Chapter 14.3: Medical Terminology: Suffixes, Roots, Prefixes

prefix: a- / an-

meaning: without / no

example: analgesic / arrhythmia

pharm. context: “without pain” / “no pain”

prefix: anti-

meaning: “against”

example: antibiotic

pharm. context: against life (bacteria)

prefix: hyper-

meaning: high / above

example: hypertension

pharm. context: HBP

prefix: hypo-

meaning: low / below

example: hypoglycemia

pharm. context: low blood sugar

prefix: tachy-

meaning: fast

example: tachycardia

pharm. context: fast HR

prefix: brady-

meaning: slow

example: bradycardia

pharm. context: slow HR

prefix: dys-

meaning: bad / painful

example: dyspnea

pharm. context: diff. breathing (COPD/Asthma)

prefix: eu-

meaning: normal / good

example: euthyroid

pharm. context: normal thyroid lvls

prefix: poly-

meaning: many / much

example: polypharmaceutical

pharm. context: taking many drugs at once

prefix: micro-

meaning: small

example: microcytic

pharm. context: small cells (anemia)

prefix: macro-

meaning: large

example: macrolides

pharm. context: antibiotics with large molecules

prefix: sub-

meaning: under

example: sublingual

pharm. context: under the tongue

prefix: intra-

meaning: within

example: intravenous

pharm. context: within vein

root: cephalo- / encephalo-

body part: head / brain

medical context: encephalitis (brain inflammation)

root: neuro-

body pt: nerves

med context: neuropathy (nerve pain); needs gabapentin (lyrica)

root: ophth- / ocu-

body part: eye

med context: ophthalmic drops, sterile

root: oto-

body part: ear

med context: otic drops, non-sterile

root: rhin-

body part: nose

med context: runny nose

root: pneumo- / pulmo-

body part: lungs

med context: pneumonia, respiratory drugs

root: cardio-

body part: heart

med context: cardiovasc., BP meds

root: angio- / vaso-

body part: vessel

med context: angioplasty / vasodilator

root: gastro-

body part: stomach

med context: gastritis, PPIs / H2 Beta Blockers

root: entero-

body part: intestine

med context: enteric-coated (dissolves in intestines)

root: hepato-

body part: liver

med context: hepatotoxicity (liver dmg)

root: nephro- / reno-

body part: kidney

med context: nephrology, watch kidney function

root: cyst-

body part: bladder

med context: cystitis (bladder infection / UTI)

root: derm-

body part: skin

med context: dermatitis, topical steroids

root: osteo-

body part: bone

med context: osteoporosis, bisphosphonates

root: artho-

body part: joint

med context: arthritis, NSAIDs

root: myo-

body part: muscle

med context: myopathy, statin side effects

root: hema- / hemato-

body part: blood

med context: hematology

root: gly-

body part: sugar

med context: hyperglycemia, diabetes

root: lip-

body part: fat

med context: hyperlipidemia, cholesterol

suffix: -itis

meaning: inflammation

ex: bronchitis (lung inflamm)

likely treatment: anti-inflamm / antibiotics

suffix: -emia

meaning: blood condition

ex: anemia (low blood)

likely treatment: iron, erythropoietin

suffix: -penia

meaning: deficiency / low

ex: neutropenia (low WBC)

likely treatment: stop drug (clozapine/chemo)

suffix: -uria

meaning: urine condition

ex: hematuria (blood in urine)

likely treatment: investigation for infection/drug

suffix: -algia / -dynia

meaning: pain

ex: neuralgia (nerve pain)

likely treatment: analgesics

suffix: -pathy

meaning: disease

ex: retinopathy (eye disease)

likely treatment: control diabetes/BP

suffix: -osis

meaning: abnormal condition

ex: psychosis / thrombosis

likely treatment: antipsych / blood thinners

suffix: -oma

meaning: tumor / swelling

ex: melanoma (skin cancer)

likely treatment: chemo / surgery

suffix: -rrhea

meaning: flow / discharge

ex: diarrhea / rhinorrhea

likely treatment: anti-diarrheals / anti-histamines

suffix: -spasm

meaning: contraction

ex: bronchospasm

likely treatment: bronchodilators (albuterol)

suffix: -ectomy

meaning: surgical removal

ex: hysterectomy (uterus removal)

likely treatment: estrogen replacement

suffix: -plasty

meaning: surgical repair

ex: rhinoplasty (nose job)

likely treatment: pain meds / antibiotics