Medical Terminology
1. Suffixes and Prefixes
SUFFIXES
A suffix is a word ending that modifies a root which may indicate that the word is a noun or an
adjective.
● Suffixes that mean “condition of”
Suffix
-ia
Example
insomnia
anesthesia
phobia
-ism
alcoholism
egotism
embolism
-sis
neurosis
(-osis, -esis, psychosis
-asis, iasis)
cirrhosis
-y
atony
tetany
dysentery
Meaning
Inability to sleep
Loss of sensation
Abnormal fear
Chronic dependence on or addiction to alcohol
Exaggerated self-importance
Blockage of a vessel
Psychological disorder
Mental disorder
Liver degeneration
Lack of muscle tone
Sustained muscle contraction
Intestinal disorder
● Suffixes that mean “pertaining to”, “characterized by”, “resembling” – adjective endings
Suffix
Example
Definition
-ac
cardiac
Pertaining to the heart
-al
skeletal
Pertaining to the skeleton
-ar
muscular
Pertaining to muscle
-ary
urinary
Pertaining to urine
-ic
pelvic
Pertaining to the pelvis
-ical
surgical
Pertaining to surgery
-ile
febrile
Pertaining to fever
-ous
venous
Pertaining to a vein
-form
epileptiform
Like or resembling epilepsy
-oid
mucoid
Like or resembling mucus
(nouns) -sis changes into -tic (to form the adjective): neurosis – neurotic, diuresis - diuretic
● Suffixes pertaining to specialties and specialists
Suffix
-logy
-ist
-ian,-ician
-iatrics,-iatry
-iatrist
Meaning
Study of
Specialist in a field
of study
Specialist in a field
of study
Field of medicine
Specialist in a field
of study
Example
physiology
dentist
Physician
psychiatry
podiatrist
Definition
Study of function in a living organism
Specialist in the study and treatment of
the teeth and mouth
Practitioner of medicine
Study and treatment of mental illness
Specialist in the study and treatment of
the foot
1
■ Exercises
1. Identify the suffix that means “pertaining to”(“resembling”) in each of the following words:
primary
cellular
virile
physiologic
topical
biologic
rheumatoid
exploratory
focal
dystrophy
fibrous
muciform
lymphoid
cutaneous
cuboid
nuclear
salivary
bacterial
metric
thermal
anatomical
cellular
lymphoid
basic
2. Identify the suffix that means “condition of”in each of the following words:
analgesia
parasitism
stenosis
dystrophy
thrombosis
anemia
acidosis
3. Write a word for a specialist in each of the following fields:
biology
obstetrics
pediatrics
allergy
psychiatry
dermatology
technology
anatomy
gynecology
pharmacy
radiology
orthodontics
PREFIXES
● Prefixes pertaining to numbers
Prefix
Prim/iMon/oUniBiDiDiploHemiSemiTriQuadr/iMultiPoly-
Meaning
first
one
one
Two, twice
Two, twice
double
Half, one side
Half, partial
three
four
many
Many much
Example
primigravida
monoclonal
unicellular
Bicuspid
diplegia
diplopia
hemithorax
semilunar
triad
quadrant
multiple
polymorphic
■ Exercises
1. Define the following words:
primary
trisect
polymorphous
Definition
Woman pregnant for the first time
Pertaining to a cell colony arising from a single cell
Pertaining to an organism composed of a single cell
Having two points
Paralysis (-plegia) affecting both sides of the body
Double vision(-opia)
One side of the chest (thorax)
Resembling a half-moon
Group of three
One fourth of an area
Consisting of many parts
Having many shapes (morph/o)
multicellular
unilateral
hemithorax
bipolar
2. Fill in the blanks:
1. Monarthritis is arthritis affecting … joint (s).
2. A tricuspid tooth has … points
3. Unilateral means affecting … side
4. A quadruplet is one of … offspring produced in a single birth.
5. A biped is an animal with … feet.
3. Give a prefix similar in meaning to each of the following:
bihemimulti2
● Prefixes pertaining to color
Prefix
Cyan/o-
Meaning
Blue
Example
cyanosis
Erythr/oLeuk/oMelano/oXanth/o-
Red
White, colorless
Black, dark
yellow
erythrocyte
leukoplakia
melanin
xanthoma
Definition
Bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of
oxigen
Red blood cell
White patches in the mouth
The dark pigment that colors the hair and skin
Yellow raised area of the skin
● Negative prefixes
Prefix
A-, AnAntiContraDeDis-
Meaning
Not, without, lack of, absence
against
against
Down, without, removal, loss
Absence, removal, separation
Example
amorphous
antidote
contralateral
detoxify
disinfect
In-, imUn-
Not (in- before b, m, p)
Not
incontinence
unconscious
Definition
Without form
Means for counteracting a poison
Pertaining to the opposite side
To remove a poison
To remove infectious organisms
from
Lack of control over excretion
Not responsive
■ Exercises
1. Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words:
e.g. inadequate
in- (prefix) = not (meaning)
amnesia
contraception
antibody
disease
antiserum
decongestant
contraindication
2. Write the negative(opposite) of each of the following words. There may be more than one answer
for each.
coordinated
ability
mature
septic
adequate
humidify
fertility
active
congestant
permeable
sufficient
responsive
compatible
● Prefixes pertaining to direction
Prefix
AbAdDiaPerTrans-
Meaning
away from
Toward, near
through
through
Through, across,
beyond
Example
abduct
adhesion
dialysis
percutaneous
transfusion
Definition
To move away from the midline
An attachment of parts
Separation by passage through a membrane
Through the skin
Introduction of blood or blood components into
the bloodstream
■ Exercises
1. Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words
absorb
transmit
perforate
adhesive
diarrhea
transcortical
adduct
3
● Prefixes pertaining to degree
Prefix
Hyper-
Example
hypertension
Definition
High blood pressure
hypoventilation
Olig/o-
Meaning
Over, excess, abnormally
high, increased
Under, below, abnormally
low, decreased
Few, scanty, deficiency of
PanSuper-
all
Above, excess
panplegia
superinfection
Low amount of air entering the
lungs
Low number of sperm in the
semen
Total paralysis (-plegia)
Second infection
Hypo-
oligospermia
● Prefixes pertaining to size and comparison
Prefix
EuHeteroHomo/homeo
Iso-
Meaning
True, good, easy, normal
Other, different, unequal
Same, unchanging
Example
euthanasia
heterosexual
homothermic
Equal, same
isograft
MacroMega/megaloMicro-
Large, abnormally large
Large, abnormally large
macroscopic
megabladder
small
microsurgery
NeoNormoOrtho-
new
normal
Straight, correct, upright
neonate
normovolemia
Orthosis
PseudoRe-
false
Again, back
pseudoparalysis
reflux
Definition
Easy or painless death
Pertaining to the opposite sex
Maintaining a constant body
temperature, warm blooded
Graft between two genetically
identical individuals
Visible with the naked eye
Permanent enlargement of the
bladder
Surgery of extremely small
structures under the microscope
Newborn infant
Normal blood volume
Appliance used to correct or
prevent deformities
False paralysis
Backward or return flow
■ Exercises
1. Match the following terms with their definition:
leukocyte, hypersensitivity, erythroderma, recuperate, pandemic,
xanthoderma, hypotension, pseudoreaction, oligomenorrhea, orthodontic, melanoma,
supermotility, cyanotic, normothermic
a. dark growth on the skin
b. white blood cell
c. yellow coloration on the skin
d. redness of the skin
e. pertaining to bluish discoloration f. low blood pressure
g. scanty menstrual flow
h. excess movement
i. excessive responsiveness
j. disease affecting an entire population
k. false response
l. pertaining to normal body
temperature m. pertaining to straight teeth
n. recover from illness
● Prefixes pertaining to time and/or position
Prefix
AntePer-
Meaning
before
Before, in front of
Example
antenatal
predisposing
Pro-
before, in front of
prophylaxis
Definition
Before birth
Leading toward a condition such as
a disease
Prevention of disease
4
Post-
After, behind
postoperative
After a surgical operation
Oprit aici – de facut ex. student
■ Exercises
1. Match the following terms with their definition :
ectocardia (d), postnasal (c), syndrome (f), endonasal (a), telencephalon (b), hyposecretion (e)
a. within the nose
b. endbrain
c. behind the nose
d. displacement of the heart from its normal position
e. underproduction of a substance
f. group of symptoms occurring together
2. Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words
6. premenstrual (pre-/ before, in front of);
7. post-traumatic (post-/ after, behind)
8. progenitor (pro-/ before, in front of)
9. antedate (ante-/ before)
KEY
6.
7. 8.
9.
Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words:
Prefix
Meaning
6. protrude
7. antecedent
8. premenstrual
9. extra
10. mesoderm
11.
● Prefixes pertaining to position
Prefix
Dextr/o-
Meaning
right
Example
dextrocardia
Sinistr/oEctoEx/oEndo-
left
out,outside
away from, outside
in, within
sinistrad
ectopic
excise
endoscope
Mes/-o
Syn,
symTel/e-,
tel/o-
middle
together
mesencephalon
synapse
Definition
Location of the heart in the right side of the
chest
Toward the left
Outside the normal position
To cut out
Device for viewing the insite of a cavity or
organ
Midbrain
Junction between two nerve cell
end
telangion
Terminal blood vessel
■ Exercises
5
1. Write the opposite of each of the following words.
exotoxin (endotoxin), macroscopic (microscopic), homograft (heterograft), hypoactive
(hyperactive), preoperative (postoperative), antepartum (postpartum), preadolescent
(postadolescent), sinistromanual (= left handed) (dextromanual), exogenous (= outside the
organism) (endogenous), organization (disorganization), adduct (abduct),
2. Match the following terms with their definition:
pandemic (d), hypertension (e), neonate (g), oligodontia (b), superficial (a), heterothermic (i),
melanoma (c), panplegia (j), xanthocyte (f), percutaneous (h), mesencephalon (k).
a. located at the surface (above other structures)
b. less than the normal number of teeth
c. dark tumor
d. disease affecting an entire population
e. high blood pressure
f. cell with yellow color
g. a newborn
h. through the skin
i. having varying body temperature j. total paralysis
k. midbrain
de la Mirel
Write the suffix in each of the following words that means “study of,” “medical specialty,” or
“specialist in a field of study”:
1. dentist (one who treats the teeth and mouth) -ist
2. neurology (the study of the nervous system)
3. pediatrics (treatment of children)
4. technologist (specialist in a technical field)
5. psychiatry (study and treatment of mental disorders)
KEY:
1. -ist
2. -logy
3. -iatrics
4. -ist
5. -iatry
Write a word for a specialist in each of the following fields:
6. anatomy (study of body structure)
7. pediatrics (care and treatment of children)
8. radiology (use of radiation in diagnosis and treatment)
9. orthodontics (correction of the teeth)
KEY:
6. anatomist
7. pediatrician
8. radiologist
9. orthodontist
Identify the suffix that means “condition of” in each of the following words:
1. egotism
2. anemia
6
3. stenosis
4. dystrophy
5. acidosis
6. anesthesia
KEY:
1. -ism
2. -ia
3. -sis
4. -y
5. -sis
6. -ia
Give the suffix in the following words that means “specialty” or “specialist”:
7. psychiatry
8. orthopedist
9. obstetrics
10. urology
KEY:
7. -iatry
8. -ist
9. -ics
10. -logy
Give the name of the specialist in each of the following fields:
11. pediatrics
12. dermatology
13. pharmacy
14. gynecology
KEY :
11. pediatrician
12. dermatologist
13. pharmacist
14. gynecologist
Identify the adjective suffix in each of the following words that means “pertaining to” or
“resembling”:
15. physiologic
16. local
17. cutaneous
18. lymphoid
19. cellular
20. basic
21. salivary
22. oral
23. rheumatoid
7
24. virile
25. anatomical
26. circular
27. exploratory
KEY:
15. -ic
16. -al
17. -ous
18. -oid
19. -ar
20. -ic
21. -ary
22. -al
23. -oid
24. -ile
25. -ical
26. -ar
27. -ory
Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words:
1. amorphous (without form) (root morph/o)
2. antibody
3. amnesia
4. disintegrate
5. contralateral
6. incontinent
7. dehumidify
8. noncontributory
a-
not, without, lack of, absence
KEY
1. a-; not, without, lack of, absence
2. anti-; against, opposite
3. a-; not, without (root mnem/o means “memory”)
4. dis-; absence, removal, separation
5. contra-; against
6. in-; not
7. de-; down, without, removal, loss
8. non-; not
Add a prefix to form the negative of each of the following words:
9. coordinated
uncoordinated
10. adequate
11. infect
12. permeable (capable of being penetrated)
13. congestant
14. compatible
8
KEY
9. uncoordinated
10. inadequate
11. disinfect
12. impermeable
13. decongestant
14. incompatible
Match the following terms and write the appropriate letter to the left of each number:
1. pandemic
a. located at the surface (above other structures)
2. hyposecretion
b. less than the normal number of teeth
3. hypertension
c. underproduction of a substance
4. oligodontia
d. disease affecting an entire population
5. superficial
e. high blood pressure
KEY
1. d
2. c
3. e
4. b
5. a
Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words:
6. equidistant (equi-; equal, same)
7. orthopedics
8. recuperate
9. euthyroidism
10. neocortex
11. megacolon
12. isometric
KEY
6.
7. ortho-; straight, correct, upright
8. re-; again, back
9. eu-; true, good, easy, normal
10. neo-; new
11. mega-; large, abnormally large
12. iso-; equal, same
Write the opposite of each of the following words:
9
13. heterogeneous (composed of different materials) / . homogeneous
14. macroscopic (visible with the naked eye) / microscopic
Match the following terms and write the appropriate letter to the left of each number:
1. postnasal
a. throwing or extending forward
2. antecedent
b. occurring before the proper time
3. projection
c. behind the nose
4. premature
d. before birth
5. prenatal
e. occurring before another event
KEY
1. c
2. e
3. a
4. b
5. d
Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words:
6. premenstrual
7. post-traumatic
8. progenitor
9. antedate
KEY
6. pre-; before, in front of
7. post-; after, behind
8. pro-; before, in front of
9. ante-; before
Match the following terms and write the appropriate letter to the left of each number:
1. endonasal
a. placement of the heart outside its normal position
2. syndrome
b. middle layer of the developing embryo
3. mesoderm
c. the last stage of cell division
4. ectocardia
d. within the nose
5. Telophase
e. group of symptoms occurring together
KEY
1. d
10
2. e
3. b
4. a
5. c
Match the following terms and write the appropriate letter to the left of each number:
1. primary
a. one half or one side of the chest
2. trisect
b. having many forms
3. unilateral
c. to cut into three parts
4. polymorphous
d. pertaining to one side
5. hemithorax
e. first
6. neonate
a. cell with yellow color
7. melanoma
b. through the skin
8. xanthocyte
c. dark tumor
9. percutaneous
d. a newborn
10. leukoderma
e. loss of color in the skin
11. heterothermic
a. endbrain
12. mesencephalon
b. having varying body temperature
13. panplegia
c. total paralysis
14. telencephalon
d. correcting or preventing deformities
15. orthopedic
e. midbrain
KEY
1. e
2. c
3. d
4. b
5. a
6. d
7. c
8. a
9. b
10. e
11. b
12. e
11
13. c
14. a
15. d
Match each of the following prefixes with its meaning:
16. oligoa. equal, same
17. pseudob. right
18. euc. few, scanty
19. isod. good, true, easy
20. dextroe. false
KEY
16. c
17. e
18. d
19. a
20. b
Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words:
29. nonexistent
30. transmit
31. equivalent
32. react
33. exhale
34. absent
35. contraindication
36. detoxify
37. predict
38. perforate
39. adduct
40. dialyze
41. antiserum
42. microsurgery
43. disease
44. ectoparasite
45. symbiotic
46. prognosis
47. inadequate
KEY
29. non-; not
30. trans-; through, across, beyond
31. equi-; equal, same
12
32. re-; again, back
33. ex-; away from, outside
34. ab-; away from
35. contra-; against, opposite
36. de-; down, without
37. pre-; before, in front of
38. per-; through
39. ad-; toward, near
40. dia-; through
41. anti-; against
42. micro-; small
43. dis-; absence, removal, separation
44. ecto-; out, outside
45. sym-; together
46. pro-; before, in front of
47. in-; not
Opposites. Write a word that means the opposite of each of the following:
48. responsive
49. mature
50. active
51. sufficient
52. exotoxin
53. macroscopic
54. homograft
55. hypoactive
56. preoperative
KEY
48. unresponsive
49. immature
50. inactive
51. insufficient
52. endotoxin
53. microscopic
54. heterograft
55. hyperactive
56. postoperative
Synonyms. Write a word that means the same as each of the following:
57. supersensitivity
58. megalocyte (extremely large red blood cell)
59. antenatal
60. equilateral (having equal sides)
KEY
57. hypersensitivity
13
58. macrocyte
59. prenatal
60. isolateral
Identify and define the prefixes in the following words:
5. displace and dislocate
6. replacement, recovery, and rehabilitation
7. avascular
8. anesthesia and analgesic
9. orthopedic
10. externally
11. bipolar
12. unremarkable
KEY
5. dis-; absence, removal, separation
6. re-; again, back
7. a-; not, without
8. an-; not, without
9. ortho-; straight, correct, upright
10. ex-; away from, outside
11. bi-; two, twice
12. un-; not
14