Commonly Used Medical Root Words
General Roots
an:
angi:
arter:
cec:
celio:
chole:
cholecyst:
choledoch:
col:
crani:
cyst:
duoden
(duodenum):
enter:
esophag:
gastr:
hem, hemat:
hepat:
ile (ileum):
jejun
(jejunum):
lapar:
lith:
lysis:
mast
pancreat:
phleb:
proct:
rect:
splen:
vas:
ven:
anal canal
vessel (not necessarily a blood vessel)
artery
cecum
body cavity
gall, bile (gall: old English term for "bile")
gallbladder
common bile duct
colon
skull, cranium
sac
the first part of small intestine
small intestine
esophagus
stomach
blood
liver
third part (most distal) of small intestine
second part of small intestine (distal to the duodenum but proximal to ileum)
abdomen, flank
calculus, stone
breakdown, destruction
breast, mammary gland. Occasionally mamm is used as a combining form;
i.e., mammogram, mammography
pancreas
small vein
rectum
rectum, structures related to the rectum
spleen
vessel, duct or canal. Refers to any fluid-conveying structure
vein
Thoracic Anatomy
bronch:
card (ium):
pneumon:
pulmon:
phren:
thorac:
trache:
bronchus
heart
lung
lung, structures related to the
lung
respiratory diaphragm
chest
trachea
Gynecology Anatomy
colp:
hyster:
metrium:
oophor:
salping:
vagina
uterus
uterus
ovary
Fallopian tube, uterine tube
Genitourinary Anatomy
cyst:
nephr:
pyel:
ren:
ureter:
urethr:
vesic:
bladder, sac (usually refers to
the urinary bladder)
kidney
pelvis of the kidney
kidney
ureter
urethra
urinary bladder
Using Root Words to Write Anastomoses
Anastomose the esophagus to the
stomach:
Anastomose the stomach to the
duodenum:
Anastomose the jejunum to the
jejunum:
Anastomose the gallbladder to the
jejunum:
esophag-o-gastr-ostomy
gastr-o-duoden-ostomy
jejun-o-jejun-ostomy
cholecyst-o-jejun-ostomy
Medical Terminology: Prefixes
contraextra-, exo-, exhemiinfrainterintra-, endoparaperipostretrosubsupra-
against, opposite
outside
half
inferior, below
between
within/inside
beside/alongside/parallel to
surrounding/around
posterior, behind
posterior, behind
less than total/under
superior, above
Medical Terminology: Suffixes
-ectomy:
ocentesis:
-itis:
-ogram:
-ology:
(-o)lysis:
-omegaly:
-opexy:
-oplasty:
-orrhaphy:
(-o)scope:
-oscopy:
-osis:
(-o)stasis:
-ostomy:
-otomy:
removal, excision, extraction, extirpation
a puncture (needle) aspiration
infection, inflammation
examination of
study of
break down/destruction
enlargement
fixation or immobilization
surgical reshaping
surgical repair
instrument
examination by visualization of the inside of an organ through an optical
instrument such as bronchoscopy (examination of a bronchus), esophagoscopy
(esophagus), laparoscopy (abdomen), gastroscopy (stomach), sigmoidoscopy
(sigmoid colon), proctoscopy (rectum), cystoscopy (urinary bladder)
state of/many
control/stop
new opening or drainage
incision/cutting into
Anatomical Position
Anatomical Position
Supine or dorsal recumbent
Lateral recumbent or lateral
decubitus
Prone
Lithotomy
Trendelenburg
When a body is placed in the anatomical position, it is standing,
the eyes are open and level, the head is in midposition, the
arms are down at the sides, the palms face forward, the feet are
parallel, and the heels are close together.
lying on the back
lying on the side
lying on the abdomen (face down)
lying on the back, thighs and knees apart and flexed, perineum
exposed
lying supine (face up) with the head of the table tilted down
about 40 degrees
Positions, Planes and Body Cavities: Directional Terms
Anterior and Posterior Anterior (ventral) means toward the front, or in front of.
Posterior (dorsal) means toward the back, or behind.
Medial and Lateral
For example, the abdomen is anterior to the spinal cord. The spinal
cord is posterior to the abdomen.
Medial means toward the midline.
Lateral means away from the midline.
Internal and External
For example, the nose is medial to the eyes. The ears are lateral to the
eyes.
Internal (deep) means toward the inside or on the inside.
External (superficial) means toward the outside or on the outside.
Proximal and Distal
For example, the hair is superficial to the skull. The brain is internal to
the skull.
Proximal means closer to the origin.
Distal means further from the origin.
Peripheral and
Central
For example, the shoulder is the most proximal joint of the arm. The
wrist is the most distal joint.
Peripheral means away from the center.
Central means toward the center.
For example, the nerves in your arms and legs are part of the
peripheral nervous system. The brain and spinal cord are part of the
central nervous system.
Parietal and Visceral
Parietal means pertaining to the walls. This usually refers to the
peritoneum lining of the walls of the body cavities.
Superior and Inferior
Visceral means pertaining to the organs. This usually refers to the
covering of the viscera (internal organs).
Superior means above. For example, the nose is superior to the mouth.
Cephalad and
Caudad
Inferior means below. For example, the chin is inferior to the mouth.
Cephalad means toward the head. For example, the rib cage is
cephalad to the pelvis.
Caudad means toward the feet (tail). For example, the knees are
caudad to the pelvis.