Medical Terminology Root Words and Suffixes

-ectomy

To cut out.

-oma

Tumour.

-osis

Abnormal condition.

-otomy

Cut into.

-ostomy or -tomy

To make a mouth.

gingivo

Gums.

Glosso or lingo

Tongue.

hema- or -emia

Blood.

histio

Tissue.

Hysteron or metro

Uterus.

masto

Breast.

oophoro

Ovary.

orchid

Testis.

procto

Rectum/anus.

rhino

Nose.

salpingo

Uterine tubes.

sarco

Connective tissue.

stomato

Mouth.

toxo

Poison.

ante

Before.

circum

Around.

ecto

Outside.

peri

Around.

-penia

Deficiency.

Mitral prolapse

Failure in mitral valve.

Angina pectoris

Pain due to insufficient blood flow to heart.

-cele

Hernia.

Mening/meningo

Membrane in brain.

myelo-

Spinal cord.

plasia

Growth.

plegia

Paralysis.

ventriculo

Cavity.

Epilepsy

Seizure.

Emes

Vomit.

-iasis

Abnormal.

Lapar

Abdominal wall.

lith

Stone.

rrhea

Flow discharge.

tripsy

Crush.

Dysphasia

Difficulty in swallowing.

broch

Lung passage.

laryng

Larynx.

-plasty

Reconstruction.

-ptysis

Spitting.

Rhin

Nose.

pyel

Renal collecting duct.

pexy

Reattach surgically.

rrhaphy

Suture.

colp

Vagina.

-gravida

Pregnancy.

-para

Live birth.

-pareunia

Intercourse.

Part, parto, toc, toco

Labor, birth, delivery.

-asthenia

Loss of strength.

chondro

Cartilage.

-lysis

Disintegration.

malacia

Softening.

My, myo

Muscle.

-porosis

Weak.

-trophy

Stimulation.

Cut, derma

Skin.

lipo

Fat.

melan

Black.

onych

Nail.

pachy

Thick.

sclero

Hard.

sudor

Sweat.

Emphysema

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Atelectasis

Collapsed lung.

lympho-

Relating to lymphocytes (white blood cells).

leuk-

Relating to leukocytes (white blood cells).

thrombo-

Related to platelets/blood clotting.

Eclampsia

Hypertension and seizure.