Medical Prefixes and Suffixes: Definitions and Examples

-algia

condition of having pain in

-emia

condition of the blood

-mania

madness, obsession

-opia

condition of the vision

-philia

intense attraction to or love for

-phobia

intense fear of or aversion to

-phoria

carrying or transporting

-sthenia

condition of strength

-tropia

turning or inclination

-ectomy

cutting out, removal

-graphy

writing, imaging

-logy

study or science of

-nomy

study or science of

-pathy

disease, disorder, feeling

-plasty

shaping, reconstruction

-stomy

cutting of an opening or mouth

-therapy

treatment

-tomy

cutting

-trophy

nourishment

angi-

vessel

antr-

cavity

blephar-

eyelid

cac-

bad

cheil-

lip

enter-

intestine

heli-

sun

ker-, kerat-

horn, cornea

lept-

thin, delicate

lymph-

water, lymph

nyct-

night

onc-

tumor, swelling

ophthalm-

eye

osm-

smell

ost-, oste-

bone

phleb-

vein

phon-

sound, voice

proct-

anus, rectum

pyl-, pyle-, pylor-

gate, entrance, lower stomach

pyr-, pyret-

fire, fever

rhin-, -rrhin-

nose

salpinx, salping-

tube

splen-

spleen

tac-, tax-

to order, to arrange

tele-

from far away, at a distance

trache-

rough, windpipe

acr-

extremity, summit

argyr-

silver

aut-

self

chir-, cheir-

hand

chron-

time

copr-

excrement

gluc-, glyc-

sugar

hem-, hemat-

blood

heter-

other, different

hom-, home-

same, similar

necr-

corpse, dead tissue

ne-

new, young

nom-

rule, law, measure

orex-

appetite

ot-

ear

pale- (palae-)

old, ancient

platy-, platys-

broad, flat

pleur-

side, rib

spa-, spas-

to draw, to jerk

stere-

solid, three-dimensional

stom-, stomat-

mouth

therap-

to nurture, to treat

traum-, traumat-

injury, trauma

-genesis

birth, origin

-kinesis

movement

-lysis

dissolution, breaking apart

-physis

growth

-stasis

condition, standing

-scope

instrument for viewing

-some

body, structure

-type

form, model, example

acanth-

thorn

brady-

slow

chol-, chole-

bile, gall

chyl-, chym-

juice

cly-, clys-

to wash

colp-

vagina

dacry-

tear

dynam-, dyn-

power

geu-

to taste

hol-

whole, entire

ide-

idea, mental image

idi-

one's own, distinct

lapar-

abdomen

metr-

uterus

myc-, mycet-

fungus

oo-

egg

orch-, orchi-, orchid-

testicle

pachy-

thick

parthen-

virgin

phan-, phaner-, phant-, phen-

to appear, to show

phot-, phos-

light

rhiz-

root

sperm-, spermat-

semen, seed

splanchn-

entrails, viscera