1) Basic Word Structure

-ac

-al

-ic

pertaining to

-cyte

cyt-

cell

-ectomy

cutting out

-globin

protein

-gnos

knowledge

-gram

record

-ist

specialist

-itis

inflammation

-logy

study of

-oma

tumor or mass

-opsy

process of viewing

-osis

abnormal condition

-scope

instrument to visually examine

-sis

state of

-tomy

cutting into

-vascular

pertaining to blood vessels

abdomin-

abdominal

aden-

gland

arthr-

joint

aut-

self

bi-

life

carcin-

cancer or cancerous

cardi-

heart

cephal-

head

cerebr-

cerebrum

col(o)(n)-

colon (large intestine)

cva

stroke

cyst-

urinary bladder, sac of fluid or cyst

derm-

dermat-

skin

dia-

complete

electr-

electricity

encephal-

brain

enter-

intestines

erythr-

red

gastr-

stomach

gynec-

woman or female

hem-

hemat-

blood

hepat-

liver

lapar-

abdomen (abdominal wall)

leuk-

white

nephro-

kidney

neur-

nerve

onc-

tumor (cancerous)

ophthalm-

eye

oste-

bone

path-

disease

pro-

before, forward

pysch-

mind

ren-

kidney

retro-

behind

rhin-

nose

sarc-

flesh

sub-

below, under

thromb-

clotting

trans-

across, through

when deciphering a new medical word, what part of the word do you start with?

suffix

-algia

condition of pain

-emia

blood condition

-ia

condition

-ism

condition, process

-logist

specialist in the study of

-scopy

process of visual examination

a-

an-

no, not

dys-

bad, painful, difficult, abnormal

endo-

within

epi-

above, upon, on

exo-

outside

hyper-

excessive, more than normal, too much

hypo-

below, less than normal, under

pan-

all

peri-

surrounding

re-

back

-meter

measurement

-resection

removing some or all of an organ

-section

cutting into an organ

-y

condition or process

-um

a structure

glyc-

sugar

rheumat-

flow or watery discharge 

ops-

viewing

crin-

to secrete (to form and give off)

-ior

pertaining to

anter-

front

bronch(i)-

bronchial tubes

cervic-

neck of the body/uterus

chondr-

cartilage

coccyg-

coccyx (tailbone)

-eal

pertaining to

crani-

skull

epitheli-

skin (surface tissue)

theli-

nipple

esophag-

esophagus

laryng-

larynx

later-

side

lumb-

loin (waist)

-ar

pertaining to

lymph-

lymph

mediastin-

mediastinum

pelv-

pelvis

peritone-

peritoneum