Medical Terminology: Roots, Suffixes & Anatomical Terms

A comprehensive vocabulary set covering medical roots, suffixes, and combining forms for general terminology, the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and digestive system.

cip- / -cept

To take (e.g., inception).

cresc- / cret-

To grow (e.g., excrescence).

duc- / duct-

To lead (e.g., conduction).

fac- / -fic- / -fect

To make (e.g., tumefaction, ossification).

ger- / gest-

To carry (e.g., gestosis).

sec- / -sect-

To cut (e.g., bisection).

cid- / -cis-

To cut, to kill (e.g., fungicide, excision).

flect- / -flex-

To bend (e.g., introflexion).

lab- / laps-

To slide, to slip (e.g., prolapse, relapse).

-able / -ible

Capable of being (e.g., resectable).

-ation

Action or process (e.g., ossification).

-orium / -arium

Place for (e.g., sanatorium).

-ant / -ent / -ient

Doing (present participle) (e.g., expectorant).

-ancy / -ency

Abstract noun (state or quality of) (e.g., deficiency).

-sc-

Beginning of an action or process (inceptive) (e.g., tumescence).

ly(s)- / -lysis

Break down; the disintegration or rupture of a cell wall or membrane (e.g., zymolytic, vagolysis).

cor- / cord-

Heart; the muscular organ that pumps blood through the circulatory system (e.g., dextrocardia).

pector-

Chest; the anterior part of the trunk between the neck and the abdomen (e.g., angina pectoris).

ventr-

Belly, abdomen; the anterior part containing digestive organs (e.g., ventricle).

dextr-

Right; pertaining to the right side (e.g., dextrocardia).

sinistr-

Left; pertaining to the left side (e.g., sinistral).

atri-

Atrium (entrance hall); the upper receiving chambers of the heart (e.g., atrioventricular).

sept-

Wall, partition; a dividing wall separating cavities (e.g., in the heart) (e.g., septum).

aort-

Aorta; the main and largest artery originating from the left ventricle (e.g., aortopathy).

capill-

Capillary (hair); the smallest blood vessels for gas/nutrient exchange (e.g., capillaropathy).

phleb-

Vein; vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart (e.g., phlebotomy).

ven-

Vein; vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart (e.g., venospasm).

angin-

Angina (choking, pain); severe chest pain due to lack of blood flow (e.g., angina pectoris).

bol-

Embolus (throw, plug); a blood clot or object blocking a vessel (e.g., embolism).

-clud- / -clus-

Shut, occlude; to close off or block a passage (e.g., occlusion).

gurgit-

Regurgitate; the backward flow of blood or other fluids (e.g., regurgitation).

sphygm-

Pulse; the rhythmic throbbing of arteries as blood is propelled (e.g., sphygmometer).

stal- / stol-

Systole, diastole (send/contract); the contraction phase of the heart (e.g., systole).

thromb-

Clot; a coagulation of blood causing blockages (e.g., thrombosis).

pulm(on)-

Lungs; the primary organs of the respiratory system for gas exchange (e.g., pulmonary).

alve-

Cavity; tiny hollow air sacs in the lungs where rapid gas exchange occurs (e.g., alveolitis).

bronch(i)-

Major air passages branching from the windpipe into the lungs (e.g., bronchomycosis).

phys-

Air, gas; relating to physical processes or presence of air (e.g., physics).

pne-

Breathe; the physiological process of respiration or taking in air (e.g., tachypnea).

pneum(at)-

Air, gas; pertaining to respiration or gas in a bodily cavity (e.g., pneumatocele).

pneum(on)-

Lung; primary organs for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide (e.g., pneumonorrhaphy).

spir(at)-

Breathe; the act of inhaling and exhaling air (e.g., inspiration).

stern-

Chest, breastbone; the long flat bone in the central part of the chest (e.g., sternum).

steth-

Chest, breast; pertaining to the thoracic region of the body (e.g., stethoscope).

thorax, thorac-

Chest cavity; enclosed by ribs, containing the heart and lungs (e.g., thoracoplasty).

capn-

Carbon dioxide; a gas produced by body tissues during respiration (e.g., hypercapnia).

coni-, koni-

Dust; fine, dry powder consisting of tiny particles (e.g., pneumoconiosis).

bacter(i)-

Bacterium; microscopic organisms that can be beneficial or pathogenic (e.g., bacteroid).

cocc- / -coccus

Spherical; used to describe a spherical bacterium (e.g., staphylococcus).

staphyl-

Grape cluster; bacteria that form grape-like clusters (e.g., staphylococcus).

strept-

Twisted chains; bacteria that often grow in twisted chains (e.g., streptococcus).

anthrax- / anthrac-

Coal, black; refers to a dark black color (e.g., anthracosis).

chol(e)-

Bile, gall; an alkaline fluid that aids digestion, secreted by the liver (e.g., cholangiotomy).

col(on)-

Colon; the longest part of the large intestine (e.g., ileocolostomy).

enter-

Small intestine; where most digestion occurs (e.g., enteroclysis).

gastr-

Stomach; the organ where the major part of digestion occurs (e.g., stomatogastric).

hepar- / hepat-

Liver; a large lobed organ involved in metabolic processes (e.g., hepatocholangiogastrostomy).

lapar-

Abdomen; containing the digestive and reproductive organs; the belly (e.g., laparoscopy).

lith-

Stone; a hard, solid concretion or calculus formed in the body (e.g., sialolithiasis).

duoden-

12 fingers, duodenum; the first segment of the small intestine (e.g., duodenoenterostomy).

cec-

Blind, cecum; a blind-ended pouch connected to the small/large intestines (e.g., cecopexy).

jejun-

Fasting, hungry, jejunum; the middle part of the small intestine (e.g., jejunojejunostomy).

ile-

Flanks, belly, ileum; the third and longest portion of the small intestine (e.g., ileotomy).

sigm-

Sigma-shaped, sigmoid colon; the S-shaped last part of the large intestine (e.g., sigmoidoscope).

rect-

Straight, rectum; the final, straight section of the large intestine (e.g., rectocystotomy).

proct-

Anus; the opening at the end of the alimentary canal (e.g., proctocolitis).

copr-

Feces; solid bodily waste discharged from the large intestine (e.g., coproscopy).

scat-

Feces; solid bodily waste discharged from the large intestine (e.g., scatology).

fec-

Feces; solid bodily waste discharged from the large intestine (e.g., fecaloid).

osm-

Smell; the biological faculty of perceiving odors (e.g., osmoreceptor, anosmia).

geus(t)-

Taste; the sensation of flavor perceived in the mouth (e.g., ageustia).

gingiv-

Gum; the firm, pink connective tissue covering the alveolar bone (e.g., gingivoplasty).

gloss- / lingu-

Tongue; the fleshy muscular organ in the mouth (e.g., glossitis, sublingual).

sial-

Saliva; a watery liquid secreted into the mouth by glands (e.g., sialorrhea).

pyle-

Gate, orifice; an opening or passage (e.g., portal vein into the liver) (e.g., pylethrombophlebitis).

pylor-

Gatekeeper, passage; the muscular valve opening from the stomach (e.g., pyloroplasty).

sphincter-

To bind; a ring of muscle surrounding an opening or tube (e.g., sphincterectomy).

-doch-

Duct; a tube or passageway in the body for conveying secretions (e.g., choledochorrhaphy).

cly(s)- / -clysis

Washing; introduction of fluid into a body cavity for washing (e.g., enteroclysis).

peps- / pept- / -pepsia

Digest; breaking down food by mechanical and enzymatic action (e.g., dyspepsia, peptic).

zym-

Ferment; relating to enzymes that bring about biochemical reactions (e.g., zymolytic, enzyme).

sider-

Iron; a crucial mineral found in red blood cells (e.g., siderosis).