Medical Terminology A-Z

a-, an-

without, lack of

ab-

from, away

-ac, -ic, -ar, -ary, -ous

pertaining to

acr-

extremities (arms and legs)

ad-

to, toward, near

aden-

gland, glandular

aer-

air

-al

like, similar, pertaining to

alba-, albi-

white

alges-

pain

-algia

pain

ambi-

both, both sides

an-

anus

angi-

vessel

ankyl-

crooked, looped, immovable, fixed

ante-

before, in front of, ahead of

anti-

against

append-

appendix

arter-

artery

arthr-

joint

-ase

enzyme

-asis

condition of

-asthenia

weakness, lack of strength

ather-

fatty, lipid

audi-

sound, hearing

aur-

ear

auto-

self

bi-

twice, double, both

bio-

life

-blast

germ, embryonic cell

blephar-

eyelid

brachi-

arm

brachy-

short

brady-

slow

bronch-/broncho-

air tubes in lungs

bucc-/bucco-

cheek

calc-

stone

carcin-

cancer, malignancy

cardi-

pertaining to heart

carp-

wrist

-cele, -coele

swelling, tumor, cavity, hernia

centi-

one hundred

-centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid

cephal-

head, pertaining to head

cerebro-

brain

cervic-

neck

cheil-

lip

chem-

drug, chemical

chlor-

green

chol-

bile, gallbladder

chond-

cartilage

chrom-

color

-cide

causing death

circum-

around, about

-cise

cut

co-

with, together

-coccus

round

col-

colon, bowel, large intestine

colp-

vagina

contra-

against, counter

cost-

rib

crani-

pertaining to skull

-crine

secrete

cryo-

cold

crypt-

hidden, obscure

cut-

skin

cyan-

blue

cyst-

bladder, bag, sac

cyt-

cell

dacry-

tear duct, tear

dactyl-

finger, toe

dec-

ten

dent-

teeth

derm-

skin

-desis

surgical union or fixation

dextr-

to the right of

di-

double, twice

dia-

through, between, part

dis-

separation, away from

dors-

back, to the back

duoden-

duodenum

dys-

difficult, painful, bad

e-

without

ec-

outside, external

-ectasis

expansion, dilation, stretching

-ectomy

surgical removal of

electr-

electrical

-emesis

vomit

-emia

blood

encephal-

brain

endo-

within, innermost

enter-

intestine

epi-

upon, over, upper

erythron-

red

-esis

condition of

-esthesia

sensation, perception, feel

eu-

well, easy, normal

ex-

outside of, beyond

faci-

face

-fascia

fibrous band