Medical Terminology Word Parts

These vocabulary flashcards cover key medical prefixes, suffixes, and root words—including general terms, body parts, positional and numerical prefixes, color and shape descriptors, condition qualifiers, and common procedural suffixes—to aid in mastering medical terminology.

-ac

pertaining to

andr-, andro-

male

auto-

self

bio-

life

chem-, chemo-

chemistry

cyt-, cyto-

cell

-blast-, -blasto, -blastic

bud, germ

-cyte, -cytic

cell

fibr-, fibro-

fiber

gluco-, glycol-

glucose, sugar

gyn-, gyno-, gynec-

female

hetero-

other, different

hydr-, hydro-

water

idio-

self, one’s own

-ity

pertaining to

karyo-

nucleus

neo-

new

-ous

pertaining to

oxy-

sharp, acute, oxygen

pan-, pant-, panto-

all or everywhere

pharmaco-

drug, medicine

re-

again, backward

somat-, somatico-, somato-

body, bodily

acous-, acouso-

hearing

aden-, adeno-

gland

adip-, adipo-

fat

adren-, adreno-

gland

angi-, angio-

blood vessel

arteri-, arterio-

artery

arthr-, arthro-

joint

blephar-

eyelid

bronch-, bronchi-

bronchus

bucc-, bucco-

cheek

burs-, burso-

bursa (fluid-filled sac)

carcin-, carcino-

cancer

cardi-, cardio-

heart

cephal-, cephalo-

head

chol-

bile

chondr-

cartilage

coron-

heart

cost-

rib

crani-, cranio-

skull

cutane-

skin

cyst-, cysti-, cysto-

bladder or sac

dactyl-, dactylo-

digit (finger or toe)

derm-, dermato-

skin

duodeno-

duodenum

-esthesio

sensation

gloss-, gloss-

tongue

gastr-

stomach

gnath-, gnatho-

jaw

grav-

heavy

hem-, hema-, hemat-, hemato-, hemo-

blood

hepat-, hepatico-, hepato-

liver

hidr-, hidro-

sweat

hist-, histio-, histo-

tissue

hyster-, hystero-

uterus

ileo-

ileum

irid-, irido-

iris

ischi-, ischio-

ischium

-ium

structure or tissue

kerat-, kerato-

cornea (eye or skin)

lacrim-, lacrimo-

tear

lact-, lacti-, lacto-

milk

laryng-, laryngo-

larynx

lingu-, linguo-

tongue

lip-, lipo-

fat

lith-, litho-

stone

lymph-, lympho-

lymph

mamm-, mast-, masto-

breast

mening-, meningo-

meninges

muscul-, musclo-

muscle

my-, myo-

muscle

myel-, myelo-

spinal cord or bone marrow

myring-, myringo-

eardrum

nephr-, nephro-

kidney

neur-, neuri-, neuron-

nerve

oculo-

eye

odont-, odonto-

tooth

onych-, onycho-

fingernail, toenail

oo-

egg, ovary

oophor-, oophoro-

ovary

op-, opt-

vision

ophthalm-, ophthalmo-

eye

orchid-, orchido-, orchio-

testis

ossi-

bone

osseo-

bony

ost-, oste-, osteo-

bone

ot-, oto-

ear

ovari-, ovario-, ovi-, ovo-

ovary

phalang-

phalanx (finger/toe bone)

pharyng-, pharyngo-

pharynx, throat

phleb-, phlebo-

vein

phob-, phobia

fear

phren-, phreni-, phrenico-, phreno-

diaphragm

pleur-, pleura-, pleuro-

pleura (lung membrane)

pneum-, pneuma-, pneumat-, pneumato-

air, lung

pod-, podo-

foot

prostat-

prostate

psych-, psyche-, psycho-

mind