HOSA Med Terms All

a-

no; not; without; lack of; absence of (typically used before a consonant) [alexia: inability to read (a- not; lexia read)]; [aphagia: inability to eat/swallow (a- not; -phagia eat/swallow)]

ab-

away from [abduction: movement away from the bodys midline (ab- away from; -duction act of leading)]; [abnormal: pertaining to being away from the norm (ab- away from; normal usual)]

abdomin/o

abdomen [abdominal: pertaining to the abdomen (abdomin/o abdomen; -al pertaining to)]; [abdominocentesis: surgical puncture of the abdomen to remove fluid (abdomin/o abdomen; -centesis surgical puncture)]

-able

capable; capable of [viable: capable of living (viv/o life; -able capable of)]; [inflatable: capable of being filled with air (in- in; flat/o blow; -able capable of)]

abort/o

premature expulsion of viable foetus [abortion: premature expulsion of a nonviable foetus (abort/o premature expulsion; -ion process)]

abrad/o; abras/o

scrape [abrasion: area of skin scraped or worn away (abras/o scrape; -ion process)]

abrupt/o

broken away from [abruptio placentae: premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall (abrupt/o broken away from; -ion process)]

abscess/o

collection of pus [abscess: a localized collection of pus (abscess/o collection of pus)]

absorpt/o

suck up [absorption: the process by which one thing absorbs or is absorbed by another (absorpt/o suck up; -ion process)]

ac-

toward [acclimatize: to respond physiologically or behaviorally to a change in a single environmental factor (ac- toward; climat/o climate; -ize to make)]

-ac

pertaining to [cardiac: pertaining to the heart (cardi/o heart; -ac pertaining to)]; [iliac: pertaining to the ilium (ili/o ilium; -ac pertaining to)]; [celiac: pertaining to the abdomen (celi/o abdomen; -ac pertaining to)]

acanth/o

spiny; thorny; thorn; spine [acanthocyte: a red blood cell with a spiked cell membrane resembling thorns (acanth/o thorn; -cyte cell)]

acetabul/o

acetabulum (hip socket) [acetabular: pertaining to the acetabulum (acetabul/o acetabulum; -ar pertaining to)]; [acetabulofemoral joint: the joint connecting the acetabulum and the femur (acetabul/o acetabulum; femor/o femur; -al pertaining to)]

-acious

characterised by [vivacious: lively and animated (viv/i life; -acious characterised by)]

acne/o

peak [acne: inflammatory disease of the skin involving the sebaceous glands and hair follicles (acne/o peak)]

acou-; acou/o; acous/o

hearing; sound [acoustic: pertaining to sound or hearing (acou/o hearing; -st/o stand; -ic pertaining to)]

aquir/o

obtain [acquired: obtained or developed after birth (aquir/o obtain; -ed past tense)]

-acusia; -acusis; acust/o

hearing; sense of hearing; hearing condition [hyperacusis: heightened sensitivity to normal environmental sounds (hyper- excessive; -acusis hearing condition)]; [presbycusis: age-related hearing loss (presby- old age; -acusis hearing condition)]; [diplacusis: condition where one sound is perceived as two different pitches (dipl- double; -acusis hearing condition)]

acr/o

extremities; top; outermost [acromegaly: enlargement of the extremities (acr/o extremity; -megaly enlargement)]; [acrophobia: fear of heights (acr/o top/height; -phobia fear)]

acromi/o

acromion; point of shoulder blade [acromioclavicular: pertaining to the acromion and clavicle (acromi/o acromion; clavicul/o clavicle; -ar pertaining to)]

act/o

do; act [activate: to make something active or operative (act/o act; -ate to do/make)]

acu/o

sharp; severe; sudden [acupuncture: treatment involving insertion of sharp needles (acu/o sharp; puncture a piercing)]

acuit/o; acut/o

sharp; sharpness [acuity: sharpness of vision (acuit/o sharpness; -y condition)]

-ad; ad-

toward; in direction of [caudad: toward the tail or posterior end (caud/o tail; -ad toward)]; [dorsad: toward the back (dors/o back; -ad toward)]; [adduction: movement of a body part toward the bodys midline (ad- toward; -duction act of leading)]

aden/o

gland [adenitis: inflammation of a gland (aden/o gland; -itis inflammation)]; [adenalgia: pain in a gland (aden/o gland; -algia pain)]; [adenoma: a benign tumor of glandular origin (aden/o gland; -oma tumor)]

adenoid/o

adenoids (lymphatic tissue in the nasopharynx) [adenoidectomy: surgical removal of the adenoids (adenoid/o adenoids; -ectomy surgical removal)]

adhes/o

stick to [adhesion: abnormal union of membranous surfaces due to inflammation or injury (adhes/o stick to; -ion process)]

adip/o

fat; fatty tissue [adipose: pertaining to fat (adip/o fat; -ose pertaining to)]; [adipocyte: a cell specialized for the storage of fat (adip/o fat; -cyte cell)]

adnex/o

bound to [adnexa: accessory or adjoining anatomical parts (adnex/o bound to; -a plural)]

adren/o; adrenal/o

adrenal glands [adrenaline: a hormone produced by the adrenal glands (adren/o adrenal gland; -ine chemical substance)]; [adrenalopathy: disease of the adrenal gland (adren/o adrenal gland; -pathy disease)]; [adrenalectomy: surgical removal of an adrenal gland (adrenal/o adrenal gland; -ectomy removal)]

-aemia

blood [anaemia: a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood (an- without; -aemia blood)]

aer/o

air; gas [aeroallergens: allergens present in the air (aer/o air; allergens allergy-producing substances)]; [aerosol: a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air (aer/o air; sol solution)]

aesthet/o; esthet/o; esthesi/o

sensation; feeling; sense of perception [aesthetic: concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty (aesthet/o sensation; -ic pertaining to)]; [esthesiometer: instrument to measure tactile sensation (esthesi/o sensation; -meter instrument to measure)]

af-

toward; to [afferent: conducting or conducted inward or toward something (af- toward; ferent carry)]

affect/o

exert influence on [affect: to have an effect on; make a difference to (affect/o exert influence on)]

ag-

toward; to [aggregate: a whole formed by combining several elements (ag- toward; greg/o flock; -ate to make)]

agglutin/o

clumping [agglutination: clumping of particles (agglutin/o clumping; -ation process)]

aggress/o

attack [aggression: hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another (aggress/o attack; -ion process)]

-ago

attack; diseased state or condition [lumbago: pain in the lower back (lumb/o lower back; -ago condition)]

agor/a

marketplace [agoraphobia: fear of open spaces or crowds (agor/a marketplace; -phobia fear)]

-agra

excessive pain seizure; attack of severe pain [podagra: gout in the foot- especially the big toe ( pod/o foot; -agra excessive pain)]

-aise

comfort; ease [malaise: a general feeling of discomfort or unease (mal- bad; -aise ease)]

al-

like; similar [aliform: wing-shaped (al/i wing; -form shape)]

-al

pertaining to [abdominal: pertaining to the abdomen (abdomin/o abdomen; -al pertaining to)]; [intestinal: pertaining to the intestine (intestin/o intestine; -al pertaining to)]; [neural: pertaining to nerves or the nervous system (neur/o nerve; -al pertaining to)]

alb-; alb/i; alb/o; albin/o

white; pale color [albino: an individual with a congenital lack of pigment in the skin- hair- and eyes (alb- white; -ino pertaining to)]; [albinism: condition of being white due to lack of pigment (albin/o white; -ism condition)]

albumin/o

albumin (protein); albumin (a blood protein) [albuminuria: presence of albumin in the urine (albumin/o albumin; -uria urine condition)]

alg/e; alg/o

pain [algesia: sensitivity to pain (alg/e pain; -sia condition)]

algesi/o; -algesia

suffering; pain; pain condition [algesia: sensitivity to pain (algesi/o pain; -ia condition)]; [analgesia: absence of the sense of pain (an- without; -algesia pain condition)]

-algesic

painful [analgesic: acting to relieve pain (an- without; -algesic painful)]

algi-; -algia

suffering; pain; painful condition [arthralgia: joint pain (arthr/o joint; -algia pain)]; [cephalalgia: head pain (cephal/o head; -algia pain)]; [neuralgia: nerve pain (neur/o nerve; -algia pain)]; [myalgia: muscle pain (my/o muscle; -algia pain)]; [algid: cold; chilly (algi- pain/cold; -id pertaining to)]

align/o

bring into line or correct position [alignment: arrangement in a straight line- or in correct relative positions (align/o bring into line; -ment state of)]

aliment/o

to nourish [alimentation: the provision of nourishment (aliment/o nourish; -ation process)]

all/o; all-

other; different from normal; another [allograft: a tissue graft from a donor of the same species as the recipient but not genetically identical (all/o other; -graft transplant)]; [allopathy: medical treatment that produces effects different from those of the disease (all/o different; -pathy disease/suffering)]

alopec/o

baldness [alopecia: loss of hair (alopec/o baldness; -ia condition)]

alveol/o

alveolus; air sac; small sac; alveolus (air sac in lungs) [alveolar: pertaining to the alveoli (alveol/o alveolus; -ar pertaining to)]

amb-; ambi-

on both sides; around or about; double [ambidextrous: able to use both hands equally well (ambi- both; dextr/o right hand/skillful)]; [ambilateral: pertaining to both sides (ambi- both; lateral side; -al pertaining to)]; [ambiguous: open to more than one interpretation (amb- around/both; igu/o to drive; -ous pertaining to)]

ambly/o

dim; dull [amblyopia: dimness of vision- often called "lazy eye" (ambly/o dull; -opia vision condition)]; [amblyacousia: dullness of hearing (ambly/o dull; -acousia hearing condition)]

ambul/o; ambulat/o

to walk [ambulate: to walk from place to place (ambul/o walk; -ate to do)]; [ambulatory: able to walk (ambul/o walk; -ory pertaining to)]

ametr/o

out of proportion; irregular measurement [ametropia: presence of a refractive error in the eye- meaning light doesnt focus correctly (ametr/o out of proportion; -opia vision condition)]

-amine

nitrogen compound [histamine: a compound involved in local immune responses (hist/o tissue; -amine nitrogen compound)]

amni/o

amnion; foetal membrane; amnion (sac surrounding the embryo) [amniocentesis: surgical puncture to remove amniotic fluid (amni/o amnion; -centesis surgical puncture)]; [amnioscopy: visual examination of the amniotic fluid (amni/o amnion; -scopy visual examination)]

amph-; amphi-

around; on both sides; doubly [amphibious: able to live both on land and in water (amphi- both; bio life; -ous pertaining to)]

amput/o; amputat/o

cut away; cut off a part of body [amputation: the surgical removal of a limb (amputat/o cut away; -ion process)]

amyl/o

starch [amylase: an enzyme that breaks down starch (amyl/o starch; -ase enzyme)]

an-; ana-

up; apart; backward; excessive [anabolism: the process of building up complex molecules from simpler ones (ana- up; bol/o to cast/throw; -ism process)]; [analysis: breaking apart a substance into its components (ana- apart; -lysis breakdown)]

an/o

anus; ring [anoscope: instrument used to examine the anal canal (an/o anus; -scope instrument for viewing)]; [anorectal: pertaining to the anus and rectum (an/o anus; rect/o rectum; -al pertaining to)]; [anoplasty: surgical reconstruction of the anus (an/o anus; -plasty surgical repair)]

andr/o

male; man [androgen: a male sex hormone that promotes male characteristics (andr/o male; -gen producing)]; [andrology: the study of male health and reproductive system (andr/o male; -logy study of)]

aneurysm/o

aneurysm [aneurysmectomy: surgical removal of an aneurysm (aneurysm/o aneurysm; -ectomy removal)]

angi/o; angi-; angio-

lymph vessels or blood vessels; vessel (usually blood vessel) [angioplasty: surgical repair of a blood vessel (angi/o vessel; -plasty surgical repair)]; [angiopathy: disease of blood vessels (angi/o vessel; -pathy disease)]; [angiogenesis: formation of new blood vessels (angi/o vessel; -genesis formation)]

angin/o

choking [angina pectoris: chest pain due to ischemia of the heart muscle (angin/o choking; pector/o chest)]

anis/o

unequal [anisocytosis: condition of red blood cells of unequal size (anis/o unequal; cyt/o cell; -osis condition)]; [anisocoria: unequal pupil size (anis/o unequal; cor/o pupil; -ia condition)]

ankyl/o

crooked; bent; stiff; fusion of parts [ankylosis: abnormal stiffening and immobility of a joint (ankyl/o stiff; -osis condition)]; [ankylodactyly: fusion or webbing of fingers or toes- making them appear bent or stiff (ankyl/o bent/stiff; dactyl/o finger/toe; -y condition)]

anomal/o

irregularity [anomaly: something that deviates from what is standard- normal- or expected (anomal/o irregularity; -y condition)]

-ant

performing an action; something that performs an action [stimulant: a substance that raises physiological or nervous activity (stimul- to excite; -ant performing an action)]

ante-

before; forward; in front of [antepartum: before childbirth (ante- before; -partum childbirth)]; [anterior: pertaining to the front part (ante- before; -ior pertaining to)]

anter/o

front [anterolateral: pertaining to the front and side (anter/o front; later/o side; -al pertaining to)]; [anterograde: moving forward in time or direction (anter/o front; -grade to go)]

anthrac/o

coal dust [anthracosis: lung disease caused by inhalation of coal dust (anthrac/o coal dust; -osis condition)]

anti-

against; counter; opposed to [antibiotic: substance that acts against living organisms- specifically bacteria (anti- against; bio life; -tic pertaining to)]; [antiseptic: substance that prevents infection by acting against sepsis (anti- against; sept/o infection; -ic pertaining to)]; [anticoagulant: substance that prevents blood clotting (anti- against; coagul/o clotting; -ant substance)]

anxi/o; anxiet/o

uneasy; anxious; distressed [anxiety: a feeling of worry- nervousness- or unease (anxiet/o uneasy; -y condition)]

aort/o

aorta (largest artery) [aortitis: inflammation of the aorta (aort/o aorta; -itis inflammation)]; [aortic: pertaining to the aorta (aort/o aorta; -ic pertaining to)]; [aortopathy: disease of the aorta (aort/o aorta; -pathy disease)]; [aortography: radiographic imaging of the aorta (aort/o aorta; -graphy process of recording)]

ap-

toward; to [append: to add something to the end of a written document (ap- toward; pend/o to hang)]

-apheresis

removal; carrying away [plasmapheresis: removal of plasma from withdrawn blood (plasma plasma; -apheresis removal)]

aphth/o

small ulcer [aphthous ulcer: a small- shallow sore inside the mouth or at the base of the gums (aphth/o small ulcer; -ous pertaining to)]

apic/o

apex [apical: relating to or denoting an apex (apic/o apex; -al pertaining to)]

aplast/o

defective or lack of development [aplastic anemia: deficiency of all types of blood cells caused by failure of bone marrow development (aplast/o defective development; -ic pertaining to)]

apo-

opposed; separated from; derived from; off; away [apoptosis: programmed cell death- where cells are separated from living tissue (apo- away/separated from; ptosis falling)]

aponeur/o

aponeurosis [aponeurosis: a sheet of pearly-white fibrous tissue that takes the place of a tendon (aponeur/o aponeurosis; -osis condition)]

apoplect/o

a stroke [apoplexy: unconsciousness or incapacity resulting from a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke (apoplect/o a stroke; -y condition)]

append/o; appendic/o

appendix [appendectomy: surgical removal of the appendix (append/o appendix; -ectomy surgical removal)]; [appendicitis: inflammation of the appendix (appendic/o appendix; -itis inflammation)]

aqu/i; aqu/o; aque/o

water [aqueous: of or containing water (aque/o water; -ous pertaining to)]; [aqueous humor: watery fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye (aque/o water; -ous pertaining to; humor fluid)]

-ar

pertaining to [muscular: pertaining to muscle (muscul/o muscle; -ar pertaining to)]; [vascular: pertaining to blood vessels (vascul/o vessel; -ar pertaining to)]; [alveolar: pertaining to the alveoli (alveol/o alveoli; -ar pertaining to)]

arc/o

bow; arc [arcuate: shaped like a bow; curved (arc/o bow; -ate having the form of)]

-arche

beginning [menarche: beginning of menstruation (men/o menstruation; -arche beginning)]; [adrenarche: early maturation of adrenal glands- marking a beginning phase (adren/o adrenal gland; -arche beginning)]

arche-

first; beginning [archetype: the first model or a prototype (arche- first; type model)]

arachn/o

spider web; spider [arachnoid mater: one of the three meninges- the middle one- resembling a spider web (arachn/o spider web; -oid resembling)]

areat/o

occurring in patches or circumscribed areas [alopecia areata: hair loss in patches (alopec/o baldness; areat/o in patches; -a condition)]

areol/o

little open space [areola: small circular area- in particular the ring of pigmented skin surrounding a nipple (areol/o little open space; -a noun suffix)]

arrect/o

upright; lifted up; raised [arrector pili: small muscles attached to hair follicles (arrect/o upright; pil/i hair)]

arter/o

artery [arterial: pertaining to an artery (arter/o artery; -al pertaining to)]

arteri/o

artery [arteriosclerosis: hardening of the arteries (arteri/o artery; -sclerosis hardening)]; [arteritis: inflammation of an artery (arteri/o artery; -itis inflammation)]; [arteriogram: an x-ray image of an artery (arteri/o artery; -gram record)]; [arteriopathy: any disease of the arteries (arteri/o artery; -pathy disease)]