Foreign Word Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms

Vocabulary flashcards covering foreign word roots, prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms used in biological and anatomical terminology.

a-, a-

without; Example: avascular

ab-, ab

from; Example: abduct

-ac, -akos

pertaining to; Example: cardiac

ad-, ad

to, toward; Example: adduct

aden-, adeno-, adenos

gland; Example: adenoid

af-, ad

toward; Example: afferent

-al, -alis

pertaining to; Example: brachial

-algia, algos

pain; Example: neuralgia

ana-, ana-

up, back; Example: anaphase

andro-, andros

male; Example: androgen

angio-, angeion

vessel; Example: angiogram

anti-, ant-, anti

against; Example: antibiotic

apo-, apo

from; Example: apocrine

arachn-, arachne

spider; Example: arachnoid

arthro-, arthros

joint; Example: arthroscopy

-asis, -asia

state, condition; Example: homeostasis

astro-, aster

star; Example: astrocyte

atel-, ateles

imperfect; Example: atelectasis

baro-, baros

pressure; Example: baroreceptor

bi-, bi-

two; Example: bifurcate

blast-, -blast, blastos

precursor; Example: blastocyst

brachi-, brachium

arm; Example: brachiocephalic

brady-, bradys

slow; Example: bradycardia

bronch-, bronchus

windpipe, airway; Example: bronchial

cardi-, cardio-, -cardia, kardia

heart; Example: cardiac

-centesis, kentesis

puncture; Example: thoracocentesis

cerebro-, cerebrum

brain; Example: cerebrospinal

chole-, chole

bile; Example: cholecystitis

chondro-, chondros

cartilage; Example: chondrocyte

chrom-, chromo-, chroma

color; Example: chromatin

circum-, circum

around; Example: circumduction

-clast, klastos

broken; Example: osteoclast

coel-, -coel, koila

cavity; Example: coelom

contra-, contra

against; Example: contralateral

cranio-, cranium

skull; Example: craniosacral

cribr-, cribrum

sieve; Example: cribriform

-crine, krinein

to separate; Example: endocrine

cyst-, -cyst, kystis

sac; Example: blastocyst

desmo-, desmos

band; Example: desmosome

di-, dis

twice; Example: disaccharide

dia-, dia

through; Example: diameter

diure-, diourein

to urinate; Example: diuresis

dys-, dys

painful; Example: dysmenorrhea

-ectasis, ektasis

expansion; Example: atelectasis

ecto-, ektos

outside; Example: ectoderm

ef-, ex

away from; Example: efferent

emmetro-, emmetros

in proper measure; Example: emmetropia

encephalo-, enkephalos

brain; Example: encephalitis

end-, endo-, endos

inside; Example: endometrium

entero-, enteron

intestine; Example: enteric

epi-, epi

on; Example: epimysium

erythem-, erythema

flushed (skin); Example: erythematosus

erythro-, erythros

red; Example: erythrocyte

ex-, ex

out, away from; Example: exocytosis

ferr-, ferrum

iron; Example: transferrin

-gen, -genic, gennan

to produce; Example: mutagen

genicula-, geniculum

kneelike structure; Example: geniculate

genio-, geneion

chin; Example: geniohyoid

glosso-, -glossus, glossa

tongue; Example: hypoglossal

glyco-, glykys

sugar; Example: glycogen

-gram, gramma

record; Example: myogram

-graph, -graphia, graphein

to write, record; Example: electroencephalograph

gyne-, gyno-, gynaikos

woman; Example: gynecologist

hem-, hemato-, haima

blood; Example: hemopoiesis

hemi-, hemi-

half; Example: hemisphere

hepato-, hepaticus

liver; Example: hepatocyte

hetero-, heteros

other; Example: heterosexual

histo-, histos

tissue; Example: histology

holo-, holos

entire; Example: holocrine

homeo-, homo-, homos

same; Example: homeostasis

hyal-, hyalo-, hyalos

glass; Example: hyaline

hydro-, hydros

water; Example: hydrolysis

hyo-, hyoeides

U-shaped; Example: hyoid

hyper-, hyper

above; Example: hyperpolarization

ili-, ilio-, ilium

iliac; Example: iliac

infra-, infra

beneath; Example: infra-orbital

inter-, inter

between; Example: interventricular

intra-, intra

within; Example: intracapsular

ipsi-, ipse

itself; Example: ipsilateral

iso-, isos

equal; Example: isotonic

-itis, -itis

inflammation; Example: dermatitis

karyo-, karyon

body; Example: megakaryocyte

kerato-, keras

horn; Example: keratin

kino-, -kinin, kinein

to move; Example: bradykinin

lact-, lacto-, -lactin, lac

milk; Example: prolactin

-lemma, lemma

husk; Example: sarcolemma

leuko-, leukos

white; Example: leukocyte

liga-, ligare

to bind together; Example: ligase

lipo-, lipos

fat; Example: lipoid

lyso-, -lysis, lysis

dissolution; Example: hydrolysis

mal-, mal

abnormal; Example: malabsorption

mammilla-, mammilla

nipple; Example: mammillary

mast-, masto-, mastos

breast; Example: mastoid

mega-, megas

big; Example: megakaryocyte

mero-, meros

part; Example: merocrine

meso-, mesos

middle; Example: mesoderm

meta-, meta

after, beyond; Example: metaphase

mono-, monos

single; Example: monocyte

morpho-, morphe

form; Example: morphology

-mural, murus

wall; Example: intramural