medical terminology: roots, prefixes, suffixes, and eponyms

word root (or root word)

the foundation of the word, gives the essential meaning of the term.

combining forms

when a vowel is attached to a root word, combining forms are indicated by a slash (/) between the root word and the vowel

examples of combining forms

therm/o/meter, gastr/o/enter/o/logy

prefix

added to the beginning of the word

a-

without

brady-

slow

dys-

painful, difficult, abnormal

endo-

within, inner

hyper-

excessive

per-

through

tachy-

fast

suffix

added to the end of the root word to change its meaning

-ostomy

a surgically created opening

-algia

pain

-ectasis

dilated

-emesis

vomiting

-ia

condition

-ism

state of

-lysis

to destroy

-rrhea

discharge

eponyms

medical terms that are based on a person's nam

common eponym

addison's disease

common eponym

bell's palsy

common eponym

mcburney point

-a rule

keep -a and add -e

-ax rule

drop -x and add -ces

-ex rule

drop -ex and add -ices

-is rule

drop -is and add -es

-ix rule

drop -x and add -ces

-ma rule

keep -ma and add -ta

-on rule

drop -on and add -a

-us rule

drop -us and add -i

-um rule

drop -um and add -a

-x rule

drop -x and add -ges

-y rule

drop -y and add -ies

abdomin/o

abdomen

aden/o

gland

adhes

stuck to

adren/o

adrenal gland

aise

comfort (french root)

alveol/o

alveolus

angi/o

vessel, vascular

arteri/o

artery

arthr/o

joint

ather/o

fatty, fatty deposit

audi/o

to hear

axill

armpit

bio

life

bronch/i, bronch/o

bronchus

cardi/o

heart

cellul/o or cyt/o

cell

cerebr/i or cerebr/o

cerebrum

cephal/o

head

chem/o

chemical

chol/e

bile

cholecyst/o

gallbladder

chondr/i or chondr/o

cartilage

chym

juice

cis

to cut

col/o

colon

conjunctiv/o

conjunctiva

cost/o

rib

cry/o

cold

cutane/o

skin

cyan/o

blue

cyst/o

bladder

cyt, cyt/o

cell

dem

people

derm/o or dermat/o

skin

dipl/o

double

duoden/o

duodenum

edema

swelling

electr/o

electricity

eme

to vomit

encephal/o

brain

enter/o

intestine

epididym/o

epididymis

esophag/o

esophagus

eti/o

cause

erythr/o

red

fibr, fibr/o, fibrin/o

fibers

gastr, gastr/o

stomach

gen, gene, genet

formation, produce

gingiv, gingiv/o

gums

gynec/o

female

hem, hem/o, heamt, hemat/o

blood

hepat, hept/o

liver

heter/o

other or different

hidr, hidr/o

sweat

hist/o

tissue

hom/o

same or alike

hydr, hydr/o

water

hyster, hyster/o

uterus or womb

infect

to infect

lapar/o

abdomen

laryng, larng/o

larynx

leuk, leuk/o

white

lith, lith/o

stone

lip, lip/o

fat

lymph, lymph/o

vessels