Medical Word Elements: Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes (Vocabulary)

HUC (WORD ROOTS/COMBINING FORMS, PREFIXES, SUFFIXES)

a- (prefix)

without, not, lack of, no

ab- (prefix)

from, away from

abdomin/o

abdomen

-able

capable of

-ac

pertaining to

acanth/o

thorny, spiny

acetabul/o

acetabulum (hip socket)

acou/o

hearing

acr/o

extremities, top, extreme point

acromi/o

acromion, projection of scapula

acu/o

sharp, sudden, severe

ad-

to, toward, near

aden/o

gland

adenoid/o

adenoids (lymphoid tissue in the pharynx)

adipo/o

fat

adren/o

adrenal glands

adrenal/o

adrenal glands

aer/o

air, gas

agglutin/o

clumping, sticking together

-ago

disease

-agra

excessive pain, gout

agranul/o

without granules

-al

pertaining to

alb/o

white

albumin/o

protein, white

algesi/o

pain, excessive sensitivity to

-algesia

pain

-algia

pain

-alis

pertaining to

all/o

other

alveol/o

alveolus (air sac)

ambi-

both, both sides

ambly/o

dull, dim

amni/o

amnion

amni/o

amnion

amphi-

on both sides

amyl/o

starch

an-

without, not, lack of, no

an/o

opening of the rectum

ana-

up, excessive

andr/o

male

aneurysm/o

aneurysm

angi/o

vessel

anis/o

unequal, dissimilar

ankyl/o

stiff joint, bent, crooked

ante-

before, in front of

anter/o

before, in front of

anthrac/o

coal dust

anti-

against

antr/o

antrum

aort/o

aorta

apo-

upon

aponeur/o

aponeurosis

appendic/o

appendix

aque/o

water

-ar

pertaining to

arche/o

first, beginning

arteri/o

artery

arteriol/o

arteriole

arthr/o

joint

articul/o

joint

-ary

pertaining to

-ase

enzyme

-asia

condition or state of

-asis

condition or state of

-asthenia

weakness

-ate

possessing or characterized by

atel/o

incomplete

ather/o

fatty deposit, fatty degeneration

-ation

act or state of

-atresia

abnormal closure

atri/o

atrium

audi/o

hearing

aur/i

ear

aur/o

ear

auto-

self

axill/o

armpit

azot/o

urea, nitrogen

bacteri/o

bacteria

balan/o

glans penis

bar/o

pressure, weight

bartholin/o

bartholin’s glands

bas/o

basic or alkaline

bi-

two (2)

bi/o

life

bil/i

bile, biliary system

bilirubin/o

bilirubin

bin-

two

-blast

immature form, germ cell

blast/o

embryonic, primitive, germ

blenn/o

mucus

blephar/o

eyelid

bol/o

cast, throw

brachi/o

arm

brachy-

abnormally short

brady-

slow

brevo-

short

bronch/o

bronchus

bronchi/o

bronchus (pl. bronchi)

bronchiol/o

bronchioles