SH

Medical Terminology: Word Parts and Definitions

Word Parts: Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms

A

  • A-: no, not, without, away from, negative (e.g., apnea - without breathing).
  • -a: noun ending.
  • Ab-: away from, negative, absent (e.g., abduct - to move away from the midline).
  • abdomin/o: pertaining to the abdomen.
  • -able: capable of, able to (e.g., viable - able to live).
  • abrad/o, abras/o: rub or scrape off (e.g., abrasion - the process of scraping away).
  • abrupt/o: broken away from (e.g. abruptio placentae - placenta tearing away from the uterine wall).
  • Abs-: away from.
  • abscess/o: collection of pus.
  • -ac: pertaining to (e.g., cardiac - pertaining to the heart).
  • -acious: characterized by (e.g., audacious - characterized by boldness).
  • acous/o, acoust/o: hearing, sound.
  • acr/o: extremities, top, extreme point (e.g., acrophobia - fear of heights).
  • actin/o: light.
  • acu/o: sharp, severe, sudden.
  • Ad-: toward, to, in the direction of.
  • aden/o: gland (e.g., adenoma - tumor of a gland).
  • adenoid/o: adenoids.
  • adhes/o: stick to, cling to (e.g., adhesion - the process of sticking together).
  • adip/o: fat (e.g., adipose - fatty tissue).
  • annex/o: bound to.
  • adren/o, adrenal/o: adrenal glands.
  • aer/o: air, gas (e.g., aerobic - requiring air).
  • Af-: toward, to.
  • affect/o: exert influence on .
  • -ago: abnormal condition, disease.
  • agor/a: marketplace (e.g., agoraphobia - fear of open spaces).

AG

  • -agra: excessive pain, seizure (e.g., podagra - gout of the foot).
  • -aise: comfort, ease.
  • -al: pertaining to (e.g., renal - pertaining to the kidney).
  • alb/o, albin/o: white (e.g., albinism - lack of pigment).
  • albumin/o: albumin, protein.
  • alg/o, alges/o: pain, relationship with pain (e.g, algesia - condition of pain).
  • -algia: pain, suffering, painful condition (e.g., neuralgia - nerve pain).
  • align/o: bring into line or correct position .
  • aliment/o: to nourish.
  • all/o, all-: other, different from normal, reversal (e.g., allergy - altered reaction).
  • alopec/o: baldness (e.g., alopecia - hair loss).
  • alveol/o: alveolus, air sac, small sac.
  • Ambi-: both sides, around or about, double (e.g., ambidextrous - using both hands equally well).
  • ambly/o: dull, dim (e.g., amblyopia - dimness of vision).
  • ambulat/o: walking (e.g., ambulatory - able to walk).
  • -amine: nitrogen compound
  • amni/o: amnion, fetal membrane (e.g., amniocentesis - surgical puncture to aspirate amniotic fluid).
  • amput/o: cut away, cut off a part of the body (e.g., amputation - removal of a limb).
  • amyl/o: starch, carbohydrate (e.g., amylase - enzyme that breaks down starch).
  • An-: not, without.
  • Ana-: up, apart, excessive (e.g., anabolism - building up).
  • an/o: anus, ring.
  • -an: characteristic of, pertaining to (e.g., Latin - pertaining to the language of the ancient Romans).
  • -ancy: state of.
  • andr/o: male, masculine (e.g., androgen - hormone that promotes male characteristics).
  • aneurysm/o: aneurysm.
  • angi/o: blood or lymph vessel (e.g., angiogram - x-ray of blood vessels).
  • anis/o: unequal (e.g., anisocytosis - red blood cells of unequal size).
  • ankyl/o: crooked, bent, stiff (e.g., ankylosis - stiff joint).
  • anomal/o: irregularity (e.g., anomaly - deviation from normal).
  • Ante-: before, in front of, forward (e.g., antepartum - before delivery).
  • anter/o: before, front (e.g., anterior - situated in front).

AN - AP

  • Anti-: against (e.g., antibiotic - against life [bacteria]).
  • anxi/o: anxiety, anxious, uneasy.
  • aort/o: aorta (e.g., aortic stenosis - narrowing of aorta).
  • Ap-: toward, to.
  • -apheresis: removal (e.g., plasmapheresis - removal of plasma).
  • aphth/o: ulcer (e.g., aphthous ulcer - canker sore).
  • apic/o: apex, tip.
  • Ap-, apo-: separation, away from, opposed, detached (e.g., apomorphine - substance derived from morphine).
  • append/o, appendic/o: appendix (e.g., appendectomy - surgical removal of appendix).

AQ - AR

  • aque/o: water (e.g., aqueous - watery).
  • -ar: pertaining to (e.g., muscular - pertaining to muscle).
  • -arche: beginning (e.g., menarche - beginning of menstruation).
  • areat/o: occurring in patches or circumscribed areas.
  • areol/o: little open space, space around the nipple.
  • -aria: connected with.
  • arter/o, arteri/o: artery (e.g., arteriosclerosis - hardening of the arteries).
  • arthr/o: joint (e.g., arthritis - inflammation of joint).
  • articul/o: joint (e.g., articulation - joint).
  • -ary: pertaining to (e.g., pulmonary - pertaining to lungs).

AS

  • As-: toward, to.
  • -ase: enzyme (e.g., amylase - enzyme breaking down starch).
  • aspir/o, aspirat/o: to breathe in.
  • -asthenia: weakness, lack of strength (e.g., myasthenia - muscle weakness).
  • asthm/o: asthma.
  • astr/o: star, star-shaped.

AT - AU

  • At-: toward, to.
  • atel/o: incomplete, imperfect (e.g., atelectasis - incomplete expansion of a lung).
  • ather/o: plaque, fatty substance (e.g., atherosclerosis - hardening due to fatty plaque).
  • -ation: state or action.
  • atri/o: atrium (of the heart).
  • attenu/o: diluted, weakened (e.g., attenuated - refers to a weakened virus).
  • audi/o, audit/o: ear, hearing, the sense of hearing
  • aur/i: ear, hearing (e.g., aural - pertaining to ear).
  • auscult/a, ascult/o: listen (e.g., auscultation - listening with a stethoscope).

AU - AX

  • aut/o: self (e.g., autoimmune - against self).
  • axill/o: armpit (e.g., axillary - pertaining to armpit).

B

  • bacteri/o: bacteria (singular, bacterium) (e.g., bactericidal - kills bacteria).
  • balan/o: glans penis (e.g., balanitis - inflammation of glans penis).
  • bar/o: pressure, weight.
  • bas/o: base, opposite of acid (alkaline).
  • Bi-: twice, double, two (e.g., bilateral - two sides).
  • bi/o: life (e.g., biology - study of life).
  • bifid/o: split, divided into two parts (e.g., spina bifida - split spine).
  • bil/i: bile, gall .
  • bilirubin/o: bilirubin.
  • Bin-: two.
  • -blast: embryonic, immature, formative element (e.g., osteoblast - bone-forming cell).
  • blephar/o: eyelid (e.g., blepharitis - inflammation of eyelid).
  • brachi/o: arm.
  • Brachy-: short (e.g., brachytherapy - short distance radiation therapy).
  • Brady-: slow (e.g., bradycardia - slow heart rate).
  • bronchi/o, bronch/o: bronchial tube, bronchus (e.g., bronchitis - inflammation of bronchi).
  • bronchiol/o: bronchiole, bronchiolus.
  • brux/o: grind (e.g., bruxism - teeth grinding).
  • bucc/o: cheek.
  • burs/o: bursa, sac of fluid near joint (e.g., bursitis - inflammation of bursa).

C

  • calcane/o: calcaneus, heel bone
  • calc/i: calcium, lime, the heel (e.g., hypercalcemia - excessive calcium in the blood).
  • calci-, calc/o: calcium.
  • calcul/o: stone, little stone (e.g., calculus - stone).
  • cali/o, calic/o: cup-like structure, calyx.
  • calor/i: heat (e.g., calorie - unit of heat).
  • canth/o: corner of the eye.
  • capill/o: hair (e.g., capillary - small blood vessel).
  • capit/o: head.
  • capn/o: carbon dioxide, sooty or smoky appearance.
  • capsul/o: little box (e.g., capsule - a small container or enclosure).
  • carb/o: carbon (e.g., carbohydrate - compound of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen).
  • carcin/o: cancerous (e.g., carcinoma - cancerous tumor).
  • cardi/o, card/o: heart (e.g., cardiology - study of the heart).
  • cari/o: caries, tooth decay (e.g., dental caries - cavities).
  • carp/o: wrist bones (e.g., carpal tunnel - space in wrist).
  • catabol/o: a breaking down (e.g., catabolism - breaking down complex substances).
  • caud/o: lower part of body, tail (e.g., caudal - pertaining to tail).
  • caus/o: burning, burn (e.g., causalgia - burning pain).
  • cav/o: hollow, cave (e.g., cavity - a hollow space).
  • cec/o: cecum.
  • -cele: hernia, tumor, swelling (e.g., hydrocele - fluid-filled sac).
  • celi/o: abdomen, belly (e.g., celiac - relating to abdomen).
  • -centesis: surgical puncture to remove fluid (e.g., thoracentesis - surgical puncture of the chest).
  • cephal/o: head (e.g., cephalic - pertaining to the head).
  • cerebell/o: cerebellum
  • cerebr/o: cerebrum, brain.
  • cervic/o: neck, cervix (neck of uterus) (e.g., cervical - pertaining to the neck or cervix ).
  • cheil/o: lip or lips (e.g., cheilitis - inflammation of lip).
  • chem/o: drug, chemical (e.g., chemotherapy - treatment with drugs).
  • chir/o: hand (e.g., chiropractor - uses hands to adjust spine).
  • chol/e: bile, gall (e.g., cholecystitis - inflammation of gallbladder).
  • cholangi/o: bile duct.
  • cholecyst/o: gallbladder.
  • choledoch/o: common bile duct.
  • cholesterol/o: cholesterol.
  • chondr/i, chondr/o: cartilage (e.g., chondritis - inflammation of cartilage).
  • chori/o, chorion/o: chorion, membrane.
  • choroid/o: choroid layer of eye
  • chrom/o: color (e.g., chromatic - pertaining to color).
  • chron/o: time (e.g., chronic - long-lasting).
  • -cide: causing death (e.g., bactericide - kills bacteria).
  • cili/o: eyelashes.
  • Cine-: movement.
  • circulat/o: circulate, go around in a circle (e.g., circulatory system).
  • cirrh/o: orange-yellow, tawny.
  • cis/o: to cut (e.g., incision - process of cutting into).
  • -clasis: break down (e.g., osteoclasis - surgical fracture of a bone).
  • claudicat/o: to limp.
  • claustr/o: barrier, enclosed space (e.g., claustrophobia - fear of enclosed spaces).
  • clavicul/o, cleid/o: clavicle, collar bone.
  • clon/o: violent action (e.g., clonic - spasmatic alternation of contraction and relaxation of muscles).
  • Co-: together, with (e.g., cooperate - to work together).
  • coagul/o: clotting, coagulation (e.g., coagulation - process of clotting).
  • coarct/o, coarctat/o: press together, narrow.
  • cocc/o: spherical bacteria.
  • coccyg/o: coccyx, tailbone.
  • cochle/o: spiral, snail, snail shell (e.g., cochlea - spiral cavity of inner ear).
  • coit/o: a coming together.
  • col/o: colon, large intestine (e.g., colitis - inflammation of colon).
  • coll/a: glue.
  • colon/o: colon, large intestine
  • colp/o: vagina (e.g., colposcopy - examination of vagina and cervix).
  • Com-: together, with (e.g., combine - to merge together).
  • comat/o: deep sleep (e.g., comatose - state of deep unconsciousness).
  • comminut/o: break into pieces (e.g., comminuted fracture - bone broken in multiple pieces).
  • communic/o: share, to make common (e.g., communication).
  • Con-: together, with (e.g., connect - to join together).
  • concav/o: hollow.
  • concept/o: become pregnant.
  • concuss/o: shaken together, violently agitated (e.g., concussion - injury to the brain).
  • coni/o: dust (e.g., pneumoconiosis - lung disease from dust).
  • constrict/o: draw tightly together.
  • contin/o: hold together
  • Contra-: against, counter, opposite (e.g., contraindication - against a treatment).
  • contus/o: bruise (e.g., contusion - bruise).
  • convex/o: arched, vaulted.
  • convuls/o: pull together (e.g., convulsion - violent shaking of the body).
  • cor/o: pupil (e.g., coreoplasty - plastic surgery of pupil).
  • cordi/o: heart (e.g., cardiac - relating to heart).
  • coron/o: coronary, crown.
  • corpor/o: body (e.g., corpse - dead body).
  • cortic/o: cortex, outer region (e.g., corticosteroid - steroid from adrenal cortex).
  • cost/o: rib (e.g., intercostal - between the ribs).
  • crani/o: skull (e.g., craniotomy - incision into the skull).
  • -crasia: a mixture or blending (e.g., dyscrasia - abnormal condition of the blood).
  • creatin/o: creatinine.
  • crin/o, -crine: to secrete (e.g., endocrine - secrete internally).
  • -crit: to separate (e.g., hematocrit - separates blood volume).
  • cry/o: cold (e.g., cryotherapy - treatment with cold).
  • crypt/o: hidden (e.g., cryptorchidism - undescended testicle).
  • cubit/o: elbow (e.g., cubital - relating to elbow).
  • culd/o: cul-de-sac, blind pouch (e.g., culdocentesis -needle puncture of cul-de-sac for aspiration of fluid).
  • -cusis: hearing (e.g, presbycusis- hearing loss associated with age.).
  • cusp/o: point (e.g. bicuspid - having two points or cusps).
  • cutane/o: skin (e.g., subcutaneous - beneath the skin).
  • cyan/o: blue (e.g., cyanosis - bluish discoloration).

CY

  • cycl/o: ciliary body of eye, cycle (e.g., cycloplegic - paralyzing ciliary muscle *).
  • cyst/o: urinary bladder, cyst, sac of fluid (e.g., cystitis - inflammation of the bladder).
  • cyt/o, -cyte: cell (e.g., cytology - study of cells).

D

  • dacry/o: tear, lacrimal duct (tear duct) (e.g., dacryocystitis - inflammation of the lacrimal sac).
  • dacryocyst/o: lacrimal sac (tear sac).
  • dactyl/o: finger, toe (e.g., dactylitis - inflammation of a finger or toe).
  • De-: down, lack of, from, not, removal (e.g., dehydration - removal of water)
  • Deci-: ten, tenth.
  • decidu/o: shedding, falling off.
  • delt/o: Greek letter delta, a triangular shape (e.g.,deltoid).
  • delus/o: delude, cheat.
  • dem/o: people, population (e.g., epidemic - disease affecting many people).
  • Demi-: half (e.g., demifacet - half a small area or surface).
  • dendr/o: branching, resembling a tree (e.g., dendrite).
  • dent/i, dent/o: tooth, teeth (e.g., dentist - tooth doctor).
  • depress/o: press down, lower, pressed or sunk down.
  • -derma, dermat/o, derm/o: skin (e.g., dermatitis - inflammation of skin).
  • desicc/o: drying, to dry (e.g., desiccant - drying agent).
  • -desis: to bind, tie together (e.g., arthrodesis - surgical fusion of joint).
  • dextr/o: right side (e.g., dextrose - right-rotating form of glucose).
  • Di-: twice, two fold, double (e.g., diplopia - double vision).
  • Dia-, di-: through, between, apart, complete (e.g., dialysis - separation through a membrane).
  • diaphor/o: sweat.
  • diaphragmat/o: diaphragm.
  • didym/o: testes, twins
  • digest/o: digest, break down (food).
  • digit/o: digit, finger or toe
  • dilat/o: spread out, widen (e.g., dilation - widening).
  • dipl/o: double (e.g., diplopia - double vision).

DI - DO

  • dips/o, -dipsia: thirst (e.g., polydipsia - excessive thirst).
  • Dis-: negative, apart, absence of (e.g., *disease - absence of ease or comfort *).
  • dissect/o: cutting apart (e.g., dissection - ).
  • dist/o: far, away from the point of origin
  • distend/o: stretch apart, expand
  • dors/o: back of body (e.g., dorsal - pertaining to the back).
  • -dote: what is given (e.g., antidote - a medicine given against a poison).
  • -drome: to run, running (e.g., syndrome - group of symptoms that run together)
  • -duct: opening
  • duct/o: to lead, carry (e.g., abduction - move away from the midline).
  • duoden/o: duodenum, first part of small intestine (e.g., duodenal ulcer).

DU - DY

  • dur/o: dura mater (e.g., dural - pertaining to dura mater).
  • -dynia: pain (e.g., cephalodynia - head pain).
  • Dys-: bad, difficult, painful (e.g., dyspnea - difficult breathing).

E

  • E-: out of, from (e.g. enucleate - take out of it's nucleus).
  • -e: noun ending
  • -eal: pertaining to (e.g., esophageal - pertaining to the esophagus).
  • Ec-: out, outside (e.g., ectopic - out of place).
  • ecchym/o: pouring out of juice or blood (e.g., ecchymosis - bruise).
  • ech/o: sound wave, echo (e.g., echocardiogram - ultrasound of heart).
  • -ectasis: stretching, dilation, enlargement (e.g., bronchiectasis - dilation of bronchi).
  • Ecto-: out, outside (e.g., ectoderm - outer layer of skin).
  • -ectomy: surgical removal, cutting out, excision (e.g., appendectomy - surgical removal of appendix).
  • -ectopy: displacement.
  • -edema: swelling (e.g., lymphedema - swelling due to lymph accumulation).
  • edentul/o: without teeth (e.g., edentulous* - without teeth).
  • Ef-: out (e.g., efferent - carrying away).
  • effus/o: pouring out (e.g., effusion - fluid that has escaped from blood vessels).
  • ejaculat/o: throw or hurl out (e.g., ejaculation - act of expelling semen).

EL - EN

  • electr/o: electricity, electric (e.g., electrocardiogram - recording of heart's electrical activity).
  • Em-: in (e.g., embolism - sudden blockage of blood vessel ).
  • embol/o: something inserted or thrown (e.g., embolus - mass blocking vessel).
  • embry/o: fertilized ovum, embryo.
  • -emesis: vomiting (e.g., hyperemesis - excessive vomiting).
  • emet/o: vomit.
  • -emia: blood, blood condition (e.g., anemia - lack of red blood cells).
  • En-: in, within, into (e.g., encapsulate - enclose into a capsule).
  • encephal/o: brain (e.g., encephalitis - inflammation of the brain).

EN - EP

  • End-, endo-: in, within, inside (e.g., endoscope - instrument to view inside).
  • enter/o: intestine, usually small intestine (e.g., enteritis - inflammation of small intestine).
  • Ento-: within.
  • Epi-: above, upon, on (e.g., epidermis - outer layer of skin).
  • epiglott/o: epiglottis (e.g., epiglottitis - inflammation of the epiglottis).
  • episi/o: vulva.

ER - ES

  • -er: one who (e.g., radiographer - one who takes radiograph).
  • erect/o: upright
  • erg/o: work (e.g., allergy - altered reaction).
  • erupt/o: break out, burst forth
  • erythemat/o: flushed, redness
  • erythr/o: red (e.g., erythrocyte - red blood cell).
  • Es-: out of, outside, away from (e.g., enucleate - to remove the nucleus from).
  • -esis: abnormal condition, disease
  • Eso-: inward (e.g., esotropia - turning inward of eyes).
  • esophag/o: esophagus (e.g., esophagitis - inflammaton of esophagus).
  • -esthesia: sensation, feeling (e.g., anesthesia - without sensation).
  • esthet/o: feeling, nervous sensation, sense of perception (e.g., esthetic).
  • estr/o: female
  • ethm/o: sieve, ethmoid bone.
  • eti/o: cause of disease (e.g., etiology - study of causes of disease).

EU - EX

  • Eu-: good, normal, well, easy (e.g., eupnea - normal breathing).
  • -eurysm: widening (e.g., aneurysm - widening or ballooning of blood vessel).
  • Ex-: out of, outside, away from (e.g., excise - to cut out).
  • exacerb/o: aggravate, irritate (e.g., exacerbate - to make worse).
  • excori/o: abrade or scratch (e.g., excoriation - abrasion).
  • excret/o: separate, discharge (e.g., excrete - to discharge waste).
  • Exo-: out of, outside, away from (e.g., exotropia - turning outward of eyes).

EX - F

  • extern/o: outside, outer.
  • Extra-: on the outside, beyond, outside (e.g., extracellular - outside the cell).
  • extrins/o: from the outside, contained outside.
  • exud/o: to sweat, exude fluid.
  • faci/o: face, form (e.g., facial - pertaining to the face).
  • fasci/o: fascia, fibrous band (e.g., fasciitis - inflammation of fascia).
  • fec/a, fec/o: dregs, sediment, waste (e.g., fecal - pertaining to feces).
  • femor/o: femur, thigh bone (e.g., femoral - pertaining to femur).
  • fenestr/a: window, small opening.
  • fer/o: to bear, carry (e.g., afferent - carries towards).-.
  • fertil/o: fertile, able to conceive (e.g., fertility - condition of being able to reproduce).
  • fet/o: fetus, unborn child (e.g., fetal - pertaining to a fetus).
  • fibr/o: fibrous tissue, fiber (e.g., fibroma - tumor of fibrous tissue).
  • fibrin/o: fibrin, fibers, threads of a clot
  • fibul/o: fibula (e.g., fibular - pertaining to fibula bone).
  • -fic: making, producing, forming.
  • -fication: process of making.
  • -fida: split (e.g., spina bifida).
  • filtr/o, filtrat/o: filter, to strain through (e.g., filtration - act of passing through a filter).
  • fiss/o: crack, split, cleft.
  • flatul/o: flatus, rectal gas (e.g., flatulence - excessive gas in intestines).
  • flex/o: bend (e.g., flexion - act of bending).
  • fluor/o: glowing, luminous (e.g., fluorescent - emitting light).
  • foc/o: focus, point (e.g., focal - having a focus).

FO - FU

  • follicul/o: follicle, small sac.
  • foramin/o: opening, foramen.
  • Fore-: before, in front of (e.g., forearm - before the arm).
  • -form, form/o: resembling, in the shape of. (e.g., uniform - having one form).
  • fove/o: small pit, depressed area (e.g., fovea centralis - pit in retina).
  • fract/o: break (e.g., fracture - broken bone).
  • front/o: front, forehead (e.g., frontal lobe - front of the brain).
  • fund/o: bottom, base, fundus (e.g., funduscopy - examination of fundus of eye).
  • fung/o: fungus (e.g., fungicide - kills fungi).
  • -fusion: to come together.

G

  • galact/o: milk (e.g., galactorrhea - flow of milk when not breastfeeding).
  • ganglion/o: ganglion, cluster of nerve cell bodies.
  • gangren/o: tissue death, gangrene (e.g., gangrenous - pertaining to gangrene).
  • gastr/o: stomach (e.g., gastritis - inflammation of stomach).
  • gemin/o: twin, double, group.
  • Gen-, gen/o, -gen: producing, forming (e.g., pathogen - produces disease).
  • -gene: production, origin, formation.
  • -genic, -genesis: creation, reproduction (e.g., osteogenesis - formation of bone).
  • -genous: producing
  • ger/i: old age (e.g., geriatrics - medical care of elderly).
  • germin/o: bud, sprout, embryonic tissue
  • geront/o: old age (e.g., gerontology - study of aging).
  • gest/o, gestat/o: pregnancy, gestation to birth (e.g., gestation - pregnancy).
  • gigant/o: giant, very large (e.g., gigantism - excessive growth).
  • gingiv/o: gingival tissue, gums (e.g., gingivitis - inflammation of gums).
  • glauc/o: gray (e.g., glaucoma - eye disease with increased pressure).
    *