Anatomy and Physiology Prefix-Suffix List
Those prefixes and suffixes preceded by an asterisk are MUST KNOW and will be assessed at some point.
Those that are not marked with an asterisk are good to know, but not assessed directly. Keep this list as a
reference- many assignments will refer to these terms.
prefix, root, suffix meaning
example
*a-, anwithout, lack of, absence of
aseptic, anaerobic, anesthetic, analgesic
aden(o)
gland, glandular tissue
adenitis, adenocarcinoma
aer(o)
air, with air, with oxygen, in gas aerobic, aerate, aerosol, aerocele
algpain
algometry, algogenic, algesic
-algia
pain
gastralgia, neuralgia, arthralgia
angi(o)
vessel
angioplasty, angioma
antebefore, forward, in front of
antepartum, anteflexion, anteversion
*anter(i), anter(o) front, forward
anterior, anterolateral
antiagainst
antihistamine, antiinflammatory, antipyretic
arteri(o)
artery
arteriopathy, arteriole, arterial
arthr(o)
joint
arthritis, arthrotomy, arthralgia
-ase
enzyme
protease, urease, amylase, lactase
ather(o)
fatty
atheroma, atheromatosis
audi(o)
hearing
audiogram, auditory, audiology
bradyslow
bradycardia, bradycrotic
*bronch(o)
bronchial tube, bronchus
bronchoscope, bronchospasm, bronchitis
carcin(o)
cancer
carcinogenic, carcinoma
*cardi(o)
heart
cardiotonic, cardiovascular
-cele
hernia, herniation
meningocele, encephalocele
-centesis
surgical puncture
amniocentesis, arthrocentesis, paracentesis
*cephal(o)
head
cephalalgia, cephalic
*cerebr(o)
cerebrum, brain
cerebrospinal, cerebrovascular
*cervic(o)
neck, cervix
cervical, cervicectomy, cervicitis
chol(e)
bile, gall
cholecystogram, choleresis
chondr(o)
cartilage
hypochondriac, chondrodysplasia
*circumaround, about, encircling
circumcision, circumscribed, circumduction
-coccus, -cocci
bacterium, bacteria
pneumococcus, gonococcus, streptococci
col(o)
colon
colonoscopy, colostomy
contraagainst
contraindication, contraceptive
cortic(o)
cortex
corticosteroid, adrenocorticotropic
cost(o)
rib
intercostal, costectomy
*crani(o)
skull, cranium
craniometry, craniectomy
cyan(o)
blue, blueness
cyanosis, cyanobacteria, acrocyanosis
cyst(o)
bladder
cystex, cystoscopy, cystocele, cystitis
cyt(o)
cell
cytology, cytoplasm
*-cyte
cell
hepatocyte, leukocyte, monocyte
*derm(o), dermat(o)skin
dermatologist, acrodermatitis
diplodouble, twofold
diplomyelia, diplocardiac, diploneural
dors(o)
back
dorsal, dorsispinal
dysdifficult, abnormal, bad, painful dysplasia, dyspnea, dyschromia
*-ectomy
excision, excise, to cut out
appendectomy, thrombectomy
*-emia
blood condition
anemia, septicemia
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Anatomy and Physiology Prefix-Suffix List
encephal(o)
brain, inside the head
encephalitis, electroencephalogram
*endoinside, inner, within
endocardium, endoskeleton
enter(o)
intestine
enteric, dysentery, enterocele
*epiouter, upon
epidermis, epicardium, epibulbar, epidural
erythr(o)
red
erythrocyte, erythrocytopenia
eunormal, easy, good
euphoria, eupnea, eupepsia
extraoutside, beyond
extrauterine, extracystic, extrahepatic
*gastr(o)
stomach
gastrostomy, gastrointestinal
ger(o)
old age
geriatric, gerontology, geratology
gingiv(o)
gum, gums
gingivitis, gingivoplasty
gloss(o)
tongue
glossal, hypoglossal, glossopathy
*gluc(o)
sugar
glucose, glucogenesis, glucolipid
*glyc(o)
sugar, sweet
hyperglycemia, glycosuria, glycogen
-gram
picture, graph, record
encephalogram, cholecystogram
-graph
recording instrument
electrocardiograph, craniograph
-graphy
process of making an image
echocardiography, tomography
gynec(o)
woman, female
gynecology, gynecologist
*hem(o), hemat(o) blood
hemorrhage, hemostasis, hematemesis
hemihalf
hemiplegia, hemianalgesia, hemicrania
*hepat(o)
liver
hepatitis, hepatotoxic, hepatomegaly
hidr(o)
sweat, sweat glands
hidradenoma, hidrosis, hidradenitis
*hist(o)
tissue
histogenesis, histamine
*homosame, alike
homogenized, homothermal, homogeneous
hydr
water
hydration, dehydration
hydrowater
hydrocephalus, hydronephrosis
*hyperexcessive, high, above, upward hypertension, hyperglycemia
*hypodeficient, low, below, down
hypoallergenic, hypocalcemia, hypodermic
hyster(o)
uterus
hysterotomy, hysteroscopy, hysterectomy
*-iasis
condition of disease
trichomoniasis, giardiasis, amebiasis
immun(o)
immune
immunodeficiency, immunization
infrabelow, beneath
inframammary, infracardiac, infrasonic
*interbetween, among
intercellular, intercerebral
*intrawithin, inside
intravenous, intramuscular, intradermal
isoequal, same
isotonic, isometric, isomorphic
*-itis
inflammation
colitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, laryngitis
kerat(o)
cornea
keratotomy, keratoplasty, keratocele
lact(o)
milk
lactose, lactase, lactosuria, lactic
lapar(o)
abdomen
laparotomy, laparoscopy
laryng(o)
larynx, voice box
laryngitis, laryngospasm, laryngoscope
later(o)
side
lateral, mediolateral
leuk(o)
white
leukemia, leukopenia
lingu(o)
tongue
sublingual, linguiform
lip(o)
fat
lipoprotein, liposuction
lith(o)
stone, calculus
nephrolithiasis, lithotripsy, urolith
-logist
one who studies or specializes cardiologist, anesthesiologist
-logy
the study of
biology, histology
-lysis
destruction, dissolution, breakdown
urinalysis, histolysis, thrombolysis
malbad, abnormal
malnutrition, malaise, malpractice
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Anatomy and Physiology Prefix-Suffix List
-malacia
mamm(o)
mast(o)
*megalo-megaly
melan(o)
men(o)
mening(o)
meta-meter
-metry
*my(o)
myc(o)
myel(o)
nas(o)
*nephr(o)
*neur(o)
non*-oma
onc(o)
oophor(o)
ophthalm(o)
-opia
orch(o)
*-osis
*oste(o)
ot(o)
para-pathy
pelv(i), pelv(o)
-penia
peps(o)
-pepsia
*peri-pexy
phag(o)
-phagia
pharyng(o)
phleb(o)
-phobia
physi(o)
-plasia
-plasty
-plegia
-pnea
pneum(o)
pneumon(o)
pod(o)
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soft, softening
encephalomalacia, osteomalacia
breast, mammary gland
mammogram, mammography
breast, mammary gland
mastectomy, mastocytoma
large, enlarged
megalomania, megalocephaly
enlargement
cardiomegaly, acromegaly
dark pigmented, black
melanoma, melanocyte
menstruation, menses
menopause, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia
meninges, membranes
meningitis, meningococcus
beyond, after, in succession to metacarpus, metastasis, metatarsals
instrument to measure or count cytometer, cephalometer
process of measuring or counting
audiometry, pelvimetry
muscle
myocardial, myalgia, myofibroma
fungus, fungi
mycosis, mycelium, dermatomycosis
bone marrow, spinal cord
myelopathy, myelocele, myeloma
nose
nasal, nasosinusitis, nasotracheal
kidney
nephropexy, nephrolysis
nerve
neurosurgery, neurolysis, neurotransmitter
not
nonsteroidal, nonallergic, nontoxic
tumor, abnormal growth
carcinoma, osteosarcoma
tumor
oncology, oncogenic
ovary, ovaries
oophorectomy, oophoroma
eye
ophthalmology, ophthalmoscope
vision
myopia, presbyopia, nyctalopia, diplopia
testes, testis, testicle.
cryptorchidism, orchiectomy
condition, increase
halitosis, melanosis, leukocytosis
bone
osteoporosis, osteoarthritis
ear
otic, otalgia, otorrhea
beside, near, beyond, abnormal paramedic, paracystitis, parathyroid
disease
myopathy, osteopathy
pelvis
pelviscope, pelvic
deficiency, low number
eosinopenia, thrombocytopenia
digestion
peptic, pepsin
digestion
dyspepsia, eupepsia
near, around, surrounding
pericardium, periodontal
fixation
hysteropexy, orchiopexy, gastropexy
eat, swallow
phagolysis, phagedena, phagocyte
eat, swallow
dysphagia, onychophagia, aerophagia
pharynx, throat
pharyngomycosis, pharyngoplegia
vein
phlebotomy, phlebosclerosis
fear
hydrophobia, necrophobia
body function
physiology, physiopathology
development, formation
myelodysplasia, hyperplasia
surgical repair
arthroplasty, osteoplasty
paralysis
paraplegia, diplegia
breathing
apnea, hyperpnea, orthopnea
air, breath, lung
pneumococcal, pneumothorax, pneumatic
lung
pneumonia, pneumonocentesis
foot
podiatrist, podiatric, podalic, podagra
Anatomy and Physiology Prefix-Suffix List
*polymuch, many
polyuria, polycystic, polyarthritis
postafter
postnatal, postpartum, postoperative
poster(i), poster(o) back, behind
posterior, posterolateral
presby(o)
old age
presbyopia, presbycusis, presbyope
proct(o)
anus, rectum
proctoscopy, proctology
psych(o)
mind, mental
psychotropic, psychotherapy
-ptosis
prolapse, sagging, sagged
nephroptosis, colpoptosis
*pulmon(o)
lung
pulmonary, pulmonectomy
py(o)
pus
pyorrhea, pyogenic, pyemia, empyema
pyel(o)
pelvis of kidney, renal pelvis pyelonephritis, pyelitis, pyeloplasty
pyr-, pyrofever, fire
pyrogen, pyretic, pyrosis, pyrolysis
radi(o)
x-ray
radiology, radiograph
*ren(o)
kidney
renogram, renal
retrobehind, backward, in back of retrocolic, retromammary, retroversion
rhin(o)
nose
rhinolith, rhinorrhea, rhinoplasty
-rrhagia
hemorrhage, excessive discharge
enterorrhagia, metrorrhagia
-rrhea
flow, discharge
diarrhea, leukorrhea
salping(o)
fallopian tube, uterine tube
salpingostomy, salpingectomy
scler(o)
hard, hardening
atherosclerosis, corneoscleral
-scope
instrument used to exam or lookmicroscope, arthroscope
-scopy
process of examining
arthroscopy, colposcopy, endoscopy
semihalf, partly, partially
semiconscious, semicomatose, semicircular
spondyl(o)
spine, vertebra, vertebrae
spondylosis, spondylopathy, spondylolysis
stomat(o)
mouth
stomatitis, stomatoscope
*subunder, below
sublingual, subcutaneous, subcostal
supraabove, over, at the top of
supraspinal, suprapubic, suprarenal
syntogether, with, joined, fused
synergistic, syndrome, synarthrosis
syphil(o)
syphilis
syphiloma, syphiloderm
tachyfast, rapid
tachycardia, tachypnea
*thorac(o)
chest, thorax
thoracotomy, thoracoplasty
thromb(o)
blood clot
thrombosis, thrombogenic
thyr(o)
thyroid
thyroxine, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism
-tomy
incision, incise, to cut into
gastrotomy, duodenotomy
tox-, toxi-, toxo- poison
toxin, toxic, toxicology, toxicity
*transacross, over, through
transfusion, transthoracic, transurethral
-trophy
development, growth, nutrition dystrophy, hypotrophy
urethr(o)
urethra
urethrorrhaphy, urethrotomy
-uria
urine
glucosuria, nocturia, albuminuria
*vas(o)
vessel, vas deferens
vasospasm, vasectomy, vasodilator
ven(o)
vein
venipuncture, venous, venopressor
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