Prefix and Suffix exam
a-,an
lack, without (asexual)
ab-; abs-
from, away from; separated (abduct; abscess)
-able
capable: viable (capable of living)
acou-
hearing: acoustics (science of sound)
acr-
extremity: acromegaly (large extremities)
ad-
to, toward, attached to (adduct)
adeno-
gland: adenoma (glandular tumor)
-aer-
air (aerobic; anaerobic)
-aesthes-
feeling (anesthesia)
af-
toward (afferent)
-al
expressing relationship: neural (referring to nerves)
algia
pain: gastralgia (stomach pain)
amyl-
starch (amylase)
angio-
vessel: angiography (radiography of blood vessels)
ante-
before, forward: antecubital (before elbow)
anti-
against, reversed: antiperistalsis (reversed peristalsis)
arthr-
joint: arthritis ( inflammation of a joint)
-ary
associated with: urinary (associated with urine)
-asis
condition, state of: homeostasis (state of staying the same)
aud-
hear (auditory; audiometer)
auri-
ear (auriscope)
auto-
self, oneself (autograph; autotrophic): autolysis => self breakdown
baro-
pressure, weight (barometer)
bi-
two, twice, double (bilobed; biceps): bicuspid=>two cusps
-bio(s)
life, live (symbiosis)
-blastos-
germ or forming (erythroblast)
brachio-
arm (brachial; brachial artery)
brachy-
short (brachycephalic)
brady-
slow (bradycardia)
-bronchio-
gill (bronchiomeric; bronchiopod)
brevi-
short (brevipennate; brevity)
-calci-
pertaining to lime; spur (calcareous; calcite)
callous-
hard, thickened (corpus callosum; callus)
-cardi-
heart (pericardium; cardiovascular)
-carn-
flesh (carnage; carnal)
carcin-
cancer: carcinogenic=>causing cancer
cardio-
heart: cardiopathy=>heart disease
cauda-
tail (caudal)
cephal; -cephale-
head: cephalic=>toward the head
-cele hollow
blastocele=>hollow cavity inside a blastocyst
cereb-; cerebro-
brain (cerebellum; cerebrum): cerebrospinal=>referring to brain and spinal cord
chi
22nd letter of Greek alphabet, crossing (chiasma)
-chiro-
hand (chiropractor)
-chloro-
green (chlorophyll)
chole-
bile (cholecystic): acholic=>without bile
-chondr-; -chondro-
cartilage, gristle (perichondrium): chondrocyte=>cartilage cell
-cid; -cide, or cidal-
kill, to kill (suicide; fungicidal; bactericidal): bactericide=>agent that kills bacteria
-cili-
hair (ciliated)
circum-
around, about (circumcision): circumduction=>circular movement
-clast-
to break, destroy, smash: osteoclast=>cell that breaks down bone
-clavis-
club-like (clavicle)
-cle, -clus, -cule, -culus
small, diminutive (auricle)
co-, com-, con-
with, together (coagulate; commensal; conjugate) coenzyme=>molecule that functions with an enzyme, commisure=>coming together, convergence=>to incline together
coll-
glue (collagen; colloid)
contra-
counter, against, opposite (contrary; contraindicated): contralateral=>opposite
-corn-
horn, hard (unicorn; cornea; cornified)
corona-
crown (coronary)
-corp-, -corpus-
body (corpuscle; corpus callosum)
-cortex-
outer layer (adrenal cortex; corticotrophic hormone)
-costa-
rib (costal cartilage; intercostal)
crypto-
hidden: cryptorchidism=>undescended or hidden testes
-cune
wedge (cuneiform)
-cyt, cyte, cyto-
cell (lymphocyte): erythrocyte=>red blood cell, cytoskeleton=>supportive fibers inside a cell
cyano-
dark blue (cyanosis)
-cyst-
bladder (fibrocystic)
-dendron-
treelike (dendrite)
-dent-
tooth, pointed (dentate; peridont)
-derm-
skin, layer (ectoderm; dermal): dermatology=>study of skin
di-
two, twice (divide): diploid=>two set of chromosomes
dia-
through, apart, across, between (diameter; dialysis): diapedesis=>ooze through
dis-
different, apart, apart from, away, reversal, negative (disinfect):dessect=>cut apart
diplo-
two, divided (diploid)
dura-
hard, lasting (dura mater)
-dynia
pain: mastodynia=>breast pain
dys-
bad, hard, difficult (dysentery): dysmentia=>bad mind
e-, ef
out of, out, from, away from (eject): eviscerate=>take out viscera
ecto-
outside, external, on outer side (ectoparasite): ectoderm=>outer skin
-ectomy
to cut out, cut out: appendectomy=>cut out the appendix
-edem-
swell: myoedema=>swelling of a muscle
-emia
blood: anemia=>deficiency of blood
endo-
within, inner (endoderm; endocardium): endometrium=>within the uterus
entero-
intestine: enteritis=>inflammation of the intestine
epi-
upon, on the surface, on: epidermis=>on the skin
erythro-
red: erythrocyte=>red blood cell
eu-
well, good: euphoria=>well being
ex-
out, away from: exhalation=>breathe out
exo-
outside, on outer side: exogenous=>originating outside
extra-
beyond, outside of (extracellular)
-ferent
carry: afferent=>carrying to the central nervous system
fovea-
a small pit (fovea centralis)
-form
expressing resemblance: fusiform=> resembling a fusion
gala-, lac-
milk (galactose, lactose)
gastro-
stomach: gastrodynia=>stomach ache
-gen, genesis
produce, producing, beginning, origin (genesis; collagen): pathogenesis => origin of disease
gloss-,-glosso-
tongue (glossopharyngeal): hypoglossal=>under the tongue
glyco-
sugar, sweet (glycose): glycolysis=>breakdown of sugar
-gram
letter or record, a drawing (electrocardiogram): myogram=>drawing of a muscle contraction
graph-
writing, instrument that records (kymograph): myograph=>instrument for measuring muscle contraction
gyn-
woman (gynecology)
hemato-, hemo-, hem-
blood (hematology): hemopoiesis=>formation of blood
hemi-
half (hemisphere): hemiplegia=>paralysis of half of the body
hepato-
liver (hepatic): hepatitis=> inflammation of the liver
hetero-
varied, different, other (heterogenous. heterodont)
hist-, histo-
tissue, tissue web: histology=>study of tissues
homeo-, homo-
same (homology): homeostasis=> state of staying the same, homologous => alike in structure or origin
hydro-
water, wet (hydroscopic): hydrocephalus=>fluid within the head
hyper-
above, over, excessive: hypertrophic=>overgrowth
hypo-
below, under, deficient (hypodermic): hypotension=>low blood pressure
-iatr- treat, cure
pediatrics=>treatment of children
iasis-
condition of (cholelithiasis)
infer-
below (inferior)
infra-
below, beneath: infraorbital=>below the eye
inter-
between: intercostals=>between the rib
intra-
within: intraocular=>within the eye
ism
condition, state of: dimorphism: condition of two forms
iso-
the same, equal: isotonic=>same tension
-itis
inflammation (appendicitis): gastritis=>inflammation of the stomach
kerato-
cornea or horny tissue: keratinization=>formation of a hard tissue
kin-
move or moving (kinetic): kinesiology=>study of movement
leuco-, leuko
white: leucocyte=>white blood cell
-logy
knowledge or study (physiology): histology=>study of tissue
-lysis
dissolving, breaking up (hemolysis): glycolysis=>breakdown of sugar
macro-
large: macrophage=>large phagocytic cell
mal-
bad: malnutrition=>bad nutrition
mast-
breast: mastectomy=>excision of the breast
mega-
great: megacolon=>large colon
melano-
black: melanocyte=>black pigment-producing skin cell
meso-
middle, mid: mesoderm=>middle skin
meta-
beyond, after, change, or transformation (metacarpal, metamorphosis): metastasis=>beyond original position
mono-
one, single (monocyte): monosaccaride=>one sugar
morpho, -morph--
body, shape, form (morphology): morphogenesis=>formation of tissues and organs
myelo-
marrow, spinal cord: myeloid=>derived from bone marrow
myo-
muscle (myogenic): mycocardium=>heart muscle
narco-
numbness: narcotic=>drug producing stupor or weakness
necro-
death (necrosis)
neo-
new: neonatal=>first few weeks of life
nephro-
kidney: nephrectomy=>removal of kidney
neuro-
nerve: neuritis=>inflammation of a nerve
oculo-
eye: oculomotor=>movement of the eye
odont-
tooth or teeth: odontomy=>cutting a tooth
-ole
small (bronchiole)
oligo-
few, scanty, little: oliguria=>little urine
-oma
tumor (fibroma): carcinoma=>cancerous tumor
-op-
see, sight: myopia=>nearsighted
ophthalm-
eye: ophthalmology=>study of the eye
ortho-
straight, normal: orthodontics=>discipline dealing with the straightening of teeth
-osteo-
bone (periosteum): osteocyte=>bone cell
oto-
ear: otolith=>ear stone
ovi-
egg (oviduct)
para-
beside, beyond, near to (parathyroid): paranasal=>near the nose
patho-, -pathy
disease (pathology): cardiopathy=> disease of the heart
-penia
deficiency: thrombycytopenia=>deficiency of thrombocytes
per-
through, excessive, excessively: permeate=>pass through
peri-
around (pericardium): periosteum=>around bone
-phag, phago-
eat or eating (phagocyte): dysphagia=>difficulty eating or swallowing
-phas-
speak, utter: aphasia=>unable to speak
-phil
like, love, loving (hemophilia): hydrophilic=>water-loving
phleb-
vein: phlebotomy=>incision into a vein
phobia-
fear: hydrophobia=>fear of water
-plegia
paralyze: paraplegia=>paralysis of lower limbs
-pnea
breathe or breathing: apnea=>lack of breathing
pneumo-
air, gas, or lung (pneumonia): pneumothorax=>air in the thorax
pod-
foot: pdodiatry=>treatment of foot disorders
-poie-
making, production: hematopoiesis=>make blood cells
poly-
many, much (polyuria): polycythemia=>excess red blood cells
post-
behind, after (posterior, post-surgery): postpartum=>after childbirth
pre-, pro-
before, in front of (premature): prenatal=>before birth, prosect=>to cut before-for the purpose of demonstration
procto-
anus, rectum: proctoscope=>instrument for examing the rectum
proto-
first (protoplasm)
pseudo-
false (pseudopodia): pseudostratified=>falsely layered
psycho-
mind, soul (psychology): psychosomatic=>effect of the mind on the body
pulmo-
lung (pulmonary)
-renal-
kidney (renal artery; suprarenal)
rhino-
nose (rhinoscope)
-rrhea-
flow, discharge: rhinorrhea=>nasal discharge
-rrhage,-rrhagia
bursting forth, pour: hemorrhage=>bleed
sarco-
flesh (sarcolemma)
sclero-
hard (sclerosis): arteriosclerosis=>hardening of the arteries
semi-
half (semicircular): semilunar=>shaped like a half moon
-stasis
stop, stand still: hemostasis=>stop bleeding
sub-
below, under (subclavian): subcutaneous=>under the skin
-some, somato-
body (chromosome): somatotropin=>hormone causing body growth
super-, supra-
above, upon (suprascapula): suprarenal=>above the kidney
sym, syn-
binding together, together, with (synapse): symphysis=>growing together
tachy- fast, swift
tachycardia (rapid heart rate)
therm, thermo-
heat (thermometer)
-tome, -tomy
cutting, cut, incise (microtome): phlebotomy=>incision of a vein
tox-
poison (toxemia): antitoxin=>substance that counteracts a poison
trans-
across, through, beyond (transverse): transection=>cut across
-trophy, -troph-
nourishment, nourish (atrophy):hypertrophy=>overnourishment, enlarge
-tropic
changing, influencing: gonadotropic=>influencing the gonads
-uria
urine (glycosuria): polyuria=>excess urine
vaso-, vas-
vessel (vasodilation):vasoconstriction=>decreased diameter of blood vessel
viscer-
internal organ: visceromotor (movement of internal organs)
vermis-
worm (vermiform)
zyg-
yoked, paired: zygote=> diploid cell