Intro to Med: Medical Definitions

Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes

a-

no; not; without

an-

no; not; without

ab-

away from

abdomin/o

abdomen

-ac

pertaining to

acanth/o

spiny; thorny

acar/o

mites

acetabul/o

acetabulum (hip socket)

acous/o

hearing

acoust/o

hearing, sound

acr/o

extremities; top; extreme point

acromi/o

acromion (extension of scapula)

actin/o

light

acu/o

sharp; severe; sudden

-acusis

hearing

ad-

toward

-ad

toward

aden/o

gland

adenoid/o

adenoids

adip/o

fat

adren/o

adrenal gland

adrenal/o

adrenal gland

aer/o

air

af-

toward

agglutin/o

clumping; sticking together

-agogue

producer, leader

-agon

to assemble; gather

agora-

marketplace

-agra

excessive pain

-al

pertaining to

alb/o

white

albin/o

white

albumin/o

albumin (protein)

alges/o

sensitivity to pain

-algesia

sensitivity to pain

-algia

pain

all/o

other

alveol/o

alveolus; air sac; small sac

ambi-

around, on both sides, about

ambly/o

dim; dull

amphi-

around, on both sides

-amine

nitrogen compound

ammon/o

ammonium

amni/o

amnion (sac surrounding embryo)

amyl/o

starch

an/o

anus

-an

pertaining to

ana-

up; apart; backward; again; anew

andr/o

male

aneurysm/o

aneurysm

angi/o

vessel (blood)

anis/o

unequal

anky/o

stiff

ante-

before; forward

anter/o

front

anthrac/o

coal

antr/o

antrum of the stomach

anti-

against

anxi/o

uneasy; anxious

aort/o

aorta (largest artery)

-apheresis

removal

aphth/o

ulcer

apo-

off; away

aponeur/o

aponeurosis (type of tendon)

append/o

appendix

appendic/o

appendix

aque/o

water

-ar

pertaining to

arachn/o

spider

-arche

beginning

arsenic/o

arsenic

arter/o

artery

arteri/o

artery

arteriol/o

arteriole (small artery)

arthr/o

joint

-arthria

articulate (speak distinctly)

articul/o

joint

-atresia

closure, occlusion

atret/o

closed, lacking an opening

-ary

pertaining to

asbest/o

asbestos

-ase

enzyme

aspir/o

removal

-assay

to examine, analyze

-asthenia

lack of strength

astr/o

star, star-shaped

atel/o

incomplete

ather/o

plaque (fatty substance)

-ation

process; condition

atri/o

atrium (upper heart chamber)

atmo-

steam, vapor

audi/o

hearing

audit/o

hearing

aur/o

ear

auricul/o

ear

auscult/o

to listen

aut/o

self; own

aut-

self; own

auto-

self; own

aux/o

growth, acceleration