Medical Prefixes and Roots: Anatomy, Biology, and Chemistry

A-, An-

Without

Andr/o-

Male

Anti-

Against

Auto-

Self

Bio-

Life

Chem/o-

Chemistry

Contra-

Against

Cyt/o-

Cell

Dis-

Separation; Taking apart

Dys-

Difficult; Abnormal

Eu-

Good; Well

Fibr/o-

Fiber

Gluco-, Glyco-

Glucose; Sugar

Gyn/o-, Gynec-

Female

Hydr/o-

Water

Idio-

Self; One's own

Lyso-, Lys-

Break down; Destruction; Dissolving

Mal-

Bad; Abnormal

Myc/o-

Fungus

Necr/o-

Death

Neo-

New

Oxy-

Sharp; Acute; Oxygen

Pan-, Pant/o-

All or everywhere

Pharmaco-

Drug; Medicine

Re-

Again; Backward

Somat/o-, Somatico-

Body; Bodily

Acous/o-

Hearing

Aden/o-

Gland

Adip/o-

Fat

Adren/o-

Gland

Angi/o-

Blood vessel

Arteri/o-

Artery

Arthr/o-

Joint

Bucc/o-

Cheek

Bronch/i-

Bronchus

Burs/o-

Bursa

Carcin/o-

Cancer

Cardi/o-

Heart

Cephal/o-

Head

Chol-

Bile

Chondri-

Cartilage

Coron-

Heart

Cost-

Rib

Crani/o-

Brain

Cutane-

Skin

Cyst/o-, Cysti-

Bladder or sac

Derm-, Dermat/o-

Skin

Duoden/o-

Duodenum

Gastr-

Stomach

Gloss-

Tongue

Hem-, Hema-, Hemat-, Hemo-, Hemat/o-

Blood

Hepat/o-, Hepatico-

Liver

Hist/o-, Histio-

Tissue

Hyster/o-

Uterus

Ileo-

Ileum

Ischi/o-

Ischium

Kerat/o-

Cornea (eye or skin)

Lacrim/o-

Tear (from your eyes)

Lact/o-, Lacti-

Milk

Laryng/o-

Larynx

Lingu/o-

Tongue

Lip/o-

Fat

Lymph/o-

Lymph

Mamm-, Mast/o-

Breast

Mening/o-

Meninges

Muscul/o-

Muscle

My/o-

Muscle

Myel/o-

Spinal cord or bone marrow

Nephr/o-

Kidney

Neur/i-, Neur/o-

Nerve

Oculo-

Eye

Onco-

Tumor; Bulk; Volume

Onych/o-

Fingernail; Toenail

Oo-

Egg; Ovary

Oophor/o-

Ovary

Op-, Opt-

Vision

Ophthalm/o-

Eye

Orchid/o-, Orchio-

Testis

Orth/o-

Straight; Normal; Correct

Osseo-

Bony

Ossi-

Bone

Ost-, Oste/o-

Bone

Ot/o-

Ear

Ovar/i-, Ovario-, Ovi-, Ovo-

Ovary

Phalang-

Phalanx

Pharyng/o-

Pharynx; Throat

Phleb/o-

Vein

Phren/i-, Phreno-, Phrenico-

Diaphragm

Pleur-, Pleur/a-, Pleur/o-

Rib, pleura

Pneum/a-, Pneumat/o-

Air; Lung

Proct/o-

Anus; Rectum

Prostat-

Prostate

Pseudo-

False

Psych/o-, Psyche-

Mind

Radio-

Radiation; Radius

Ren/o-

Kidney

Retin-

Retina (of the eye)

Rhin/o-

Nose

Salping/o-

Tube

Sarco-

Muscular; Flesh-like