Human Anatomy Prefixes and Suffixes

a-

not, without

-ation

condition, process

-cyte

cell

-algae, -algia, -dynia

pain (3 variations)

hydro-

water

-itis

inflammation

macro-

large

micro-

small

meta-

beyond

-ology

the study of

-osis

abnormal

phy-

to grow

-scopy

viewing of

Therm-

heat, temperature

Hist-

tissue

adipo-

fat

chondro-

cartilage

endo-

within, inner

epithe-

laid on, covering

erythro-

red

exo-

outside

leuk-

white

osteo-

bone

derm-

skin

epi-

upon

hypo-

below

kerat-

hard

melan-

dark

pil-

hair

seb-

oil

sudor-

sweat

ungu-

nail

femor-

femur

inter-

between

peri-

surrounding around

-physis

to grow (bones)

blast

immature cell/germ cell

crani-

skull

-clast

breaking down

cephal-

head

dys-

bad, ill

glycol-

sugar

my- / myos-

muscle

a / an-

without

sarco-

flesh

troph/trophy-

growth

astro-

star

audi- / oto-

hearing

auto-

self

-ellum

smaller

cereb- / enceph-

brain

dendr-

tree like

gli-

glue

mening-

membrane

neuro-

nerve

oligo-

few or scanty

opt-

eye or vision

photo-

light

ad-

near

-crine

to secrete

hyper-

above normal

hypo-

below normal

trop-

turning, affecting

adrenal-

kidney

poiesis-

to make

pluri-

several

thromb-

clot

anti-

against, not

-penia

deficiency

hemo/hemato-

blood

-potent

power

-stasis

standing still

cardio-

heart

rhin- / naso-

nose

oro-

mouth

Lingua-

tongue

pneumo-

air

spir

breathe

pulmon-

lung

-itis

inflammation of

alveol-

small cavity

-pnea

respiration

digest-

dissolve

aliment-

nourish

-odonto

teeth

-orexia

appetite

metabol-

change

-stalsis

construction