ASC101 Scientific Terminology and Prefixes/Suffixes

Vocabulary flashcards generated from ASC101 lecture notes on scientific terminology, prefixes, suffixes, and Latin/Greek root words.

Prefix

A letter or a group of letters added to the front of a base word to modify its meaning.

Suffix

A letter or a group of letters added to the end of a base word to modify its meaning.

Pre-

A prefix meaning before, prior to, or in advance.

Suf- (or Sub-)

A prefix meaning under, beneath, or from below.

-fix

A suffix meaning into, in, on, upon.

Prefrontal cortex

The portion of the brain located right behind your forehead that controls high-level thinking, complex choices, and self-control.

Frontal

Relates to the front part of the head or frontal lobe, coming from the Latin frontalis, meaning of the forehead or brow.

Cortex

Meaning bark, husk, or shell, or in anatomy the outer layer, such as gray matter in the brain.

Prenatal

The period before birth.

Natal

The root word from the Latin natalis, meaning of or relating to birth.

Neo-

A prefix from Greek neos, meaning new or young.

Peri-

A prefix meaning around or surrounding.

Post-

A prefix meaning after, behind, or later.

Submandibular gland

A major paired salivary gland located under the jaw that produces about 70% of saliva.

Mandible

The root word meaning jaw or lower jawbone.

Sublingual gland

A major paired salivary gland that produces 3-5% of saliva.

Lingu

Latin root word meaning tongue.

Unresponsive

A state where a tissue, organ, or animal does not react to a stimulus.

Noninvasive

Diagnostic or therapeutic approaches that do not break the skin or enter a physical cavity or organ.

Veni-

Root word from the Latin vena, meaning vein.

-puncture

Root word from the Latin punctura, meaning to prick or pierce.

Tachycardia

An abnormally fast heart rate.

Tachy-

Prefix coming from the Greek word tachys, meaning fast or swift.

Cardi

Root word coming from the Greek word kardia, meaning heart.

Brady-

Prefix from the Greek bradys, meaning slow.

Imbalance

A state where body systems, such as electrolytes, hormones, fluid levels, or pH are not in equilibrium.

Acidosis

A decrease in pH within the blood and/or body tissues or compartments.

Acidi-

From the Latin acidus, meaning sour; refers to a high level of hydrogen ions or a low pH.

-osis

A Greek suffix used in medicine to show a process, state, condition, or abnormal increase.

Alkali-

From the Arabic al-qaly, meaning the ashes of plants; refers to a base or substances with a high pH.

Abiotic

Physical and chemical elements of an environment or ecosystem that are not, never were, and never will be alive.

Disbiotic

An unhealthy imbalance in the community of microorganisms (like bacteria and fungi) living in or on the body.

Hyperthermic

Abnormally high body temperature.

Hyper-

Prefix meaning over, above, excessive, or beyond normal.

Thermic

From the Greek word therme, meaning heat or temperature.

Hypo-

Prefix meaning under, below, deficient, or less than normal.

Eu-

Prefix meaning good, normal, well, or healthy.

Hepatocyte

A type of liver cell, derived from Hepato- (meaning liver) and -cyte (meaning a type of cell).

Enterocyte

The primary epithelial cells lining the intestine.

Leuko-

Prefix or root word meaning white or colorless.

Erythros-

Prefix or root word meaning red.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose to produce energy.

Glyco-

Prefix or root word meaning sugar or sweet.

-lysis

Suffix meaning to break apart.

Hemolysis

The destruction or rupturing of erythrocytes.

Hydrophillic

A chemical that attracts or dissolves in water.

-philic

Suffix meaning loving, attracted to, or fond of.

Lipophobic

A chemical that does not dissolve in lipids (oils or fats).

-phobic

Suffix meaning fearing, repelling, or avoiding.

Misnomer

A term wrongly or badly applied to a named entity, derived from mis- (meaning wrongly or badly) and nomer (from Latin nomen, meaning name).

Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB)

An important infectious zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis that leads to granulomas and affects cattle as well as wild cervids, pigs, possums, dogs, cats, and badgers.