Medical Word Parts -- English

a-, an-

no; not; without

-ab

away from

abdomin/o

abdomen

acanth/o

spiny; thorny

-ac

pertaining to

acetabul/o

acetabulum (hip socket)

acous/o (hearing)

hearing

acro/o

extremities; top; extreme point

acromi/o

acromion (extension of shoulder bone)

actin/o

light

acu/o

sharpe; severe; sudden

-acusis

hearing

ad-

toward

-ad

toward

aden/o

gland

adenoid/o

adenoids

adip/o

fat

adren/o

adrenal gland

adrenal/o

adrenal gland

aer/o

air

af-

toward

agglutin/o

clumping; sticking together

-agon

assemble, gather

agora-

marketplace

-agra

excessive pain

-al

pertaining to

alb/o

white

albin/o

white

albumin/o

albumin (protein)

alges/o

sensitivity to pain

-algesia

sensitivity to pain

-algia

pain

all/o

other

alveol/o

alveolus; air sac; small sac

ambly/o

dim; dull

-amine

nitrogen compound

amni/o

amnion (sac surrounding the embryo)

amyl/o

starch

an/o

anus

-an

pertaining to

ana-

up; apart; backward; again, anew

andr/o

male

aneurysm/o

aneurysm (widened blood vessel)

angi/o

vessel (blood)

anis/o

unequal

ankyl/o

sitff

ante-

before; forward

anter/o

front

anthrac/o

coal

anthr/o

antrum of the stomach

anti-

against

anxi/o

uneasy; anxious

aort/o

aorta (largest artery)

-apheresis

removal

aphth/o

ulcer

apo-

off, away

aponeur/o

aponeurosis (type of tendon)

append/o

appendix

appendic/o

appendix

aque/o

water

-ar

pertaining to

-arche

beginning

arteri/o

artery

arter/o

artery

ateri/o

artery

arteriol/o

arteriole (small artery)

arthr/o

joint

-arthria

articulate (speak distinctly)

articul/o

joint

-ary

pertaining to

asbest/o

abestos

-ase

enzyme

-asthenia

lack of strength

atel/o

incomplete

ather/o

plaque (fatty substance)

-ation

process; condition

atri/o

atrium (upper heart chamber)

audi/o

hearing

audit/o

hearing

aur/o

ear

auricul/o

ear

aut/o

self, own

aut-, auto-

self, own

axill/o

armpit

azot/o

urea; nitrogen

bacill/o

bacilli (bacteria)

balan/o

glans penis

bar/o

pressure; weight

bartholin/o

Bartholin glands

bas/o

base; opposite of acid

bi-

two

bi/o

life

bil/i

bile; gall

bilirubin/o

bilirubin

-blast

embryonic; immature cell

-blastoma

immature tumor (cells)

blephar/o

eyelid

bol/o

cast; throw

brachi/o

arm

brachy-

short