Anatomical Terms - Medical Terminology Lesson

Head and Neck Anatomy

• Cephal/o: head
• Facial: face
• Cranial: skull
  • E.g., craniotomy (incision into the skull)
• Trich/o: hair
  • E.g., trichotillomania (obsessive need to pull out hair)
• Stomat/o, Or/o: mouth
  • E.g., stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth)
• Gloss/o, Lingu/o: tongue
  • E.g., glossitis (inflammation of the tongue)
• Labi/o, Cheil/o: lips
  • E.g., cheilosis (redness on the lips due to vitamin B2 deficiency)
• Dent/o, Odont/o: teeth
  • E.g., dentistry, odontogenic
• Gingiv/o: gums
  • E.g., gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)
• Rhin/o, Nas/o: nose
  • E.g., rhinitis (inflammation of the nose)
• Bucc/o: cheek
  • E.g., buccal swab
• Gnath/o, Ment/o: chin
  • E.g., mental foramen, genialglossus (muscle near the chin)
• Mandibul/o: mandible (lower jaw)
• Maxill/o: maxilla (upper jaw)
• Sial/o, Aden/o: salivary gland
  • E.g., sialadenitis (inflammation of the salivary glands)
• Trache/o: trachea
  • E.g., tracheitis (inflammation of the trachea)
• Laryng/o: larynx
  • E.g., laryngoscope (instrument to view the larynx)
• Pharyng/o: pharynx (throat)
  • E.g., pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat)
• Thyr/o: thyroid gland
• Epiglott/o: epiglottis
  • E.g., epiglottitis (inflammation of the epiglottis)
• Ot/o: ear
  • E.g., otitis (inflammation of the ear)
• Myring/o, Tympan/o: eardrum
• Cochle/o: cochlea
• Mastoid/o: mastoid process
  • E.g., mastoiditis (inflammation of the mastoid process)

Eye Anatomy

• Opt/o, Ophthalm/o, Ocul/o: eye
  • E.g., optometrist, ophthalmologist, oculomotor nerve
• Pupill/o: pupil
• Blephar/o, Palpebr/o: eyelid
  • E.g., levator palpebrae superioris (muscle lifting upper eyelid)
• Conjunctiv/o: conjunctiva
  • E.g., conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva)
• Cili/o: eyelash
• Retin/o: retina
  • E.g., retinal detachment, retinitis
• Kerat/o: cornea
  • E.g., keratitis (inflammation of the cornea)
• Irid/o: iris
• Vitre/o: vitreous humor
• Dacry/o, Lacrim/o: tear, tear gland

Digestive System Anatomy

• Celi/o, Lapar/o: abdomen
  • E.g., celiac disease, laparoscopic surgery
• Gastr/o: stomach
  • E.g., gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
• Cholecyst/o: gallbladder
  • E.g., cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
• Choledoch/o: common bile duct
• Chol/e, Chole/e, Bil/i: bile
  • E.g., bilirubin
• Cholangi/o: bile duct
  • E.g., cholangitis (inflammation of the bile duct)
• Enter/o: intestine
  • E.g., enteritis, gastroenteritis
• Pancreat/o: pancreas
  • E.g., pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Duoden/o: duodenum
  • E.g., duodenectomy (surgical removal of part of duodenum)
• Jejun/o: jejunum
  • E.g., jejunectomy (surgical removal of part of jejunum)
• Ile/o: ileum
  • E.g., ileocecal valve (valve between ileum and cecum)
• Append/o, Appendic/o: appendix
  • E.g., appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix)
• Cec/o, Typhl/o: cecum
• Col/o, Colon/o: large intestine
  • E.g., colitis (inflammation of the colon), colonoscopy
• Sigmoid/o: sigmoid colon
  • E.g., sigmoidoscopy
• An/o, Proct/o: anus, rectum
  • E.g., proctologist