Medical Terminology (Letters R-T) - Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

radic-

root or beginning of a structure (typically a nerve or vein)

ren(o)-

kidney

reticul(o)-

net

rhabd(o)-

rod-shaped, striated

rhachi(o)-

spine

rhin(o)-

nose

rhod(o)-

red color

-rrhage, -rrhagia

rapid flow (of blood, usually)

-rrhaphy

surgical suturing

-rrhea

flowing, discharge

-rrhexis

rupture

rubr(o)-

red nucleus of the brain

-rupt

break or burst

salping(o)-

tubes, e.g. fallopian tubes

sangui-, sanguine-

blood

sapro-

putrefaction or decay

sanco-

muscular, flesh-like

schist(o)-, schiz(o)-

split, “double-sided”

scler(o)-

hard

-sclerosis

hardening condition

scoli(o)-

twisted

scoto-

darkness

sial(o)-

saliva, salivary glands

sigmoid(o)-

S-shaped curvature

sinistr(o)-

left, left side

sito-

food, grain

somat(o)-, somatico-

body, bodily

somn-

sleep

-spadias

slit, fissure

splanchin(i)-, splanchin(o)-

viscera (organs)

spondyl(o)-

spine, vertebra

squamos(o)-

scaly

-stalsis

contraction

-stasis

stopping, standing

-statin

maintain cholesterol

-staxis

dripping, trickling

sten(o)-

narrow

-stenosis

abnormal narrowing of a tubular organ or structure

steth-

upper chest, area above breast and under neck

stheno-

strength, force, power

stom-, stomat-

mouth; artificially created opening

-stomy

creating of an opening

sub-

beneath, under

super-, supra-

above, excessive

sy-, syl-, sym-, syn-, sys-

similarity, likeness, or being togething

-tension, -tensive

pressure

terato-

monster

tetan-

rigid, tense

thec-

case, sheath

thely-

feminine, woman

thorac(i)-, thorac(o)-, thoracico-

upper chest

thromb(o)-

blood clot

thym-

emotions

-tic

pertaining to

-tide

bound to

toco-

childbirth

-tome

cutting instrument

-tomy

cutting; incision

ton-

tone, tension, pressure

tort(i)-

twisted

trachel(o)-

neck

trich(i)-, trichia, trich(o)-

hair, hair-like structure

-tripsy

crushing

-trophy

nourishment, development

tympan(o)-

eardrum