medical terminology

Prefix

word part found at the beginning of a word. Usually indicates number, location, time, or status

Root

word part that gives the essential meaning of the word. A root cannot stand alone; a suffix must be added to complete the term

Combining vowel

single vowel, usually an o , that is added to the end of a root to make the word easier to pronounce. A combining vowel is used when a suffix begins with a consonant or when two or more roots are joined

Combining form

combination of the root and combining vowel

Suffix

word part found at the end of a word. Usually indicates procedure, condition, disease, or disorder

A or An ( prefix)

without or no (example: asymptomatic, or anuria)

Anti (prefix) 

against (example: antiseptic)

Ab ( prefix)

away from  (example: abduction)

Ad ( prefix) 

towards (example: abduction)

Anti ( prefix)

against (example: antiseptic)

Aur ( prefix)

pertaining to the ear (example: aural)

Dys ( prefix) 

difficult, painful, bad (example: dysphagia)

Eu ( prefix)

good, easy, normal (example: euthyroid)

Endo ( prefix)

within or inside (example: endoparasite)

Ecto ( prefix)

outside (example: ectoparasite)

Epi ( prefix)

upper (example: epidermis)

Ex or Extra ( prefix) 

without, out of, outside, or away from (example: external or extrasensory)

Hyper ( prefix) 

elevated, higher, or more than normal (example: hyperthyroid) 

Hypo ( prefix)

depressed, lower, or less than normal (example: hypoglycemia)

Infra (prefix) 

below or beneath (example: infraorbital)

Inter ( prefix)

between (example: Intercostal)

Intra ( prefix)

within (example: Intramuscular)

Meta ( prefix)

 beyond (example: metastatic)

Oligo ( prefix)

scant or little (exapmle: oliguria)

Pan ( prefix)

all (example: panleukopenia)

Poly ( prefix)

many or excessive (example: polydipsia)

Per (prefix)

throughout (example: percutaneous)

Peri ( prefix)

around (example: periodontal)

Pre (prefix) 

before (example: prescrotal)

Post ( prefix)

after (example: postanesthetic)

Sub ( prefix)

below, under, or less (example: subgingival)

Super or Supra ( prefix)

above, beyond, or excessive (example: supernumerary or suprascapular)

Trans ( prefix)

across (example: transmucosal)

Ultra (prefix)

above, increased, or more than normal (example: ultrasound)

Ac, al, an, ar, ary, eal, ia, ic, is, ine, ous, tic ( suffix)

Pertaining to (examples: cardiac, adrenal, ocular, secondary, esophageal, icteric, intestine, cutaneous, necrotic)

Algia and Dynia ( suffix)

pain (example: dorsalgia)

Centesis ( suffix)

surgical puncture to remove fluid or gas (example: thoracocentesis)

Dipso ( suffix)

pertaining to thirst (example: polydipsia)

Ectomy ( suffix) 

surgical removal (example: nephrectomy)

Emia ( suffix) 

pertaining to blood (example: hyperglycemia)

Gram ( suffix)

record of (example: electrocardiogram)

Graph ( suffix)

instrument that records (example: radiograph)

Graphy ( suffix)

procedure that records (example: electrocardiography)

ia ( suffix) 

state or condition (example: anemia)

Itis ( suffix)

inflammation or infection (example: dermatitis)

ive ( suffix)

performs or tends toward (example: congestive)

Lysis ( suffix)

separation or breakdown (example: hemolysis)

Malacia ( suffix) 

abnormal softening (example: osteomalacia)

Megaly ( suffix)

enlargement (example: splenomegaly)

Ology ( suffix) 

study of  (example: neurology)

Osis ( suffix)

abnormal condition (example: lymphocytosis)

Otomy ( suffix)

to cut into (example: gastrotomy)

Pathy ( suffix)

disease (example: enteropathy)

Penia ( suffix)

lack or deficiency (example: neutropenia)

Phagia ( suffix)

pertaining to eating (example: dysphagia)

Philia ( suffix)

excessive (example: basophilia)

Pexy ( suffix) 

suture to stabilize (example: gastropexy)

Plasty ( suffix)

surgical repair (example: vulvoplasty)

Rrhagia or rrhage ( suffix)

bursting forth (example: hemorrhage)

Rrhea ( suffix)

flow or discharge (example: diarrhea)

Sclerosis ( suffix) 

abnormal hardening (example: arteriosclerosis)

Scope ( suffix)

instrument to visually examine (example: endoscope)

Stomy ( suffix)

surgically created opening (example: colostomy)

Therapy ( suffix)

treatment (example: chemotherapy)

Tion or sion ( suffix)

action, process, state, or condition (example: infarction)

Um ( suffix)

structure (example: pericardium)

Us ( suffix)

thing (example: tarsus)

Abdom or Laparo ( root word) 

abdomen

Arteri ( root word)

artery

Arthro ( root word)

joint

Blepharo ( root word)

eyelid

Broncho ( root word)

bronchus

Cardio ( root word)

heart

Cephalo ( root word)

head

Cerebro or encephalo ( root word) 

brain

Chondro ( root word)

cartilage

Chole ( root word)

Bile, gall bladder

Colo ( root word)

large intestine

Costo ( root word) 

rib 

Cranio ( root word)

skull

Cyan ( root word)

blue

Cyto ( root word) 

cells

Cyst ( rootword)

bladder or sac

Dactyl ( root word)

finger/toes/phalanges

Dento  ( root word) 

dental

Derm ( root word)

skin

Enter ( root word)

intestine

Esophag ( root word)

esophagus

Erythro ( root word)

red blood cells

Fibro ( root word)

connective tissue

Gastro ( root word) 

stomach

Glyco or Gluco ( root word)

sugar

Gloss ( root word)

tongue

Hema  ( root word) 

blood

Hepa or Hepato ( root word)

liver

Hydro ( root word)

water

Irido ( root word) 

Iris

Ileo or ileum ( root word)

small intestine

Ilio or Ilium

Hip

Laryng ( root word) 

larynx