BEMS: Prefixes, Suffixes, and Other General Terms

A-, an-

without

Andr/o-

male

Anti-

against

Auto-

self

Contra-

against

Cyt/o-

cell

Dis-

separation, taking apart

Dys-

Difficult, abnormal

Fibr/o-

fiber

Gluco-, glycol-

glucose, sugar

Gyn/o-, Gynec-

Female

Hydr/o-

water

Idio-

Self, one's own

Lyso-, Lys-

Break down; Destruction; Dissolving

Mal-

bad, abnormal

Myc/o-

fungus

Necr/o-

death

Oxy-

Oxygen

Pan-, pant/o-

all or everywhere

Re-

back, again

Somat/o-, Somatico-

body, bodily

Acous/o-

hearing

Aden/o-

gland

Adip/o-

fat

Adren/o-

Gland

angi/o-

blood vessel

Arthr/o-

joint

Bronch/i-

bronchus

Cardi/o-

heart

Cephal/o-

head

Chol-

bile

Chondri-

cartilage

Coron-

heart

Cost-

rib

crani/o-

cranium (skull)

Cutane-

pertaining to the skin

Cyst/o-, Cysti-

bladder or sac

Derm-, dermat/o-

skin

Duoden/o-

duodenum

Gastr-

stomach

Gloss-

tongue

Hem-, Hema-, Hemat-, Hemo-, Hemat/o-

blood

Hepat/o-, Hepatico-

liver

Hist/o-, Histio-

tissue

Hyster/o-

uterus

Ileo-

ileum (longest part of small intestine)

Ischi/o-

ischium (posterior part of pelvic bone)

Kerat/o-

cornea (eye or skin)

Laryng/o-

larynx

Lingu/o-

tongue

Lip/o-

fat

Lymph/o-

lymph

Mamm-, Mast/o-

breast

Mening/o-

meninges

Muscul/o -

muscle

My/o-

muscle

Myel/o-

spinal cord, bone marrow

Nephr/o-

kidney

Neur/i-, neur/o-

nerve, nerve tissue

Oculo-

pertaining to the eye

Oo-

egg, ovary

Oophor/o-

ovary

Orchid/o-, Orchio-

testis

Orth/o-

straight, normal, correct

Osseo-

bony

Ossi-

bone

Ost-, Oste/o-

bone

Ot/o-

ear

Ovar/i-, Ovario-, Ovi-, Ovo-

ovary

Phalang-

Phalanx

Pharyng/o-

pharynx (throat)

Phleb/o-

vein

Phren/i-, Phreno-, Phrenico-

diaphragm

Pleura-, pleur/a-, Pleur/o-

Rib, pleura

Pneum/a-, pneumat/o-

air, lung

Proct/o-

Anus, rectum

Prostat-

prostate

Pseudo-

false, fake

Psych/o-, Psyche-

mind

Radio-

Radiation, Radius

Ren/o-

kidney

Rhin/o-

nose, pertaining to the nose

Retin-

retina; inner layer of the eye

Salping/o-

tube

Sarco-

Muscular; Flesh-like

Schiz/o-

Split, cleft

Sclera-, Sclero-

hardness

Sperma-, Spermo-, Spermato-

sperm

Splen/o-

spleen

Sten/o-

Narrowed, blocked

Stern-

sternum

Stom/a-, Stomat/o-

mouth

Thorac/o-, Thoracico-

chest

Thromb/o-

blood clot

thyr/o-

thyroid gland

Trache/o-

trachea

Tympan/o-

eardrum

Ur/o-

urine

Vagin-

vagina

Varic/o-

duct, blood vessel