Medical Root Words and Their Meanings

abdomin/o

Refers to the abdomen.

acous, acus

Relates to sound or hearing.

acro

Denotes extremities or ends.

aden/o

Pertains to glands.

adip/o

Refers to fat.

adren/o

Relates to the adrenal gland and epinephrine.

adrenal/o

Pertains to the adrenal gland.

adrenocortic/o

Refers to the adrenal cortex.

aer/o

Denotes air or gas.

alg/o, algesi/o

Refers to pain.

amnio

Relates to the amnion.

amyl/o

Pertains to starch.

andr/o

Refers to male.

angi/o

Denotes vessels.

an/o

Refers to the anus.

aort/o

Pertains to the aorta.

arter/o, arteri/o

Refers to arteries.

arteriol/o

Denotes arterioles.

arthr/o

Refers to joints.

atel/o

Denotes incompleteness or imperfection.

atlant/o

Refers to the atlas.

atri/o

Pertains to the atrium.

audi/o

Relates to hearing.

azot/o

Refers to nitrogenous compounds.

bacill/i, bacill/o

Denotes bacillus.

bacteri/o

Refers to bacteria.

balan/o

Pertains to the glans penis.

bar/o

Refers to pressure.

bili

Denotes bile.

bio

Refers to life.

blast/o

Denotes immature or embryonic cells.

blephar/o

Refers to the eyelid.

brachi/o

Pertains to the arm.

bronch/i, bronch/o

Refers to the bronchus.

bronchiol

Denotes bronchioles.

bucc/o

Refers to the cheek.

burs/o

Pertains to the bursa.

calc/i

Denotes calcium.

cali/o, calic/o

Refers to calyx.

carcin/o

Denotes cancer or carcinoma.

cardi/o

Refers to the heart.

cec/o

Pertains to the cecum.

celi/o

Refers to the abdomen.

centesis

Denotes puncture or tap.

cephal/o

Refers to the head.

cerebell/o

Pertains to the cerebellum.

cerebr/o

Refers to the cerebrum.

cervic/o

Denotes the neck or cervix.

cheil/o

Refers to the lip.

chem/o

Pertains to chemicals.

chir/o

Refers to the hand.

cholangi/o

Denotes the bile duct.

chol/e, chol/o

Refers to bile or gall.

cholecyst/o

Denotes the gallbladder.

choledoch/o

Refers to the common bile duct.

chondr/o

Pertains to cartilage.

chori/o, choroid/o

Refers to the choroid.

chrom/o, chromat/o

Denotes color or stain.

chron/o

Refers to time.

clasis

Denotes breaking.

clitor/o

Refers to the clitoris.

coccyg/o, coccy

Pertains to the coccyx.

cochle/o

Refers to the cochlea of the inner ear.

col/o, colon/o

Denotes the colon.

colp/o

Refers to the vagina.

copro

Denotes feces.

cor/o, cor/e

Refers to the pupil.

corne/o

Pertains to the cornea.

cortic/o

Refers to the outer portion or cerebral cortex.

cost/o

Denotes ribs.

crani/o

Refers to the skull or cranium.

cry/o

Pertains to cold.

crypt/o

Denotes hidden.

cus

Refers to sound or hearing.

cycl/o

Pertains to the ciliary body or muscle of the eye.

cyst/o

Refers to a filled sac or pouch, such as a cyst or bladder.

cyt/o

Denotes cells.

dacry/o

Refers to tears or the lacrimal apparatus.

dacryocyst/o

Denotes the lacrimal sac.

dactyl/o

Refers to fingers or toes.

dent/o, dent/i

Denotes teeth.

derm/o, dermat/o

Refers to skin.

dilation

Denotes expansion or widening.

duoden/o

Refers to the duodenum.

dynam/o

Denotes force or energy.

ectasia, ectasis

Refers to dilation or distention.

edema

Denotes accumulation of fluid or swelling.

electr/o

Refers to electricity.

embry/o

Pertains to an embryo.

emesis

Denotes vomiting.

encephal/o

Refers to the brain.

endocrin/o

Pertains to the endocrine system.

enter/o

Refers to the intestine.

epididym/o

Denotes the epididymis.

episi/o

Refers to the vulva.

erg/o

Denotes work.

erythr/o

Refers to red or red blood cells.

erythrocyt/o

Denotes red blood cells.

esophag/o

Refers to the esophagus.

fasci/o

Denotes fascia.