HOSA Prefixes and Suffixes

-algesia, -algia

suffering, pain

albumin-

albumin, protein in the blood

-agra

sudden severe pain

-agogue

an agent that promotes the expulsion of a specific substance

af-

toward

aer-, aero-

air or gas

-aemia

blood

adren-

adrenal glands

adip-

adip-

aden-

gland

ad-

adherence, increase; toward

-ad

toward; in the direction of

actin-, actino-

some form of radiation

acro-

extremity, top

acanth-

spine

acous-, acoust-

hearing

abort-, aborto-

to miscarry

abdomin-, abdomino

abdomen

ab-, abs-

away from; absent

-tomy

incision

-oma

tumor

-logy

study of

-ium

tissue, structure

-itis

inflammation

-ism, -ia

condition of

-gram

record, recording

-ectomy

excision, surgical removal

-ac, -al, -ary, -ic, -ous

pertaining to

pre-

before

post-

after, behind

peri-

surrounding, around

intra-

within, inside

inter-

between

sub-, infra-

below, beneath

supra-, super-

above

a-, an-

without, not

poly-

many, much

dys-

painful, difficult, abnormal

allo-, all-

other

amb, ambi-

both; on both sides

amph-, amphi-

on both sides, around

ana-

up, against

andro-

man, male, masculine

angi-, angio-

blood or lymph vessels

aniso-

unequal, asymmetrical

ankyl-

crooked, fusion or growing together of parts

ante-

before

antero-

anterior, front

anthropo-

human beings

ant-

against

antr-, antro-

antrum (a natural chamber or cavity in a bone or other anatomical structure)

apo-

from; separated from

arch-. arche-

first; principal; original

arteri-, arterio-

artery

arthr-

joint

-ase

enzyme

-asis, -esis, -iasis, -isis, -sis

condition, pathological state

astro-

star shaped

atelo-

imperfect; incomplete

ather-, athero-

fatty plaque

atmo-

steam; vapour

atreto-

absence of an opening

aut-, auto-

self

azot-

nitrogenous compounds

axo-

axis, the long axis of a tooth

bacteri-

bacteria

balan-, balano-

glans clitoridis, glans penis

bar-, baro-

weight; pressure

basi-

base; foundation

bi-

two; double

bili-

bile

bio-

life

blast-, -blast

germ; embryonic state of development

blenn-, blenno-

mucus

blephar-

eyelid

brachio-

arm

brachy-

short

brady-

slow

brom-

bromine

bronch-

airway

bronchiol-

bronchiole

cac-, caci-, caco-

bad, ill

calcan-, calcaneo-

calcaneum (heel bone)

carcin-, carcino-

cancer

cardi-

heart

carpo-

carpus

cat-, cata-, kat-

down, downward, destructive

cel-

tumor, hernia

-cele

tumor; swelling; hernia

cent-

hundred

cephal-, cephalo-

head

cerebell-

cerebellum (posterior part of the brain)

cervic-, cervico-

neck, neck of an organ

chem-

chemical; drug

chil-

lips

chir-

hand

chlor-

green

chole-

bile, gall

cholangi-

bile vessel

cholecyst-, cholecysto-

gallbladder