CNA Abbreviations & Terminology

A, an

without, not, lack of

Ex. Analgesic = without pain

ante

before, in front of

Ex. Antepartum: before delivery

bi

two, twice, double

Ex. Bifocal = two lenses

Brady

slow

Ex. Bradycardia = slow pulse, heartbeat

Contra

against

Ex. Contraceptive = prevents pregnancy

dis

apart, free from

Ex. Disinfected = free from microorganisms d

dys

bad, painful

Ex. Dysuria = painful urination

endo

inner

Ex. Endoscope = instrument for examining the inside of an organ

epi

on, upon, over

Ex. Epidermis = outer layer of skin

erythro

red

Ex. Erythrocyte = red blood cell

ex

out, away from

Ex. exhale = to breathe out

hemi

half

ex. hemisphere = one of two parts of the brain

hyper

too much, high

ex. hypertension = high blood pressure

hypo

below, under

ex. hypotension = low blood pressure

inter

between, within

ex.interdisciplinary = between disciplines

leuk

white

ex. leukocyte = white blood cell

mal

bad, illness disorder

ex. malformed = badly made

micro

small

ex. microscopic = too small for the eye to see

olig

small, scant

ex. oliguria = small amount of urine

patho

disease, suffering

ex. pathology = study of disease

per

by, through

ex. perforate = to make a hole through

peri

around

ex. pericardium = sac around the heart

poly

many much

ex. polyuria = much urine

post

after, behind

ex. postmortem = period after death

pre

before, in front of

ex. prenatal = period before birth

sub

under, beneath

ex. subcutaneous = beneath the skin

supra

above, over

ex. suprapelvic = located above the pelvis

tachy

swift, fast, rapid

ex. tachycardia = rapid heartbeat

abdomin

abdomen

ex. abdominal = pertaining to the abdomen

aden

gland

ex. adenitis = inflammation of a gland

angi

vessel

ex. angioplasty = surgical repair of a vessel using a balloon

arterio

artery

ex. arteriosclerosis = hardening of artery walls

arthr

joint

ex. arthrotomy = cut into a joint

brachi

arm

ex. pertaining to the arm

bronchi, bronch

bronchus

ex. bronchopneumonia = inflammation of the lungs

card,cardi

heart

ex. cardiology = study of the heart

cerebr

cerebrum

ex. cerebrospinal = pertaining to the brain and spinal cord

cephal

head

ex. cephalagia = headache

chole, chol

bile

ex. cholecystitis = inflammation of the gall bladder

colo

colon

ex. colonoscopy = examination of the large intestine or colon with a scope

cost

rib

ex. costochondral = pertaining to a rib

crani

skull

ex. craniotomy = cutting into the skull

cyan

blue

ex. cyanosis = blue, gray, or purplel tinge to the skin due to the lack of oxygen in the blood

cyst

bladder, cyst

ex. cystitis = inflammation of the bladder

derm, derma

skin

ex. dermatitis = inflammation of the skind

duoden

duodenum

ex. duodenal = pertaining to the duodenum the first part of the small intestine

encephal

brain

ex. encephalitis = inflammation of the brain

gaster, gastro

stomach

ex. gastritis = inflammation of the stomach

geron

aged

ex. gerontology = study of the aged

gluco

sweet

ex. glucometer = device used to measure blood glucose

glyco, glyc

sweet

ex. glycosuria = glucose (sugar) in the urine

gyneco, gyno

woman

ex. gynecology = study of diseases of the female reproductive organs

hema, hemato, hemo

blood

ex. hematuria = blood in the urine

hepato

liver

ex. hepatomegaly = enlargement of the liver

hyster

uterus

ex. hysterectomy = surgical removal of the uterus

ile, ili

ileum

ex. ileorrhaphy = surgical repair of the ileum

laryng

larynx

ex. laryngectomy = excision of the larynx

lymph

lymph

ex. lymphocyte = type of white blood cellm

mamm

breast

ex. mammogram = x-ray of the breast

mast

breast

ex. mastectomy = excision of the breast

melan

black

ex. melanoma = mole or tumor, may be cancerous

mening

meninges; membranes covering the spinal cord and brain

meningitis = inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord or brain

necro

death

ex. necrotic = dead tissue

nephr

kidney

ex. nephrectomy = removal of a kidney

neur

nerve

ex. neuritis = inflammation of a nerve

onc

tumor

ex. oncology = study of tumors

ophthalm

eye

ex. opthalmologist = eye doctor

oste

bone

ex. osteoarthritis = disease of the joints

ot

ear

ex. otology = science of the ear

pharyng

pharynx

ex. pharyngitis = inflammation of the throat, sore throat

phleb

vein

ex. phlebitis = inflammation of a vein

pneo

breathing

ex. tachypnea = rapid breathingp

pneum

air, gas, respiration

ex. pneumonia = inflammation of the lung

pod

foot

ex. podiatrist = foot doctor

proct

anus, rectum

ex. proctology = study of the rectum

pulm

lung

ex. pulmonary = relating to the lungs

splen

spleen

ex. splenomegaly = enlarged spleen

stomat

mouth

ex. stomatitis = inflammation of the mouth

therm

hot, heat

ex. hermoplegia = heatstroke

thorac

chest

ex. thoracotomy = incision into chest wall

thromb

blood clot

ex. thrombus = blood clot blocking a vessel

toxic, tox

poison

ex. toxicology = study of poison

trache

trachea, windpipe

ex. tracheostomy = incision to make an artificial airway

urethr

urethra

ex. urethritis = inflammation of urethra

-cyte

cell

ex. leukocyte = white blood cell

-ectomy

excision, removal of

ex. splenectomy = removal of spleen

-emia

blood condition

ex. anemia = lack of red blood cells

-emesis

vomiting

ex. hyperemesis = excessive vomiting

-ism

condition

ex. hyperhryroidism = condition caused by an excessive production of thyroid hormones

-itis

inflammation

ex. stomatitis = inflammation of the mouth

-logy

study of

hematology = study of the blood

-megaly

enlargement

ex. splenomegaly = enlarged spleen

-oma

tumor

ex. melanoma = mole or tumor, may be cancerous

-osis

condition

ex. halitosis = bad breath

-ostomy

creation of an opening

ex.ileostomy = creation of an opening into ileum

-otomy

cut into

ex. laparotomy = cutting into the abdomen

-pathy

disease

ex. myopathy = disease of the muscle

-penia

lack

ex. leukopenia = a lack of white blood cells

-phagia

to eat

ex. dysphagia = difficulty swallowing

-phasia

speaking

ex. aphasia = absence of speaking