WLCL 115 Medical Terminology Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms

Made for WLCL 115 at NC State

A- or An-

Prefix meaning not, without, lacking, deficient

Anti-

Prefix meaning against, opposed to, preventing, relieving

Di-

Prefix meaning two, twice, double

Dys-

Prefix meaning difficult, painful, defective, abnormal

Ec- or Ex-

Prefix meaning out of, away from

Ecto-

Prefix meaning outside of (ct)

En-

Prefix meaning in, into, within

Endo- or Ento-

Prefix meaning within

Epi-

Prefix meaning upon, over, above

Exo-

Prefix meaning outside (x)

Hemi-

Prefix meaning half, partial, one side of the body

Hyper-

Prefix meaning over, above, excessive, beyond normal

Hypo-

Prefix meaning under, deficient, below normal

Mono-

Prefix meaning one, single

Peri-

Prefix meaning around, surrounding

Syn- or Sym-

Prefix meaning together, with, joined

-a

Abstract noun-forming suffix meaning state, condition

-ac

Adjective-forming suffix meaning pertaining to, located in

-ia

Abstract noun-forming suffix meaning state, condition

-iac

Noun-forming suffix meaning person afflicted with

-iasis

Abstract noun-forming suffix meaning disease, abnormal condition, abnormal presence of

-ic

Adjective-forming suffix meaning pertaining to, located in. Can also be a noun indicative of a drug or agent or a person suffering from a certain condition

-in or -ine

Noun-forming suffix that forms the name of substances

-ist

Noun-forming suffix meaning a person interested in

-itic

Adjective-forming suffix meaning pertaining to inflammation

-itis

Noun-forming suffix meaning an inflamed conditon, inflammation

-itides

Plural suffix for nouns ending in -itis

-ium

Noun-forming suffix meaning membrane, connective tissue

-ma

Noun forming suffix often meaning abnormal or diseased condition. Also a combining form

-osis

Noun-forming suffix meaning abnormal or diseased condition

-otic

Adjective-forming suffix from nouns ending in -osis, pertaining to

-sia

Abstract noun-forming suffix meaning state, condition

-tic

Adjective-forming suffix from nouns ending in -sis

-y

Abstract noun-forming suffix meaning state, condition, quality, process, procedure

Acanth

Combining form meaning thorn, spine

Alg

Combining form meaning pain

Alges

Combining form meaning sensitivity to pain

All

Combining form meaning other, divergence, difference from

Angi

Combining form meaning (blood) vessel, duct

Arteri

Combining form meaning air passage, artery

Arthr

Combining form meaning joint

Bi

Combining form meaning life

Brady

Combining form meaning slow

Cardi

Combining form meaning heart

Cephal

Combining form meaning head

Crani

Combining form meaning skull

Cyt

Combining form meaning cell

Encephal

Combining form meaning brain

Erythr

Combining form meaning red, red blood cell

Lept

Combining form meaning thin, fine, slight

Leuk

Combining form meaning white, white blood cell

Lith

Combining form meaning stone, calculus

Log

Combining form meaning word, study

Malac

Combining form meaning soft

Mes

Combining form being middle, secondary, partial, mesentery

Meter or metr

Combining form meaning measuring, measuring device

Nephr

Combining form meaning kidney

Neur

Combining form meaning nerve, nervous system

Oste

Combining form meaning bone

Prax

Combining form meaning act, action

Prot

Combining form meaning first, primitive, early

Scler

Combining form meaning hard

Sten

Combining form meaning narrow

Stere

Combining form meaning solid, having three dimensions

Tachy

Combining form meaning rapid

Tox

Combining form meaning poison

Amphi- or Ampho-

Prefix meaning on both sides, around, both

Ana-

Prefix meaning up, back, against

Apo-

Prefix meaning away from

Cata- or cat-

Prefix meaning downward, disordered

Dia- or di-

Prefix meaning through, across, apart

Eso-

Prefix meaning within, inner, inward

Eu-

Prefix meaning good, normal, healthy

Heter- or Hetero-

Prefix meaning different, other, relationship to another

Homo- or Homeo-

Prefix meaning same, likeness

Meta- or met-

Prefix meaning change, transformation, after, behind

Para- or Par-

Prefix meaning alongside, around, abnormal, beyond

Pro-

Prefix meaning before

Pros- or Prosth-

Prefix meaning in place of

-al

Adjective forming suffix meaning pertaining to, located in

-ase

Noun forming suffix forming the name of enzymes

-asia or -asis

Abstract noun forming suffix meaning state condition

-ema or -emat

Abstract noun forming suffix meaning state, condition, with a combining form that adds a ‘t’

-esis

Abstract noun forming suffix meaning state, condition, procedure

-etic

Adjective forming suffix coming from nouns ending in -esis meaning pertaining to

-ism

Abstract noun-forming suffix meaning state, condition, quality

-ismus

Abstract noun forming suffix meaning state, condition, muscular spasm

-oid or -ode or -id

Both noun and adjective forming suffix indicating a particular shape, form, resembling, likeness

-oma or -omat or -omata

Abstract noun forming suffix usually indicating tumor or disease

-ose

Adjective forming suffix meaning full of, resembling or noun forming suffix used to form names of chemical substances

-ous

Adjective forming suffix meaning pertaining to, characterized by, full of

-tics or -tic or -ic

Noun-forming suffix meaning a particular science or study of

-us

Noun forming ending meaning condition, person

-ize

Verb forming suffix meaning to make, become, cause to be, subject to, engage in

-ate, -ide, -ite, -one

Noun forming suffixes used to form the name of chemical substances

Acr

Combining form meaning extremities (hands and feet)

Ambly

Combining form meaning dull, faint

Carcin

Combining form meaning cancer

Cel

Combining form meaning hernia, tumor, swelling

Cheir or Chir

Combining form meaning hand