Learn: Medical Prefixes and Suffixes | Quizlet

a-

Without, not. Example: asepsis (without infection)

adeno-

Gland. Example: adenoma (tumor of a gland)

aero-

Air. Example: aerobic (requiring oxygen)

-al

Pertaining to. Example: neural (pertaining to nerves)

albi-

White. Example: albino (lacking pigmentation)

an-

Without, not. Example: anemia (lack of red blood cells)

andro-

Male. Example: androgen (male sex hormone)

angi-

Vessel. Example: angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels)

ante-

Before, forward. Example: antebrachium (forearm)

anti-

Against. Example: antibody (protein that fights pathogens)

-ary

Pertaining to. Example: pulmonary (pertaining to lungs)

-ase

Enzyme. Example: amylase (enzyme that breaks down starch)

athero-

Plaque, fatty substance. Example: atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries due to plaque)

auto-

Self. Example: autoimmune (immune response against self)

bi-

Two, double. Example: biceps (muscle with two heads)

blasto-

Germ, bud, immature cell. Example: blastocyst (early embryonic stage)

brachi-

Arm. Example: brachial artery (artery of the upper arm)

brady-

Slow. Example: bradycardia (slow heart rate)

carcino-

Cancer. Example: carcinoma (cancerous tumor)

cardi-

Heart. Example: cardiology (study of the heart)

cauda-

Tail. Example: cauda equina (bundle of spinal nerves at lower end)

cephalo-

Head. Example: cephalic (pertaining to the head)

cervi-

Neck, cervix. Example: cervical vertebrae (neck vertebrae)

chondro-

Cartilage. Example: chondrocyte (cartilage cell)

clast-

Break, destroy. Example: osteoclast (bone-destroying cell)

co-

Together, with. Example: coenzyme (molecule that works with an enzyme)

contra-

Against, opposite. Example: contralateral (opposite side)

corpo-

Body. Example: corpuscle (small body/cell)

costa-

Rib. Example: intercostal (between ribs)

cutane-, cuti-

Skin. Example: cutaneous (pertaining to skin)

cyto-

Cell. Example: cytology (study of cells)

derma-, dermat-

Skin. Example: dermatitis (inflammation of skin)

dorsi-

Back. Example: dorsal (toward the back)

dys-

Bad, difficult, painful. Example: dyspepsia (indigestion)

ec-, ecto-

Outside, outer. Example: ectoderm (outer germ layer)

encephalo-

Brain. Example: encephalitis (inflammation of brain)

endo-

Inside, within. Example: endocardium (inner lining of heart)

epi-

Upon, above. Example: epidermis (outer skin layer)

eryth-, erythro-

Red. Example: erythrocyte (red blood cell)

eu-

Good, normal, well. Example: eupnea (normal breathing)

exo-

Outside, external. Example: exocrine (secreting externally)

-form

Shape, form. Example: fusiform (spindle-shaped)

gastro-

Stomach. Example: gastritis (stomach inflammation)

-gen, -genesis

Origin, production. Example: pathogen (disease-producing agent)

glia-

Glue. Example: neuroglia (supportive cells of nervous system)

gluco-

Glucose, sugar. Example: glucagon (hormone that raises blood sugar)

glyco-

Sugar, sweet. Example: glycolysis (breakdown of glucose)

hemi-

Half. Example: hemisphere (half of brain)

hemo-

Blood. Example: hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein in blood)

hetero-

Different, other. Example: heterozygous (different alleles)

histo-

Tissue. Example: histology (study of tissues)

homeo-

Same, unchanging. Example: homeostasis (maintenance of stable internal environment)

homo-

Same, alike. Example: homologous (same structure, different function)

hydro-

Water. Example: hydrolysis (breakdown using water)

hyper-

Above, excessive. Example: hypertension (high blood pressure)

hypo-

Below, deficient. Example: hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

-ia

Condition, state. Example: anemia (condition of low red blood cells)

-ic

Pertaining to. Example: cardiac (pertaining to heart)

infra-

Below, beneath. Example: infraorbital (below the eye socket)

inter-

Between. Example: intercellular (between cells)

intra-

Within. Example: intracellular (within a cell)

iso-

Equal, same. Example: isotonic (equal concentration)

-itis

Inflammation. Example: arthritis (joint inflammation)

juxta-

Near, beside. Example: juxtaglomerular (near the kidney glomerulus)

lacto-

Milk. Example: lactase (enzyme that breaks down lactose)

lamina-

Layer, plate. Example: lamina propria (thin layer of connective tissue)

latero-

Side. Example: lateral (toward the side)

leuko-

White. Example: leukocyte (white blood cell)

lyso-, lyto-

Dissolve, break down. Example: lysosome (organelle that breaks down waste)

macro-

Large. Example: macrophage (large phagocytic cell)

medi-

Middle. Example: medial (toward the midline)

mega-

Large, great. Example: megakaryocyte (large bone marrow cell)

meso-

Middle. Example: mesoderm (middle germ layer)

meta-

Beyond, change. Example: metabolism (chemical changes in body)

micro-

Small. Example: microscope (instrument for viewing small objects)

mono-

One, single. Example: monocyte (single-nucleus white blood cell)

morpho-

Shape, form. Example: morphology (study of form and structure)

myo-, mysi-

Muscle. Example: myocyte (muscle cell)

neo-

New. Example: neonate (newborn)

nephro-

Kidney. Example: nephron (functional unit of kidney)

neuro-

Nerve. Example: neurology (study of nervous system)

oo-

Egg. Example: oocyte (egg cell)

oculo-

Eye. Example: oculomotor (eye movement)

-ology

Study of. Example: biology (study of life)

-oma

Tumor, mass. Example: lipoma (fatty tumor)

osteo-

Bone. Example: osteocyte (bone cell)

oxy-

Oxygen, sharp, acid. Example: oxyhemoglobin (hemoglobin bound to oxygen)

para-

Beside, near, beyond. Example: parathyroid (near the thyroid gland)

patho-

Disease. Example: pathology (study of disease)

pedi-

Foot. Example: pedal (pertaining to the foot)

peri-

Around, surrounding. Example: pericardium (sac around the heart)

phago-

Eat, swallow. Example: phagocyte (cell that engulfs pathogens)