Overview
This lecture provides a comprehensive list of medical terminology, focusing on the meanings of various prefixes, roots, and suffixes commonly used in healthcare.
Prefixes
- a-, an-: without
- ante-: before, forward
- anti-: against
- auto-: self
- bi-: two
- brady-: slow
- contra-: against
- de-: removal, down
- dia-: through, across
- dis-: apart, abnormal
- dys-: bad, painful
- ecto-: outside
- en-/endo-: within, in, inner
- epi-: upon
- erythr-: red
- eu-: good, normal
- ex-: out, away
- hemi-/semi-: half
- hyper-: too much, above
- hypo-: below, too low
- in-: in, not
- inter-: between
- intra-: within
- macro-/meg-: large
- mal-: bad
- micro-: small
- mono-/uni-: one
- neo-: new
- non-: not, none
- olig-: few
- per-/trans-: through, across
- peri-: around
- poly-: many
- post-: after
- pre-/pro-: before
- quad(ri)-: four
- re-: again
- retro-: backward, behind
- sub-: under
- supra-: above
- tachy-: fast
Roots
- abdomin(o): abdomen
- aden(o): gland
- angi(o): vessel
- arteri(o): artery
- arthr(o): joint
- ather(o): fatty plaque
- bronch(o): bronchus
- carcin(o): cancer
- cardi(o): heart
- cephal(o): head
- chol(o): bile
- col(o): colon
- crani(o): skull
- dent(o): teeth
- derma(o): skin
- duoden(o): duodenum
- encephal(o): brain
- enter(o): intestine
- gastr(o): stomach
- gluc(o): glucose, sugar
- gyne(c)(o): female
- hem(e/a/at/o), sang(o): blood
- hepat(o): liver
- hydr(o): water
- leuk-: white
- lapar(o): abdomen (via incision)
- lipo: fat
- mamm(o)/mast(o): breast
- my(o): muscle
- necr(o): death
- nephr(o): kidney
- neur(o): nerve
- ophtho(m): eye
- orchid(o): testis
- oste(o): bone
- phleb(o): vein
- pnea: breathing
- psych(o): mind
- pulm(o): lung
- rhin(o): nose
- sang(o): blood
- sarc(o): flesh
- scler(o): hard
- sero-: serum
- splen(o): spleen
- sten(o): narrow
- tension: pressure
- therm(o): heat
- thorac(o): chest
- thromb(o): clot
- trache(o): trachea
- troph(y): nourishment
- ur(o): urine
- vas(o): vessel
- ven(o/ous): vein
- vertebr(o): vertebra
Suffixes
- -a/-al/-ary/-ar/-iac/-ic/-ial/-ical: pertaining to
- -algia: pain
- -asis/-osis: abnormal condition
- -cele: hernia, protrusion
- -centesis: surgical puncture
- -cyte: cell
- -ectomy: surgical removal
- -ectasis: dilation
- -emesis: vomiting
- -emia: blood condition
- -genesis: creation, origin
- -genic: producing
- -gram: record, picture
- -graph: instrument for recording
- -iasis: disease condition
- -ism: condition
- -itis: inflammation
- -lysis: breakdown
- -megaly: enlargement
- -meter: measuring device
- -ologist: specialist
- -ology: study of
- -oma: tumor
- -opsy: view, examine
- -opathy: disease
- -penia: deficiency
- -pexy: fixation
- -phagia: eating
- -phasia: speech
- -phobia: fear
- -plasty: surgical repair
- -plegia: paralysis
- -ptosis: drooping
- -rrhage: excessive flow
- -rrhea: discharge
- -scope: instrument for viewing
- -scopy: examination with a scope
- -stasis: stoppage
- -stomy: opening
- -tomy: incision
- -uria: urine condition
Key Terms & Definitions
- Prefix โ word part at the beginning; alters the wordโs meaning
- Root โ core part of the word; gives essential meaning
- Suffix โ word part at the end; modifies meaning
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize common prefixes, roots, and suffixes
- Complete any assigned readings or practice exercises on medical terminology