Comprehensive Medical Terminology Study Guide: Roots, Suffixes, and Anatomical Concepts

Mnemonic Elements and Visual Associations

• aden-: Visualized as A den; means gland.
• angi-: Visualized as Angel; means vessel.
• arthr-: Visualized as Art; means joint.
• blephar-: Visualized as blue fur; means eyelid.
• cardi-: Visualized as Card; means heart.
• cerebr-: Visualized as Zebra; means brain.
• dermat- (also derm-): Visualized as doormat; means skin.
• enter-: Visualized as enter sign; means intestines.
• gastr-: Visualized as Gas truck; means stomach.
• gingiv-: Visualized as Gingerbread; means gum.
• hepat-: Visualized as he pat; means liver.
• megal- / megalo- / -megaly: Visualized as my gal; means enlarged.
• nephr-: Visualized as nephew; means kidney.
• path- / -pathy / -pathic: Visualized as path; means disease (or suffering / feeling).
• plast- / -plasty / plastic: Visualized as Plastic; means surgical repair.
• rhin-: Visualized as Rhinoceros; means nose.
• -ectomy: Visualized as exit tommy; means surgical removal.
• -itis: Visualized as I test; means inflammation.
• -malacia: Visualized as my late show (TV); means softening.
• -ology: Visualized as hollow cheese; means study of.
• -ologist: Visualized as hollow chest; means specialist.
• -oma: Visualized as OH ma; means tumor.
• -osis: Visualized as oh sis; means any condition.
• -otomy: Visualized as Oh tommy; means cut into.
• spasm: Associated with STORTION; means involuntary contraction.

Medical Root Elements and Specific Anatomy

• aden- (Gland)

  • Definition of Gland: A body part that separates certain elements and secretes them in a form for the body to use or for elimination (such as sweat, urine, or milk).
  • adenic ($\text{aden/ic}$): Pertaining to a gland or the glands.
  • adenopathy ($\text{aden/o/path/y}$): Any disease of a gland.
  • adenectomy ($\text{aden/ectomy}$): Surgical removal (excision) of all or part of a gland.
  • adenosis ($\text{aden/osis}$): Any condition of a gland.
  • adenotomy ($\text{aden/otomy}$): Cutting into (incision of) a gland.
  • adenoma ($\text{aden/oma}$): A tumor with a glandlike structure (a glandular tumor). Crucial distinction: Adenoma does not mean tumor of a gland; it is a tumor with a glandlike structure of any body part.
  • blepharadenoma ($\text{blephar/aden/oma}$): A glandular tumor of the eyelid (an adenoma of the eyelid).
  • nephradenoma ($\text{nephr/aden/oma}$): A glandular tumor of the kidney (an adenoma of the kidney).

• angi- (Vessel)

  • Definition: Designates any of the ducts or canals that convey the fluids of the body. Principal reference is to a blood vessel or the blood vessels.
  • angiitis ($\text{angi/itis}$): Inflammation of a vessel or vessels—usually a blood vessel.
  • angiectomy ($\text{angi/ectomy}$): Surgical removal of a vessel or vessels.
  • angiomegaly ($\text{angi/o/megal/y}$): Enlargement of a vessel or vessels.
  • angiopathy ($\text{angi/o/path/y}$): Any disease of a vessel or vessels.
  • angiomalacia ($\text{angi/o/malacia}$): Softening of a vessel or vessels (specifically present in the walls of the structure).
  • angiosis ($\text{angi/osis}$): Any condition of a vessel or vessels. Since $\text{-osis}$ often denotes a disease, angiosis can also mean any disease of the vessels.
  • angioma ($\text{angi/oma}$): A tumor which tends to be made up of blood vessels.
  • angioplasty ($\text{angi/o/plast/y}$): Plastic repair of a blood vessel.
  • angiospasm ($\text{angi/o/spasm}$): Involuntary contraction/spasm of a body passage (vessel).

• arthr- (Joint)

  • arthral ($\text{arthr/al}$): Pertaining to a joint.
  • arthropathy ($\text{arthr/o/path/y}$): Any condition or disease of a joint.
  • arthritis ($\text{arthr/itis}$): Inflammation of a joint.
  • arthrectomy ($\text{arthr/ectomy}$): Surgical removal of a joint.
  • arthroplasty ($\text{arthr/o/plast/y}$): Plastic repair of a joint.
  • arthrosis ($\text{arthr/osis}$): A condition of a joint.
  • arthrotomy ($\text{arthr/otomy}$): Surgical incision of a joint.

• blephar- (Eyelid)

  • blepharal ($\text{blephar/al}$): Pertaining to the eyelid.
  • blepharoplasty ($\text{blephar/o/plast/y}$): Plastic repair or surgery of an eyelid.
  • blepharospasm ($\text{blephar/o/spasm}$): Involuntary contractions of the eyelid, caused by contraction of the muscle governing movement of the eyelid.
  • blepharadenoma ($\text{blephar/aden/oma}$): A glandular tumor of the eyelid; a tumor of the eyelid consisting of gland-like structures.
  • blepharitis ($\text{blephar/itis}$): Inflammation of an eyelid.
  • blepharectomy ($\text{blephar/ectomy}$): Surgical removal (excision) of all or part of the eyelid.
  • blepharadenitis ($\text{blephar/aden/itis}$): Inflammation of the glands of the eyelid.

• cardi- (Heart)

  • cardiac ($\text{cardi/ac}$): Pertaining to the heart.
  • cardiopathy ($\text{cardi/o/path/y}$): Disease of the heart.
  • carditis ($\text{card/itis}$): Inflammation of the heart.
  • cardiology ($\text{cardi/ology}$): The study of the heart.
  • cardiologist ($\text{cardi/ologist}$): A specialist in the study of the heart.
  • cardiomegaly ($\text{cardi/o/megal/y}$): Enlargement of the heart.
  • cardiomalacia ($\text{cardi/o/malacia}$): Softening of the heart.
  • cardiotomy ($\text{cardi/otomy}$): Cutting into (incision of) the heart.
  • cardioplasty ($\text{cardi/o/plast/y}$): Plastic repair of the heart.
  • megalocardia ($\text{megal/o/card/ia}$): Abnormal enlargement of the heart.
  • cardiohepatomegaly ($\text{cardi/o/hepat/o/megal/y}$): Enlargement of the heart and liver.

• cerebr- (Brain)

  • cerebrum ($\text{cerebr/um}$): The main part of the brain.
  • cerebral ($\text{cerebr/al}$): Pertaining to the brain.
  • cerebritis ($\text{cerebr/itis}$): Inflammation of the brain.
  • cerebrospinal ($\text{cerebr/o/spin/al}$): Pertaining to the brain and the spinal column.
  • cerebrosis ($\text{cerebr/osis}$): Any condition or disease of the brain.
  • cerebromalacia ($\text{cerebr/o/malacia}$): Softening of the brain.
  • cerebrology ($\text{cerebr/ology}$): The study of the brain.
  • cerebropathy ($\text{cerebr/o/path/y}$): Any disease of the brain.
  • cerebroma ($\text{cerebr/oma}$): An abnormal mass of brain tissue.

• dermat- / derm- (Skin)

  • dermal ($\text{derm/al}$), dermatic ($\text{dermat/ic}$), dermic ($\text{derm/ic}$): Pertaining to the skin.
  • derma ($\text{derm/a}$), dermis ($\text{derm/is}$): The skin.
  • dermatitis ($\text{dermat/itis}$): Inflammation of the skin.
  • dermatomegaly ($\text{dermat/o/megal/y}$): Enlargement of the skin; a condition in which the skin is larger than is necessary to cover the body so that it hangs in folds.
  • dermatosis ($\text{dermat/osis}$): Any condition or disease of the skin.
  • dermatopathy ($\text{dermat/o/path/y}$) / dermopathy ($\text{derm/o/path/y}$): Any disease of the skin.
  • dermatoplasty ($\text{dermat/o/plast/y}$) / dermoplasty ($\text{derm/o/plast/y}$): Plastic repair or surgery on the skin, such as skin grafting.
  • dermatology ($\text{dermat/ology}$): The study of the skin; the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its disorders.
  • dermatologist ($\text{dermat/ologist}$): A specialist in the study of the skin.
  • dermabrasion ($\text{derm/abrasion}$): A scraping of the skin in order to repair acne scars, blemishes, etc.
  • dermatoma ($\text{dermat/oma}$): An abnormal growth of skin tissue.

• enter- (Intestines)

  • Definition: The approximate $6\,\text{meter}$ ($20\,\text{foot}$) long tube in the abdomen that completes the digestion of food begun in the stomach.
  • enteral ($\text{enter/al}$), enteric ($\text{enter/ic}$): Pertaining to the intestines.
  • gastroenter- ($\text{gastr/o/enter-}$): The stomach and intestines.
  • enteritis ($\text{enter/itis}$): Inflammation of the intestines.
  • enterectomy ($\text{enter/ectomy}$): Surgical removal (excision) of a part of the intestines.
  • enteropathy ($\text{enter/o/path/y}$): Any disease of the intestines.
  • enteroplasty ($\text{enter/o/plast/y}$): Plastic repair or surgery of the intestines.
  • enteraden- ($\text{enter/aden-}$): Any gland of the intestines.
  • enteradenitis ($\text{enter/aden/itis}$): Inflammation of the glands of the intestines.
  • enterogastritis ($\text{enter/o/gastr/itis}$): Inflammation of the small intestine and the stomach.
  • enterohepatitis ($\text{enter/o/hepat/itis}$): Inflammation of the intestines and the liver.
  • enteromegaly ($\text{enter/o/megal/y}$): Enlargement of the intestines.
  • enterospasm ($\text{enter/o/spasm}$): Involuntary contraction/spasm of the intestinal passage.
  • enterologist ($\text{enter/ologist}$): A specialist in the study of the intestines.
  • enterosis ($\text{enter/osis}$): A condition of the intestines.
  • enterotomy ($\text{enter/otomy}$): Surgical incision of the intestines.

• gastr- (Stomach)

  • gastric ($\text{gastr/ic}$): Pertaining to the stomach.
  • gastroenteric ($\text{gastr/o/enter/ic}$): Pertaining to the stomach and intestines; pertaining to the digestive system.
  • gastradenitis ($\text{gastr/aden/itis}$): Inflammation of the glands of the stomach.
  • gastrectomy ($\text{gastr/ectomy}$): Surgical removal of the whole or part of the stomach.
  • partial gastrectomy: Excision of a large portion but not all of the stomach.
  • gastritis ($\text{gastr/itis}$): Inflammation of the stomach.
  • gastromalacia ($\text{gastr/o/malacia}$): Softening of the walls of the stomach.
  • gastromegaly ($\text{gastr/o/megal/y}$): Enlargement of the stomach.
  • megalogastria ($\text{megal/o/gastr/ia}$): Abnormal enlargement of the stomach.
  • gastrohepatitis ($\text{gastr/o/hepat/itis}$): Inflammation of the stomach and liver.
  • gastroenteritis ($\text{gastr/o/enter/itis}$): Inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
  • gastronephritis ($\text{gastr/o/nephr/itis}$): Inflammation of the stomach and kidney.
  • gastropathy ($\text{gastr/o/path/y}$): Any disease of the stomach.
  • gastroplasty ($\text{gastr/o/plast/y}$): Plastic repair of the stomach.
  • gastrologist ($\text{gastr/ologist}$): A specialist in the study of the stomach.
  • gastrosis ($\text{gastr/osis}$): A condition of the stomach.
  • gastrotomy ($\text{gastr/otomy}$): Surgical incision of the stomach.

• gingiv- (Gums)

  • Definition: The gum or gums of the mouth; the tissue that forms the collar around each tooth.
  • gingival ($\text{gingiv/al}$): Pertaining to the gums.
  • gingiva ($\text{gingiv/a}$): Gum of the mouth.
  • gingivae ($\text{gingiv/ae}$): Gums of the mouth.
  • gingivitis ($\text{gingiv/itis}$): Inflammation of the gums of the mouth.
  • gingivectomy ($\text{gingiv/ectomy}$): Excision of the gums of the mouth.
  • gingivoplasty ($\text{gingiv/o/plast/y}$): Plastic repair or surgery of the gums of the mouth.

• hepat- (Liver)

  • Definition: The largest gland in the body, weighing about $1.5\,\text{kilograms}$ ($3\,\text{pounds}$); secretes bile into the intestine for digestion of fats.
  • hepatic ($\text{hepat/ic}$): Pertaining to the liver.
  • hepatitis ($\text{hepat/itis}$): Inflammation of the liver.
  • hepatology ($\text{hepat/ology}$): The study of the liver.
  • hepatologist ($\text{hepat/ologist}$): A specialist in the study of the liver.
  • hepatomegaly ($\text{hepat/o/megal/y}$): Enlargement of the liver.
  • hepatonephritis ($\text{hepat/o/nephr/itis}$): Inflammation of the liver and kidney.
  • hepatonephromegaly ($\text{hepat/o/nephr/o/megal/y}$): Enlargement of the liver and kidney.
  • hepatectomy ($\text{hepat/ectomy}$): Excision of part of the liver.
  • hepatomalacia ($\text{hepat/o/malacia}$): Softening of the liver.
  • megalohepatia ($\text{megal/o/hepat/ia}$): Abnormal enlargement of the liver.
  • hepatopathy ($\text{hepat/o/path/y}$): Any disease of the liver.
  • hepatoma ($\text{hepat/oma}$): Tumor of the liver (indicates location of tumor).
  • hepatosis ($\text{hepat/osis}$): A condition of the liver.
  • hepatotomy ($\text{hepat/otomy}$): Surgical incision of the liver.

• nephr- (Kidney)

  • Definition: The kidneys consist of two bean-shaped glands in the lower back, one on each side of the spinal column. Their function is filtering waste materials from the blood and the production and excretion of urine.
  • nephric ($\text{nephr/ic}$): Pertaining to the kidneys.
  • nephromegaly ($\text{nephr/o/megal/y}$): Enlargement of a kidney.
  • nephritis ($\text{nephr/itis}$): Inflammation of a kidney.
  • nephrosis ($\text{nephr/osis}$): Any condition of a kidney.
  • nephroma ($\text{nephr/oma}$): Tumor of the kidney.
  • nephropathy ($\text{nephr/o/path/y}$): Any disease of a kidney.
  • nephrotomy ($\text{nephr/otomy}$): Surgical cutting into (incision) of a kidney.
  • nephrectomy ($\text{nephr/ectomy}$): Surgical cutting out (excision) of all or part of a kidney.
  • nephrology ($\text{nephr/ology}$): Study of the kidneys.
  • nephrologist ($\text{nephr/ologist}$): A specialist in the study of the kidneys.
  • nephradenoma ($\text{nephr/aden/oma}$): Glandular tumor of a kidney.

• rhin- (Nose)

  • rhinal ($\text{rhin/al}$): Pertaining to the nose (same as nasal).
  • rhinoplasty ($\text{rhin/o/plast/y}$): Plastic repair of the nose; rebuilding, reconstruction of, or forming the nose.
  • rhinitis ($\text{rhin/itis}$): Inflammation of the nose (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose).
  • rhinology ($\text{rhin/ology}$): The study of the nose.
  • rhinologist ($\text{rhin/ologist}$): Specialist in the study of the nose.
  • rhinopathy ($\text{rhin/o/path/y}$): Any disease of the nose.

Medical Suffixes and Conditions

• -ectomy (Surgical Removal)

  • Definition: Surgical removal (excision) of all or part of a body part. Can be applied to almost any body part.
  • Examples: Adenectomy, angiectomy, arthrectomy, blepharectomy, enterectomy, gastrectomy, nephrectomy, gingivectomy, hepatectomy.

• -itis (Inflammation)

  • Definition: Inflammation; "inflammation of-". Indicates a condition whose symptoms are pain or discomfort, redness, heat, and swelling. Can be applied to practically all body parts.
  • Key Examples: Gastritis, carditis, dermatitis, cerebritis, enteritis, adenitis, angiitis, nephritis, hepatitis, arthritis, blepharitis, rhinitis, gingivitis, blepharadenitis, enteradenitis, enterogastritis, enterohepatitis, gastradenitis, gastrohepatitis, gastroenteritis, gastronephritis, hepatonephritis.

• -malacia (Softening)

  • Definition: Soft, soft condition, softness, softening. All body parts have a characteristically normal firmness; abnormal lessening of this firmness is denoted by $\text{-malacia}$.
  • Application in Hollow Structures: In hollow structures such as vessels or the stomach, softening is present in the walls of the structure (e.g., angiomalacia, gastromalacia).
  • Solid Organ Examples: Adenomalacia, cardiomalacia, cerebromalacia, hepatomalacia, nephromalacia.

• megal- / -megaly / megalo- (Enlargement)

  • Definition: Enlarged; literally "pertaining to large enlargement of", but used principally for abnormal enlargement.
  • -megaly ($\text{megal/y}$): The form in which "enlarged" most frequently appears (e.g., adenomegaly, angiomegaly, cardiomegaly, enteromegaly, gastromegaly, hepatomegaly, nephromegaly, dermatomegaly, cardiohepatomegaly, hepatonephromegaly).
  • megalo- ($\text{megal/o}$): Another form for "enlarged". The format indicating an abnormal condition of enlargement is $\text{megaloa}$ (e.g., megalocardia, megalogastria, megalohepatia).

• path- / -pathy / -pathic (Disease / Suffering / Feeling)

  • pathic ($\text{path/ic}$): Pertaining to disease or feeling.
  • pathology ($\text{path/ology}$): The field or branch of medicine specializing in the study of diseases / the nature of disease.
  • pathologist ($\text{path/ologist}$): A specialist in the study of diseases.
  • pathosis ($\text{path/osis}$): A condition of disease; $\text{-pathy}$.
  • -pathy ($\text{-path/y}$): Combines with body parts to denote "any disease of" (e.g., adenopathy, angiopathy, arthropathy, cardiopathy, dermopathy, dermatopathy, cerebropathy, enteropathy, gastropathy, hepatopathy, nephropathy, rhinopathy).
  • -pathic ($\text{-path/ic}$): Combines with roots to mean "pertaining to any disease of".

• plast- / -plasty / plastic (Surgical Repair)

  • Definition: Plastic repair; renewal of destroyed, injured, or deformed tissue; reforming, reconstruction, or restoration of destroyed, injured, or deformed body parts.
  • Clinical Applications:
  • Correction of congenital (birth) defects such as cleft lip or webbed fingers.
  • Cosmetic (beautifying) operations such as face lifts or "nose alterations".
  • plastic ($\text{plast/ic}$): Pertaining to surgical repair.
  • -plasty ($\text{plast/y}$): "Surgical repair of" (e.g., angioplasty, arthroplasty, blepharoplasty, cardioplasty, dermoplasty, dermatoplasty, enteroplasty, gastroplasty, gingivoplasty, rhinoplasty).

• spasm (Involuntary Contraction)

  • Definition: Involuntary contraction(s); a sudden, violent, involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles; a sudden but brief constriction of a body passage or opening.
  • Convulsion: Defined specifically as a series of severe spasms.
  • Passage Spasms: Angiospasm, enterospasm.
  • Muscle Spasm: Blepharospasm (caused by contraction of the muscle governing movement of the eyelid).

• -ology and -ologist (Medical Specialties)

  • -ology: Study of; knowledge of; especially "the science of"; a specialized department of medicine; a specialized field of medical practice. Used widely to name the field in which a physician limits practice, particularly after undergoing training and examination.
  • -ologist: A specialist in the study of; a medical specialist in; one who has knowledge of or skill in; an expert.
  • Internal Medicine: The branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of disease. Contains subspecialties:
  • Cardiology: Field of medicine dealing with the heart, its functions, and its diseases.
  • Nephrology: Field of medicine dealing with the kidneys, their functions, and their diseases.
  • Gastroenterology: Field of medicine concerned with disorders of the digestive system (further divided between gastrology and enterology).
  • Other Specialist Categories: Gastrologist, dermatologist, enterologist, hepatologist, rhinologist, gastroenterologist, pathologist.

• -oma (Tumor / Mass)

  • Definition: Tumor; a swelling on some part of the body; especially a mass of new tissue growth.
  • Interpretations: "a tumor composed of", "a tumor consisting of", "a tumor arising from-".
  • Composition of Tissue: Cerebroma (abnormal mass of brain tissue), dermatoma (abnormal growth of skin tissue).
  • Structural Features: Adenoma (tumor with a glandlike structure), angioma (tumor tending to be made up of blood vessels), blepharadenoma (tumor of the eyelid consisting of gland-like structures).
  • Location: Hepatoma (tumor of the liver).

• -osis (Condition or Disease)

  • Definition: Condition or disease; most frequently used to indicate an abnormal or diseased condition. Sometimes used in words not relating to disease (e.g., hypnosis).
  • Examples: Gastrosis, dermatosis, cerebrosis, enterosis, adenosis, angiosis, nephrosis, hepatosis, arthrosis, acidosis (a condition or disease of acid in the body).

• -otomy (Surgical Incision)

  • Definition: Cutting into (surgical incision); literally "the act or action of cutting into"—usually for the purpose of exploration, drainage, removal of foreign bodies, etc.
  • Examples: Adenotomy, arthrotomy, enterotomy, gastrotomy, hepatotomy, nephrotomy, cardiotomy.