Medical Terminology Prefixes, Combining Forms, and Suffixes

A comprehensive vocabulary list of medical prefixes, combining forms, and suffixes used in medical transcription and chemistry.

a-, an-

without

arteri-, arterio-

artery

arthro-

bone joint

auto-

self

bacteri-, bacterio-

bacteria

bi-

twice, double

bronch-, bronchi-

bronchus

carcin-, carcino-

cancer

cardi-, cardio-

heart

chlor-, chloro-

chlorine

chol-

bile

chondro-

cartilage

cis-

on the same side as (chemistry)

co-, col-, com-, con-, cor-

together with

crani-, cranio-

cranium (head, skull)

cry-

cold

cyst-

bladder

cyt-

cell

dactyl-

fingers, toes

de-

away, cessation

derm-

skin

dextr-

toward the right

duodeno-

duodenum (small intestine)

dys-

bad, difficult

ect-

outer, outside

encephalo-

brain

end-, endo-

within, inner

enter-, entero-

intestines

erythro-

red

eu-

good, well

ex-

out, away from

extra-

without, outside of

ferri-, ferro-

iron

gastro-

stomach

gloss-

tongue

gyn-, gyne-, gyneco-, gyno-

woman

hem-, hema-, hemat-, hemato-

blood

hist-, histio-

tissue

hydr-, hydro-

water, hydrogen

hyper-

excessive, above normal

hypo-

beneath, less than normal

hyster-

uterus

ileo-

ileum (small intestine)

infra-

below

inter-

among, between

intra-

within

irid-

iris (of the eye)

kerat-, kerato-

cornea (of the eye)

kinesi-, kinesio-

movement

lact-, lacto-

milk

laryng-

larynx (in the throat)

latero-

to one side

lepto-

frail, slender, thin

leuko-

white

lip-, lipo-

fat, lipid

lymph-

lymph system, glands

lys-

breaking up, dissolution

macro-

large

mast-, masto-

breast

meg-, mega-, megalo-

large

melan-, melano-

black

mening-, meningo-

meninges

morph-, morpho-

form, shape, structure

myx-, myxo-

mucus

necr-, necro-

death

nephr-, nephro-

kidney

neur-, neuri-, neuro-

nerve, nervous system

oculo-

eye

olig-, oligo-

few, little

onco-

tumor

onych-, onycho-

fingernail, toenail

oo-, oophor-, oophoro-

ovary, ovum

ophthalm-, ophthalmo-

eyes

orchi-, orchido-, orchio-

testis

ossi-, osseo-, ost-, oste-, osteo-

bone

ovari-, ovario-

ovary

ovi-, ovo-

egg

oxa-, oxo-

addition of oxygen

pan-, pant-, panto-

all, entire

path-, patho-

disease

ped-, pedi-, pedo-

child or foot

peri-

around

pharmaco-

drugs, medicine

pharyng-, pharyngo-

pharynx (of the throat)

phleb-, phlebo-

vein

phos-, phot-, photo-

light

phren-, phreni-

diaphragm

physi-, physio-

physical, natural

plasma-, plasmat-, plasmato-

plasma

pleur-, pleura-, pleuro-

rib, side, pleura

pneum-, pneuma-, pneumata-, pneumato-

air, gas, lungs, breathing

poly-

multiple

post-

after, behind

pre-

before

pro-

before, precursor of

proct-, procto-

anus, rectum

psych-, psyche-, psycho-

mind

pyel-, pyelo-

renal pelvis

pyreto-, pyro-

heat, fever

radio-

radiation, X-rays