Human Anatomy & Physiology: Latin and Greek Word-Part List
Human Anatomy & Physiology: Latin and Greek Word-Part List
Overview of Terminology
Science terminology is predominantly based in the Latin and Greek languages.
Understanding prefixes, suffixes, and roots is crucial for comprehending the terminology used in the field of anatomy and physiology.
Word parts must be connected for proper pronunciation, frequently using the linking vowel "o".
Example: Linking root "cardi" with suffix "-pathy" results in "cardiopathy" (heart disease), pronounced kar-de-op-ah-the.
Importance of accurate spelling in terminology:
Changing one letter can alter meaning:
"ileum" (part of the small intestine) vs "ilium" (hip bone)
"ped" (foot) vs "pedia" (children)
"ab" (away) vs "ad" (toward)
Example of silent letters: "pneumonia" and "psychology" have silent "p".
Word Parts and Their Meanings
Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots
a-, an, non:
Meaning: Without, Not
Examples: Apnoea (Not breathing), Anuria (Without urine), Nonstriated (Muscle not striated)
ab-, ef-:
Meaning: Away
Examples: Abductor muscle (Muscle pulling away from midline), Efferent (Neuron carrying information away from the brain)
ad-, af-:
Meaning: Toward
Examples: Afferent (Neuron carrying information toward the brain), Adductor muscle (Muscle pulling toward midline)
adi-, lip(o)-:
Meaning: Fat
Examples: Adipose (Fat tissue), Liposuction (Removing fat by suction)
-alg:
Meaning: Pain
Examples: Neuralgia (Nerve pain), Fibromyalgia (Muscle pain)
ana-:
Meaning: Up
Example: Anabolic reaction (Building up of molecules)
ang(i)-:
Meaning: Vessel
Examples: Angiogenesis (Making new blood vessels), Vasodilator (Medicines that widen a vessel)
ante-, pre-:
Meaning: Before
Examples: Prenatal (Before birth), Antebrachial (Before the upper arm)
anti-, contra-:
Meaning: Against, Resisting
Examples: Antibody (Resisting a foreign body), Contraception (Against conception)
aqu(a)-, hydr-:
Meaning: Water
Examples: Aqueous (Water solution), Hydrocephalus (Water on the brain)
arthr(o), artic-:
Meaning: Joint
Examples: Arthritis (Joint inflammation), Articulation (Joint where two bones meet)
-ase:
Meaning: Enzyme
Examples: Maltase (Enzyme breaking down maltose), Lipase (Enzyme breaking down lipids/fats)
audi-:
Meaning: Hear
Example: Auditory nerve (Nerve connecting the ear to the brain)
aut(o)-:
Meaning: Self
Example: Autoimmunity (Self-immunity)
bi-, di-, diplo-:
Meaning: Two
Examples: Bicuspid (Two pointed), Diencephalon (Two parts within the brain)
brachy-, brev(i)-:
Meaning: Short
Examples: Brachydactyly (Short digits), Fibularis brevis (Short muscle in the lower leg)
brady-:
Meaning: Slow
Example: Bradycardia (Slower than normal heart rate)
bronch-:
Meaning: Airway
Example: Bronchitis (Airway inflammation)
cent-:
Meaning: 100, 100th
Examples: Century (100 years), Centigram (1/100th of a gram)
-centesis:
Meaning: Puncture
Example: Amniocentesis (Puncture to aspirate amniotic fluid)
cephal-, -ceps:
Meaning: Head
Examples: Hydrocephalus (Water in the brain), Biceps femoris (2-headed muscle)
chol-, cystic:
Meaning: Gallbladder
Examples: Cholecystokinin (Hormone causing gallbladder contraction), Cystic duct (Tube from gallbladder)
chondr-:
Meaning: Cartilage
Example: Chondrocyte (Cartilage cell)
-cide:
Meaning: Kill
Example: Spermicide (Sperm killer)
circ-, peri-:
Meaning: Around
Examples: Circumcision (Cut around), Periodontal (Around the teeth)
-clast:
Meaning: Break, Destroy
Example: Osteoclast (Bone breaker)
co-, con-, sym-, syn-:
Meaning: Together, With
Examples: Congenital (Born with), Synthesis (Put together)
corp-, soma-:
Meaning: Body
Examples: Corpus luteum (Yellow body), Somatic cell (Body cell)
-crine:
Meaning: Secrete, Release
Example: Endocrine gland (Glands secreting hormones)
cut, derm:
Meaning: Skin
Examples: Subcutaneous (Below the skin), Dermatitis (Skin inflammation)
cyan-:
Meaning: Blue
Example: Cyanosis (Skin turning blue due to low oxygen)
-cyte:
Meaning: Cell
Example: Leukocyte (White blood cell)
dactyl, digit:
Meaning: Finger or Toe
Example: Syndactyly (Webbed fingers or toes)
dec(k):
Meaning: 10, 1/10th
Examples: Decade (10 years), Dekagram (10 grams)
dent, dont:
Meaning: Tooth/Teeth
Examples: Dentalgia (Tooth pain), Orthodontist (Doctor that straightens teeth)
dia-, per-, trans-:
Meaning: Through, Separate, Across
Examples: Diarrhea (Flow through intestines), Permeable (Across a membrane)
dys-, mal-:
Meaning: Bad, Painful, Difficult
Examples: Dyspnoea (Difficult breathing), Malnutrition (Bad nutrition)
-ectomy, -tom, -sect:
Meaning: Cut, Cut out
Examples: Appendectomy (Cut out appendix), Lobotomy (Cut out brain lobe)
ectop-:
Meaning: Displaced
Example: Ectopic pregnancy (Embryo implant outside uterus)
edem-:
Meaning: Swelling
Example: Lymphedema (Swelling of tissues due to lymph accumulation)
-emesis:
Meaning: Vomiting
Example: Hyperemesis (Excessive vomiting)
-emia:
Meaning: Blood condition
Example: Hypoglycaemia (Low blood sugar)
en, endo-, intra-:
Meaning: Inside, Within
Examples: Endosteum (Cavity inside a bone), Intraocular (Inside the eye socket)
epi-:
Meaning: Upon, Over, Above
Examples: Epidermis (Skin layer over the dermis), Epididymis (Above the testes)
equi-, homo-, iso-:
Meaning: Same, Equal, Balanced
Examples: Homeostasis (Constant internal balance), Isotonic (Equal solute concentration)
erythr-:
Meaning: Red
Example: Erythrocyte (Red blood cell)
ex-, ecto-:
Meaning: Outside
Example: Extracellular fluid (Fluid outside cells)
fasci-:
Meaning: Bundle
Example: Muscle or nerve fascicle (Bundle of muscle or nerve cells)
foram-:
Meaning: Opening
Example: Infraorbital foramen (Opening below the eye)
gastr-:
Meaning: Stomach
Example: Gastric bypass surgery (Surgery to reduce stomach size)
-gen, poie-, blast:
Meaning: Create, Form
Examples: Oogenesis (Create an egg), Hemopoiesis (Form new blood cells)
ger(o, i):
Meaning: Aging, Old
Examples: Gerontology (Study of aging), Geriatrics (Branch of medicine for older patients)
glom-:
Meaning: Ball
Example: Glomerulus (Ball of capillaries in the kidney)
gloss/tt, lingu-:
Meaning: Tongue
Examples: Hypoglossal (Cranial nerve under the tongue), Sublingual (Salivary gland under the tongue)
gluc-, gly, -ose:
Meaning: Sugar
Examples: Glucose (Monosaccharide), Glycogen (Big molecule made of glucose)
gyn-:
Meaning: Woman
Example: Gynaecologist (Doctor specializing in female reproductive health)
-gram:
Meaning: Something written
Example: Electrocardiogram (Printout of heart's electrical activity)
-graph:
Meaning: Writing apparatus
Example: Electrocardiograph (Machine to create an electrocardiogram)
-graphy:
Meaning: Use of writing apparatus
Example: Electrocardiography (Use of the electrocardiograph)
hem-:
Meaning: Blood
Example: Hemothorax (Blood in the chest cavity)
hemi-, semi-:
Meaning: Half
Example: Cerebral hemisphere (One half of the brain)
hepat-:
Meaning: Liver
Example: Hepatitis (Inflammation of the liver)
hex-:
Meaning: Six
Example: Hexose (A sugar containing 6 carbons, e.g., glucose)
hist-:
Meaning: Tissue
Example: Histology (Study of tissues)
hyper-:
Meaning: Over, Excessive
Examples: Hypertonic (Greater solute concentration), Hyperesthesia (Excessive sensitivity)
hypo-, infra-, infer-, sub-:
Meaning: Under, Below, Less
Examples: Hypotonic (Lesser solute concentration), Infraorbital (Below the eye)
hyster-, metr-:
Meaning: Uterus
Examples: Hysterectomy (Cutting out the uterus), Endometrium (Inner lining of the uterus)
-iasis, -osis:
Meaning: Condition of
Examples: Cholelithiasis (Having gallstones), Nephrosis (Kidney disorder)
-itis:
Meaning: Inflammation of
Example: Appendicitis (Inflammation of the appendix)
inter-:
Meaning: Between
Example: Interstitial Fluid (Fluid found between cells)
kilo-, milli-:
Meaning: 1000, 1000th
Examples: Kilogram (1000 grams), Milligram (1/1000th of a gram)
kin-:
Meaning: To move, Divide
Examples: Kinesiology (Study of body movement), Cytokinesis (Cell division)
lact-:
Meaning: Milk
Example: Lactose (Milk sugar)
lapar-:
Meaning: Abdomen
Example: Laparoscopy (Viewing abdomen through small holes)
leuk(c)-:
Meaning: White
Example: Leukopoiesis (Making of white blood cells)
lig-:
Meaning: Connect, Bind
Examples: Ligaments (Connective tissue joining bone), Ligase (Enzyme forming bonds)
-logy, -ist, -ician:
Meaning: Study of, Specialist
Examples: Cardiology (Study of the heart), Pharmacist (Drug specialist)
lys, lyze:
Meaning: Break apart, Dissolve
Examples: Hydrolysis (Breaking down macromolecules), Lysosome (Organelle digesting macromolecules)
macr-, mega, magn-:
Meaning: Large
Examples: Macrophage (Large WBC), Magnum foramen (Large opening in the skull)
mamm-, mass-, pect-:
Meaning: Breast, Chest
Examples: Mammary (Breast tissue), Mastectomy (Breast removal)
-mania:
Meaning: Obsession, Compulsion
Example: Kleptomania (Compulsion to steal)
med-, meso-, meta-:
Meaning: Middle
Examples: Mediastinum (Middle space of chest), Mesoderm (Middle germ layer)
-megaly:
Meaning: Enlargement
Example: Splenomegaly (Enlarged spleen)
melano-:
Meaning: Black
Example: Melanocyte (Black pigmented skin cell)
mens-:
Meaning: Month
Example: Menstrual cycle (28-day cycle)
-metric, -meter:
Meaning: Measurement, Length
Examples: Isometric (Using muscles without movement), Spirometer (Breathing measurement)
micro-, -ole, -ule:
Meaning: Small
Examples: Microscope (Apparatus to view small objects), Arteriole (Small artery)
mnem-:
Meaning: Memory
Example: Amnesia (Loss of memory)
mono-, uni-:
Meaning: One
Examples: Monozygotic (Twins from the same zygote), Unicellular (1-celled organism)
morph, -plasty:
Meaning: Shape
Examples: Morphology (Study of shape), Rhinoplasty (Nose surgery)
mort, necr-:
Meaning: Death
Examples: Postmortem (After death), Necrotic tissue (Dead tissue)
multi-, poly-:
Meaning: Many
Examples: Multinucleate (Many nuclei), Polysaccharide (Many monosaccharides)
mut-:
Meaning: Change
Example: Mutation (Change in DNA sequence)
myo-:
Meaning: Muscle
Examples: Myopathy (Muscle disease), Myofibril (Skeletal muscle cell)
nas-, rhin-:
Meaning: Nose
Examples: Nasal septum (Division in nasal cavity), Rhinovirus (Virus infecting the nose)
nat-:
Meaning: Birth
Example: Prenatal (Before birth)
neo-:
Meaning: New
Example: Neonatal (Newborn)
nephr-, ren-:
Meaning: Kidney
Examples: Nephrosclerosis (Hardening of the kidney), Renal vein (Blood vessel away from the kidney)
o(o), ovi-:
Meaning: Egg
Examples: Oophorectomy (Removal of ovary), Oviduct (Tube for egg transport)
oct-:
Meaning: Eight
Example: Octet rule (Atoms' desire for 8 electrons)
ocu, ophth, opt, orbit:
Meaning: Eye
Examples: Orbicularis oculi (Muscle around the eye), Ophthalmologist (Eye doctor)
-oid:
Meaning: Resembling, Shape of
Example: Sigmoid colon (S-shaped colon)
olig-:
Meaning: Little, Few
Example: Oliguria (Very little urine produced)
-oma, onco-:
Meaning: Tumor
Examples: Melanoma (Tumor in melanocytes), Oncologist (Tumor specialist)
-opia:
Meaning: Vision
Example: Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
or(a)-:
Meaning: Mouth
Example: Orbicularis oris (Muscle around the mouth)
-scopy:
Meaning: To view, See
Example: Arthroscopic surgery (Camera inserted into joints)
ost-:
Meaning: Bone
Examples: Osteoblast (Maker of new bone cells), Osteomyelitis (Bone infection)
-ostomy:
Meaning: Make an opening
Example: Tracheostomy (Opening in trachea due to blockage)
ot-:
Meaning: Ear
Example: Otoscope (Instrument for viewing the ear)
palp, tact:
Meaning: Touch, Feel
Examples: Palpate (Feeling for abnormalities), Tactile (Related to touch)
para:
Meaning: Beside
Example: Parathyroid glands (Small glands near the thyroid)
path:
Meaning: Disease
Example: Pathogenic bacteria (Disease-causing bacteria)
ped, pod:
Meaning: Foot, Feet
Examples: Pedal (Involving the foot), Podiatrist (Foot specialist)
pent:
Meaning: Five
Example: Pentose (5-carbon sugar)
phago:
Meaning: Eat, Feed
Example: Phagocyte (Cell eating bacteria)
pharm:
Meaning: Drug
Example: Psychopharma (Drugs affecting the mind)
-phasia:
Meaning: Speech
Example: Dysphagia (Difficulty speaking)
phleb:
Meaning: Vein
Example: Phlebotomist (Blood-drawing specialist)
photo, lumen:
Meaning: Light
Examples: Photoreceptor (Light-sensitive cells), Gastric lumen (Space for food digestion)
phobia, phobe:
Meaning: Fear
Example: Hydrophobia (Fear of water)
phys:
Meaning: Function
Example: Physiology (Study of function)
-plasia:
Meaning: Growth, Formation
Example: Hyperplasia (Excessive growth)
plegia:
Meaning: Paralysis
Example: Quadriplegia (Paralysis of all four limbs)
pnea, spir:
Meaning: Breathing
Examples: Apnoea (Breathing cessation), Inspire (Breathing in)
pneum, pulmon:
Meaning: Lungs, Air
Examples: Pneumothorax (Air in the chest cavity), Pulmonary embolus (Blood clot in lungs)
post:
Meaning: After
Example: Postnatal (After birth)
prim:
Meaning: First
Example: Primary bronchus (First branching beyond the trachea)
proct:
Meaning: Rectum, Anus
Examples: Proctoscope (Tool to view rectum), Proctologist (Specialist for rectal issues)
pseudo:
Meaning: False
Example: Pseudo unipolar neuron (Common in the eye)
psych, phren, -noia:
Meaning: Mind
Examples: Psychosis (Condition affecting the mind), Schizophrenia (Split mind condition)
quad, tetra:
Meaning: Four
Examples: Quadriceps (Four large thigh muscles), Tetralogy of Fallot (Four conditions of “blue babies”)
re-, retro:
Meaning: Back, Again, Past
Examples: Reinfect (To become infected again), Retrograde (Inability to remember past events)
-rrhea:
Meaning: Flow, Discharge
Examples: Diarrhea (Faeces flow), Otorrhea (Ear discharge)
sclero:
Meaning: Hard (ening)
Examples: Arteriosclerosis (Hardening of arteries), Scleroderma (Skin hardening)
sept, tox:
Meaning: Poison, Contaminate
Examples: Antiseptic (Against poison), Cytotoxin (Cell poison)
sten:
Meaning: Narrowing
Example: Pyloric stenosis (Narrowing where stomach feeds into small intestine)
strat:
Meaning: Layer
Example: Stratified squamous epithelia (Many layers of flat cells)
super, supra:
Meaning: Above, Over
Examples: Superior vena cava (Veins bringing blood from above heart), Supraorbital (Over the eye)
tachy:
Meaning: Fast
Example: Tachycardia (Faster than normal heart rate)
-tension:
Meaning: Pressure
Example: Hypertension (High blood pressure)
therm:
Meaning: Heat
Example: Thermoreceptor (Nerve receptors detecting temperature)
thromb:
Meaning: Clot
Example: Thrombocyte (Clotting cell)
-tonic:
Meaning: Strength
Example: Isotonic (Equal solute concentration)
tri-, tert-:
Meaning: Three, Third
Examples: Triglyceride (Lipid with three fatty acids), Tertiary bronchus (3rd division of trachea)
zyg:
Meaning: Union
Example: Zygote (Union of egg and sperm)