Medical Terminology Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key medical combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes.

xer/o

Indicates dry.

seb/o

Refers to sebum.

leuk/o

Refers to white.

-cyte

Means cell.

-malacia

Indicates softening.

trich/o or pil/o

Refers to hair.

sub-

Means below.

myc/o

Refers to fungus.

intra-

Means within.

melan/o

Signifies black.

hyper-

Means excessive.

anti-

Means against.

an-

Means without.

-therapy

Implies treatment.

cyan/o

Refers to blue.

hidr/o or sudor/o

Refers to sweat.

hypo-

Indicates below or deficient.

-penia

Indicates decrease or deficiency.

-oma

Refers to a tumor.

-rrhea

Means flow or discharge.

derm/o or dermat/o

Refers to skin.

adip/o

Refers to fat.

erythr/o

Refers to red.

onc/o

Represents tumor.

-logy

The study of

-itis

Refers to inflammation.

-pathy

Signifies disease.