Medical Terminology – Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes & Key Disorders

A comprehensive set of 200 vocabulary flashcards covering key medical prefixes, suffixes, root words, anatomical terms, and representative clinical conditions to aid in mastering medical terminology.

Word Root (WR)

The core of a medical word that carries its fundamental meaning.

Combining Form

A word root combined with a vowel (usually o) used to link the root to a suffix or another root.

Suffix

A word ending that modifies the meaning of a root; often indicates a procedure, condition, or disease.

Prefix

A word element placed at the beginning that alters or qualifies the meaning of a root.

-centesis

Surgical puncture to remove fluid.

-clasis

Surgical fracture or intentional breaking.

-desis

Binding or surgical fixation.

-ectomy

Excision or surgical removal.

-lysis

Separation, destruction, or loosening.

-pexy

Surgical fixation (to put in place).

-plasty

Surgical repair or reconstruction.

-rrhaphy

Suture (stitching).

-tome

Instrument to cut.

-tomy

Incision or cutting into.

-tripsy

Crushing or breaking up.

-gram

Record or image produced (often by an instrument).

-graph

Instrument that records or writes.

-graphy

Process of recording or taking a picture.

-meter

Instrument for measuring.

-metry

Process of measuring.

-scope

Instrument for visual examination.

-scopy

Visual examination using a scope.

-stasis

Standing still; stopping or controlling.

-algia

Pain.

-dynia

Pain (alternate form).

-cele

Hernia or protrusion.

-ectasis

Dilation or expansion.

-edema

Swelling or accumulation of fluid.

-emesis

Vomiting.

-emia

Blood condition.

-gen

Substance or agent that produces or causes.

-genesis

Origin or formation.

-iasis

Abnormal condition or disease (often caused by).

-itis

Inflammation.

-lith

Stone or calculus.

-malacia

Softening of tissue.

-megaly

Enlargement.

-oma

Tumor or mass.

-osis

Abnormal condition; increase (when used with blood cells).

-pathy

Disease or disorder.

-penia

Deficiency or decrease.

-phagia

Eating or swallowing.

-phasia

Speech.

-phobia

Fear.

-plasia

Growth or formation.

-plegia

Paralysis.

-ptosis

Prolapse or downward displacement.

-rrhage

Bursting forth (usually of blood).

-rrhea

Flow or discharge.

-rrhexis

Rupture.

-sclerosis

Abnormal hardening.

-spasm

Sudden, involuntary contraction.

-stenosis

Narrowing or stricture.

-toxic

Poisonous or harmful to.

-trophy

Nourishment, development.

-ule

Small; diminutive suffix.

-icle

Small; diminutive suffix.

-ole

Small; diminutive suffix.

-ula

Small; diminutive suffix.

Epi-

Above or upon.

Inter-

Between.

Intra-

Within or inside.

Para-

Near, beside, or abnormal.

Peri-

Around.

Retro-

Backward or behind.

Sub-

Under or below.

Supra-

Above or excessive.

Trans-

Across or through.

Hyper-

Excessive, above normal, or high.

Hypo-

Below normal, deficient, or under.

Brady-

Slow.

Tachy-

Fast or rapid.

Mono-

One or single.

Uni-

One (alternate form).

Bi-

Two; double.

Dipl-

Double (as in duplicate).

Multi-

Many.

Poly-

Many or much.

Ab-

Away from.

Ad-

Toward.

Circum-

Around.

Dia-

Through, across, or complete.

Endo-

Within or inner.

Ecto-

Outside or outward.

Extra-

Outside, beyond.

Mes-

Middle.

Post-

After or behind.

Pre-

Before, in front of.

Super-

Upper, above, or excessive.

Infra-

Below or beneath.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or origin.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or origin.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline; toward the side.

Cephalad

Toward the head.

Caudad

Toward the tail or lower part of the body.

Ventral

Pertaining to the front or belly side.

Dorsal

Pertaining to the back.

Prone

Lying face down.

Supine

Lying face up.