Medical Terminology

Macro-

Large; refers to something of considerable size or extent.

Micro-

Small; indicates something of limited size or scope.

Hyper-

Above normal; signifies a condition or state that is higher than what is typically expected.

Hypo-

Below normal; indicates a condition or state that is lower than what is typically expected.

Eu-/Normo-

Normal; represents a state of being within the typical or expected range.

Pan-/Omni-

All; signifies everything or the entirety of something.

A-/An-

Absence; indicates the lack of something.

Megalo-

Large; denotes great size or extent.

Mono-

Single; refers to one and only one.

Di-

Double; indicates two or twice.

Tri-

Triple; indicates three or thrice.

Quad-

Four; indicates a quantity of four.

Poly-

Many; signifies a large number of items or instances.

Oligo-

Few; signifies a small number of items or instances.

Epi-/Peri-/Circum-

Around; encircling or surrounding something.

Endo-/Intra-

Inside; located within or inside of something.

Exo-/Extra-

Outside; located external to or outside of something.

Inter-

Between; situated in the space separating two things.

Trans-

Across; extending from one side to the other.

Dia-/Per-

Through; moving in one side and out the other of something.

Medi-

Middle; the point or position at an equal distance from the extremities.

Para-/Juxta-

Nearby; situated at a short distance.

Ab-

Away; moving away of something.

Ad-

Toward; moving in the direction of something.

Dis-

To separate; to cause to be apart.

Chromo-/Chromato-

Color; relating to the attribute of things that results from the light they reflect or emit.

Leuko-

White; the color of milk or fresh snow, due to the complete reflection of all visible rays of light.

Erythro-

Red; the color of blood.

Cyano-

Blue; the color of a clear sky.

Chloro-

Green; the color of grass.

Melan-

Black; the color of coal.

Flav-

Yellow; the color of a lemon.

-ology

Study of; branch of knowledge that deals with a particular subject.

-philia

Love of; strong affection for something.

-phobia

Fear of; being afraid of something.

-tension

Pressure; a continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it.

-xia

Oxygen; a colorless, odorless reactive gas.

-capnea

Carbon dioxide; A gas that is exhaled and absorbed by plants.

-pnea

Air or breathing; taking air in and out of the lungs.

-ase

Enzyme; A substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.