Medical Terms Nursing Skills

a-, an-

no/not/without

ab-

away from

ad-

adhere/increase

aden(o)-, aden-

gland

adip(o)-

fat

-algia, alg(i)o-

pain

andr(o)-

male

ankyl(o)-, ancyl(o)-

stiff

ante-

before/foward

anti-

against

angi(o)-

vessel (blood)

arthro-, arthr-

joint

axill-

armpit

bi-

two

bio-

life

bil(i)

bile; gall

brachi(o)

arm

brady

slow

bucc(o)-

cheek

bursa-

sac of fluid near joints

capill-

capillary, tiniest blood vessel

carcin(o)-

cancer

cardi(o)-

heart

carp(o)-

carpus

-cele

swelling, hernia, or tumor

-centesis

puncture of a cavity

cepahl(o)-

head

cerebr(o)-

cerebrum

cervic-

pertaining to the neck or to the neck of an organ

chol(e)-

bile or gall

-cide

killing or destroying

circum-

around

cirrh(o)

yellow

col-, colo-, colono-

colon, large intestine

contra

against

corpor

body

cost(o)-

rib

crani(o)-

skull

-crine, crin(o)

to secrete

cyan(o)-

blue

cyst(o)-, cyst(i)-

urinary bladder

de-

lack of, less, removal of

dent-

tooth

dermat(o)-. derm(o)-

skin

dextr(o)-

right

digit-

finger

-dispia

thirst

dis-

to separate, apart

dist(o)

distant, far

dors(o)-, dors(i)-

back of body

dys-

painful, abnormal, difficult, bad

ect(o)-

outside

-ectomy

surgical excision of any anatomical structure

-emesis

vomiting

-emia

blood condition

-encephal(o)

brain

endo-

within

eosin(o)-

red, rosy, or down colored

enter-, enter(o)-

intestines

erythr(o)-

red

eu-

healthy, good, normal, well

febr(i)-

fever

fore-

before, in front

gastr(o)-

stomach

-genic

production

gingiv-

gums (of the mouth)

-globin

protein

gloss(o)-, glott(o)-

tongue

gyno-, gyneco

women, female

hem(o)-

blood

hepat(o)-

liver

hist(o)-, histio-

tissue

hydr(o)-

pertaining to water or hydrogen

hyper-

above, excessive, beyond

hyster(o)-

uterus or hysteria

idi(o)-

individual

ileo-

ileum or small intestine

infra-

below or under

inter-

between

intra-

within

is(o)-

the same or similar

-itis

inflammation

jaun-

yellow

kal(i)

potassium

kin(e)-, kinesi(o)-

movement or motion

kyph(o)-

spine has abnormal outward curve

lacrim(o)-

tears or tear duct

lapar(o)-

abdominal wall

later(o)-

side or lateral

-lepsia, -lepsy

seizure

leuk(o)-

white

-lysis

dissolution

melan(o)-

black or dark colored

meso-

middle

meta-

after, beyond, over

milli-

thousand

mon(o)-

single

myel(o)-

marrow, bone marrow

narc(o)-

numbness

necr(o)-

death, corpse