Prefixes, Suffixes, & Combining Forms

PREFIX: used at the beginning of a medical term that describes, modifies, or limits the term SUFFIX: the word ending that creates either a noun, adjective, or verb when added to the word root COMBINING FORM: a combination of a word root and a combining vowel (usually "o", but sometimes "i" or "e")

a-, an- (prefix)

a-, an- (prefix)

without, away from, not

ab-, abs- (prefix)

from, away from, absent

abdomin-, abdomino- (combining form)

abdomen

abort-, aborto- (prefix)

to miscarry

acanth-, acantho- (prefix)

thorn, spine

acous-, acoust-, acousto- (prefix)

hearing

acro- (prefix)

extremity, top, extreme point

actin-, actino- (prefix)

ray, some form of radiation

ad- (prefix)

adherence, increase, toward

-ad (suffix)

toward, in the direction of

aden-, adeno- (combining form)

gland

adip-, adipo- (combining form)

fat

adren-, adreno- (combining form)

adrenal glands

adrenal-, adrenalo- (combining form)

adrenal glands

aemia- (combining form)

blood

aer-, aero- (prefix)

air, gas

-aesthesia, -aesthesio (suffix)

sensation

af- (prefix)

toward

-agogue (suffix)

an agent that promotes the expulsion of a specific substance

-agra (suffix)

sudden severe pain

-al (suffix)

relating to, aldehyde

-albumin, -albumino (suffix)

albumin

-algesia, -algia (suffix)

suffering, pain

algi- (prefix)

pain

allo-, all- (prefix)

other

amb-, ambi- (prefix)

both, on both sides, around, about

amph-, amphi-, ampho- (prefix)

both, on both sides, on all sides, double, around, about

ana-, an- (prefix)

up, against, back

andro- (combining form)

man, male, masculine

angi-, angio- (combining form)

blood, lymph vessels

aniso- (prefix)

unequal, asymmetrical, dissimilar

ankyl-, ankylo- (prefix)

crooked, bent, fusion, growing together

ante- (prefix)

before

antero- (prefix)

anterior, front, before

anthropo- (combining form)

human beings, human life

ant-, anti- (prefix)

against

antr-, antro- (combining form)

antrum

apo- (prefix)

from, derived from, separated from, opposed

arch-, arche-, archi- (prefix)

first, principal, beginning, original

anteri-, anterio- (combining form)

artery

arthr-, arthro- (combining form)

joint

-ase (suffix)

enzyme

-asis, -esis, -iasis, -isis, -sis (suffix)

condition, pathological state

astro- (prefix)

star, star-shaped

atelo- (prefix)

imperfect, incomplete

ather-, athero- (combining form)

fatty plaque

atmo- (prefix)

stream, vapour

atreto- (prefix)

absence of an opening

aut-, auto- (prefix)

self

axio- (combining form)

axis, the long axis of a tooth

axo- (prefix)

axis, axon

azot-, azoto- (prefix)

nitrogenous compounds

bacteri-, bacterio- (combining form)

bacteria

balan-, balano- (combining form)

glans clitoridis, glans penis

bar-, baro- (combining form)

weight, pressure

basi-, basio- (prefix)

base, foundation

bi-, bis- (prefix)

two, double, twice

bili- (combining form)

bile

bio- (combining form)

life

blast- (prefix/combining form)

germ, bud, embryonic state of development

-blast (suffix)

germ, bud, embryonic state of development

blenn-, blenno- (combining form)

mucus

blephar-, blepharo- (combining form)

eyelid

brachio- (combining form)

arm

bracy- (prefix)

short

brady- (prefix)

slow

brom-, bromo- (prefix)

bromine

bronch-, bronchi-, broncho- (combining form)

bronchi, airway

bronchiol-, bronchiolo- (combining form)

bronchiole

cac-, caci-, caco- (prefix)

bad, ill

calc-, calco- (combining form)

calcium

calcan-, calcaneo- (combining form)

calcaneum (heel bone)

carcin-, carcino- (combining form)

cancer

cardi-, cardio- (combining form)

heart

carpo- (combining form)

carpus

cat-, cata-, cath-, kat-, kata- (prefix)

down, downward, destructive, against, according to

cel-, celo- (prefix/combining form)

tumour, hernia, cavity

-cele (suffix)

tumour, swelling, hernia

cent- (prefix)

hundred

cephal-, cephalo- (combining form)

head

cerebell-, cerebello- (combining form)

cerebellum

cervic-, cervico- (combining form)

neck, neck of an organ

chem-, chemo- (combining form)

chemical, drug

chil-, chilo-, cheil-, cheilo- (combining form)

lip, lips

chir-, chiro- (combining form)

hand

chlor-, chloro- (prefix)

green

chol-, chole- (combining form)

bile, gall

cholangi-, cholangio- (combining form)

bile vessel

cholecyst-, cholecysto- (combining form)

gallbladder

choledoch-, choledocho- (combining form)

bile duct

chrondr-, chondro- (combining form)

cartialage

chrom-, chromo- (prefix)

colour

-cide (suffix)

causing death

cine- (prefix)

movement

circum- (prefix)

around

clavicul-, claviculo- (combining form)

clavicle

-cle, -cule (prefix)

little (ex. molecule, corpuscle)

cleid-, cleido- (combining form)

clavicle

co-, com-, con- (prefix)

together

contra- (prefix)

against, opposite