Appendix E - Medical Word Roots and Affixes

a-

no, not, without (atom, agranulocyte)

ab-

away (abducens, abduction)

acetabulo-

small cup (acetabulum)

acro-

tip, extremity, peak (acromion, acromegaly)

ad-

to, toward, near (adsorption, adrenal)

adeno

gland (lymphadenitis, adenohypophysis)

aero-

air, oxygen (aerobic, anaerobic)

af-

toward (afferent)

ag-

together (agglutination)

-al

pertaining to (parietal, pharyngeal, temporal)

ala-

wing (ala nasi)

albi-

white (albicans, linea alba, albino)

algi-

pain (analgesic, myalgia)

aliment-

nourishment (alimentary)

allo-

other, different (allele, allograft)

amphi-

both, either (amphiphilic, amphiarthrosis)

an-

without (anaerobic, anemic)

ana-

1. up, build up (anabolic, anaphylaxis)

2. apart (anaphase, anatomy)

3. back (anastomosis)

andro-

male (androgen)

angi-

vessel (angiogram, angioplasty, hemangioma)

ante-

before, in front (antebrachium)

antero-

forward (anterior, anterograde)

anti-

against (antidiuretic, antibody, antagonist)

apo-

from, off, away, above (apocrine, aponeurosis)