Anatomy Word Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms

Anatomical Word Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms (A – C)

  • a-, a-

    • Etymological Origin: a-

    • Primary Meaning: without

    • Example Terminology: avascular

  • aer-

    • Etymological Origin: aeros

    • Primary Meaning: air

    • Example Terminology: aerobic metabolism

  • -algia

    • Etymological Origin: algos

    • Primary Meaning: pain

    • Example Terminology: neuralgia

  • arter-

    • Etymological Origin: arteria

    • Primary Meaning: artery

    • Example Terminology: arterial

  • arthro-

    • Etymological Origin: arthros

    • Primary Meaning: joint

    • Example Terminology: arthroscopy

  • auto-

    • Etymological Origin: auto

    • Primary Meaning: self

    • Example Terminology: autonomic

  • bio-

    • Etymological Origin: bios

    • Primary Meaning: life

    • Example Terminology: biology

  • -blast

    • Etymological Origin: blastos

    • Primary Meaning: germ

    • Example Terminology: osteoblast

  • bronch-

    • Etymological Origin: bronchus

    • Primary Meaning: windpipe, airway

    • Example Terminology: bronchial

  • cardi-, cardio-, -cardia

    • Etymological Origin: kardia

    • Primary Meaning: heart

    • Example Terminology: cardiac, cardiopulmonary

  • cerebr-

    • Etymological Origin: cerebrum

    • Primary Meaning: brain

    • Example Terminology: cerebral hemispheres

  • cervic-

    • Etymological Origin: cervicis

    • Primary Meaning: neck

    • Example Terminology: cervical vertebrae

  • chondro-

    • Etymological Origin: chondros

    • Primary Meaning: cartilage

    • Example Terminology: chondrocyte

  • cranio-

    • Etymological Origin: cranium

    • Primary Meaning: skull

    • Example Terminology: craniosacral

  • cyt-, cyto-

    • Etymological Origin: kytos

    • Primary Meaning: a hollow cell

    • Example Terminology: cytology, cytokine

Anatomical Word Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms (D – H)

  • derm-

    • Etymological Origin: derma

    • Primary Meaning: skin

    • Example Terminology: dermatome

  • -ectomy

    • Etymological Origin: ektome

    • Primary Meaning: excision

    • Example Terminology: appendectomy

  • end-, endo-

    • Etymological Origin: endon

    • Primary Meaning: within

    • Example Terminology: endergonic, endometrium

  • epi-

    • Etymological Origin: epi

    • Primary Meaning: on

    • Example Terminology: epimysium

  • ex-

    • Etymological Origin: ex

    • Primary Meaning: out of, away from

    • Example Terminology: exocytosis

  • hemo-

    • Etymological Origin: haima

    • Primary Meaning: blood

    • Example Terminology: hemopoiesis

  • hemi-

    • Etymological Origin: hemi

    • Primary Meaning: one-half

    • Example Terminology: hemisphere

  • histo-

    • Etymological Origin: histos

    • Primary Meaning: tissue

    • Example Terminology: histology

  • homo-

    • Etymological Origin: homos

    • Primary Meaning: same

    • Example Terminology: homozygous

  • hyper-

    • Etymological Origin: hyper

    • Primary Meaning: above

    • Example Terminology: hyperpolarization

  • hypo-

    • Etymological Origin: hypo

    • Primary Meaning: under

    • Example Terminology: hypothyroid

Anatomical Word Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms (I – O)

  • inter-

    • Etymological Origin: inter

    • Primary Meaning: between

    • Example Terminology: interventricular

  • iso-

    • Etymological Origin: isos

    • Primary Meaning: equal

    • Example Terminology: isotonic

  • leuk-, leuko-

    • Etymological Origin: leukos

    • Primary Meaning: white

    • Example Terminology: leukemia, leukocyte

  • lyso-, -lysis, -lyze

    • Etymological Origin: lysis

    • Primary Meaning: a loosening

    • Example Terminology: hydrolysis

  • meso-

    • Etymological Origin: mesos

    • Primary Meaning: middle

    • Example Terminology: mesoderm

  • micr-

    • Etymological Origin: mikros

    • Primary Meaning: small

    • Example Terminology: microscope

  • morph-, morpho-

    • Etymological Origin: morphe

    • Primary Meaning: form

    • Example Terminology: morphology, morphotype

  • myo-

    • Etymological Origin: mys

    • Primary Meaning: muscle

    • Example Terminology: myofilament

  • nephr-

    • Etymological Origin: nephros

    • Primary Meaning: kidney

    • Example Terminology: nephron

  • neur-, neuri-, neuro-

    • Etymological Origin: neuron

    • Primary Meaning: nerve

    • Example Terminology: neural, neurilemma, neuromuscular

  • -ology

    • Etymological Origin: logos

    • Primary Meaning: the study of

    • Example Terminology: physiology

  • -osis

    • Etymological Origin: -osis

    • Primary Meaning: state, condition

    • Example Terminology: neurosis

  • ost-, oste-, osteo-

    • Etymological Origin: osteon

    • Primary Meaning: bone

    • Example Terminology: osteal, ostealgia, osteocyte

  • oto-

    • Etymological Origin: otikos

    • Primary Meaning: ear

    • Example Terminology: otolith

Anatomical Word Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms (P – V)

  • path-, -pathy, patho-

    • Etymological Origin: pathos

    • Primary Meaning: disease

    • Example Terminology: pathergy, idiopathy, pathogenesis

  • peri-

    • Etymological Origin: peri

    • Primary Meaning: around

    • Example Terminology: perineurium

  • phago-

    • Etymological Origin: phago

    • Primary Meaning: to eat

    • Example Terminology: phagocyte

  • -phil, -philia

    • Etymological Origin: philo

    • Primary Meaning: love

    • Example Terminology: neutrophil, hemophilia

  • -phot, -photo

    • Etymological Origin: phos

    • Primary Meaning: light

    • Example Terminology: photalgia, photoreceptor

  • physio-

    • Etymological Origin: physis

    • Primary Meaning: nature

    • Example Terminology: physiology

  • pre-

    • Etymological Origin: prae

    • Primary Meaning: before

    • Example Terminology: precapillary sphincter

  • pulmo-

    • Etymological Origin: pulmo

    • Primary Meaning: lung

    • Example Terminology: pulmonary

  • retro-

    • Etymological Origin: retro

    • Primary Meaning: backward

    • Example Terminology: retroperitoneal

  • sarco-

    • Etymological Origin: sarkos

    • Primary Meaning: flesh

    • Example Terminology: sarcomere

  • scler-, sclero-

    • Etymological Origin: skleros

    • Primary Meaning: hard

    • Example Terminology: sclera, sclerosis

  • -scope

    • Etymological Origin: skopeo

    • Primary Meaning: to view

    • Example Terminology: colonoscope

  • sub-

    • Etymological Origin: sub

    • Primary Meaning: below

    • Example Terminology: subcutaneous

  • super-

    • Etymological Origin: super

    • Primary Meaning: above or beyond

    • Example Terminology: superficial

  • -trophy

    • Etymological Origin: trophe

    • Primary Meaning: nourishment

    • Example Terminology: atrophy

  • vas-

    • Etymological Origin: vas

    • Primary Meaning: vessel

    • Example Terminology: vascular