Anatomy & Physiology Root Words
Superior | Above, towards the head |
Inferior | Below, away from the head |
Anterior | Towards the mouth (GI tube) |
Posterior | Towards the anus (GI tube) |
Medial | Towards the middle |
Lateral | Towards the side |
Deep | Below or underneath the surface |
Superficial | At or near the surface |
Caudal | Towards the tail (spinal column) |
Cranial | Towards the head (spinal column) |
Ventral | Belly-side (front) |
Dorsal | Back side |
Proximal | Toward an attached base |
Distal | Away from an attached base |
Prone | Lying face downward |
Supine | Lying face upward |
Transverse | Divides body top from bottom |
Sagittal | Divides body into left and right |
A(n)- | without |
Arteri(o)- | Artery |
Arthr(o) - | Joint |
-blast | Immature cell |
Cardi(a)(o) - | Heart |
Cephal(i)(o)- | Head |
Cerebr(a)(o)- | Brain |
Cervic(a)(o)- | Neck |
Crani- | Skull |
-cyt(e)(o) | cell |
Dent(i)(o) - | Tooth |
Derma(to) | Skin |
End(o)- | Within, inner |
Epi- | Upon,above |
Exo- | Out, away from |
Fibr/o- | Fibers |
Gastr(o)- | Stomach |
Glyco-, Gluco- | Sweet |
Hem(at)- | Blood |
Hepato- | Liver |
Hyper- | Excess |
Hypo- | Below, deficient |
Iso- | Equal |
-itis | inflammation |
Meso- | Middle |
Myo- | Muscle |
Naso - | Nose |
Nephro- | Kidney |
Neuro- | Nerve |
Oro- | Mouth |
Osteo - | Bone |
Oto - | Ear |
Pulmo- | Lung |
Rhino- | Nose |
Thora(cic)(x) - | Chest |
Trans- | Across, through |
Superior | Above, towards the head |
Inferior | Below, away from the head |
Anterior | Towards the mouth (GI tube) |
Posterior | Towards the anus (GI tube) |
Medial | Towards the middle |
Lateral | Towards the side |
Deep | Below or underneath the surface |
Superficial | At or near the surface |
Caudal | Towards the tail (spinal column) |
Cranial | Towards the head (spinal column) |
Ventral | Belly-side (front) |
Dorsal | Back side |
Proximal | Toward an attached base |
Distal | Away from an attached base |
Prone | Lying face downward |
Supine | Lying face upward |
Transverse | Divides body top from bottom |
Sagittal | Divides body into left and right |
A(n)- | without |
Arteri(o)- | Artery |
Arthr(o) - | Joint |
-blast | Immature cell |
Cardi(a)(o) - | Heart |
Cephal(i)(o)- | Head |
Cerebr(a)(o)- | Brain |
Cervic(a)(o)- | Neck |
Crani- | Skull |
-cyt(e)(o) | cell |
Dent(i)(o) - | Tooth |
Derma(to) | Skin |
End(o)- | Within, inner |
Epi- | Upon,above |
Exo- | Out, away from |
Fibr/o- | Fibers |
Gastr(o)- | Stomach |
Glyco-, Gluco- | Sweet |
Hem(at)- | Blood |
Hepato- | Liver |
Hyper- | Excess |
Hypo- | Below, deficient |
Iso- | Equal |
-itis | inflammation |
Meso- | Middle |
Myo- | Muscle |
Naso - | Nose |
Nephro- | Kidney |
Neuro- | Nerve |
Oro- | Mouth |
Osteo - | Bone |
Oto - | Ear |
Pulmo- | Lung |
Rhino- | Nose |
Thora(cic)(x) - | Chest |
Trans- | Across, through |