Medical Terminology: Chapter 1

Adenoma

Root: aden (gland) | Suffix: -oma (tumor, mass) | Definition: Tumor of a gland.

Arthralgia

Root: arthr (joint) | Suffix: -algia (pain) | Definition: Pain in a joint.

Biopsy

Root: bi (life) | Suffix: -opsy (process of viewing) | Definition: Removal of living tissue for microscopic examination.

Cephalic

Root: cephal (head) | Suffix: -ic (pertaining to) | Definition: Pertaining to the head.

Cerebral

Root: cerebr (cerebrum, brain) | Suffix: -al (pertaining to) | Definition: Pertaining to the cerebrum.

Cystoscopy

Root: cyst (urinary bladder, sac) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -scopy (visual examination) | Definition: Visual examination of the urinary bladder.

Cytology

Root: cyt (cell) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -logy (study of) | Definition: Study of cells.

Dermatitis

Root: dermat (skin) | Suffix: -itis (inflammation) | Definition: Inflammation of the skin.

Diagnosis

Prefix: dia- (complete, through) | Root: gnos (knowledge) | Suffix: -sis (state of, condition) | Definition: Identification of an injury or disease

Electroencephalogram

Roots: electr (electricity) + encephal (brain) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -gram (record) | Definition: Record of the electrical activity in the brain. Abbreviated EEG.

Epigastric

Prefix: epi- (above, upon) | Root: gastr (stomach) | Suffix: -ic (pertaining to) | Definition: Pertaining to above the stomach.

Erythrocyte

Root: erythr (red) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -cyte (cell) | Definition: Red blood cell.

Excision

Prefix: ex- (out, away from) | Root: cis (to cut) | Suffix: -ion (process) | Definition: Process of cutting out; surgical removal.

Gastrectomy

Root: gastr (stomach) | Suffix: -ectomy (excision, surgical removal) | Definition: Surgical removal of the stomach.

Gastrotomy

Root: gastr (stomach) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -tomy (incision, cutting into) | Definition: Surgical incision into the stomach.

Gynecology

Root: gynec (woman, female) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -logy (study of) | Definition: Study of the female reproductive system and its disorders.

Hematology

Root: hemat (blood) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -logy (study of) | Definition: Study of blood and blood disorders.

Hematoma

Root: hemat (blood) | Suffix: -oma (mass, collection, tumor) | Definition: Collection or mass of blood outside blood vessels.

Hepatitis

Root: hepat (liver) | Suffix: -itis (inflammation) | Definition: Inflammation of the liver.

Hypogastric

Prefix: hypo- (below, under) | Root: gastr (stomach) | Suffix: -ic (pertaining to) | Definition: Pertaining to below the stomach.

Hypoglycemia

Prefix: hypo- (deficient, low) | Root: glyc (sugar) | Suffix: -emia (blood condition) | Definition: Abnormally low level of sugar (glucose) in the blood.

Incision

Prefix: in- (into, in) | Root: cis (to cut) | Suffix: -ion (process) | Definition: Process of cutting into; a surgical cut.

Iatrogenic

Root: iatr (physician, treatment) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -genic (produced by, caused by) | Definition: Pertaining to a condition produced or caused by medical treatment.

Leukocyte

Root: leuk (white) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -cyte (cell) | Definition: White blood cell.

Leukemia

Root: leuk (white) | Suffix: -emia (blood condition) | Definition: Malignant blood condition characterized by an abnormal increase in white blood cells.

Nephrectomy

Root: nephr (kidney) | Suffix: -ectomy (excision, removal) | Definition: Surgical removal of a kidney.

Gastroenterology

Roots: gastr (stomach) + enter (intestines) | Combining Vowels: o, o | Suffix: -logy (study of) | Definition: Study of the stomach and intestines.

Neuralgia

Root: neur (nerve) | Suffix: -algia (pain) | Definition: Nerve pain.

Oncology

Root: onc (tumor, mass) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -logy (study of) | Definition: Study and treatment of tumors and cancer.

Ophthalmoscope

Root: ophthalm (eye) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -scope (instrument for viewing) | Definition: Instrument used for visual examination of the eye.

Pathogenic

Root: path (disease) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -genic (producing, causing) | Definition: Pertaining to producing disease.

Pathologist

Root: path (disease) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -logist (specialist in the study of) | Definition: Physician specialist in the study and diagnosis of disease.

Pericardium

Prefix: peri- (around, surrounding) | Root: cardi (heart) | Suffix: -um (structure, tissue) | Definition: Membrane/structure surrounding the heart.

Prognosis

Prefix: pro- (before, forward) | Root: gnos (knowledge) | Suffix: -sis (state of, condition) | Definition: A prediction of the course of a disease

Retrocardiac

Prefix: retro- (behind, backward) | Root: cardi (heart) | Suffix: -ac (pertaining to) | Definition: Pertaining to behind the heart.

Psychology

Root: psych (mind) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -logy (study of) | Definition: Study of the mind and behavior.

Radiology

Root: radi (rays, x-rays) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -logy (study of) | Definition: Branch of medicine using imaging/radiation to diagnose and treat disease.

Rhinitis

Root: rhin (nose) | Suffix: -itis (inflammation) | Definition: Inflammation of the mucous membranes inside the nose.

Thrombocyte

Root: thromb (clot, clotting) | Combining Vowel: o | Suffix: -cyte (cell) | Definition: Clotting cell; platelet.