Anatomy & Physiology prefixes, suffixes & roots masterlist

a- & an-

Denotes an absence of without

Ab-

Away from

abdomin(o)-

Of or relating to the Abdomen

-ac

pertaining to

acous(o)-

Of or relating to hearing

acr(o)-

extremity/topmost

-acusis

hearing condition

-ad

toward

Ad-

increase

aden(o)- & aden(i)-

Of or relating to a gland

adip(o)-

Of or relating to fat or fatty tissue

adren(o)-

Of or relating to adrenal glands

-aemia

blood condition

aer(o)-

air

Aesthesio-

sensation

-al

pertaining to

alb-

Denoting a white or pale color

alge(si)-

pain

-algia

pain

alg(i)o-

pain

Allo-

Denoting something as different

Ambi-

Denoting something as positioned on both sides

An-

not

an(o)

anus

andr/o

pertaining to a man

Angi-

blood vessel

Aniso-

Describing something as unequal

ankyl(o)- & ancyl(o)-

Denoting something as crooked or bent

Ante-

Describing something as positioned in front of another thing

Anti-

Describing something as 'against' or 'opposed to' another

Apo-

separated from

arteri(o)-

Of or pertaining to an artery

arthr(o)-

Of or pertaining to the joints

articul(o)-

joint

-ary

pertaining to

-ase

enzyme

-asthenia

weakness

-ation

process

aur(i)-

Of or pertaining to the ear

aut(o)-

self

axill-

Of or pertaining to the armpit

bacteri(o)-

bacteria

bi-

twice

Bio-

life

blast(o)-

germ or bud

balan/o

glans penis

blephar(o)-

Of or pertaining to the eyelid

brachi(o)-

Of or relating to the arm

Brachy-

Indicating something as 'short'

Brady-

Indicating something as 'slow'

bronch(i)-

bronchus

bucc(o)-

Of or pertaining to the cheek

Capill-

Of or pertaining to hair

capit-

Pertaining to the head

carcin(o)-

cancer

cardi(o)-

Of or pertaining to the heart

carp(o)-

Of or pertaining to the wrist

Cata-

down

-cele

pouching

-centesis

surgical puncture for aspiration

cephal(o)-

Of or pertaining to the head

cerat(o)-

Of or pertaining to a horn

cerebell(o)-

Of or pertaining to the cerebellum

cerebr(o)-

Of or pertaining to the brain

cervic-

Of or pertaining to the neck

chem(o)-

chemistry

chir(o)- & cheir(o)-

Of or pertaining to the hand

chlor(o)-

Denoting a green color

chol(e)-

Of or pertaining to bile

cholecyst(o)-

Of or pertaining to the gallbladder

chondr(i)o-

cartilage

chrom(ato)-

color

-cidal & -cide

killing

cili-

Of or pertaining to the cilia

Circum-

Denoting something as 'around' another

Cis-

on this side

clast

break

Co-

association

col- & colo- & colono-

colon

colp(o)-

Of or pertaining to the vagina

com-

with

Contra

against

Cor-

with

cor- & core- & coro

Of or pertaining to eye's pupil

Cornu-

Applied to processes likened to horns

cost(o)-

Of or pertaining to the ribs

crani(o)-

Belonging or relating to the cranium

-crine

to secrete

cry(o)-

cold

Cox-

Of or relating to the hip or hip-joint

Cutane-

skin

cyan(o)-

Denotes a blue color

Cycl-

circle

cyph(o)-

Denotes something as bent

cyst(o)- & cyst(i)-

Of or pertaining to the urinary bladder

cyt(o)-

cell

-cyte

cell

Dacrio-

tear

dactyl(o)-

Of or pertaining to a finger

De-

away from