Bases

acanth-

thorn, spine

cyan-

blue

cheir- / chir-

hand

alg- / odyn-

pain

alges-

sensitivity to pain

all-

other, divergence, difference from

angi-

(blood) vessel, duct

arteri-

artery

arthr-

joint

bi-

life

brady-

slow

cardi-

heart

cephal-

head

crani-

skull

cyt-

cell

encephal-

brain

erythr-

red, red blood cell

lept-

thin, fine, slight

leuk-

white, white blood cell

lith-

stone, calculus

log-

word, study

malac-

soft

mes-

middle, secondary, partial, mesentery

-meter/metr-

measuring device/measure

nephr-

kidney

neur-

nerve, nervous system

oste-/ost

bone

prax-

act, action

prot-

primitive, early, first

scler-

hard

sten-

narrow

stere-/ster-

solid, having 3 dimensions

tachy-

rapid

tox(i)-

poison

col(i)- / colon-

1st base : usually refers to the colon bacillus, Escherichia coli

colon

cyst(i)- / -cystis

1st base - usually refer to the urinary bladder

bladder, cyst

2nd base = base + suffix, occurs at end of word

cholecyst-

refer to gallbladder

acr-

extremities (particularly the hands and the feet)

ambly-

dull, faint

carcin-

carcinoma, cancer

-cel- (-cel-(e))

hernia, tumor, swelling

often used with ending -e

diplo-

double, twin

enter-

(small) intestine

erg-

action, work

gastr- / -gaster

stomach

hem- / hemat- / -em-

blood

hepar- / hepat-

liver

lip-

fat

macr- / mega- / megal-

(abnormally) large or long

melan-

dark, black

micr-

(abnormally) small

nyct-

night

onc-

tumor

pachy-

thick

pseud-

false

py-

pus

sarc-

flesh, soft tissue

spasm-

spasm, involuntary muscular contraction

splen-

spleen

stom- / stomat-

mouth, opening

gen- / gene-

come into being, produce

kines(i)-

movement, motion

kine-

move

arachn-

spider, web; arachnoid membrane

chlor-

green

chondr-

cartilage

dactyl-

finger, toe

derm- / dermat- / -derma

skin

helc- / elc-

ulcer

hidr- / hidrot- / -idr-

sweat

hist(i)-

tissue

hydr-

water, fluid

hypn-

sleep

icter-

jaundice

in- / inos-

fiber, muscle

is-

equal, same, similar, alike

mening- / -meninx

meningeal membrane, meninges

my(s)-

muscle

myc(et)-

fungus

myel-

bone marrow, spinal cord

narc--

stupor, numbness

necr-

corpse; dead

olig-

few, deficient

onych-

fingernail, toenail

pod-

foot

poli-

gray matter of the brain or spinal cord

poly-

many, excessive

por-

passage, opening, duct, pore, cavity

psych-

mind

som(at)- / -soma

body

sthen-

strength

trachel-

neck, cervix

xanth-

yellow

aut-

self

crin-

secrete, secretion

esthe(s)-

sensation, sensitivity, sense

gram-

write, record

iatr-

healer, physician; treatment

idi-

of one’s self

ly(s)-

destroy, break down