Medical Terminology Study Guide: Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

Course Information and System Specifications

  • Platform and Application Details:
    • Website Domain: medicallanguagelab.fadavis.com
    • Module Title: LIT 2 Suffixes / mll Suffixes
    • Course Module Code: HLOC-1000-45 Fall 2026
    • Application Version: Version 9.0.0
    • Update Date: OCT 9, 2025

Build Medical Words Exercises

  • Exercise 1 (Question 9 of 16):

    • Prompt: Paralysis of four extremities
    • Applicable Word Components:
    • Prefix: quadri- (meaning four)
    • Suffix: -plegia (meaning paralysis)
    • Constructed Term: Quadriplegia

  • Exercise 2 (Question 4 of 15):

    • Prompt: Paralysis of one half of the body
    • Applicable Word Components:
    • Prefix: hemi- (meaning half)
    • Suffix: -plegia (meaning paralysis)
    • Constructed Term: Hemiplegia

Medical Word Roots and Combining Forms

  • Combining Forms List:
    • arteri / arteri/o: Denotes artery.
    • arthr / arthr/o: Denotes joint.
    • cardi / cardi/o: Denotes heart.
    • dipl / dipl/o: Denotes double or twin.
    • end / end/o: Denotes in, within, or inner.
    • gastr / gastr/o: Denotes stomach.
    • hem / hem/o: Denotes blood.
    • hemat / hemat/o: Denotes blood.
    • leuk / leuk/o: Denotes white.
    • lith / lith/o: Denotes stone or calculus.
    • muscul / muscul/o: Denotes muscle.
    • my / my/o: Denotes muscle.
    • nat / nat/i: Denotes birth.
    • odont / odont/o: Denotes tooth or teeth.
    • oste / oste/o: Denotes bone.
    • poster / poster/o: Denotes back, behind, or posterior.
    • pulmon / pulmon/o: Denotes lung.
    • trache / trache/o: Denotes trachea or windpipe.
    • vagin / vagin/o: Denotes vagina.

Medical Prefixes

  • Prefixes List:
    • a-: Without, not, or lacking.
    • ab-: Away from.
    • ad-: Toward or near.
    • an-: Without, not, or lacking.
    • bi-: Two, double, or twice.
    • brady-: Slow.
    • bronchi-: Pertaining to the bronchus or bronchial tubes.
    • contra-: Against, opposite.
    • dia-: Through, across, or complete.
    • epi-: Above, upon, or on.
    • eu-: Good, normal, well, or true.
    • hemi-: Half or one-sided.
    • intra-: Within or inside.
    • later-: Side.
    • macro-: Large or long.
    • peri-: Around or surrounding.
    • pre-: Before or in front of.
    • quadri-: Four.
    • retro-: Behind, backward, or located behind.
    • trans / trans-: Across, through, or beyond.

Medical Suffixes

  • Suffixes List:
    • -ac: Pertaining to.
    • -al: Pertaining to.
    • -algia: Pain.
    • -ar: Pertaining to.
    • -ary: Pertaining to.
    • -cardia: Heart condition.
    • -ception: Conceiving, receiving, or taking.
    • -cyte: Cell.
    • -desis: Binding, fixation, or surgical fusion.
    • -duction: Act of leading, bringing, or conducting.
    • -emesis: Vomiting.
    • -emia: Blood condition.
    • -ia: Condition or disease state.
    • -iatry: Medicine, medical treatment, or specialty practice.
    • -ic: Pertaining to.
    • -ior: Pertaining to.
    • -itis: Inflammation.
    • -ole: Small or minute.
    • -opia: Vision condition.
    • -ous: Pertaining to.
    • -pathy: Disease or suffering.
    • -penia: Deficiency or decrease.
    • -phobia: Irrational or abnormal fear.
    • -plegia: Paralysis.
    • -pnea: Breathing or respiration.
    • -rrhea: Flow or discharge.
    • -rrhexis: Rupture.
    • -scopy: Visual examination procedure.
    • -stomy: Forming an opening or mouth (stoma).
    • -tomy: Incision, cutting into.
    • -tripsy: Surgical crushing.
    • -version: Act of turning or state of being turned.