Medical terminology

What is it?

Medical terminology is the specialised language used by healthcare professionals to communicate accurately about the human body, health conditions, treatments and procedures.

What is a Prefix

Prefixes occur at the beginning of a word and tells us why, how much, how many positions, direction or number.

What is the Root

Is the main part of the medical term and is specific to the body part to which the term refers.

What is a suffix?

A suffix is found at the end of a word and indicates a procedure, condition or disease

Exterior root Word: Acro

Extremities

Exterior root word: Ambi

Both sides

Exterior root Word: Anter

front

Exterior root word: Aut

self

Exterior root word: Axill

armpit

Exterior root word: Brachi

Arm

Exterior root word: Bucc

cheek/face

Exterior root word: Cephal

Head

Exterior root word: Carp

Wrist

Exterior root word: Crani

skull

Exterior root word: Cubit

elbow

Exterior Root word: Derm

skin

Exterior root word: Dorsi

back or posterior

Exterior root word: Faci

face

Exterior root word: Gnath

Jaws

Exterior root word: Inguin

Groin

Exterior root word: Later

Side of body

Exterior root word: Mamm/mast

breast

Exterior root word: Ocul

eye

Exterior root word: Odont

Teeth

Exterior root word: Optic

Seeing or sight

Exterior root word: Ot

ear

Exterior root word: Pelv

pelvis

Exterior root word: Pod

foot

Exterior root word: Rhin

Nose

Exterior root word: Thorac

chest/ thorax

Exterior root word: Trachel

Neck

Interior root words: Abdomin

abdomen

Interior root words: Aden

gland

Interior root words: Adip

Fat

Interior root words: Alveoli

air sac

Interior root words: angio

blood vessel

Interior root words: an

anus

Interior root words: Aort

Aorta

Interior root words: Arteri

Artery

Interior root words: Aspir

to breath in

Interior root words: Athr

plaque

Interior root words: Audi

Hearing

Interior root words: Bronchi/ bronch

bronchus

Interior root words: Carcin

cancer

Interior root words: Cardi

heart

Interior root words: Cellul/ cyt

cell

Interior root words: Cerebell

Cerebellum

Interior root words: col

colon

Interior root words: cost

rib

Interior root words: Cutane

skin

Interior root words: enter

intestine

Interior root words: Gast

stomach

Interior root words: Gynec

female

Interior root words: Haemat/ haem

blood

Interior root words: Hepat/hepatic

Liver

Interior root words: Hist/histi

tissue

Interior root words: Intesin

intestine

Interior root words: Laryng

Larynx

Interior root words: Lymph

Lymph vessels

Interior root words: My

muscle

Interior root words: Nat

birth

Interior root words: Necro

death or dying

Interior root words: Nephr

kidney

Interior root words: Neur

Nerve

Interior root words: Oesophag

Oesophagus

Interior root words: Oss/eo, Oste

Bone

Interior root words: Oophoro

ovary

Interior root words: Pharmac

drug

Interior root words: Pharyng

Pharynx

Interior root words: Pneum

Lungs

Interior root words: Rect

Rectum

Interior root words: Sept

infection

Interior root words: Tendin

tendon

Interior root words: Testicul

Testis

Prefix: Ab-

away from normal

Prefix: Ad-

toward

Prefix: An-, A-

without/ lack of

Prefix: Ante-

before

Prefix: Anti-

against

Prefix: Auto-

self

Prefix: Contra-

against or opposite

Prefix: De-

down, lack of

Prefix: Dia-

though, thoughout

Prefix: Dys-

bad, painful, difficult, abnormal

Prefix: Ecto

outside

Prefix: Endo

inside

Prefix: Epi-

above, on

Prefix: Ex-

outside

Prefix: Hydro

water

Prefix: inter

between

Prefix: Intra

within, inside

Prefix: Macro

large

Prefix: mono-

one

Prefix: Non-

not

Prefix: Pan-

Whole

Prefix: Peri-

around

Prefix: Poly-

many, much

Prefix: Post-

after, behind

Prefix: Pre-

before

Prefix: Trachy-

fast