Medical Terminology BioTech & Medical Writing — Week 1 Foundation Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering medical term building blocks (prefix, root, suffix), common medical roots, prefixes, suffixes, and practice decoding examples from the Week 1 foundation guide.

Prefix

Positioned at the beginning of the word; it modifies or qualifies the meaning.

Root Word

The core of the word and the main subject — usually a body part or system.

Suffix

Positioned at the end of the word; it describes a condition, process, or procedure.

Cardio

Heart

Hepato

Liver

Neuro

Nerve

Osteo

Bone

Derm

Skin

Pulmo

Lung

Nephro

Kidney

Gastro

Stomach

Patho

Disease

Myo

Muscle

Hemato

Blood

Onco

Tumor / Cancer

Arthro

Joint

Cyto

Cell

Myelo

Bone marrow / Spinal cord

Vaso

Blood vessel

Encephalo

Brain

Ophthalmo

Eye

Rhino

Nose

Uro

Urinary / Urine

Hyper-

Excessive / High

Hypo-

Below / Low

Anti-

Against

Pre-

Before

Inter-

Between

Brady-

Slow

Tachy-

Fast

Poly-

Many

Post-

After

Intra-

Within

-itis

Inflammation

-ectomy

Surgical removal

-ology

Study of

-pathy

Disease

-emia

Blood condition

-plasty

Surgical repair

-scopy

Visual examination

-gram

Record / Image

-algia

Pain

-megaly

Enlargement

Cardiomyopathy

Disease of the heart muscle.

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver.

Tachycardia

Fast heart rate.

Nephrology

Study of the kidney.

Hypertension

Excessive tension / High blood pressure.

Oncology

Study of tumors / cancer.

Dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin.

Gastroscopy

Visual examination of the stomach.

Osteopathy

Disease of the bone.