Medical Terminology Word Parts

Word Parts and Their Meanings

• -cele

  • Meaning: protrusion, hernia

• -desis

  • Meaning: surgical binding

• di-, dipl-

  • Meaning: two, twice

• -centesis

  • Meaning: surgical puncture

• cephal/o

  • Meaning: head

• dipl/o

  • Meaning: two, double

• dia-

  • Meaning: across, through

• cerebell/o

  • Meaning: cerebellum

• cerebr/o

  • Meaning: cerebrum; brain

• dis-

  • Meaning: remove

• cerv/o

  • Meaning: neck, cervix

• diverticul/o

  • Meaning: diverticulum

• dors/o

  • Meaning: back

• cheil/o

  • Meaning: lip

• duoden/o

  • Meaning: duodenum

• chole, chol/o

  • Meaning: bile, gall

• -dynia

  • Meaning: pain

• cholangi/o

  • Meaning: bile duct

• dys-

  • Meaning: painful, bad, difficult

• -eal

  • Meaning: converts a root or noun to an adjective

• ec-, ecto-

  • Meaning: outside

• chondr/o

  • Meaning: cartilage

• -ectomy

  • Meaning: surgical removal

• circum/o

  • Meaning: around

• -ectasia

  • Meaning: expansion or dilation

• cirrh/o

  • Meaning: yellow

• -ectasis

  • Meaning: expansion or dilation

• col/o, colon/o

  • Meaning: colon

• -edema

  • Meaning: excessive fluid

• colp/o

  • Meaning: vagina

• electr/o

  • Meaning: electricity

• con-

  • Meaning: with

• -emesis

  • Meaning: vomiting

• conjunctiv/o

  • Meaning: conjunctiva (conjunctivae, plural)

• -emia

  • Meaning: blood

• contra-

  • Meaning: against

• en-

  • Meaning: inside

• corne/o

  • Meaning: horny

• enchephal/o

  • Meaning: brain

• coron/o

  • Meaning: crown; encircling, such as in the coronary blood vessels encircling the heart

• cortic/o

  • Meaning: outer layer or covering

• endo-

  • Meaning: within, inner

• endocrin/o

  • Meaning: secreting internally

• enter/o

  • Meaning: intestine

• cost/o

  • Meaning: rib

• crani/o

  • Meaning: cranium, skull

• epi-

  • Meaning: upon, above, in addition

• crin/o

  • Meaning: to separate or secrete

• -eous

  • Meaning: converts a root or noun to an adjective

• cutane/o

  • Meaning: skin

• erythr/o

  • Meaning: red

• cyan/o

  • Meaning: blue

• esophag/o

  • Meaning: esophagus

• ex-, exo-

  • Meaning: outside

• cyst/o

  • Meaning: bladder

• extra-

  • Meaning: beyond

• -cyte, cyt/o

  • Meaning: cell

• fasci/o

  • Meaning: fibrous membrane

• dacry/o

  • Meaning: tears, lacrimal sac, or lacrimal duct

• femur/o

  • Meaning: femur, thighbone

• dactylo

  • Meaning: finger, toe

• fer/o

  • Meaning: to carry

• de-

  • Meaning: without, not

• fibr/o

  • Meaning: fiber

• dent/i, dent/o

  • Meaning: teeth

• derm/o

  • Meaning: skin

• gangli/o

  • Meaning: ganglia (ganglion, singular)

• ganglion/o

  • Meaning: ganglia (ganglion, singular)