Latin and Greek Combining Forms

a (an)

without, not; Example: acephalia, anomaly

ab

of, off, away from; Example: abduct, aberrant

acro

extremity; Example: acromegaly

ad

to, toward; Example: adduct

adeno

gland; Example: adenoma

adip(o)

fat; Example: adipose

aer(o)

air or gas; Example: aerobic

ala, alaris

wing; Example: alar notch

alba

white; Example: linea alba

algia

pain; Example: analgesia, neuralgia

ambi

both; Example: ambidextrous

amphi

both sides; Example: amphibian

ana

again, go back; Example: anatomy, anaplasia

angi, angio

vessel; Example: angiogram

ankon

elbow; Example: anconeal

ankylo

bent; Example: ankyloses, ankle

annular

ring; Example: annular

ansa

handle, loop; Example: ansa subclavia

ante

before; Example: antemortem

anti

against; Example: antibiotic

antron

cave; Example: pyloric antrum

aqua

water; Example: aqueous

arthro

joint; Example: arthritis, arthropod

articulo

jointed; Example: articular

ase

enzyme; Example: amylase

auro, auriculo

ear, little ear; Example: auricular mm., auricle

auto

self; Example: autograft

bi

two; Example: biped, bicycle

bio

life, live; Example: biology

blast

germ, bud; Example: osteoblast

blephar(o)

eyelid; Example: blepharospasm

brachi

arm; Example: brachium

brachy(s)

short; Example: brachycephalic

brady

slow; Example: bradycardia

brevis

short; Example: peroneus brevis

bucca, bucco

cheek; Example: buccinator

bulla

blister; Example: tympanic bulla

bursa

wine skin; Example: bursitis

cant

angle, corner; Example: canthus

caput, capit

head; Example: decapitate

cardia

heart; Example: epicardium

cauda

tail; Example: caudal

cec

blind; Example: cecum

centesis

perforation or tapping; Example: thoracocentesis

cephal, cephalicus

head; Example: hydrocephalicus

cervico, cervix

neck; Example: cervical

chlor

green; Example: chlorophyll

choan

funnel; Example: choana

chole, chol, cholo

bile; Example: cholecystitis

chondro(s)

cartilage; Example: chondroblast

chromo

color; Example: chromophil

chyle

juice; Example: chyle

chyme

juice; Example: chyme

clast

to break; Example: osteoclast

cleido

hook, clavicle; Example: cleidocephalicus

coele

cavity, hollow; Example: blastocoele

coL

neck, collar; Example: longus colli m.

con

with, together; Example: concurrent

conch(o)

shell; Example: concha

condylus

knuckle; Example: condyle

coracoid

crow beak-like; Example: coracoid process

corn(u)

horn; Example: cornual process

corona

crown; Example: coronary

cortic(o)

bark, shell, rind; Example: cortex

cost(o), cost(a)

rib; Example: intercostal

coxa

hip; Example: os coxae

crani(o), cranium

head; Example: neurocranium

crux, cruci

cross; Example: cruciate

crus

leg; Example: crural

crypt(o)

hidden; Example: cryptorchid

cubit(us)

elbow; Example: cubital

cunea

wedge; Example: paracuneal groove

cutis

skin; Example: subcutaneous

cyan

dark blue; Example: cyanosis

cyst(o)

sac or bladder; Example: cystitis, cystocentesis

cyte

cell, hollow; Example: osteocyte

dactyl(o)

finger, toe; Example: polydactyly

de

down, from; Example: detoxification

delta

triangular; Example: deltoideus

dent(o)

tooth; Example: dental

derm(ato)

skin; Example: hypodermis

desmo

fibrous; Example: syndesmosis

di

double, twice; Example: diploid

dia

through, across; Example: diameter

distans

distant; Example: distal

dolicho

long; Example: dolichocephalic

dors(o), dorsum

back; Example: dorsal

ducere, ductus

to draw or lead; Example: adduct

duo

two; Example: duodenum

dura

hard; Example: dura mater

dys

abnormal, difficult; Example: dysplasia

ecto

outside; Example: ectoparasite

ectomy(e)

excision; Example: tonsillectomy

eidos, oid

form, like; Example: sigmoid

emia

blood; Example: anemia

encephal(o)

brain; Example: encephalitis

endo

within; Example: endoparasite

entero

intestines; Example: enteritis

epi

on, upon; Example: epidermis

erythro

red; Example: erythrocyte