Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology Flashcards based on prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms.

a-

Not, without, less

ab-

From, away from, off

acantho-

Thorn

acou-

Hearing

acro-

Extremity

acu-

Hearing

ad-

Increase, adherence, motion toward, very

-ad

Toward, in the direction of, -ward

adeno-

Gland

adip-

Fat

-agogue

Promoter, stimulator

aidoio-

Genitals

-al

Pertaining to

alb-

White

alge-

Pain

allo-

Other, different

ambi-

Around, on (both) sides, on all sides, both

ambly-

Dull

amyl-

Starch, polysaccharide

an-

Not, without, -less

ana-

Up, toward, apart

andro-

Male

angi-

Vessel

ankylo-

Crooked

ante-

Before

anthraco-

Coal, carbon

anti-

Against, opposing, curative, antibody

apo-

Separated from, derived from

aque-

Water

-ar

Pertaining to

-ase

An enzyme

-ate

A salt or ester of an “-ic” acid

athero-

Pasty, fatty

atto-

One quintillionth (10–18)

audi-

Hearing

aur-

Ear

aut-

Self, same

bacteri-

Bacteria

balano-

Penis

bi-

Twice, double

bio-

Life

blasto-

Budding by cells or tissue

blephar-

Eyelid

brachi-

Arm

brachy-

Short

bronch-

Bronchus

carcin-

Cancer

cardi-

Heart, esophageal opening of stomach

carpo-

Wrist

cata-

Down

caud-

Tail, lower part of body

-cele

Hernia, swelling

celio-

Abdomen

-centesis

Surgical puncture

cephal-

The head

cervic-

Neck, uterine cervix

cheil-

Lip

cheir-

Hand

chem-

Chemistry, drug

chir-

Hand

chlor-

Green, chlorine

chol-

Bile

chondrio-

Cartilage, granular, gritty

chrom-

Color

chron-

Time

-cidal

Killing, destroying

-cide

Killing, destroying

cis-

On this side, on the near side

-clast

Breaker

-clysis

Washing

co-

With, together, in association, very, complete

colp-

Vagina

com-

With, together, in association, very, complete

con-

With, together, in association, very, complete

conio-

Dust

coreo-

Pupil

cost-

Rib

crani-

Cranium

-crine

Secretion

cry-

Cold

crypt-

Hidden

culdo-

Cul-de-sac

cyan-

Blue, cyanide

cycl-

Circle, cycle, ciliary body

cyst-

Bladder, cyst, cystic duct

cyt-

Cell

dacry-

Tears

dactyl-

Finger, toe

de-

Away from, cessation

deca-

Ten

deci-

One tenth (10–1)

deka-

Ten

dent-

Tooth

derm-

Skin

-desis

Binding

dextr-

Right, toward or on the right side

di-

Separation, taking apart, reversal, not, un-

dipso-

Thirst

duodeno-

Duodenum

-dynia

Pain