Anatomy and Physiology: Prefixes, Word roots, Combining forms

a-, an-

absence, lack acardia, lack of a heart

ab-

departing from, away from abnormal, departing from normal

acou-

hearing acoustics, the science of sound

ac-, acro-

extreme or extremity, peak acrodermatitis, inflammation of the skin of the extremities

ad-

to, toward adorbital, toward the orbit

aden-, adeno-

gland adeniform, resembling a gland in shape

adren-

toward the kidney adrenal gland, adjacent to the kidney

aero-

air aerobic respiration, oxygen-requiring metabolism

af-

toward afferent neurons, which carry impulses to the central nervous system

agon-

contest agonistic and antagonistic muscles, which oppose each other

alb-

white corpus albicans of the ovary, a white scar tissue

aliment-

nourish alimentary canal, or digestive tract

allel-

of one another alleles, alternative expressions of a gene

amphi-

on both sides, of both kinds amphibian, an organism capable of living in water and on land

ana-

apart, up, again anaphase of mitosis, when the chromosomes separate

anastomos-

come together arteriovenous anastomosis, a connection between an artery and a vein

aneurysm

a widening aortic aneurysm, a weak spot that causes enlargement of the blood vessel

angi-

vessel angiitis, inflammation of a lymph vessel or blood vessel

angin-

choked angina pectoris, a choked feeling in the chest due to dysfunction of the heart

ant-, anti-

opposed to, preventing, inhibiting anticoagulant, a substance that prevents blood coagulation

ante-

preceding, before antecubital, in front of the elbow

aort-

great artery aorta

ap-, api-

tip, extremity apex of the heart

append-

hang to appendicular skeleton

aqua-, aque-

water aqueous solutions

arbor

tree arbor vitae of the cerebellum, the treelike pattern of white matter

areola-

open space areolar connective tissue, a loose connective tissue

arrect-

upright arrector pili muscles of the skin, which make the hairs stand erect

arthr-, arthro-

joint arthropathy, any joint disease

artic-

joint articular surfaces of bones, the points of connection

atri-

vestibule atria, upper chambers of the heart

auscult-

listen auscultatory method for measuring blood pressure

aut-, auto-

self autogenous, self-generated

ax-, axi-, axo-

axis, axle axial skeleton, axis of vertebral column

azyg-

unpaired azygous vein, an unpaired vessel

baro-

pressure baroreceptors for monitoring blood pressure

basal

base basal lamina of epithelial basement membrane

bi-

two bicuspid, having two cusps

bili-

bile bilirubin, a bile pigment

bio-

life biology, the study of life and living organisms

blast-

bud, germ blastocyte, undifferentiated embryonic cell

brachi-

arm brachial plexus of peripheral nervous system supplies the arm

Brady-

slow bradycardia, abnormally slow heart rate

brev-

short fibularis brevis, a short leg muscle

broncho-

bronchus bronchospasm, spasmodic contraction of bronchial muscle

bucco-

cheek buccolabial, pertaining to the cheek and lip

calor-

heat calories, a measure of energy

capill-

hair blood and lymphatic capillaries

caput-

head decapitate, remove the head

carcin-

cancer carcinogen, a cancer-causing agent

cardi-, cardio-

heart cardiotoxic, harmful to the heart

carneo-

flesh trabeculae carneae, ridges of muscle in the ventricles of the heart

carot-

(1) carrot, (2) stupor (1) carotene, an orange pigment

cata-

down catabolism, chemical breakdown

caud-

tail caudal (directional term)

cec-

blind cecum of large intestine, a blind-ended pouch

cele-

abdominal celiac artery, in the abdomen

cephal-

head cephalometer, an instrument for measuring the head

cerebro-

brain, especially the cerebrum cerebrospinal, pertaining to the brain and spinal cord

cervic-, cervix

neck cervix of the uterus

chiasm-

crossing optic chiasma, where optic nerves cross

chole-

bile cholesterol, cholecystokinin

chondr-

cartilage chondrogenic, giving rise to cartilage

chrom-

colored chromosomes, so named because they stain darkly

cili-

small hair ciliated epithelium

circum-

around circumnuclear, surrounding the nucleus

clavic-

key clavicle, a “skeleton key”

co-, con-

together concentric, common center, together in the center

coccy-

cuckoo coccyx, which is beak-shaped

cochlea

snail shell the cochlea of the inner ear, which is coiled like a snail shell

coel-

hollow coelom, the ventral body cavity

commis-

united gray commissure of the spinal cord connects the two columns of gray matter

concha

shell nasal conchae, coiled shelves of bone in the nasal cavity

contra-

against, opposite contraceptive, agent preventing conception

corn-, cornu-

horn stratum corneum, outer layer of the skin composed of (horny) cells

corona

crown coronal suture of the skull

corp-

body corpse

cort-

bark cortex, the outer layer of the brain, kidney, adrenal glands, and lymph nodes

cost-

rib intercostal, between the ribs

crani-

skull craniotomy, a skull operation

crypt-

hidden cryptomenorrhea, a condition in which menstrual symptoms are experienced but no external loss of blood occurs

cusp-

pointed bicuspid, tricuspid valves of the heart

cutic-

skin cuticle of the nail

cyan-

blue cyanosis, blue color of the skin due to lack of oxygen

cyst-

sac, bladder cystitis, inflammation of the urinary bladder

cyt-

cell cytology, the study of cells

de-

undoing, reversal, loss, removal deactivation, becoming inactive

decid-

falling off deciduous (milk) teeth

delta

triangular deltoid muscle, roughly triangular in shape

den-, dent-

tooth dentin of the tooth

dendr-

tree, branch dendrites, branches of a neuron

derm-

skin dermis, deep layer of the skin

desm-

bond desmosome, which binds adjacent epithelial cells

di-

twice, double dimorphism, having two forms

dia-

through, between diaphragm, the wall through or between two areas

dialys-

separate, break apart kidney dialysis, in which waste products are removed from the blood

diastol-

stand apart cardiac diastole, between successive contractions of the heart

diure-

urinate diuretic, a drug that increases urine output

dors-

the back dorsal, dorsum, dorsiflexion

duc-,

duct lead, draw ductus deferens, tube which carries sperm from the epididymis into the urethra during ejaculation