Word roots

abdomin(o): abdomen

abdominal = pertaining to the abdomen

brachio): arm

brachial = pertaining to the arm

cephal(o): head

cephalalgia = headache

cyan(o): blue

cyanosis = blue, gray, or purple tinge to the skin

due to lack of oxygen in the blood ger(o), geront(o): aged

gerontology = study of the aged

gluc(o): glucose, sugar

glucometer = device used to measure blood glucose

glyc(o): glucose, sugar

glycosuria = glucose (sugar) in the urine

lip(o), lipid(o): fat

lipemic = visibly containing fat particles

(in a blood specimen)

mamm (o): breast

mammogram = X-ray of the breast

mast(o): breast

mastectomy = excision of the breast

onal data.

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melan(o): black

melanoma = mole or tumor, may be cancerous

necro): death

necrotic tissue = dead tissue

onc(0): tumor

oncology = study of tumors

pod (o): foot

podiatrist = foot doctor

therm(o): hot, heat

thermoplegia = heatstroke

thorac(o): chest

thoracotomy = incision into the chest wall

toxic(o), tox(o): poison

toxicology = study of poisons

Integumentary System

cutane(0), dermat(o), derm(a/o): skin

dermatitis = inflammation of the skin

hidro): sweat

hyperhidrosis = excessive sweating

pil(o), trich(o): hair

piloerection = hair standing on end

seb(o): sebum

seborrhea = discharge of sebum

Musculoskeletal System arthro): joint

arthrotomy = cut into a joint

chondro): cartilage

chondrectomy = removal of cartilage

cost(o): rib

costochondral - pertaining to a rib crani(o): skull

craniotomy = cutting into the skull

Prefixes, Roots, Suffixes (cont'd)

fascio): band of tissue

fascitis - inflammation of a band of connective

tissue

my(o): muscle

myocarditis = inflammation of the heart muscle

oss(eo/i), oste(0): bone

osteoarthritis = disease of the joints

ten(0), tend(o), tendin(o): tendon

tendinitis = inflammation of a tendon

Nervous System and Sense Organs aur (i/o): ear

auricle = outer ear

cerebr(o): cerebrum

cerebrospinal = pertaining to the brain and

spinal cord encephal(o): brain

encephalitis = inflammation of the brain

mening(0): meninges; membranes covering the spinal cord and brain

meningitis = inflammation of the membranes

of the spinal cord or brain myel(o): spinal cord (also bone marrow; see immune and lymphatic systems entry)

myelitis = inflammation of the spinal cord

neur(0): nerve

neuritis = inflammation of a nerve

ocul(o), ophthalmo): eye

ophthalmologist = eye doctor

ot(o): ear

otology = science of the ear

angio): vessel

angioplasty = surgical repair of a vessel using

a balloon

arteri(o): artery

arteriosclerosis = hardening of artery walls

cardi(o): heart

cardiology = study of the heart

hem(o), hemat(o): blood

hematurin- hand

ureter(o): urete

arterio): artery

arteriosclerosis = hardening of artery walls

cardio): heart

cardiology = study of the heart

hem(o), hemat(o): blood

hematuria = blood in the urine

phleb(o), ven(i/o): vein

phlebitis = inflammation of a vein

thrombo): clot

thrombus = blood clot blocking a vessel

Respiratory System broncho): bronchus

bronchopneumonia = inflammation of the lungs

laryng(o): larynx

laryngectomy = excision of the larynx

ox(1/o/y): oxygen

oximeter = device that measures oxygen saturation

pharyng(o): pharynx

pharyngitis = inflammation of the throat,

sore throat

pneum(a/o): air, gas, respiration

pneumonia = inflammation of the lung

pneumon(o): lung, breath

pneumonomelanosis = blackening of the lung tissue

pulm(o): lung

pulmonary = relating to the lungs

trache(o): trachea, windpipe

tracheostomy = incision to make an artificial airway

Urinary System cyst(o): bladder, cyst

cystitis = inflammation of the bladder

nephr(o), ren(o): kidney

nephrectomy = removal of a kidney

ureter(o): ureter

ureterolithiasis - stones in the ureter urethr(o): urethra

urethritis - inflammation of urethra vesic(o): bladder

vesicourethral = relating to the bladder and urethra

Gastrointestinal System chol(e): bile

cholecystitis = inflammation of the gall bladder

col(o): colon

colonoscopy = examination of the large intestine or

colon with a scope duoden(o): duodenum

duodenal = pertaining to the duodenum, the first

part of the small intestine esophag(o): esophagus

esophagoscopy = examination of the esophagus

with a scope

gastr(o): stomach

gastritis = inflammation of the stomach

hepat(o): liver

hepatomegaly = enlargement of the liver

ile(o): ileum

ileostomy = creation of an opening in the

abdomen to move digested food from the ileum out of the body

or(o): mouth

oropharynx = part of the pharynx behind the

mouth

pancreat(o): pancreas

pancreatitis = inflammation of the pancreas

procto): anus, rectum

proctalgia = rectal pain

stomato): mouth

stomatitis = inflammation of the mouth

Endocrine System aden(o): gland

adenitis = inflammation of a gland

adren(o): adrenal gland

adrenoleukodystrophy = disorder causing abnormalities in the adrenal glands and white matter of the brain

gonad(o): sex gland

gonadoblastoma = a tumor affecting cells in

the gonads pineal(o): pineal gland

pinealoma = cancer that begins in the pineal gland

pituitar (0): pituitary gland

pituitarothyroid = related to the pituitary and

thyroid glands thyroid (o): thyroid

thyroidopathy = any disorder of the thyroid gland

Reproductive System andro): male, man

androgen = male sex hormone

gynec(o), gyn(o): female, woman

gynecology = study of diseases of the female

reproductive organs hyster(0): uterus

hysterectomy = surgical removal of the uterus

oophor(o), ovari(o): ovary

oophorectomy = surgical removal of an ovary

orcho), orchid(o), test(o), testiculo): testicle

orchiopexy = surgery to move an undescended

testicle to the scrotum

Immune and Lymphatic Systems

lymph(o): lymph

lymphocyte = type of white blood cell

myel(o): bone marrow (also spinal cord;

see nervous system entry)

myeloma = cancer of white blood cells that grow

in the bone marrow splen(o): spleen

splenomegaly = enlarged spleen

thym (o): thymus

thymocyte = a lymphocyte within the thymus gland

tonsil(o): tonsil

tonsillectomy = surgical removal of the tonsils