Medical Terminology Chapter 1

bi/o

combining form referring to life

carcin/o

combining form referring to cancer

cardi/o

combining form referring to the heart

cephal/o

combining form referring to the head

cerebr/o

combining form referring to the brain

crin/o

to secrete/discharge

cyst/o

combining form referring to the bladder

cyt/o

combining form referring to cell

dem/o

combining form referring to people or population

derm/o

combining form referring to skin

encephal/o

combining form referring to brain

enter/o

coming form referring to the small intestine

erythr/o

coming form for red blood cell

gastr/o

combining form for the stomach

glyc/o

combining form referring to sugar

gnos/o

combining form referring to knowledge

gynec/o

combining form referring to a female

hem/o; hemat/o

combining form referring to blood

hepat/o

combining form referring to the liver

lapar/o

combining form referring to the abdomen

leuk/o

combing form referring to white blood cells

nephr/o

combining form referring to the kidney

neur/o

combining form referring to nerves

onc/o

combining form referring to tumor

opthalm/o

combining form referring to the eye

oste/o

combining form referring to bones

path/o

combining for referring to disease

psych/o

combining form referring to the mind

rhin/o

combining form referring to the nose

sarc/o

combining form referring to the flesh

thromb/o

combining form referring to blod clots

urethr/o

combining form meaning urethra (tube leading from the bladder to the outside of the body)

vascul/o

combining form meaning vessel

-ac

suffix meaning pertaining to

-ar

suffix form meaning pertaining to

-crine

suffix meaning secrete/discharge

-gram

suffix meaning record of

-y

suffix meaning process of

aden/o

combining form referring to gland

arthr/o

combining form referring to joint

a-, an-

prefix for “without”

aut-

prefix for “self”

dia-

prefix for “through/across”

dys-

prefix for bad/painful

endo

prefix for “within”

epi-

prefix for “above/upon”

exo-

prefix for “outside”

hyper-

prefix for excessive

hypo-

prefix for “under/below”

pan-

prefix for “all”

peri-

prefix for “surrounding”

pro-

prefix for “before”

re-

prefix for “again”

retro-

prefix for “behind”

sub-

prefix for “under/below”

trans-

prefix for “across/through”

-al

pertaining to

-algia

suffix for pain

-cyte

suffix for cell

-ectomy

suffix for surgical removal

-emia

suffix for the condition of one’s blood

-globin

suffix for protein

-ia

suffix for condition

-ic

suffix for pertaining to

-ism

suffix for condition

-itis

suffix for inflammation

-logist

suffix for one who studies

-logy

suffic for study of

-oma

suffix for tumor

-opsy

suffix for view

-osis

suffix for condition of

-scope

instrument for viewing

-scopy

visual examination

-sis

suffix for state of

-tomy

suffix for incision

b.i.d. or bid 

twice a day

c with a line over it

with

CBC

Complete blood count

Dx

Diagnosis

h or hr

hour

p.o. or po

by mouth

p.r.n. or prn

as needed

px

prognosis

q.i.d. or qid

four times a day

RBC or rbc

red blood cell

s with a line over it

without

t.i.d. or tid

three times a day

WBC or wbc

white blood cell count

diagnosis (singular or plural?)

Singular

Diagnoses (singular or plural?)

Plural

psychosis (singular or plural)

Singular

Abdomin/o

Abdomen

Anter/o

Front

Bronch/o

bronchial tubes

Cervic/o

neck

Chondr/o

cartilage

Coccyg/o

tailbone

crani/o

skull

epitheli/o

thin layer of connective tissue that lines a body cavity or a body surface

esophag/o

esophogus