Medical Terminology Section 1

Root

word part that pertains to the essential meaning of the word

Combining Form

the root with a vowel attached in order to connect the root to suffix (gastr/o)

Suffix

word part at the end of the medical term to modify the meaning of the word

(-scopy)

Prefixes

word part at the beginning of a medical term (brady-)

a-, an-

absense of

Bi-

two

Brady-

slow

Dipl/o-, Ambi-

both, double

Hemi-, Semi-

half

Hetero-

other, different

Hyper-

above, excessive

Hypo-

below, deficient

Iso-

equal, like

Macro-

large, long

Mega-

enlargement

Mic-, Micro-

small

Mon-, Mono-, Uni-

one

Olig/o-

less than normal, scant

Pan-

all

Poly-

many, excessive

Quadri-

four

Tachy-

fast

Tri-

three

Anky/o-

stiff, fixed

Cry/o-

cold

Elect/o

electrical activity

Kin/o-, Kinesi/o-

movement

Kyphy/o-

humped, crooked

Ortho-

straight position

Phot/o-

light

Scoli/o-

twisted

Sten/o, Stric-

narrow

Therm/o-

heat

Erythr/o-

red

Leuk/o-

white

Cyano-

blue

Melan(o)

black

Cirrh(o)

yellow

Ab-, Abs-

away from

Ad-

towards

Ante-, Pre-, Pro-

before, forward

Anti-, Contra-

against

Circum-

around

De-

away from, ending

Dia-

across, through

Dextr/o-

right side

Dors/o

back

Ex/o-, Ect/o-

outer, outside

End/o-, Ent-

within, inner

Epi-

upon, outside of

Ex-, Extra-

beyond

Homo-

same

Inter-

between

Infra-

beneath, below

Intra-

within

Later/o-

side

Medi/o-, Meso-

middle

Meta-

beyond, change

Para-

alongside

Path/o-

disease

Peri-

around

Post-, Poster/o-

behind, after

Pre-, Pro-

before, in front

Retro-

behind, backward

Sinistr/o

left side

Supra-

above

Syn-, Sym-, Sys-

together

Trans-

across, through

Ventr/o-

belly

Auto-

self

Bio-

life

Chem/o-

chemistry

Contra-

against

Cyt/o-

cell

Dis-

separation

Dys-

abnormal, difficult

Eu-

good, well

Gravida

pregnant, heavy

Hydro-

water

Idio-

self, one’s own

Mal-

bad, abnormal

Necr/o-

death

Neo-

new