Caroline's Super Duper Updated Medical Terminology Guide for Hosa 2025

a-

without, not

ab-

away from

abdomin/o

abdomen, abdominal cavity

abort/o

to miscarry

-ac

pertaining to

acous/o

hearing

acr/o

extremities

acromi/o

acromion, point of shoulder blade

-acusis

hearing

-ad

toward

ad-

toward

aden/o

gland

adenoid/o

adenoid, pharyngeal tonsil

adip/o

fatty tissue

adren/o

adrenal gland

adrenal/o

adrenal gland

aer/o

air

af-

toward

agluttin/o

clumping

agora-

marketplace

-al

pertaining to

albin/o

white

albumin/o

albumin, protein

-algesia

pain

-algia

pain

allo-

other, differing from the normal

alveol/o

alveolus, air sac

ambly/o

dull, dim

amni/o

amnion (sac surrounding the embryo in the uterus)

an-

not, without

an/o

anus

ana-

up, apart

andr/o

male

aneurysm/o

aneurysm

angi/o

vessel

aniso-

unequal

ankyl/o

crooked, bent, stiff

ante-

before

anter/o

front

anthrac/o

coal

anti-

against

aort/o

aorta

append/o

appendix

appendic/o

appendix

aque/o

water

-ar

pertaining to

-arche

beginning

arteri/o

artery

arteiol/o

arteriole

arthr/o

joint

-ary

pertaining to

asbest/o

asbestos

-asthenia

weakness

astr/o

star

-ate

having the form of, possessing

atel/o

incomplete

ather/o

fatty plaque

-ation

process, condition

atri/o

atrium

audi/o

hearing

audit/o

hearing

aur/o

ear

auricul/o

ear

auto-

self

ax/o

axis, axon

azot/o

Nitrogen

bacteri/o

bacteria

balan/o

glans penis

bas/o

base (alkaline, opposite of acid)

bi-

two

bi/o

life

-blast

immature cell

blast/o

embryonic cell

blephar/o

eyelid

brachi/o

arm

brady-

slow

bronch/o

bronchus

bronchi/o

bronchus

bronchiol/o

bronchiole, small bronchus

bucc/o

cheek

calc/o

Calcium

calcane/o

calcaneus (heel bone)

-capnia

carbon dioxide (CO2)

carcin/o

cancer

cardi/o

heart

-cardia

heart condition

carp/o

carpals (wrist bones)

cata-

down

caud/o

tail

cauter/o

heat, burn

-cele

hernia

-centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid

cephal/o

head

-ception

conceiving

cerebell/o

cerebellum

cerebr/o

cerebrum

cervic/o

neck, cervix

chalic/o

limestone

cheil/o

lip

chem/o

drug, chemical