

tachy-

fast / rapid

ex:

• tachycardia → fast heart rate

• tachypnea → quick breathing

-algia

pain / painful condition of specific body part

ex: myalgia → muscle pain

-ectomy

surgical removal of a body part, organ, tissue

ex; mastectomy → removal of part of breast

-emia

condition of the blood

ex: leukemia → cancer of the blood / bone marrow from an abnormal increase of white blood cells

-oma

tumor, mass, growth (abnormal mass swelling)

-pathy

suffering / feeling / disease

-phasia

eating / swallowing / devouring

ex: dysphagia or odynophagia

-scope

instrument used for examining, viewing, observing

-stomia

surgical creation of opening into body part

ex: gastrostomy → creating an opening in the stomach for feeding tube

-uria

urine / urination/ condition of urine