Biology-1406: Prefixes, Suffixes and Word Roots

a-

Absense or lack

ab-

departing from, away from

-able

able to, capable of

-ac

referring to

acou-

hearing

acr-, acro-

extreme or extremity; peak

ad-

to or toward

aden-, adeno-

gland

-al

expressing relationship

-algia

pain in a certain part

amphi-

on both sides; of both kinds

an-

without, lack of

ana-

up, back again

angi-, angio-

vessel

ant-, anti-

opposed to; preventing or inhibiting

ante-

preceding; before-associated with, relating to

arthr-, arthro-

joint

-ary

associated with

-atresia

imperforate (lacking the normal opening; not perforated)

-asis

condition, state of

aut-, auto-

self

bi-

two

bio-

life

-blast

bud or germ

brady-

slow

broncho-

bronchus (any of the major air passages of the lungs which diverge from the windpipe)

bucco-

cheek

-c

expressing relationship

caput-

head

carcin-

cancer

cardi-, cardio-

heart

cata-

down, according to

cephal-

head

cele-

hollow

cerebro-

brain, especially the cerebrum; pertaining to the brain and spinal cord

chol-

bile

cholecyst-

gallbladder ex: cholecystectomy

chondr-

cartilage

-cide

destroy or kill

circum-

around

-clast

smash, break

co-, com-, con-

together

contra-

against

cost-

rib

crani-

skull

crypt-

hidden

cysto-

bladder or sac

-cyte

cell

cyt-, cyto-

cell

de-

undoing; reversal, loss, removal

derm-

skin

di-

twice, double

dia-

through, between, apart, across

dis-

reversal, apart from

dys-

difficult, faulty, painful

ec-, ex-, ecto-

out, outside away, from

-ectomy

cutting out, surgical removal

edem-

swell

em-

in

-emia

condition of the blood

en-, em-

in, inside

endo-

within

entero-

intestine

epi-

over, above

erythro-

red

eu-

well

exo, extra

outside, beyond

-ferent

carry

-form

expressing reemblance

-fuge

driving out

gastr-

stomach

-gen

an agent that initiates

-genesis

produce, origin

glosso-

tounge

glycol-

sugar, sweet

-gram

data that are symmetrically recorded, a record

-graph

instrument used for recording date or writing

hema-, hemato-, hemo

blood

hemi-

half

hepat-

liver

hetero-

different or other

hist-

tissue-

hom-, homeo-, homo-

same

hydro-, hydr-

water

hyper-

excess

hypo-

below, deficient

hyster-, hystero-

uterus, womb

-ia

condition

iatr-

treat, cure

-iatrics

medical specialty

-id

condition

im-

not

in-

in, into

intra-

within, inside

iso-

equal, same

-itis

infammation

inter-

between

infra-

below

hypno-

sleep

leuko-

white