Phleb Medical Terminology

A- or An-

without; lack of

ex) anemia: deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin

Ante-

before, in front of

ex) antecubital: the area in front of the elbow

Brady-

slow

ex) Bradycardia: a slow heart rate

Cyt(o)-

cell

ex) cytophilic: having an affinity for cells

Dys-

difficult; painful

ex) Dysuria: difficult or painful urination

Endo-

within; inner

ex) endothelium: the tissue lining blood vessels

Erythr(o)-

red, redness

ex) erythrocyte: a red blood cell

Hypo-

low, under

ex) hypoxemia: oxygen-deficient blood

Macr(o)-

big, large

ex) macrophage: a large immune cell that engulfs foreign invaders and cellular debris

Micr(o)-

small

ex) microscope: an instrument used to view small objects

Mono-

one, single

ex) monocyte: a type of white blood cell that has one nucleus

Neo-

new

ex) neonatal: relating to a newborn

Peri-

around, surrounding

ex) pericardium: the membrane surrounding the heart

Poly-

many, much

ex) polyuria: excessive urination

Tachy-

fast, rapid

ex) tachycardia: a rapid heart rate

Arteri(o)-

artery

ex) arteriospasm: twitching of the artery

Cardi(o)-

heart

ex) cardiology: the study of the heart

Cyano-

blue

ex) cyanosis: bluish discoloration often caused by lack of oxygen

Phleb(o)-

vein

ex) phlebotomy: puncture of a vein

Vascul-

vessel

ex) cardiovascular: relating to the heart and blood vessels

-algia

pain

ex) neuralgia: nerve pain

-ectomy

surgical removal

ex) splenectomy: removal of the spleen

-emia

blood condition, presence in blood

ex) hyperglycemia: high sugar content in blood

-gram

a recording

ex) electrocardiogram: a recording of the heart’s electrical activity

-lysis

breakdown, destruction

ex) hemolysis: the breakdown of red blood cells in a blood sample

-ologist

specialist

ex) gastroenterologist: doctor who specializes in digestive system

-penia

deficiency

ex) thrombocytopenia: deficiency of clotting cells

-rrhage

bursting, excessive flow

ex) hemorrhage: excessive blood flow

-stasis

stopping, controlling, still

ex) hemostasis: process of stopping blood flow

-tomy

cutting, incision

ex) phlebotomy: an incision into the vein