Language of Medicine

All Medical terms have medical prefixes, root words, and suffixes...

Root Words

Basic components of medical terms that convey fundamental meanings.

Prefixes

Word parts added to the beginning of root words to modify their meanings.

Suffixes

Word parts added to the end of root words to convey additional meaning, often indicating a condition or procedure.

Combining vowel

A vowel added to word parts, often 'o', to ease pronunciation when combining root words with prefixes or suffixes.

Scleroderma

A disorder involving hardening of the skin due to overproduction of collagen.

-itis

A suffix indicating inflammation of an organ or tissue.

-ectomy

A suffix meaning surgical removal of a specific part.

Hyper-

A prefix meaning excessive or above normal.

Anti-

A prefix meaning against or opposed to.

Bi/o

A root word meaning life or living.

Cardi/o

A root word meaning heart.

Hemat/o

A root word meaning blood.

Gastr/o

A root word meaning stomach.

Nephr/o

A root word meaning kidney.

Dys-

A prefix meaning painful, bad, or difficult.

Path/o

A root word associated with disease or pathology.

-algia

A suffix denoting a painful condition.

-emia

A suffix indicating a blood condition.

Ect/o-

A prefix meaning outer or outside.

Inter-

A prefix meaning between.

Intra-

A prefix meaning within or inside.

Dermat/o

A root word meaning skin.

Oste/o

A root word meaning bone.

Neur/o

A root word meaning nerve.

Psych/o

A root word meaning mind.

Chol/e

A root word meaning bile or gall.

Angi/o

A root word meaning vessel.

Cyan/o

A root word meaning blue.

Erythr/o

A root word meaning red.

Brady-

A prefix meaning slow.

Tachy-

A prefix meaning fast.

-emia

A suffix indicating a blood condition.

Ect/o-

A prefix meaning outer or outside.

Inter-

A prefix meaning between.

Intra-

A prefix meaning within or inside.

Dermat/o

A root word meaning skin.

Oste/o

A root word meaning bone.

-oma

A suffix meaning a tumor or swelling.

Cardiopathy

A disease of the heart.

Nephrology

The study of kidney function and diseases.

Gastroenterology

The study of the digestive system and its disorders.

Pathology

The study of disease processes.

Dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin.

Anemia

A condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin.

Hypo-

A prefix meaning below normal or deficient.

Tachycardia

An abnormally fast heart rate.

Bradycardia

An abnormally slow heart rate.

Can a medical term have more than one root word?

Yes, medical terms can include multiple root words, each adding specific meaning, such as in 'gastroenterology', which combines 'gastr/o' (stomach) and 'enter/o' (intestine).

-plasia

A suffix meaning development or formation.

-sclerosis

A suffix indicating hardening of a tissue.

-rrhea

A suffix meaning flow or discharge.

-tomy

A suffix meaning incision or cutting.

Hepat/o

A root word meaning liver.

Pulmon/o

A root word meaning lung.

Rhin/o

A root word meaning nose.

-gram

A suffix meaning a record or picture.

-scopy

A suffix indicating visual examination.

Onc/o

A root word meaning tumor.

-logy

A suffix meaning the study of a subject.

-ectomy

A suffix meaning surgical removal.

-osis

A suffix meaning a condition, usually abnormal.

-pathy

A suffix related to disease.

Sphygm/o

A root word meaning pulse.

-scope

A suffix meaning an instrument for viewing.

Hematology

The study of blood and blood disorders.

Cardiology

The study of the heart and its conditions.

Pulmonology

The study of the lungs and respiratory system.

Bacteriology

The study of bacteria.

Neurology

The study of the nervous system.

Oncology

The study of tumors and cancer.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of body parts.

Physiology

The study of the functions of the body's systems.

What medical term can you create using the root word 'cardi/o' and the suffix '-logy'?

Cardiology, which is the study of the heart.

Form a medical term using the prefix 'intra-' and the root word 'nephr/o'.

Intranephric, referring to something occurring within the kidney.

Create a medical term using the root word 'gastr/o' and the suffix '-itis'.

Gastritis, meaning inflammation of the stomach.

What term is formed by combining the prefix 'hypo-' and the root word 'emia'?

Hypoemia, which indicates a deficiency of blood.

Combine the root word 'dermat/o' with the suffix '-pathy' to create a medical term.

Dermatopathy, referring to a disease of the skin.

Put together the prefix 'anti-' with the root word 'bacteri/o' to form a medical term.

Antibacterial, meaning against bacteria.

Use the root word 'hemat/o' with the suffix '-ology' to create a medical term.

Hematology, which is the study of blood.

Formulate a term by using the prefix 'tachy-' and the suffix '-cardia'.

Tachycardia, meaning an abnormally fast heart rate.

Pulmonary edema

A condition characterized by excess fluid in the lungs.

Hemorrhage

The loss of a large amount of blood in a short time.

Endocarditis

An infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves.

Cirrhosis

A chronic liver disease characterized by scarring and liver dysfunction.

Thrombocytopenia

A condition of having a low platelet count in the blood.

Myocardial infarction

Commonly known as a heart attack, caused by obstruction of blood flow to the heart.

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder.

Pyelonephritis

A kidney infection affecting the renal pelvis.

Lymphadenopathy

Swelling of the lymph nodes due to infection or disease.

Acidosis

An excessive acidity of body fluids.

-algia

A suffix denoting a painful condition.

-ac, -al, -ic

Suffixes used in medical terminology to indicate 'pertaining to'. For example, 'cardiac' (pertaining to the heart), 'pulmonary' (pertaining to the lungs), and 'gastric' (pertaining to the stomach).

-asis, -osis

Suffixes used in medical terminology; '-asis' means a condition or state, often indicating an abnormal or diseased condition, while '-osis' denotes a condition that is usually abnormal, particularly related to diseases or disorders.

-genic

A suffix meaning producing or generated by.

-lysis

A suffix meaning dissolving, separating. Often used in terms like 'hemolysis' (destruction of red blood cells).

-mers

Suffixes used to describe Parts. Often indicating a repeating structure.

-Ostomy

Suffix used to describe to “create an opening” in a body part.

-Penia

A suffix meaning deficiency

-Plegia

A suffix meaning paralysis or loss of movement in a body part.

-Poiesis

A suffix meaning making or forming a substance.