Medical Terminology: ROOTS, PREFIXES, AND SUFFIXES (HIM 2360)

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering ROOTS, PREFIXES, & SUFFIXES from the medical terminology handout to aid exam preparation.

Abdomin/o

abdomen; abdomin/o words relate to the abdomen (e.g., abdominal means pertaining to the abdomen).

Acr/o

extremity; acromegaly is enlargement of an extremity, acrophobia is fear of heights (extreme point).

Aden/o

gland.

Aer

air; aerated means filled with air.

Angi/o

vessel.

Arteri/o

artery.

Arthr

joint.

Blephar

eyelid.

Bronch/o

bronchial tube.

Carcin/o

cancer; carcinoma is a cancerous tumor.

Cardi/o

heart; cardiac means pertaining to the heart.

Cerebr/o

cerebrum (brain); cerebral pertains to the cerebrum.

Cephal

head; cephalic pertaining to the head.

Cervic

neck; cervicectomy is excision of the neck of the uterus.

Cheil

lip; cheilitis inflammation of the lip.

Chole

bile, gall; cholangitis inflammation of the bile duct.

Cholecyst

gallbladder; cholecystectomy excision of the gallbladder.

Chondr

cartilage; chondrectomy excision of cartilage.

Cis/o

to cut; excision is the process of cutting out.

Col/o

colon.

Cost/o

rib; costochondral pertains to rib and its cartilage.

Cran/i

skull; cranial pertaining to the skull.

Cutane/o

skin; percutaneous means through the skin.

Cyst/o

urinary bladder, sac; cystitis inflammation of the urinary bladder.

Cyt

cell; cytology study of the cells.

Dacry

tear; dacryadenitis inflammation of the tear duct (gland).

Dactyl

finger, toe; dactylomegaly enlargement of fingers and toes.

Derm, dermat/o

skin; dermatitis inflammation of the skin.

Encephal

brain; encephalitis inflammation of the brain.

Enter

intestine; enteritis inflammation of the intestines.

Gastr/o

stomach; gastroenteritis inflammation of the stomach and intestines.

Erythr/o

red; erythrocytes are red blood cells.

Glyc, glycos

sugar; glycosuria sugar in the urine; hypoglycemia low sugar in the blood.

Gynec/o

woman, female; gynecology study of female diseases/disorders.

Hem/ hemat

blood; hematoma a collection of blood.

Hemorrhage

bursting forth of blood.

Hepat

liver; hepatitis inflammation of the liver.

Hist/o

tissue; histology process of studying tissue.

Hydr/o

water; hydrotherapy treatment by external use of water.

Hyster

uterus; hysterectomy excision of the uterus.

Iatr/o

physician; treatment; iatrogenic pertaining to being produced by treatment.

Isch/o

to hold back; ischemia holding back blood from part of the body.

Ile/

ileum; ileum is the third part of the small intestine.

Ili/

ilium; ilium, iliac = wide upper part of the hip bone.

Lapar/o

abdomen; laparotomy incision into the abdomen.

Laryng/o

larynx, vocal cords; laryngitis inflammation of the larynx.

Leuk/o

white; leukocyte white blood cell.

Lip/o

fat; lipoma tumor made of fatty tissue.

Lith/o

stone; lithiasis condition of having stones.

Mast/o, mamm/o

breast; mastectomy excision of the breast.

Mammogram

X-ray image/record of the breast.

Men/o

menstruation; menorrhagia excessive bleeding during menstruation.

Metr/o

uterus; metrorrhagia excessive bleeding from the uterus.

Myel/o

marrow, spinal cord; myelosarcoma malignant tumor of bone marrow.

Myelogram

X-ray record of the spinal cord.

My/

muscle; myalgia muscle pain.

Necr/o

death; necrotic pertaining to death of cells.

necrosis

condition of death of cells.

Nephr/o

kidney; nephrolithiasis presence of kidney stones.

Ophthalm/o

eye; ophthalmology study of the eye and its diseases.

Onc/o

tumor; oncology study of tumors.

Oste/o

bone; osteomalacia softening of bone.

Ot/o

ear; otoscope instrument for visual exam of the ear.

Path/o

disease; pathologist specialist in diseases.

Ped/

child; pediatric pertaining to treatment of children.

Ped/pod/

foot; pedal pertaining to the foot.

Podiatrist

one who treats foot disorders.

Phleb/o, ven/o

vein; phlebitis inflammation of a vein.

Venous

pertaining to a vein.

Pneumon/, pneum/

lung, air; pneumonitis inflammation of the lungs.

Pneumothorax

air in the thoracic (chest) cavity.

Proct

rectum, anus; proctology specialty dealing with rectal diseases.

Psych/

mind; psychiatrist specialist in treatment of mental diseases.

Pulmon/o

lung; pulmonary pertaining to the lung.

Pyel/

pelvis of the kidney; pyelitis inflammation of the kidney pelvis.

Py/

pus; pyogenic pertaining to pus formation.

Rad/i

ray; radiotherapy use of radiation to treat diseases.

Ren/o

kidney; renal pertaining to the kidney.

Rhin/o

nose; rhinoplasty surgical repair of the nose.

Sarc/o

flesh (connective tissue); sarcoma malignant tumor of flesh (connective tissue).

Spondyl

vertebra; spondylitis inflammation of a vertebra.

Thorac/o

chest; thoracotomy incision into the chest.

Thromb/o

clot; thrombocyte clotting cell.

Lumb/o

low back; lumbosacral pertaining to the lumbar and sacrum region.

Trache/o

trachea; tracheotomy incision into the windpipe.

Ur/

urine; urologist specialist in urinary tract and its diseases.

Viscer

internal organs; visceral pertaining to internal organs.

Prefix A, an-

without, absent; apnea absence of respiration.

No, not

negative; anorexia absence of appetite.

Ab-

away from; abduct move away from.

Ad-

to, toward; adductor draws near.

Ante-

before; antenatal pertaining to before birth.

Anti-

against; antibiotic pertains to against infection.

Bi-

two, both, double; bilateral pertains to both sides.

Brady-

slow; bradypnea slow breathing.

Co-, con-

together, with; congenital pertaining to being born with.

Contra-

against, opposite; contralateral pertaining to the opposite side.

Cry(o)-

cold; cryosurgery destruction of tissue using cold.

Crypt-

hidden; cryptorchidism condition of undescended testicles.

Cyan-

blue; cyanosis bluish discoloration of the skin.