Word roots

abdomin(o)

Refers to the abdomen.

abdominal

Pertaining to the abdomen.

brachio)

Refers to the arm.

brachial

Pertaining to the arm.

cephal(o)

Refers to the head.

cephalalgia

Headache.

cyan(o)

Refers to blue.

cyanosis

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

ger(o), geront(o)

Refers to aged.

gerontology

Study of the aged.

gluc(o)

Refers to glucose, sugar.

glucometer

Device used to measure blood glucose.

glyc(o)

Refers to glucose, sugar.

glycosuria

Glucose (sugar) in the urine.

lip(o), lipid(o)

Refers to fat.

lipemic

Visibly containing fat particles (in a blood specimen).

mamm(o)

Refers to the breast.

mammogram

X-ray of the breast.

mast(o)

Refers to the breast.

mastectomy

Excision of the breast.

melan(o)

Refers to black.

melanoma

Mole or tumor, may be cancerous.

necro)

Refers to death.

necrotic tissue

Dead tissue.

onc(o)

Refers to tumor.

oncology

Study of tumors.

pod(o)

Refers to the foot.

podiatrist

Foot doctor.

therm(o)

Refers to hot, heat.

thermoplegia

Heatstroke.

thorac(o)

Refers to the chest.

thoracotomy

Incision into the chest wall.

toxic(o), tox(o)

Refers to poison.

toxicology

Study of poisons.

cutane(o), dermat(o), derm(a/o)

Refers to skin.

dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin.

hidro)

Refers to sweat.

hyperhidrosis

Excessive sweating.

pil(o), trich(o)

Refers to hair.

piloerection

Hair standing on end.

seb(o)

Refers to sebum.

seborrhea

Discharge of sebum.

arthro)

Refers to joint.

arthrotomy

Cut into a joint.

chondro)

Refers to cartilage.

chondrectomy

Removal of cartilage.

cost(o)

Refers to rib.

costochondral

Pertaining to a rib.

crani(o)

Refers to skull.

craniotomy

Cutting into the skull.

fascio)

Refers to band of tissue.

fascitis

Inflammation of a band of connective tissue.

my(o)

Refers to muscle.

myocarditis

Inflammation of the heart muscle.

oss(eo/i), oste(o)

Refers to bone.

osteoarthritis

Disease of the joints.

ten(o), tend(o), tendin(o)

Refers to tendon.

tendinitis

Inflammation of a tendon.

aur(i/o)

Refers to ear.

auricle

Outer ear.

cerebr(o)

Refers to cerebrum.

cerebrospinal

Pertaining to the brain and spinal cord.

encephal(o)

Refers to brain.

encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain.

mening(0)

Refers to meninges; membranes covering the spinal cord and brain.

meningitis

Inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord or brain.

myel(o)

Refers to spinal cord.

myelitis

Inflammation of the spinal cord.

neur(0)

Refers to nerve.

neuritis

Inflammation of a nerve.

ocul(o), ophthalm(o)

Refers to eye.

ophthalmologist

Eye doctor.

ot(o)

Refers to ear.

otology

Science of the ear.

angio)

Refers to vessel.

angioplasty

Surgical repair of a vessel using a balloon.

arteri(o)

Refers to artery.

arteriosclerosis

Hardening of artery walls.

cardi(o)

Refers to heart.

cardiology

Study of the heart.

hem(o), hemat(o)

Refers to blood.

hematuria

Blood in the urine.

phleb(o), ven(i/o)

Refers to vein.

phlebitis

Inflammation of a vein.

thrombo)

Refers to clot.

thrombus

Blood clot blocking a vessel.

broncho)

Refers to bronchus.

bronchopneumonia

Inflammation of the lungs.

laryng(o)

Refers to larynx.

laryngectomy

Excision of the larynx.

ox(1/o/y)

Refers to oxygen.

oximeter

Device that measures oxygen saturation.

pharyng(o)

Refers to pharynx.

pharyngitis

Inflammation of the throat, sore throat.

pneum(a/o)

Refers to air, gas, respiration.

pneumonia

Inflammation of the lung.

pneumon(o)

Refers to lung, breath.

pneumonomelanosis

Blackening of the lung tissue.

pulm(o)

Refers to lung.

pulmonary

Relating to the lungs.