Veterinary Terminology Unit 1

prefixes, suffixes, root words, and general terms to know

Cardi-

heart

Hemat-

blood

Dermat-

skin

Gastr-

stomach

Enter-

small intestine

arthr/o

joint

bi/o

life

carcin/o

cancer

cephal/o

head

col/o, colon/o

colon (large intestine)

cyst/o

urinary bladder; cyst

cyt/o

cell

encephal/o

brain

erythr/o

red

glyc/o

sugar

hepat/o

liver

leuk/o

white

nephr/o

kidney

neur/o

nerve

ophthalm/o

eye

oste/o

bone

path/o

disease

rhin/o

nose

thromb/o

clotu

ur/o

urine; urinary trace

sub-

below

epi-

above

trans-

across the

a-, an/

without; lack of

endo-

within

ex-, exo-

outside; away from

hyper-

excessive; above normal

hypo-

below normal; deficient

intra-

within

retro-

behind

sub-

below

trans-

across

cyan/o

blue

xanth/o

yellow

rubr/o

red

leuc/o

white

melan/o

black

-ic

pertaining to

-logy

study of

-itis

inflammation

-algia

pain

-centesis

surgical puncture wound

-ectomy

surgical removal

-emia

blood condition

-itis

inflammation

-oma

tumor or mass

-osis

abnormal condition

-scope

viewing instrument

-scopy

visual examination

-tomy

incision; cutting into

anemia

decrease in red blood cells and/or hemoglobin concentration

biopsy

collection of tissue for microscopic evaluation

brachycephalic

having a shortened, broad skull

dolichocephalic

having a long, narrow skull

mesocephalic

having an intermediate skull shape

carcinoma

malignant neoplasm arising from epithelial tissues

sarcoma

malignant neoplasm arising from connective tissue

signalment

patient information such as species breed, age, sex, and weight

prodrome

early sins that precede a disease

syndrome

a group of signs and symptoms that occur together

leukemia

hematopoietic neoplasm characterized by excessive numbers of abnormal white blood cellst

tumor

mass or swelling of tissue caused by an abnormal increase in the nember of cells or by fluid

neoplasia

the autonomous, abnormal proliferation of cells resulting in the formation of a neoplasm

leukocytosis

increased number of white blood cells in the bloodstream

leukemia

pathologic increase resulting from cancer involving white blood cells

oculus dexter

eye right

oculus sinsiter

eye left

oculus uterque

eye both

auris dextra

ear right

auris sinistra

ear left

auris utraque

both

GI/ GIT

gastointestinal tract

gastoenteritis

stomach and small intestine

GDV

gas-filled stomach twistss; serious emergency

pacreatitis

pacreatic inflammation

colic

acute abdominal pain, especially important in horsesf

fecal testing

detects parasites or abnormal material

endoscopy

visual examination of a hollow organism

abdominocentesis

removes abdominal fluidex

exploratory laparotomy

surgically examines the abdomen

nephr/o, ren/o

kidney

cyst/o

urinary bladder

UA

urinalysis

UTI

urinary tract infection

PU/PD

polyuria/ polydipsia

nephritis

inflammation of the kidney

glomerulonephritis

inflammation of the glomeruluscy

cystitus

inflammation of the urinary bladder

urolithiasis

stones within the urinary tract

urinary obstruction

blocked urine flow

renal failure

reduced ability to filter blood

UA

evaluates physical and chemical urine properties

cystocentesis

needle collection directly from the bladder

urinary catheterization

places a tube into the bladder

imaging

radiographs or ultrasond locate stones and chagnes