Medical Terminology

constructed terms

a word made up of multiple word parts

eponym

a term derived from a name

non constructed terms

terms that are not formed from individual word parts

prefix

word part that is affixed to the beginning of a word

word root

a word part that provides the primary meaning of a term

suffix

a word part that is affixed to the end of a word

combining vowel

a vowel used when a suffix starts with a consonant

anti-

against, opposite of

brady-

slow

endo-

within

epi-

upon, over, above, on top

neo-

new

pre-

to come before

append/o, appendic/o

appendix

bi/o

life

cardi/o

heart

cerebr/o

brain, cerebrum

dermat/o

skin

electr/o

electricity

encephal/o

brain

gastr/o

stomach

hem/o

blood

hepat/o

liver

hyster/o

uterus

laryng/o

voice box, larynx

leuk/o

white

mamm/o

breast

mast/o

breast

ment/o

mind

nat/o

birth

neur/o

nerve

path/o

disease

proct/o

rectum or anus

psych/o

mind

rhin/o

nose

tonsill/o

tonsil

vas/o

vessel

-al

pertaining to

-ectomy

surgical removal

-emia

condition of blood

-gram

a record or image

-ia

condition of

-iatry

treatment, specialty

-ic

pertaining to

-itis

inflammation of

-logist

one who studies

-logy

study or science of

-pathy

disease

-philia

loving, affinity for

-plasty

surgical repair

-scope

instrument used for viewing

-tic

pertaining to

disease within the nose

endorhinopathy

surgical removal of the tonsils

tonsillectomy

surgical removal of the fallopian tube

salpingoplasty

salping/o

fallopian tube

inflammation of the skin

dermatitis

study or science of the nose

rhinology

pertaining to the mind

cerebral

disease of the nerve

neuropathy

inherited defect in blood coagulation

hemophilia

inflammation of the larny

laryngitis

laryng/o

larynx

study or science of the skin

dermatology

instrument for viewing the larnyx

laryngoscope

study or science of life

biology

inflammation of within the heart

endocarditis

condition of a slow heart

bradycardia

pertaining to against life

antibio

surgical repair of the skin

dermaplasty

study or science of nerves

neurology

pertaining to the cerebrum

cerebral

surgical removal of the stomach

gastrectomy

inflammation of the brain

encephalitis

instrument used for viewing the uterus

hysteroscope

surgical repair of the breast

mammoplasty

surgical removal of the appendix

appendectomy

pertaining to the liver

hepic

-meter

measure, measuring instrument

-scopy

process of viewing

-ous

pertaining to

-drome

run or running

syn-

together

-emesis

vomiting

-malacia

softening

-opsy

view of

-oxia

condition of oxygen

-phagia

eating or swallowing

dysphagia

painful or difficult eating or swallowing

-phasia

speaking

a-

without or absence of

aphasia

without or absence of speaking

-physis

growth

hypo-

below

-plegia

paralysis

quadri-

four

quadriplegia

paralysis of four limbs

-oma

tumor

oset/o

bone

osteoma

tumor of bone