Common Medical Roots

A list of the most common medical roots with their combining form (vowel)

Aden(o)

gland

Arthr(o)

joint

Bi(o)

life

Carcin(o)

cancer

Cardi(o)

heart

Cephal(o)

head

Cerebr(o) / Encephal(o)

brain

Cyst(o)

urinary bladder

Cyt(o)

cell

Dermat(o) / Derm(o)

skin

Electr(o)

electricity

Enter(o)

intestine, bowel (usually small)

Erythr(o)

red blood cells

Gastr(o)

stomach

Gnos(o)

knowledge

Gynac(o)

female

Hemat(o) / Hem(o)

blood

Hepat(o)

liver

Latr(o)

doctor

Lapar(o)

abdomen

Leuk(o)

white blood cells

Nephr(o) / Ren(o)

kidney

Neur(o)

nerve

Onc(o)

tumor

Ophthalm(o)

eye

Oste(o)

bone

Ped(o)

child

Path(o)

disease

Psych(o)

mind