50 Key Adjectives

A vocabulary set of roots, prefixes, and terms related to the lecture notes on medical terminology, focusing on verb forms, prefixes, and adjective modifiers.

AUTO

self. Ex: Autolysis is the process of self-digestion or self-decomposition.

brachy-

short. Ex: Brachydactyly is a condition where fingers or toes are shorter than normal.

BRADY

slow. Ex: Bradypnea is slow breathing

BREVI

short. Brevity is an example.

CAV

hollow. Cavity is an example.

CRYO

cold. Cryotherapy is an example.

CRYPTO

hidden or concealed. Cryptorchidism is a hidden testis condition.

DEXTRO

right. AMBIDEXTROUSrefers to being able to use both hands with equal skill.

DIPLO

two or twice. DIPLOPIA is a condition of double vision.

LATUS, LAT

broad or to the side. Latissimus dorsi is a broad muscle of the back that helps in arm movements.

LONGUS

long. Example is longtitude

MACRO

large or abnormally large. Macrochiria (hands)

MAGNI

great. Magnitude

MALACO

soft. osteomalacia is soft bones.

MAL

bad. Malignant (bad/growth)

MEDI

middle. median

MESO

middle. mesoderm (skin/layer)

MICRO

small. Microscope

MINIMUS

smallest. Gluteus minimus

MULTI, POLY

Many/much. Multilobular: multiple lobes.

NECRO

dead or dying. Necrosis is a dead tissue condition.

NEO

new. Neoplasm

OLIGO

few. Oliguria is a condition of having an abnormally low urine output.

ORTHO

straight, normal, or correct. Orthodontics

OXY

sharp, quick, or acute. Oxyesthesia refers to an enhanced sensitivity to stimuli.

POLY-

many/much. Polydipsia is a condition characterized by excessive thirst or fluid intake.

pronus-, prono-

face down. prone

pseudo-

false.

sclero-

hard.

scolio-

twisted; crooked

sinistro-

left

stasis

stop

steno

narrow

stalsis

contract

tachy

fast/swift

tele-, tel-, telo-

end/far away

thermo-

heat

tratchy-

rough

xero-

dry

dys-

difficultor impaired functioning

eu-

normal

glyco-

sugar

gravid

heavywith a child; pregnant.

haplo-

single/simple

hetero-, heter-

different, other

homo-, homeo-

same, alike

hydro-

wet/water

iso-

equal

mega

great

megalo

huge