Prefixes, Roots, Suffixes

(P)
a, an:

analgesic =

without, not, lack of

without pain

(P)

ante:

antepartum =

before, in front of

before delivery

(P)

bi:

bifocal =

two, twice, double

two lenses

(P)

brady:

bradycardia =

slow

slow pulse, heartbeat

(P)

contra:

contraceptive =

against

prevents pregnancy

(P)

dis:

disinfected =

apart, free form

free from microorganisms

(P)

dys:

dysuria =

bad, painful

painful urination

(P)

endo:

endoscope =

inner

instrument for examining the inside of the organ

(P)

epi:

epidermis =

on, upon, over

outer layer of skin

(P)

erythro:

erythrocyte =

red

red blood cell

(P)

ex:

exhale =

out, away from

to breathe out

(P)

hemi:

hemisphere =

half

one of two parts of the brain

(P)

hyper:

hypertension =

too much, high

high blood pressure

(P)

hypo:

hypotension =

below, under

low blood pressure

(P)

inter:

interdisciplinary =

between, within

between disciplines

(P)

leuk:

leukocyte =

white

white blood cell

(P)

mal:

malformed =

bad, illness, disorder

badly made

(P)

micro:

microscopic =

small

too small for the eye to see

(P)

olig:

oliguria =

small, scant

small amount of urine

(P)

patho:

pathology =

disease, suffering

study of disease

(P)

per:

perforate =

by, through

to make a hole through

(P)

peri:

pericardium =

around

sac around the heart

(P)

poly:

polyuria =

many, much

much urine

(P)

post:

postmortem =

after, behind

period after death

(P)

pre:

prenatal =

before, in front of

period before birth

(P)

sub:

subcutaneous =

under, beneath

beneath the skin

(P)

supra:

suprapelvic =

above, over

located above the pelvis

(P)

tachy:

tachycardia =

swift, fast, rapid

rapid heartbeat

(R)

abdomin(o):

abdominal =

abdomen

pertaining to the abdomen

(R)

aden(o):

adenitis =

gland

inflammation of a gland

(R)

angi(o):

angioplasty =

vessel

surgical repair of a vessel using a balloon

(R)

arterio:

arteriosclerosis =

artery

hardening of artery walls

(R)

arthr(o):

arthrotomy =

joint

cut into a joint

(R)

brachi(o):

brachial =

arm

pertaining to the arm

(R)

bronchi, bronch(o):

bronchopneumonia =

bronchus

inflammation of lungs

(R)

card, cardi(o):

cardiology =

heart

study of the heart

(R)

cephal(o):

cephalalgia =

head

headache

(R)

cerebr(o):

cerebrospinal =

cerebrum

pertaining to the brain and spinal cord

(R)

chole, chol(o):

cholecystitis =

bile

inflammation of the gall bladder

(R)

colo:

colonoscopy =

colon

examination of the large intestine or color with a scope

(R)

cost(o):

costochondral =

rib

pertaining to a rib

(R)

crani(o):

craniotomy =

skull

cutting into the skull

(R)

cyan(o):

cyanosis =

blue

blue, gray, or purple tinge to the skin due to lack of oxygen in the blood

(R)

cyst(o):

cystitis =

bladder, cyst

inflammation of the bladder

(R)

derm, derma:

dermatitis =

skin

inflammation of the skin

(R)

duoden(o):

duodenal =

duodenum

pertaining to the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine

(R)

encephal(o):

encephalitis =

brain

inflammation of the brain

(R)

gaster(o):

gastritis =

stomach

inflammation of the stomach

(R)

geron:

gerontology =

aged

study of the aged

(R)

gluco:

glucometer =

sweet

device used to measure blood glucose

(R)

glyco, glyc:

glycosuria =

sweet

glucose (sugar) in the urine

(R)

gyneco, gyno:

gynecology =

woman

study of diseases of the female reproductive organs

(R)

hema, hemato, hemo:

hematuria =

blood

blood in the urine

(R)

hepato:

hepatomegaly =

liver

enlargement of the liver

(R)

hyster(o):

hysterctomy =

uterus

surgical removal of the uterus

(R)

ile(o), ili(o):

ileorrhaphy =

ileum

surgical repair of the ileum

(R)

laryng(o):

laryngectomy =

larynx

excision of the larynx

(R)

lymph(o):

lymphocyte =

lymph

type of white blood cell

(R)

mamm(o):

mammogram =

breast

X-ray of the breast

(R)

mast(o):

mastectomy =

breast

excision of the breast

(R)

melan(o):

melanoma =

black

mole or tumor, may be cancerous

(R)

mening(o):

meningitis =

meninges; membranes covering the spinal cord and brain

inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord or brain

(R)

necro:

necrotic =

death

dead tissue

(R)

nephr(o):

nephrectomy =

kidney

removal of a kidney

(R)

neur(o):

neuritis =

nerve

inflammation of a nerve

(R)

onc(o):

oncology =

tumor

study of tumors

(R)

ophthalm(o):

ophthalmologist =

eye

eye doctor

(R)

oste(o):

osteoarthritis =

bone

disease of the joints

(R)

ot(o):

otology =

ear

science of the ear

(R)

pharyng(o):

pharyngitis =

pharynx

inflammation of the throat, sore throat

(R)

phleb(o):

phlebitis =

vein

inflammation of a vein

(R)

pneo/pnea:

tachypnea =

breathing

rapid breathing

(R)

pneum:

pneumonia =

air, gas, respiration

inflammation of the lung

(R)

pod(o):

podiatrist =

foot

foot doctor

(R)

proct(o):

proctology =

anus, rectum

study of the rectum

(R)

pulm(o):

pulmonary =

lung

relating to the lungs

(R)

splen(o):

splenomegaly =

spleen

enlarged spleen

(R)

stomat(o):

stomatitis =

mouth

inflammation of mouth

(R)

therm(o):

thermoplegia =

hot, heat

heatstroke

(R)

thorac(o):

thoracotomy =

chest

incision into chest wall

(R)

thromb(o):

thrombus =

blood clot

blood clot blocking a vessel

(R)

toxic(o), tox(o):

toxicology =

poison

study of poisons

(R)

trache(o):

tracheostomy =

trachea, windpipe

incision to make an artificial airway

(R)

urethr(o):

urethritis =

urethra

inflammation of urethra

(S)

-cyte:

leukocyte =

cell

white blood cell

(S)

-ectomy:

splenectomy =

excision, removal of

removal of spleen

(S)

-emesis:

hyperemesis =

vomiting

excessive vomiting

(S)

-emia:

anemia =

blood condition

lack of red blood cells

(S)

-ism:

hyperthyroidism =

a condition

condition cause by an excessive production of thyroid hormones

(S)

-itis:

stomatitis =

inflammation

inflammation of the mouth

(S)

-logy:

hematology =

study of

study of the blood

(S)

-megaly:

splenomegaly =

enlargement

enlarged spleen

(S)

-oma:

melanoma =

tumor

mole or tumor, may be cancerous

(S)

-osis:

halitosis =

condition

bad breath

(S)

-ostomy:

ileostomy =

creation of an opening

creation of an opening into the ileum

(S)

-otomy:

laparotomy =

cut into

cutting into the abdomen

(S)

-pathy:

myopathy =

disease

disease of the muscle

(S)

-penia:

leukopenia =

lack

a lack of white blood cells

(S)

-phagia:

dysphagia =

to eat

difficulty swallowing

(S)

-phasia:

aphasia =

speaking

absence of speaking