Word Roots pg. 2

concha

-shell

ex. conchae - shell-shaped bones that protrude into nasal passage that assist in respiration in the nasal cycle

contra-

-against, opposite

ex. contrast - to oppose

corn-; cornu-

-horn

ex. cornucopia basket --> looks like a horn

corona

-crown

ex. corona radiata - white matter sheet that looks like a crown in the inner portion of brain that translates electrical signals from cerebral cortex to brain stem and vice versa

ex. corona - beer with a logo of a crown

corp-

-body

ex. corpse - a dead body

cort-

-bark

ex. cerebral cortex

cost-

-rib

ex. costal cartilage - cartilage that connect the sternum to the ribs

crani-

-skull

ex. cranial - the skull

cusp-

-pointed

ex. You have reached the cusp of it --> the point of it

cyan-

-blue

ex. cyanosis - blueness of skin

cyst-

-sac, bladder

ex. cyst - a sac that contains air, water, or fluid

cyt-

-cell

ex. cytology - study of cells

delta

-triangular

ex. greek symbol delta is a triangle

dent-

-tooth

ex. dentist - tooth doctor

dendr-

-tree; branch

ex. dendrites - extensions of nerve cells that look like branches

derm-

-skin

ex. dermatology - study of the skin

desm-

-bond

ex. desmosome - connection between two cells

dia-

-through; between

ex. diameter - distance through origin of circle

-dips

-thirst

ex.

diure-

-urinate

ex. diuretics - medication that makes you urinate

dors-

-the back

ex. dorsal - back side of body

dura-

-hard

ex. dura mater - hard outermost layer that envelopes the brain and spinal cord

dys-

-difficult; faulty; painful

ex. dyspnea - difficulty breathing

ec-; ex-; ecto-

out, outside, away from

ex. exothermic - energy exiting

-ectomy

-cutting out; surgical removal

ex. mastectomy - surgical removal of the breasts

ectop-

-displaced

ex. ectopic pregnancy - pregnancy outside the uterus

edem-

-swelling

ex. edema - swelling of the body

ef-

-away

ex. efferent pathway - signal moving away from control center

ejac-

-to shoot forth

ex. ejaculate - sperm shooting forth

embol-

-wedge

ex. embolism - a sudden wedge of an artery

-emia

-condition of the blood

ex. septicemia - blood infection

en-; em-

in, inside

ex. endothermic - reaction that requires heat to go into it

enceph-

-brain

ex. encephalitis - inflammation of the brain

endo-

-within; inner

ex. endocrine - excretes hormones within the body

epi-

-over; above

ex. epigastric region - region above the stomach

erythr-

-red

ex. erythrocyte - red blood cell

-esthesi

-sensation

ex. anesthesia - drug that takes away sensation

eu-

-well

ex. euphoria - feeling good

exo-

-outside

ex. exothermic - heating going outside of the chemical reaction

extra-

-outside, beyond

ex. extraterrestrial - form of life outside of Earth

extrins-

-from the outside

ex. extrinsic - coming from the outside

fasci-; fascia-

-bundle, band

ex.

fenestro-

-window

ferr-

-iron

ex. ferric cation - ion of iron

-ferent

-carry

ex. efferent and afferent pathways - carry signals

flagell-

-whip

ex. flagella - whip-like structure used for locomotion on a cell

folli-

-bag

foram-

-opening

ex. foramen magnum - opening in base of skull of where spinal cord passes

foss-

-ditch

ex. fossils are found in ditches

gangli-

-swelling; knot

ex. ganglion cyst - swelling tumor on the wrist

gastr-

-stomach

germin-

-grow

ex. germination - process by which a plant grows from seed into flower

gest-

-carried

ex. gestation - process of being carried in the womb

-glia; -glea

-glue

glom-

-ball

ex.

glosso-

-tongue

gluco-; glycol-

-glucose

ex. glycolysis - process of converting glucose into ATP

glute-

-buttock

gompho-

-nail

ex.

gust-

-taste

ex. gustation - the ability to detect taste

hema-; hemato-; hemo-

-blood

ex. hemostasis - stopping blood

hemi-

-half

hepat-

-liver

ex. hepatitis - inflammation of the liver

hetero-

-different or other

ex. heterozygote - different alleles