Common Medical Word Parts

a-, an-

not, without, lacking

ab-

away from

ad-

toward

anti-

against

ante-

before

bi-

two

brachy-

short

brady-

slow

dys-

abnormal, bad, difficult

dors-

back

hyper-

high, above normal

hypo-

low, below normal

intra-

within

mal-

bad, abnormal

micro-

small, one millionth

neo-

new

peri-

around

poly-

many

sub-

below, under

super-

above

tachy-

fast, rapid

-algia

pain, painful condition

-asthenia

weakness

-centesis

surgical procedure

-ectomy

(surgical) removal

-itis

inflammation

-malacia

softening

-megaly

enlargement

-stenosis

narrowing

-ology

study of

-osis

(abnormal) condition

-ostomy

cut or incision

-rrhea

flow, discharge

-pathy

disease

-sclerosis

hardening

-scope

visual examination instrument

arth/o

joint

cardi/o

heart

cerebr/o

cerebrum

cervic/o

neck, cervix

chondr/o

cartilage

cyt/o

cell

gastr/o

stomach

hemo, hemat/o

blood

hepat/o

liver

myel/o

bone marrow, spinal cord

my/o

muscle

necr/o

death

nephr/o

kidney

oste/o

bone

pneum/o

air, lung

ren/o

kidney

thorac

chest