a- or an-
without or lacking (ex: anorexia)
ab-
away from (ex: abduct)
ad-
toward or adjacent to (ex: adduct)
anti-
against, opposed, or inhibitive (ex: antihistamine)
arthr-
joint (ex: arthroscopy)
auto-
self (ex: autoimmune disease)
bi-
two (ex: biceps)
bio-
life (ex: biology)
carcin-
cancer or tumor (ex: carcinogen)
cardio-
heart (ex: cardiology)
cephal-
head (ex: encephalitis)
cerebro-
brain (ex: CVA or cerebrovascular accident)
chondr-
cartilage (ex: chondrogenesis)
circum-
around or round about (ex: circumcision)
co-
with or together (ex: cofactor)
contra-
against or in opposition to (ex: contraindication)
derm-
skin (ex: dermatologist)
di-
two (ex: disaccharide)
dys-
difficult or abnormal (ex: dyslexia)
ecto-
outside or external (ex: ectopic)
endo-
inside or within (ex: endocardium)
epi-
upon or above (ex: epidermis)
erythro-
red (ex: erythrocyte)
eu-
well, good, or true (ex: eukaryote)
ex-
out of or outside (ex: excretion)
glyco-
sweet or sugar (ex: glycogenolysis)
hemi-
half (ex: hemipalegia)
hepat-
liver (ex: hepatocyte)
hist-
tissue (ex: histology)
hydro-
water or liquid (ex: hydrocele)
hyper-
in excess (ex: hyperglycemia)
hypo-
below normal or under (ex: hypoglycemia)
infra-
beneath or underneath (ex: infrapatellar)
inter-
between (ex: interosseous)
intra-
within or inside of (ex: intramuscular)
iso-
equal (ex: isotope)
leuko-
white (ex: leukocytosis)
macro-
large (ex: macrophage)
melano-
black (ex: melanoma)
micro-
small (ex: microscope)
mono-
one (ex: monosaccharide)
multi-
many or multiple (ex: multicellular)
myo-
muscle (ex: myocardial infarction)
neo-
new (ex: neovascularization)
nephro-
kidney (ex: cystic nephron)
neuro-
nerve (ex: neuroglia)
oculo-
eye (ex: ocular)
odonto-
tooth (ex: orthodontist)
oligo-
deficient or few (ex: oligochromemia)
opthalm-
eye (ex: ophthalmology)
osteo-
bone (ex: osteoporosis)
oto-
ear (ex: otology)
para-
alongside or beyond (ex: parathyroid glands)
peri-
around (ex: pericardium)
physio-
related to nature, physical or physics (ex: physiologic)
pneumo-
air or gas; pertaining to the lungs (ex: pneumonia)
pod-
foot (ex: podiatrist)
poly-
many or much (ex: polysaccharide)
post-
behind or after (ex: post-traumatic)
pre-
or pro- prior to or in front of (ex: prehypertension)
pseudo-
false (ex: pseudostratified epithelium)
sarco
flesh (ex: sarcomere)
semi-
half or partially (ex: semi-permeable)
sclero-
Hard (ex: scleroderma)
somato-
body (ex: somatic)
steno-
narrow or close (ex: aortic stenosis)
sub-
below or under (ex: subclavian)
sym- or syn-
with or together (ex: symphysis pubis and synchondrosis)
tachy-
fast or rapid (ex: tachycardia)
trans-
across or through (ex: transcutaneous)
viscer-
pertaining to internal organs (ex: visceral fat)
-able
capable of (ex: teachable)
-algia
pain (ex: fibromyalgia)
-blast
bud, usually referring to cells which are primitive in nature (ex: Chondroblast)
-clast
pertaining to breaking or tearing down (ex: osteoclast)
-cyte
cell (ex: hepatocyte)
-duct
to lead or draw (ex: adduct and abduct)
-ectomy
to excise or cut out (ex: cholecystectomy)
-emia
blood (ex: leukemia)
-genesis
origin or production (ex: glycogenesis)
-gram
A drawing (ex: sonogram)
-graph
instrument used to record (ex: angiography)
-itis
inflammation (ex: tonsillitis)
-logy
study of (ex: cardiology)
-lysis
to break down or decompose (ex: glycogenolysis)
-oid
resembling (ex: arachnoid mater)
-oma
tumor (ex: carcinoma)
-pathy
disease or disorder (ex: cardiomyopathy)
-phag
to eat or to feed (ex: phagocytosis)
-phil
to love or have an affinity for (ex: hydrophilic)
-stasis
stop or stable state (ex: homeostasis)
-stomy
surgical procedure in which an artificial opening is established (ex: colostomy)
ACh
acetylcholine
ADH
antidiuretic hormone
ANS
autonomic nervous system
ATP
adenosine triphosphate
AMP
adenosine monophosphate
cAMP
cyclic adenosine monophosphate
CO2
carbon dioxide
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid