Prefix and Suffix exam

a-, an

lack, without (asexual)

ab-; abs-

from, away from; separated (abduct; abscess)

-able

capable: viable (capable of living)

acou-

hearing: acoustics (science of sound)

acr-

extremity: acromegaly (large extremities)

ad-

to, toward, attached to (adduct)

adeno-

gland: adenoma (glandular tumor)

-aer-

air (aerobic; anaerobic)

-aesthes-

feeling (anesthesia)

af-

toward (afferent)

-al

expressing relationship: neural (referring to nerves)

algia

pain: gastralgia (stomach pain)

amyl-

starch (amylase)

angio-

vessel: angiography (radiography of blood vessels)

ante-

before, forward: antecubital (before elbow)

anti-

against, reversed: antiperistalsis (reversed peristalsis)

arthr-

joint: arthritis (inflammation of a joint)

-ary

associated with: urinary (associated with urine)

-asis

condition, state of: homeostasis (state of staying the same)

aud-

hear (auditory; audiometer)

auri-

ear (auriscope)

auto-

self, oneself (autograph; autotrophic): autolysis => self breakdown

baro-

pressure, weight (barometer)

bi-

two, twice, double (bilobed; biceps): bicuspid=>two cusps

-bio(s)

life, live (symbiosis)

-blastos-

germ or forming (erythroblast)

brachio-

arm (brachial; brachial artery)

brachy-

short (brachycephalic)

brady-

slow (bradycardia)

-bronchio-

gill (bronchiomeric; bronchiopod)

brevi-

short (brevipennate; brevity)

-calci-

pertaining to lime; spur (calcareous; calcite)

callous-

hard, thickened (corpus callosum; callus)

-cardi-

heart (pericardium; cardiovascular)

-carn-

flesh (carnage; carnal)

carcin-

cancer: carcinogenic=>causing cancer

cardio-

heart: cardiopathy=>heart disease

cauda-

tail (caudal)

cephal; -cephale-

head: cephalic=>toward the head

-cele

hollow; blastocele=>hollow cavity inside a blastocyst

cereb-; cerebro-

brain (cerebellum; cerebrum): cerebrospinal=>referring to brain and spinal cord

chi

22nd letter of Greek alphabet, crossing (chiasma)

-chiro-

hand (chiropractor)

-chloro-

green (chlorophyll)

chole-

bile (cholecystic): acholic=>without bile

-chondr-; -chondro-

cartilage, gristle (perichondrium): chondrocyte=>cartilage cell

-cid; -cide, or cidal-

kill, to kill (suicide; fungicidal; bactericidal): bactericide=>agent that kills bacteria

-cili-

hair (ciliated)

circum-

around, about (circumcision): circumduction=>circular movement

-clast-

to break, destroy, smash: osteoclast=>cell that breaks down bone

-clavis-

club-like (clavicle)

-cle, -clus, -cule, -culus

small, diminutive (auricle)

co-, com-, con-

with, together (coagulate; commensal; conjugate) coenzyme=>molecule that functions with an enzyme, commisure=>coming together, convergence=>to incline together

coll-

glue (collagen; colloid)

contra-

counter, against, opposite (contrary; contraindicated): contralateral=>opposite

-corn-

horn, hard (unicorn; cornea; cornified)

corona-

crown (coronary)

-corp-, -corpus-

body (corpuscle; corpus callosum)

-cortex-

outer layer (adrenal cortex; corticotrophic hormone)

-costa-

rib (costal cartilage; intercostal)

crypto-

hidden: cryptorchidism=>undescended or hidden testes

-cune

wedge (cuneiform)

-cyt, cyte, cyto-

cell (lymphocyte): erythrocyte=>red blood cell, cytoskeleton=>supportive fibers inside a cell

cyano-

dark blue (cyanosis)

-cyst-

bladder (fibrocystic)

-dendron-

treelike (dendrite)

-dent-

tooth, pointed (dentate; periodontal)

-derm-

skin, layer (ectoderm; dermal): dermatology=>study of skin

di-

two, twice (divide): diploid=>two sets of chromosomes

dia-

through, apart, across, between (diameter; dialysis): diapedesis=>ooze through

dis-

different, apart, apart from, away, reversal, negative (disinfect): dissect=>cut apart

diplo-

two, divided (diploid)

dura-

hard, lasting (dura mater)

-dynia

pain: mastodynia=>breast pain

dys-

bad, hard, difficult (dysentery): dysmentia=>bad mind

e-, ef

out of, out, from, away from (eject): eviscerate=>take out viscera

ecto-

outside, external, on outer side (ectoparasite): ectoderm=>outer skin

-ectomy

to cut out, cut out: appendectomy=>cut out the appendix

-edem-

swell: myoedema=>swelling of a muscle

-emia

blood: anemia=>deficiency of blood

endo-

within, inner (endoderm; endocardium): endometrium=>within the uterus

entero-

intestine: enteritis=>inflammation of the intestine

epi-

upon, on the surface, on: epidermis=>on the skin

erythro-

red: erythrocyte=>red blood cell

eu-

well, good: euphoria=>well-being

ex-

out, away from: exhalation=>breathe out

exo-

outside, on outer side: exogenous=>originating outside

extra-

beyond, outside of (extracellular)

-ferent

carry: afferent=>carrying to the central nervous system

fovea-

a small pit (fovea centralis)

-form

expressing resemblance: fusiform=>resembling a fusion

gala-, lac-

milk (galactose, lactose)

gastro-

stomach: gastrodynia=>stomach ache

-gen, genesis

produce, producing, beginning, origin (genesis; collagen): pathogenesis => origin of disease

gloss-,-glosso-

tongue (glossopharyngeal): hypoglossal=>under the tongue

glyco-

sugar, sweet (glycose): glycolysis=>breakdown of sugar

-gram

letter or record, a drawing (electrocardiogram): myogram=>drawing of a muscle contraction

graph-

writing, instrument that records (kymograph): myograph=>instrument for measuring muscle contraction

gyn-

woman (gynecology)

hemato-, hemo-, hem-

blood (hematology): hemopoiesis=>formation of blood