Medical prefixes and suffixes

-ac

pertaining to

andr-, andro-

male

auto-

self

bio-

life

chem-, chemo-

chemistry

cyt-, cyto- or -cyte, -cytic

cell

-blast-, -blasto-, -blastic

bud, germ

fibr-, fibro-

fiber

gluco-, glycol-

glucose, sugar

gyn-, gyno-, gynec-

female

hetero-

other, different

hydr-, hydro-

water

idio-

self, one’s own

-ity

pertaining to

karyo-

nucleus

neo-

new

-ous

pertaining to

oxy-

sharp, acute, oxygen

pan-, pant-, panto-

all or everywhere

pharmaco-

drug, medicine

re-

again, backward

somat-, somatico-, somato-

body, bodily

acous-, acouso-

hearing

aden-, adeno- or adren-,adreno

gland

adip-, adipo-

fat

angi-, angio-

blood vessel

ateri-, aterio-

artery

arthr-, arthro-

joint

blephar-

eyelid

bronch-, bronchi-

bronchus

bucc-, bucco-

cheek

burs-, burso-

bursa (a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a bone and other moving parts)

carcin-, carcino-

cancer

cardi-, cardio-

heart

cephal-, cephalo-

head

chol-

bile

chondr-

cartilage

coron-

heart

cost-

rib

crani-, cranio-

brain

cutane-

skin

cyst-, cysti-, cysto-

bladder or sac

dactyl-, dactylo-

digit (finger or toe)

derm-, dermato-

skin

duodeno-

duodenum (the first part of your small intestine, right after your stomach)

-esthesio-

sensation

gloss-, glosso-

tongue

gastr-

stomach

gnath-, gnatho-

jaw

grav-

heavy

hem-, hema-, hemat-, hemato-, hemo-

blood

hepat-, hepatico-, hepato-

liver

hidr-, hidro-

sweat

hist-, histio-, histo-

tissue

hyster-, hystero-

uterus

ileo-

ileum (the lower part of the small intestine)

irid-, irido-

iris

ischi-, ischio-

ischium (the lower and back part of the hip bone)

-ium

structure or tissue

kerat-, kerato-

cornea (eye or skin)

lacrim-, lacrimo-

tear (from your eyes)

lact-, lacti-, lacto-

milk

laryng-, laryngo-

larynx (voice box)

lingu-, linguo-

tongue

lip-, lipo-

fat

lith-, litho-

stone

lymph-, lympho-

lymph

mamm-, mast-, masto-

breast

mening-, meningo-

meninges (the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord)

muscul-, musclo-

muscle

my-, myo-

muscle

myel-, myelo-

spinal cord OR bone marrow

myring-, myringo-

eardrum

nephr-, nephro-

kidney

neur-, neuri-, neuron-

nerve

oculo-

eye

odont-, odonto-

tooth

onych-, onycho-

fingernail, toenail

oo-

egg, ovary

oophor-, oophoro-

ovary

op-, opt-

vision

ophthalm-, ophthalmo-

eye

orchid-, orchido-, orchio-

testis

osteo- or -ossi

bone

osseo-

bony

ost-, oste-, osteo-

bone

ot-, oto-

ear

ovari-, ovario-, ovi-, ovo-

ovary

phalang-

phalanx (any bone in the fingers or toes)

pharyng-, pharyngo-

pharynx, throat

phleb-, phlebo-

vein

phob-, phobia

fear

phren-, phreni-, phrenico-, phreno-

diaphragm

pleur-, pleura-, pleuro-

rib, pleura

pneum-, pneuma-, pneumat-, pneumato-

air, lung

pod-, podo-

foot

prostat-

prostate

psych-, psyche-, psycho-

mind

proct-, procto-

anus, rectum

pyel-, pyelo-

pelvis