Anatomy Word Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering anatomical word roots, prefixes, suffixes, combining forms, and example terms based on lecture notes.

a-

Prefix derived from "a-", meaning without (example: avascular).

aer-

Combining form derived from "aeros", meaning air (example: aerobic metabolism).

-algia

Suffix derived from "algos", meaning pain (example: neuralgia).

arter-

Root derived from "arteria", meaning artery (example: arterial).

arthro-

Combining form derived from "arthros", meaning joint (example: arthroscopy).

auto-

Prefix derived from "auto", meaning self (example: autonomic).

bio-

Combining form derived from "bios", meaning life (example: biology).

-blast

Suffix or combining form derived from "blastos", meaning germ (example: osteoblast).

bronch-

Root derived from "bronchus", meaning windpipe, airway (example: bronchial).

cardi-, cardio-, -cardia

Combining forms derived from "kardia", meaning heart (examples: cardiac, cardiopulmonary).

cerebr-

Root derived from "cerebrum", meaning brain (example: cerebral hemispheres).

cervic-

Combining form derived from "cervicis", meaning neck (example: cervical vertebrae).

chondro-

Combining form derived from "chondros", meaning cartilage (example: chondrocyte).

cranio-

Combining form derived from "cranium", meaning skull (example: craniosacral).

cyt-, cyto-

Combining forms derived from "kytos", meaning a hollow cell (examples: cytology, cytokine).

derm-

Combining form derived from "derma", meaning skin (example: dermatome).

-ectomy

Suffix derived from "ektome", meaning excision (example: appendectomy).

end-, endo-

Prefixes derived from "endon", meaning within (examples: endergonic, endometrium).

epi-

Prefix derived from "epi", meaning on (example: epimysium).

ex-

Prefix derived from "ex", meaning out of, away from (example: exocytosis).

hemo-

Combining form derived from "haima", meaning blood (example: hemopoiesis).

hemi-

Prefix derived from "hemi", meaning one-half (example: hemisphere).

histo-

Combining form derived from "histos", meaning tissue (example: histology).

homo-

Prefix derived from "homos", meaning same (example: homozygous).

hyper-

Prefix derived from "hyper", meaning above (example: hyperpolarization).

hypo-

Prefix derived from "hypo", meaning under (example: hypothyroid).

inter-

Prefix derived from "inter", meaning between (example: interventricular).

iso-

Prefix derived from "isos", meaning equal (example: isotonic).

leuk-, leuko-

Combining forms derived from "leukos", meaning white (examples: leukemia, leukocyte).

lyso-, -lysis, -lyze

Forms derived from "lysis", meaning a loosening (example: hydrolysis).

meso-

Combining form derived from "mesos", meaning middle (example: mesoderm).

micr-

Prefix derived from "mikros", meaning small (example: microscope).

morph-, morpho-

Combining forms derived from "morphe", meaning form (examples: morphology, morphotype).

myo-

Combining form derived from "mys", meaning muscle (example: myofilament).

nephr-

Root derived from "nephros", meaning kidney (example: nephron).

neur-, neuri-, neuro-

Forms derived from "neuron", meaning nerve (examples: neural, neurilemma, neuromuscular).

-ology

Suffix derived from "logos", meaning the study of (example: physiology).

-osis

Suffix derived from "-osis", meaning state, condition (example: neurosis).

ost-, oste-, osteo-

Forms derived from "osteon", meaning bone (examples: osteal, ostealgia, osteocyte).

oto-

Combining form derived from "otikos", meaning ear (example: otolith).

path-, -pathy, patho-

Forms derived from "pathos", meaning disease (examples: pathergy, idiopathy, pathogenesis).

peri-

Prefix derived from "peri", meaning around (example: perineurium).

phago-

Combining form derived from "phago", meaning to eat (example: phagocyte).

-phil, -philia

Suffixes derived from "philo", meaning love (examples: neutrophil, hemophilia).

-phot, -photo

Combining forms derived from "phos", meaning light (examples: photalgia, photoreceptor).

physio-

Combining form derived from "physis", meaning nature (example: physiology).

pre-

Prefix derived from "prae", meaning before (example: precapillary sphincter).

pulmo-

Root derived from "pulmo", meaning lung (example: pulmonary).

retro-

Prefix derived from "retro", meaning backward (example: retroperitoneal).

sarco-

Combining form derived from "sarkos", meaning flesh (example: sarcomere).

scler-, sclero-

Forms derived from "skleros", meaning hard (examples: sclera, sclerosis).

-scope

Suffix derived from "skopeo", meaning to view (example: colonoscope).

sub-

Prefix derived from "sub", meaning below (example: subcutaneous).

super-

Prefix derived from "super", meaning above or beyond (example: superficial).

-trophy

Suffix derived from "trophe", meaning nourishment (example: atrophy).

vas-

Root derived from "vas", meaning vessel (example: vascular).

Avascular

Anatomical term illustrating the prefix "a-", defined as being without blood vessels.

Aerobic metabolism

Metabolic process illustrating the combining form "aer-" (derived from "aeros", meaning air).

Neuralgia

Medical term illustrating the suffix "-algia" (derived from "algos", meaning pain).

Arterial

Anatomical term illustrating the root "arter-" (derived from "arteria", meaning artery).

Arthroscopy

Procedure illustrating the combining form "arthro-" (derived from "arthros", meaning joint).

Autonomic

Physiological term illustrating the prefix "auto-" (meaning self).

Osteoblast

Cell type term illustrating the suffix "-blast" (derived from "blastos", meaning germ).

Cardiopulmonary

Physiological term illustrating the combining form "cardio-" (derived from "kardia", meaning heart).

Chondrocyte

Cell type term illustrating the combining form "chondro-" (derived from "chondros", meaning cartilage).

Endergonic

Biochemical term illustrating the prefix "end-" (derived from "endon", meaning within).

Endometrium

Anatomical structure term illustrating the prefix "endo-" (derived from "endon", meaning within).

Epimysium

Anatomical structure term illustrating the prefix "epi-" (meaning on).

Hemopoiesis

Biological process illustrating the combining form "hemo-" (derived from "haima", meaning blood).

Hyperpolarization

Neurophysiological term illustrating the prefix "hyper-" (meaning above).

Precapillary sphincter

Anatomical structure illustrating the prefix "pre-" (derived from "prae", meaning before).

Retroperitoneal

Anatomical location term illustrating the prefix "retro-" (meaning backward).

Sclera

Anatomical structure illustrating the combining form "scler-" (derived from "skleros", meaning hard).

Colonoscope

Medical instrument term illustrating the suffix "-scope" (derived from "skopeo", meaning to view).

Subcutaneous

Anatomical layer term illustrating the prefix "sub-" (meaning below).