Medical Terminology

acanth-

thorn, spine

alg-

pain

alges-

sensitivity to pain

all-

other, divergence, difference from

angi-

(blood) vessel, duct

arteri-

(Greek form meant air passage), artery

arthr-

joint

bi-

life

brady-

slow

cardi-

heart

cephal-

head

crani-

skull

cyt-

(Greek form meant hollow container), cell

encephal-

brain

erythr-

red, red blood cell

lept-

thin, fine, slight

leuk-

white, white blood cell

lith-

stone, calculus

log-

word, study

malac-

soft

mes-

middle, secondary, partial, mesentery

-meter

measure, measuring device

metr-

measuring, measuring device

nephr-

kidney

neur-

(Greek form meant tendon), nerve, nervous system

oste-

bone

prax-

act, action

prot-

first, primitive, early

scler-

hard

sten-

narrow

stere-

solid, having 3 dimensions

tachy-

rapid

tox(i)-

poison

acr-

(Greek form meant highest point) extremities (particularly the hands & feet)

ambly-

dull, faint

carcin-

(Greek form meant crab), cancer

-cel-

hernia, tumor, swelling

cheir-

hand

chir-

hand

chol(e)-

bile, gall

col(i)

colon

colon-

colon

cyan-

blue

cyst(i)-

bladder, cyst

-cytis

bladder, cyst

diplo-

double, twin

enter-

(small) intestine

erg-

action, work

gastr-

stomach

hem-

blood

hemat-

blood

-em-

blood

hepar-

liver

hepat-

liver

lip-

fat

macr-

(abnormally) long/large

mega-

(abnormally) large/long

megal-

(abnormally) large/long

melan-

dark, black

nyct-

night

odyn-

pain

onc-

tumor

pachy-

thick

pseud-

false

py-

pus

sarc-

flesh, soft tissue

spasm-

spasm, involuntary muscular contraction

splen-

spleen

stom-

mouth, opening

stomat-

mouth, opening

Arachn

spider, web; arachnoid membrane

chlor

green

chondr

cartilage

dactyl

finger, toe

derm(at)

skin

-Derma

skin

(h)elc

ulcer

Hidr(ot)

sweat

-idr-

sweat

Hist(i)

(web) tissue

Hydr

water, fluid

hypn

sleep

Icter

Jaundice

In

fiber, muscle

Inos

fiber, muscle

Is

equal same, similar, alike

Mening-

Meningeal Membrane, meninges

-Meninx

meningeal membrane, meninges

My(s)

(Mouse), muscle

Myc(et)

(mushroom) fungus

Myel

bone marrow, spinal cord

Narc

stupor, numbness

Necr

corpse, dead

olig

few, deficient

Onych

fingernail, toenail

pod

foot

Poli

(gray), gray matter of the brain & spinal cord

Poly

many, excessive

Por

passage, opening, duct, pore, cavity

Psych

(Soul), mind