Medical Terms.2

Root

Meaning

Example(s)

Abdo

abdomen

Rectus Abdominus, Transverse Abodominus

Acou

Hearing/sound

Acoustic Neuroma, acoustic nerve

Adren

Adrenal Gland

Adrenocortical hormone, adrenal cortex

Aden

Gland

adenoma, adenitis

Aer

Air/Gas

anaerobic, aerosal

Algesi

Pain

Analgesia, Analgesics

Amyl

Starch

amyloid plaques, Amylase

Andr

Male

Androgens, androgenic alopecia

Aort

Aorta

Aortic valve,

Arthr

Joint

Arthritis, Arthralgia

Articul

Joint

Articulitis

Bio

Life

Biology, biopsy

Bil

Bile

Bile ducts, umbilical cord

Brachi

Arm

Bicep Brachii, Tricep Brachii, Brachioradialis

Calc

Calcium

Calcaneus, hypercalcaemia

Carcin

Cancer

Carcinogen, adenocarcinoma

Cardi

Heart

Cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy

Carp

Carpals

Metacarpals, carpal tunnel

Celi

Abdomen

celiprolol, mycelia

Cephal

Head

encephalitis, encephalopathy

Cerebr/Enceph

Brain

Cerebral, cerebrospinal fluid

Chondr

Cartilage

Achondroplasia, endochandral ossification

Coron

Heart

Coronary thrombosis, coronary arteries

Cost

Ribs

corticosteroids, costeroid therapy

Crani/Ceph

Head

cranium, cranial nerve, craniotomy

Cyan

Blue

cyanosis, congenital cyanotic heart disease

Cyt

Celi

leucocytes, phagocytosis

Dent

Teeth

Dentistry, Dental

Derm

Skin

Epidermis, Epidermal

Dilation

Open/Wide

peripheral vasodilation, dilation

Dipl

Two; double

diplococcus, diplegia

Dont

Teeth

periodontal disease, orthodontic specialist

Dynam

Power/Strength

dynamic equilibrium, urodynamic

Ech

Sound

Catecholamines

Ectop

Located away from usual place

ECTOPIC PREGNANCY, echocardiogram

Electro

Electricity

Electrolyte, electrocardiograph

Enceph

In the head

encephalitis, encephalopathy

Enceph/Cerebra

Brain

Cerebral, cerebrospinal fluid

Enter

Intestines

ENTERIC FEVER

Erythr

Red

erythromycin

Fibr

Fibrous Tissue

Fibromyalgia, systic fibrosis

Gastra

Stomach

Gastritis, Gastroesophageal reflux

Geron

Old age/aged

Gerontology, gerontology

Gluc

Sugar/sweetness

Glucose

Glyc

Sugar

Hyperglycemia,

Gyn-/Mens

Woman

Gynaecologist, Gynaecology

Hem(at)

Blood

erythematosus

Hepati

Liver

Hepatitis,

Histio

Tissue

histiocytoma.

Hom

Same

Homeostatic machine

Hydr

Water

betahydroxybutyric

Hyst

Uterus

HYSTERECTOMY,

Idio

Unknown

idiopathic facial nerve palsy,

Isch

Deficiency

transientocular ISCHAEMIA,

Kin

movement

Kineseology

Lac

Milk

Lactose intolerance

Later

Medicine

Bilateral, lateral flexion

Leuk

White

Leukocytes

Lingu

Tongue

Linguistics

Lip

Fat

lipids

Macr

Abnormal/largeness

Macrocytic

Mammo

Breast

Mammory gland, mammogram

Mon

One

adenosine monophosphate

Morph

Form/Shape

allelomorph,

Myelo

Bone marrow

MYELOMATOSIS

My

Muscle

Myocite, Amyotrophy

Myc

Fungus

erythromycin, Actinomycosis

Natal

Birth

Antenatal care

Necro

Death

renal tubularnecrosis.

Nephro

Kidney

NEPHROBLASTOMA

Neuro

Nerve

Neurosurgeon, neurology

Onco

Mass/Tumor

oncogenes

Opto/Opthal

Eye

optometry

Oste

Bone

osteoporosis

Ox

Oxygen

hypoxaemia,ANTIOXIDANTS,

Path

Disease

Pathogenesis

Ped

Child/foot

pediatric

Phag

Eat/swallow

PHAGOCYTOSIS

Phleb

vein

phlebography.

Photo

light

PHOTOPHOBIA, photoprotection

Pneu

air

pnuemonia, pneumonitis

Pseud

fake

Pseudomonas pyocyanea

Psych

mind

Psychology, Psychologist

Ren

kidney

renal tubularnecrosis, renal artery

Somat

body

somatic cholinergic transmission

Therapy

treatment

Physiotherapy

Therm

heat

Hyperthemia

Thrombo

clot

Thrombosis

Trans

through

transverse abdonimus, transesophageal echocardiogram

Vas

vessel/duct

vasovagal syncope


Prefix

Meaning

Example(s)

a/an-

Without or absence of

ANTENATAL CARE, anemia, anarobic

Ab-

From; away

abdominal

Acro-

Extremity/tip

Acrocyanosis, Acromegaly

Ad-

Towards

Adrenal glands, adductor longus

Anti-, Anter-

Against

ANTICOAGULANTS, anterior, antibiotic

Bi-

Two

bile ducts, bicuspid valve

Bio-

Life

biologist, biotics

Bin-

Two

Binocular, binovular twins

Brady-

Slow

bradycardia, bradykinesia

Chemo-

Chemicals

chemotherapy, chemotherapeutic

Co, Con, Com-

With/together

constipation, compound

Contra-

Against

contractions, contraceptive, contraband

De-

From, down from; lack

devascularization, dehydration

Derm-

Skin

Dermatitis

Dia-

Through; complete

diaphragm, diagnose, dialysis

Dis-

To unto; Free from

dislocation, disinfect

Dys-

Difficult; abnormal

Dysmorphia, dyspraxia

Ecto-

Outside; outer

ectoderm, ectoenzyme

Endo-

Within

endosteum

Epi-

On; upon; ever

epidermophyton, epiglotis

Eso-

Into/Inward/Within

esophoria, esophagus

Eu-

Normal/Good

eustachian tube

Ex-

Outside/toward

extensor digiti quinti, exhale

Exo-

outside

exocrine gland

Extra-

Outside of/beyond

extrafusal, extraction

Chole-

bile

cholepoiesis, cholestoral

Dent-

teeth

dental

Hemi-

half

hemianopsia

Hyper-

above/excessive

hypergylcemia, hypertension

Hypo-

below/incomplete

hypothyroid, hypotension

In-

in

inferior vena cava, inhale, injection

Infra-

under/below

inframammary fold

Inter-

between

The internal jugular vein

Intra-

within

intramural fibroid

Later-

lateral/side

lateral flexion

Mal-

bad

malignant tumor

Macro-

large

macroglossia

Meso-

middle

mesoduodenum, mesoderm

Micro-

small

microbacteria

Multi-

many

multigravida, multiscleorosis

Neo-

new

neonatal

Para-

beside, around

parasite, parathyrodi glands

Peri-

surrounding

pericardial

Poly-

many

polymorphonuclear leukocyte

Post-

after

posterior fossa

Pre/Pro-

before

Presurgical Testing, pronation

Re/Retro-

back/behind

retroviruses, retroperitoneal lymph nodes,

Semi-

half

semi-synthetic derivative,

Sept-

bacteria

SEPTICAEMIA, sepsis

Sub-

under/below

substances, subcutaneous

Super-

over/above

superficial, superspinatus

Sym/syn-

together/joined

synthesis, symbiosis, symptoms

Tetra/Quad-

four

quadriceps, tetralogy

Trans-

through

transverse abdominus, transvestite, transfusion, transdermal

Tri-

three

tricep brachii, triple bypass

Ultra-

beyond

ultrasound, ultraviolet light

Uni-

one

universal, unicellular, unilateral





Suffixes

Meaning

Example(s)

-algia

pain

Arthralgia, cruralgia

-ase

enzyme

liphase, hydrolases

-Ary/ous

pertaining to

urinary, pulmonary artery disease

-crine

separate/secrete

endocrine glands, Amsacrine

-cyte

cell

leukocyte, erthrocyte

-Eal/ial

pertaining to

partial oxidation, facial

-ectasis

expansion

Atelectasis

-ectomy

excision/removal

Apicectomy, abdominohysterectomy

-ectopia

displacement

ectopia cordis

-emia

blood condition

anemia

-estesia

sensation

anestesia

-gram

record, x-ray

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

-graph

instrument used to record

electrocardiograph

-graphy

process of recording

cardiography

-ia

condition of being in an abnormal state

hyperthermia, hyperglycemia

-ism

state of

ameboidism,

-itis

inflammation

arthitis, hepatitis

-mania

madness

psychomania,

-meter

instrument used to measure

diameter

-metry

measurement

oximetry

-morph

form/shape

ectomorph, endomorph

-ologist

one who studies

biologist

-ology

study of

psychology

-oma

tumor/swelling

carcinoma

-opsy

to view

biopsy

-otomy

cut into

episiotomy, myotomy

-oxia

oxygen

hypoxia, hyperoxia

-pathy

disease

homeopathy, neuropathy

-philia

love

philia

-phobia

abnormal fear

hydrophobia

-phoria

feeling

euphoria

-plasia

formation/development

neoplasia, hyperplasia

-plasm

growth/substance

cytoplasm,

-plegia

paralysis

quadriplegia, hemiplegia, paraplegia

-pnea

breathing

hypopnea

-ptosis

drooping/sagging

apoptosis

-gen

producing

carcinogen

-lysis

destruction/death

hydrolysis

-sarcoma

malignant tumor

osteosarcoma, neurosarcoma

-schisis

split/fracture

retinoschisis

-schlerosis

hardening

multipleschelorsis

-scope

instrument used for visual exam

stephascope, microscope, endoscope

-stenosis-

constriction

spinal stenosis

-thorax

chest

pneumothorax

-trophy

nourishment/growth

allotroph

-uria

urine

erythruria


  1. Dermatitis- Inflammation of the skin

2.     Lactase- Enzyme in milk

3.     Hemophobic- Fear of blood

4.     Encephalogram- X-ray image or recording of the brain’s activity

5.     Arthritis- The inflammation of joints

6.     Carcinogen- Potential substances that can cause cancer

7.     Psychology- The study of the mind

8.     Vasodilation- The widening of blood vessels

9.     Histogram- x-ray or image of tissue

10.  Hysterectomy- Surgical removal of the uterus

11.  Neurologist- A person who studies the brain

12.  Neonatal- Relating to a new born child

13.  Malnutrition- Lack of or too much nutrition in the body

14.  Carcinoma- A cancerous tumor in the epithelial cells

15.  Anesthesia- The temporary loss of any sensation 

16.  electrocardiograph (ECG)- Reading of the heartbeat

17.  Micro-organism- Microscopic/small organisms

18.  Physiology- The study of physical life

19.  Photosynthesis- Conversion of light energy into glucose energy

20.  Trimester- A period of three months

21.  Thermo-electric- a conversion between electric voltage and heat temperature

22.  Leukocyte- White blood cells

23.  Cytology- The study of cells

24.  Hematoma- An accumulation of free blood

25.  Intercellular- Located among cells

26.  Intracellular- Occurring within cells

27.  Osteoma- Benign bone tumor

28.  Microcyte- red blood cells

29.  Arthrectomy- Surgical excision of the joint

30.  periodontal disease- A gum infection that damages the soft tissue and bone supporting the tooth

31.  Hyperthyroidism- The product of too much thyroid hormone

32.  Iridology- Examination of the iris

33.  Macrobiotics- Promoting well-being and longevity

34.  Asymptomatic- An affected person showing no signs of symptoms

35.  Cholecystectomy- Surgical removal of the gallbladder

36.  electromyograph (EMG)- Electrical recording of the muscle activity

37.  Neuralgia- Pain due to the damaged neurons

38.  Hydrotherapy- Using any method of water to health/relax the body

39.  electrodermal response (EDR)- measures electrical changes in the skin caused by sweat gland 

40.  pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)- Physical and emotional symptoms experienced days before a woman’s period

41.  Psychosomatic- A physical disorder caused by one’s emotional/mental health

42.  Psychodynamic- therapy technique that assumes improper or unwanted behavior

43.  Sinusitis- Inflammation of the sinuses

44.  Triglycerides- A type of fat found in the blood 

45.  Thrombophlebitis- Inflammatory process causing blood-clotting

46.  Biology- The study of life

47.  Hepatitis- The inflammation of your liver

48.  Hyperthermia- The production of too much heat

52. Abdominohysterectomy- The removal of the uterus

53. Psychologist- Someone who studies the mind

54. Appendicitis- The inflammation of the appendix

55. Post-partum- After birth

56. Gynecologist- Someone who studies disease/conditions involving women

57. Mammogram- X-ray image of breasts

58. Biopsy- The examination of life

59. Dysplasia- Abnormal growth of cells

60.  Apnea- The cessation of breathing when asleep

61.  Sternocleidomastoid- A muscle found in your neck, connecting your sternum, clavicle and mastoid together

62.  Bradycardia- The slowing down of the heartbeat

63.  Pericarditis- Inflammation of the pericardium (thin membrane around heart) 

64.  Euphoria- A feeling of intense joy/excitement

65.  Antacid- counteracting acidity

66.  Post-mortem- Occurring after death

67.  Ileostomy- Stoma of the small intestine

68.  ectopic pregnancy- fertilized egg implants and grows outside the main cavity (Fallopian tube) of the uterus

69.  Epilepsy- Neurological disorder

70.  Hemophilia- Blood disorder

71.  Hypotrophy- Progressive loss of vitality

72.  Dysuria- feel pain or a burning sensation in urination

73.  Thermometer- Measure the internal temperature of the body

74.  Vasectomy-  surgical procedure performed on males in which the vas deferens (tubes that conduct sperm from the testicles to the penis) are cut, tied, cauterized, or otherwise interrupted.

75.  Neuropathy- Nerve damage

76. Chondrocytes- Cell in cartilage

  1. Paraplegia (two limbs)

  2. hemiplegia (one side, happens during a stroke)

  3. quadriplegia (four limbs)