BarCharts, Inc. ®
FOUNDATION OF
MEDICAL WORDS
A. Structure
Most medical words are composed of two or more
terms. To define a medical word:
• divide the word into its terms
• analyze the terms
• define the word
Examples:
Pericarditis
peri = around; card = heart; itis = inflammation
Inflammation around the heart
Oncology
onco = tumor, mass; logy = study of
Study of tumors
B. Terms
Term + Term (.....+.....) = medical word
There are five categories of terms:
1.Prefix - beginning of a word
(ex., pre____; post_____)
Designated by a “____” after the term.
2.Suffix - ending of a word
(ex., _____stomy; _____itis)
Designated by a “____” before the term.
3.Root - foundation/base of a word (ex., hepat;
gastr)
4.Combining vowel - vowel (usually “o”) added to a
root (ex., gastro).
Use a combining vowel when joining:
a. Root to another root (ex., gastrohepatitis)
b. Root to a suffix beginning with a consonant (ex.,
cardiomegaly)
5.Combining form - root + vowel (ex., hepat/o;
gastr/o)
Designated by a “/” between the root and the vowel
Examples:
Hyperleukocytosis
hyper (prefix) = excessive
leuko (combining form) = white
cyt (root) = cell
osis (suffix) = condition of
Definition: condition of excessive white blood cells
(leukocytes)
Hematotoxic
hemato (combining form) = blood
tox (root) = poison
ic (suffix) = pertaining to
Definition: pertaining to blood poisoning
TIPS:
1.Some terms have more than one definition. To
determine the correct definition in a particular
medical word, analyze the other terms in the word.
Example:
Poliomyelitis
polio = gray (matter)
myel = spinal cord, bone marrow
itis = inflammation
Definition: Inflammation of the gray matter of the
spinal cord. The bone marrow does not have gray matter.
2.Some terms may function as a root/combining
form in one word and a suffix in another word.
Classification depends upon the specific medical
word.
Examples:
Cytology
cyto (combining form) = cell
logy (suffix) = study of
Definition: Study of cells
Erythrocyte
erythro (combining form) = red
cyte (suffix) = cell
Definition: Red blood cell
WORLD’S #1 ACADEMIC OUTLINE
THE HUMAN BODY
A. Development
Cells - tissues - organs - systems - organism
1.Cells: Major Components
a. Cell membrane
b. Cytoplasm
c. Nucleus
2.Tissues: Primary Types
a. Connective
b. Epithelium
c. Muscle
d.Nervous
3.Organs
a. Composed of two or more different tissues
b. Have specific functions
4.Systems: Related organs with common functions
5.Organism: A living person
B. Cavities
A space containing organs
1.Dorsal
a. Cranial
b. Vertebral (spinal)
2.Ventral
a. Abdominal
b. Pelvic
c. Thoracic
C. Planes
An imaginary flat surface
1.Frontal – anterior/posterior
2.Sagittal – right/left
3.Transverse – upper/lower
D. Positions
A reference point for location or direction.
1.Anterior/Ventral – front of the body
Posterior/Dorsal – back of the body
2.Deep – away from the surface
Superficial – on the surface
3.Inferior – situated below
Superior – situated above
4.Lateral – pertaining to the side
5.Medial – pertaining to the middle
6.Prone – lying face down
Supine – lying face up
TERMS
acid/o
acuacu/o, acut/o
adip/o
aer/o
agit/o
-algia
ambul/o
anomal/o
anthrac/o
anthrop/o
antr/o
aphth/o
apic/o
aque/o
atmoaxi/o
bar/o
bary-basia
bathy-, bathobio-, bi/o
blast/o, -blast
-calculia
DEFINITIONS
acid, sour, bitter
needle
sharp, severe
fat
air, gas
rapidity, restlessness
pain
to walk
irregular
coal, carbon,
carbuncle
man, human being
antrum
ulcer
apex
water
steam, vapor
axis
weight, pressure
heavy, dull, hard
walking
deep, depth
life, living
early embryonic
stage, immature
to compute
1
WORDS
acidity
acupuncture
subacute
adiponecrosis
aerophagy
agitophasia
cephalalgia
ambulatory
anomaly
anthracosis
anthropometry
antrotomy
aphthosis
apicotomy
aqueous
atmometer
abaxial
barotrauma
baryphonia
brachybasia
bathycardia
biogenesis
blastocyte
dyscalculia
calor/i
campt/o
capsul/o, caps/o
carcin/o
cari/o
-cataphasia
cathar/o,
cathart/o
-cathisia,
-kathisia
caud/o
cavit/o, cav/o
chem/o
chron/o
clin/o
-coimesis
-coma
consci/o
constrict/o
contus/o
corpor/o
critic/o
cry/o
cyt/o, -cyte
dem/o
desicc/o
dilat/o
dolich/o
dolor/o
dors/o
duct/o
dynam/o
-dynia
dysechin/o
ectr/o
ele/o
emmetr/o
enanti/o
equierethism/o
eti/o
eu-facient
febr/i
fil/o, fil/i,
filament/o
-form
frig/o, frigid/o
funct/o
gel/o
gemell/o
-gen, gen/o
-genesis
-genic
ger/o, geront/o
-grade
hapl/o
heredo-hexia
hist/o
homeohydr/o
iatr/o
-ician
ion/o
heat
bent
capsule, container
cancer
caries, rottenness
affirmation
cleansing, purging
calorimetry
camptocormia
capsulitis
carcinolysis
cariogenic
acataphasia
catharsis
sitting
acathisia
tail
caudal
hollow, cavity
cavitation
chemical, chemistry chemosurgery
time, timing
chronobiology
to slope, bend
clinocephaly
sleeping
dyscoimesis
deep sleep
semicoma
awareness, aware unconscious
narrowing, binding vasoconstriction
to bruise
contusion
body
corporeal
crisis, dangerous critical
cold
cryotherapy
cell
cytocide
people
epidemic
to dry
electrodesiccation
enlarge,expand
vasodilator
long
dolichofacial
pain
dolorogenic
back
dorsoventral
to lead
conduction
power, strength
dynamometer
pain
gastrodynia
bad, difficult, painful dysphonia
spiny, prickly
echinocyte
congenital absence ectrogeny
oil
eleoma
the correct measure, emmetropia
proportioned
opposite, opposed enantiobiosis
equality, equal
equilibrium
irritation
erethismic
cause
etiology
good, normal, well eubiotics
to cause, make
liquefacient
happen
fever
febriphobia
thread, threadlike filamentous
specified shape, form multiform
cold
performance
to freeze, congeal
twins
producing, generating
production, formation
produced by, forming
frigorism
dysfunctional
gelosis
gemellology
pathogen
neogenesis
carcinogenic
geriatrics
centigrade
haploid
heredoimmunity
cachexia
histoclastic
homeodynamics
aged, old age
step
simple, single
heredity
condition
tissue
likeness, constant,
sameness
water, hydrogen
hydrolysis
treatment, physician iatrogenic
specialist
clinician
ion
ionophoresis
same
ipsilateral
specialist
pharmacist
inflammation
hepatitis
nucleus
karyorrhexis
tumor, fibrous
keloid
growth
kraur/o
dry
kraurosis
kym/o
waves
kymography
-labile
unstable, perishable frigolabile
later/o
side
bilateral
ligat/o
binding, tying
ligature
lim/o
hunger
bulimia
-logist
specialist
neurologist
-logy
study of
cardiology
-lucent
light-admitting
radiolucent
lumin/o
light
luminescence
ly/o
dissolve, loosen
lyoenzyme
-malacia
softening
osteomalacia
-masesis
mastication, chewingdysmasesis
medi/o
middle
medial
medic/o
heal, healing
medical
mer/o
part
meromicrosomia
mesomiddle
mesoderm
method/o
procedure, technique methodology
-mimesis
imitation, simulation pathomimesis
morph/o
shape, form
dolichomorphic
mort/o
death
mortician
nom/o
custom, law
nomotopic
nomenname
nomenclature
nos/o
disease
nosology
nucle/o
nucleus
nucleoplasm
nutri/o, nutrit/o nourish
nutrition
ole/o
oil
oleovitamin
-oma
tumor, mass
histocytoma
onc/o
tumor, mass
oncogenesis
organ/o
organ
organomegaly
palliat/o
soothe, relieve
palliative
pant/o
all, whole
pantomorphia
path/o
disease
pathogenic
pharmac/o
drugs
pharmacology
phyl/o
race, species, type phylogenesis
physi/o
nature
physiologist
physic/o
physical, natural
physicochemical
phyt/o, -phyte
plant
phytotoxin
pin/o
to drink
pinocytosis
plan/o
flat, level, wandering planocellular
plant/o
sole of the foot
plantalgia
-plasm
formation, growth neoplasm
plex/o
network (nerves
plexectomy
or vessels), plexus
-poiesis
formation
cytopoiesis
posit/o
arrangement, place reposition
prosop/o
face
prosopospasm
prote/o
protein
proteolysis
psamm/o
sand,
psammomatous
sand-like material
puls/o, pulsat/o to beat, beating
pulsation
-puncture
to pierce a surface venipuncture
purul/o
pus formation
purulent
pyr/o
fire, fever, heat
pyrogen
pyret/o
fever
pyretolysis
-receptor,
receiver
thermoreceptor
-ceptor
resuscit/o
revive
resuscitation
reticul/o
netlike
reticular
sanit/a
health
sanitarian
scirrh/o
hard
scirrhoma
somat/o
body
somatotype
-some
body
chromosome
spectr/o
image, spectrum spectrogram
-stabile
stable, fixed
thermostabile
-stasis
standing still,
hemostasis
standing
-stat
device/instrument for hemostat
keeping something
stationary
stere/o
solid,
stereoradiography
three dimensional
ipsi-ist
-itis
kary/o
kel/o
succ/o
ymptom/o
synaps/o,
synapt/o
system/o
systol/o
techn/o
tele/o
temp/o,
tempor/o
-therapy,
therapeut/o
therm/o
tors/o
trem/o, tremul/o
tri/o
-tumescence,
tumesc/o
-type, typ/o
ventil/o
ventr/o
vers/o, -verse
vir/o
viscer/o
vit/o
volv/o, volut/o
zyg/o
juice
occurrence
point of contact,
to join
system
contraction
skill, art
perfect, complete
period of time,
the temples
treatment
succorrhea
asymptomatic
synaptogenesis
heat
twisting, twisted
shaking, trembling
to sort out, sorting
swelling
thermometer
sinistrotorsion
tremor
triage
detumescence
class,
representative form
to aerate, oxygenate
belly,
front of the body
turn, turning
virus
internal organs
life
to roll
union, junction
somatotype
systematic
presystole
technology
teleomitosis
tempolabile
therapeutics
ventilation
ventrolateral
cardioversion
virologist
visceromegaly
vital
involution
zygogenesis
TERMINOLOGY SETS
A. DIRECTIONAL TERMS
abadambiamphianaanteanter/o
antiapocatacircumcontradextr/o
diadisdist/o
ec-, ectoen-, endoepiesoexexoextraforehyperhypoinfrainterintrajuxtalater/o
levomedi/o
mesoparaperperipostposter/o
prepropros/o
proxim/o
reretrosinistr/o
away from
toward, near
around, on both sides, about
around, on both sides
up, backward, against
before, forward
front
against
away, separation
down, under
around
against, opposite
right
through, throughout
apart, to separate
distant
outside, out
inside, within
above, over, upon
within
out, away from
outside, outward
outside
before, in front
above, excessive, beyond
under, deficient, below
below, beneath
between
within
near
side
left
middle
middle
alongside, near, beyond, abnormal
through, throughout
around, surrounding
after, behind
behind, towards the back
before, in front of
before
forward, anterior
near
back, again
behind, backward
left
2
subsupersupratel/e
transultra-
under, beneath
above, beyond
above, beyond
distant, end
across
beyond, excess
B. FIVE rrh’s
-rrhagia, -rrhage
-rrhaphy
-rrhea
-rrhexis
rrhythm/o
excessive flow, profuse
fluid discharge
suture
flow, discharge
rupture
rhythm
C. NUMERICAL VALUES
demihemisemione
monounione and a half
sesquitwo
bidithree
trifour
tetraquadrifive
quinquepentpentasix
hexhexasexseven
heptaseptseptieight
octaoctinine
noniten (101)
decahundred (102)
hectothousand (103)
kilomillion (106)
megabillion (109)
gigatrillion (1012)
teraquadrillion (1015)
petaquintillion (1018)
exaone tenth (10-1)
decione hundredth (10-2)
centione thousandth (10-3) millione millionth (10-6)
microone billionth (10-9)
nanoone trillionth (10-12)
picoone quadrillionth (10-15) femtoone quintillionth (10-18) attohalf
D. SURGICAL PROCEDURES
-centesis
-desis
-ectomy
-pexy
-plasty
-rrhaphy
-sect
-stomy
-tomy
-tripsy
surgical puncture of a cavity
surgical fixation, fusion
surgical removal
fixation
surgical correction/repair
suture
to cut
surgical opening
surgical incision
to crush, break
E. DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES
aspir/o, aspirat/o
-assay
auscult/o, auscultat/o
echoelectr/o
-gram
-graph
-graphy
-meter
removal
to examine, analyze
to listen
reverberating sound
electricity
written record
instrument for recording
process of recording
instrument for measuring
process of measuring
to view
to touch gently
to tap
x-ray, radiation
instrument for visual examination
visual examination
instrument for cutting
-metry
-opsy
palp/o, palpat/o
percuss/o
radi/o
-scope
-scopy
-tome
F. PATHOGENS
acar/o
arachn/o
bacteri/o
-coccus
fung/i
helminth/o, -helminth
hirud/i, hirudin/i
ixod/i
myc/o
parasit/o
pedicul/o
scolec/o
verm/i
vir/o
mites
spider
bacteria
berry-shaped bacterium
fungus, mushroom
worm
leech
ticks
fungus
parasite
louse
worm
worm
virus
G. COLORS
white
green
orange-yellow
blue
red, rosy, dawn
red
yellow
dark brown
gray, bluish green
yellow
white
yellow
black
gray
purple
red, rosy
rosy
red
gray (ashen)
yellow
alb/o, albin/o
chlor/o
cirrh/o
cyan/o
eosin/o
erythr/o
flav/o
fusc/o
glauc/o
jaund/o
leuk/o
lute/o
melan/o
poli/o
purpur/i
rhod/o
rose/o
rubr/o, rubr/i
tephr/o
xanth/o
FIVE SENSES
A. Hearing
B. Smell
C. Touch
acous/o
acoust/o
audi/o
audit/o
-cusis
olfact/o
-osmia
osm/o
-ophresia
osphresi/o
haph/e
pselaphes/o
tact/o
thigm/o
D. Taste
E. Vision
-geusia
gustat/o
gust/o
-opia
-opsia
opt/o
SYNONYMS
abdomen
abdomin/o
celi/o
lapar/o
air
aer/o
phys/o
pneum/o
pneumon/o
all
panpant/o
bile
bil/i
chol/e
bladder
cyst/o
vesic/o
blood
hem/o
hemat/o
sangu/i
sanguin/o
body
corpor/o
somat/o
-some
breast
mamm/o
mast/o
cecum
cec/o
typhl/o
chest
pector/o
steth/o
thorac/o
breathe
-pnea
respir/o
respirat/o
spir/o
childbirth
-para
-parous
-partum
-tocia
toc/o
cornea of
the eye
corne/o
kerat/o
death
mort/o
necr/o
thanat/o
different
allohetero-
disease
nos/o
path/o
dry
kraur/o
xer/o
ear
aur/o
auricul/o
ot/o
eardrum
myring/o
tympan/o
eye
ocul/o
opthalm/o
opt/o
eyelid
blephar/o
palpebr/o
face
faci/o
op/o
prosop/o
fat
adip/o
lip/o
steat/o
pimel/o
feces
corp/o
scat/o
sterc/o
fever
febr/i
pyr/o
pyret/o
first
arch/i
arch/e
-arche
primiprot/o
foot
ped/o
pod/o
hair
pil/o
trich/o
half
demihemisemi-
hearing
acous/o
acoust/o
audi/o
audit/o
-cusis
heart
cardi/o
coron/o
heat
calor/i
therm/o
huge
gigant/o
megameglo-
itching
prurit/o
psor/o
kidney
nephr/o
ren/o
lens of the eye
phac/o
phak/o
life
biobi/o
vit/o
viv/i
lip
cheil/o
chil/o
labi/o
ligament
desm/o
ligament/o
syndesm/o
little, small
-ole
-ule
lung
pneum/o
pneumon/o
pulmon/o
milk
galact/o
lact/o
mind
ment/o
-noia
phren/o
psych/o
mouth
or/o
stomat/o
mucus
blenn/o
muc/o
myx/o
muscle
muscul/o
my/o
myos/o
nail
onych/o
ungu/o
night
noct/i
nyct/o
nose
nas/o
rhin/o
nucleus
kary/o
nucle/o
oil
ele/o
ole/o
ovary
oophor/o
ovari/o
pain
-algia
dolor/o
-dynia
palate
palat/o
uran/o
pregnancy pupil
-cyesis
cor/o
gravid/o
pupill/o
rectum
proct/o
rect/o
saliva
ptyal/o
sial/o
same
homeohomoipsitauto-
skin
cutane/o
derm/o
dermat/o
sound
son/o
phon/o
specialist
-ician
-ist
-logist
stone
lith/o
petr/o
straight
ithyorth/o
strength
dynam/o
-sthenia
sthen/o
sugar
gluc/o
glyc/o
sacchar/o
sweat
hidr/o
sud/o
swelling
-edema
-tumescence
tumesc/o
tear
dacry/o
lacrim/o
thick
pachypycn/o
pykn/o
time
chron/o
temp/o
tempor/o
tongue
gloss/o
lingu/o
tooth
dent/i
odont/o
tumor/mass
onc/o
-oma
uterus
hyster/o
metr/o
uter/o
vagina
colp/o
vagin/o
vein
phleb/o
ven/o
vertebral/spinal column
rachi/o
spin/o
spondyl/o
vulva
episi/o
vulv/o
water
aque/o
hydr/o
3
vessel
angi/o
vas/o
GLOSSARY
A
a-, anababdomin/o
ablat/o
abrad/o, abras/o
acanth/o
acar/o
acid/o
acous/o
acoust/o
acr/o
actin/o
acuacu/o, acut/o
adaden/o
adenoid/o
adip/o
adren/o
aer/o
agglutin/o
agit/o
-agogue
-agra
alb/o, albin/o
albumin/o
-algesia, alges/o
-algia
alloalveol/o
ambiambly/o
ambul/o
ammon/o
amni/o
amphiamyl/o
an/o
anaandr/o
aneurysm/o
angi/o
anis/o
ankyl/o
anomal/o
anteanter/o
anthrac/o
anthrop/o
antiantr/o
aort/o
-apheresis
aphth/o
apic/o
apoaque/o
arachn/o
arch/i, arch/e, -arche
arsenic/o
arteri/o
arteriol/o
arthr/o
articul/o
aspir/o, aspirat/o
-assay
-asthenia, asthen/o
astr/o
atel/o
ather/o
atmo-atresia
atretoatri/o
attoaudi/o, audit/o
aur/o, auricul/o
auscult/o, auscultat/o
autoaux/o
axi/o
axill/o
azot/o
without, not
away from
abdomen
to remove, take away
to scrape off
thorny, spiny
mites
acid, sour, bitter
hearing
hearing, sound
extremities
ray, radiation
needle
sharp, severe
toward, near
gland
adenoids
fat
adrenal glands
air, gas
clumping
rapidity, restlessness
producer, leader
severe pain
white
albumin
pain sensitivity
pain
other, different
alveolus
around, on both sides, about
dim, dull
to walk
ammonium
amnion
around, on both sides
starch
anus
up, backward, against
male
aneurysm
vessel
unequal
stiff, crooked, bent
irregular
before, forward
front
coal, carbon, carbuncle
man, human being
against
antrum
aorta
separation, removal
ulcer
apex
away, separation
water
spider
first
arsenic
artery
arteriole
joint
joint
inhaling, removal
to examine, analyze
weakness
star, star shaped
incomplete, imperfect
fatty substance, plaque
steam, vapor
closure, occlusion
closed, lacking an opening
atrium
one quintillionth (10-18)
hearing
ear
to listen
self
growth, acceleration
axis
armpit
nitrogen, urea
B
bacteria
glans penis
bath
weight, pressure
heavy, dull, hard
base, foundation
walking
deep, depth
two
books
bile
life, living
early embryonic stage,
immature
blenn/o
mucus
blephar/o
eyelid
brachi/o
arm
brachyshort
bradyslow
brom/o
bromine containing
compound, odor
bronch/o
bronchus
bronchiol/o
bronchiole
bucc/o
cheek
-bulia, -boulia will
burs/o
bursa
bacteri/o
balan/o
balne/o
bar/o
barybas/o, basi/o
-basia
bathy-, bathobibibli/o
bil/i
bio-, bi/o
blast/o, -blast
C
cac/o
bad, ill
calcane/o
heel
calci/o
calcium
-calculia,
to compute
calcul/o
cali/o
calyx
calor/i
heat
campt/o
bent
-capnia, capn/o carbon dioxide
capsul/o, caps/o capsule, container
carb/o
carbon
carcin/o
cancer
cardi/o
heart
cari/o
caries
carp/o
wrist
catadown, under
-cataphasia
affirmation
cathar/o,
cleansing, purging
cathart/o
-cathisia,
sitting
-kathisia
caud/o
tail
caus/o, cauter/o burn, burning
cavit/o, cav/o hollow, cavity
cec/o
cecum
-cele
hernia, swelling
celi/o
abdomen
-centesis
surgical puncture
of a cavity
centione hundredth ( 10-2)
centr/o
center
cephal/o
head
cerebell/o
cerebellum
cerebr/o
cerebrum, brain
cervic/o
neck, cervix
-chalasia
relaxation
cheil/o, chil/o lip
chem/o
chemical, chemistry
-chezia, -chesia defecation
chir/o, cheir/o hand
chlor/o
green
chol/e
gall, bile
choledoch/o
common bile duct
chondr/o
cartilage
chori/o
chorion
-chroia
skin coloration
chrom/o
color
chron/o
time, timing
chrys/o
gold
chyl/o
chyle
-cide
killing, agent which kills
cinemovement
circumaround
cirrh/o
orange-yellow
-clasis, -clasia break
cleid/o
clavicle
clin/o
to slope, bend
-clysis
irrigation, washing
coagul/o
coagulation, clotting
-coccus
coccyg/o
cochle/o
-coimesis
col/o
colp/o
com-, con-coma
coni/o
conjunctiv/o
consci/o
constrict/o
contracontus/o
cor/o
corne/o
coron/o
corpor/o
cortic/o
cost/o
cox/o
crani/o
-crasia
cric/o
crin/o
-crit
critic/o
cry/o
crypt/o
crystall/o
cubit/o
culd/o
cune/o
cupr/o
-cusis
cutane/o
cyan/o
cycl/o
-cyesis
cyst/o
cyt/o, -cyte
embol/o
embry/o
-emesis
-emia
emmetr/o
berry-shaped bacterium
coccyx
cochlea
sleeping
colon
vagina
with, together
deep sleep
dust
conjunctiva
awareness, aware
narrowing, binding
against, opposite
to bruise
pupil
cornea
heart
body
cortex
rib
hip
skull
mixture (good or bad),
temperament
ring
secrete, separate
separate
crisis, dangerous
cold
hidden, concealed
crystal, transparent
elbow, forearm
cul-de-sac
wedge, wedge-shaped
copper
hearing
skin
blue
ciliary body, circular
pregnancy
bladder, cyst
cell
-emphraxis
en-, endoenanti/o
encephal/o
enter/o
eosin/o
epiepididym/o
epiglott/o
episi/o
equierethism/o
erg/o
erythem/o
erythr/o
eschar/o
esoesophag/o
esthesi/o,
-esthesia
eti/o
eueuryexexaexcit/o
exoextra-
tear
digit (finger or toe)
ten (101)
one tenth (10-1)
half
people
tooth
skin
to dry
surgical fixation, fusion
ligament
second, secondary
right
two
through, throughout
a twin, testis
conjoined twin
enlarge,expand
double
thirst
apart, to separate
distant
long
pain
back
running
to lead
duodenum
power, strength
pain
bad, difficult, painful
E
ec-, ectoechin/o
echoeco-ectasis, -ectasia
-ectomy
ectr/o
-edema
ele/o
electr/o
gluc/o
glyc/o
gnath/o
gnos/o
gon/o
gonad/o
goni/o
-grade
-gram
granul/o
-graph
graph/o
-graphy
gravid/o
-gravida
gustat/o, gust/o
gynec/o
gyr/o
glucose, sugar
glucose, sugar
jaw
knowledge
genitals, semen
gonads
angle
step
written record
granules
instrument for recording
writing
process of recording
pregnancy
pregnant woman
taste
woman, female
circle, spiral
H
haph/e
touch
hapl/o
simple, single
hect/o
hundred (102)
helc/o
ulcer
heli/o
sun
helminth/o,
worm
-helminth
cause
hemihalf
good, normal, well
hem/o, hemat/o blood
wide, broad
hepat/o
liver
out, away from
heredoheredity
quintillion (1018)
heterodifferent, other
to arouse
hex-, hexasix
outside, outward
-hexia
condition
outside
heptaseven
hidr/o
sweat
F
hirsut/o
hairy
faci/o
face
hirud/i, hirudin/i leech
-facient
to cause, make happen hist/o
tissue
fasci/o
fascia
holoentire, complete
febr/i
fever
homeolikeness, constant,
femor/o
femur
sameness
-15
femtoone quadrillionth (10 ) homosame, similar
ferr/i, ferr/o
iron
hormon/o
hormone
fet/o
fetus
humer/o
humerus
fibr/o
fiber, fibrous
hyal/o
resembling glass, glassy
fibul/o
fibula
hydr/o
water, hydrogen
fil/o, fil/i,
thread, threadlike
hygr/o
moisture
filament/o
hymen/o
hymen
flav/o
yellow
hyperabove, excessive, beyond
flex/o, flect/o bend
hypn/o
sleep
flu/o, flux/o
to flow
hypounder, deficient, below
fluor/o
fluorine
hypothalam/o hypothalamus
follicul/o
small sac, follicle
hypsihigh
forebefore, in front
hyster/o
uterus
-form
specified shape, form
frig/o, frigid/o cold
I
funct/o
performance
iatr/o
treatment, physician
fung/i
fungus, mushroom
ichthy/o
fish
fusc/o
dark brown
-ician
specialist
icter/o
jaundice
G
ide/o
idea, mental images
galact/o
milk
idi/o
individual, distinct,
galvanodirect electric current
unknown
gamet/o
gamete
ileum
gam/o
marriage, sexual union ile/o
ili/o
ilium
gangli/o,
ganglion
immun/o
protection, immune
ganglion/o
infrabelow, beneath
gastr/o
stomach
inguin/o
groin
ge/o
earth, soil
interbetween
gel/o
to freeze, congeal
intrawithin
gemell/o
twins
iod/o
iodine
-gen, gen/o
producing, generating
ion/o
ion
-genesis
production, formation
ipsisame
-genic
produced by, forming
ir/o, irid/o
iris
geni/o
chin
isch/o
suppress, restrain
genit/o
reproduction
ischi/o
ischium
ger/o, geront/o aged, old age
is/o
equal
gest/o, gestat/o to bear
-ist
specialist
-geusia
taste
ithyerect, straight
gigabillion (109)
gigant/o
huge
-itis
inflammation
gingiv/o
gums
ixod/i
ticks
glauc/o
gray, bluish green
gli/o
glue, neuroglia
J
-globin
protein
jaund/o
yellow
glomerul/o
glomerulus
jejun/o
jejunum
gloss/o
tongue
juxtanear
D
dacry/o
dactyl/o
decadecidemidem/o
dent/i
derm/o,
dermat/o
desicc/o
-desis
desm/o
deuter/o
dextr/o
didiadidym/o
-didymus
dilat/o
dipl/o
dips/o
disdist/o
dolich/o
dolor/o
dors/o
drom/o, -drome
duct/o
duoden/o
dynam/o
-dynia
dys-
embolus
embryo
vomiting
blood condition
the correct measure,
proportioned
stoppage, obstruction
inside, within
opposite, opposed
brain
intestines (small
intestines)
red, rosy, dawn
above, over, upon
epididymis
epiglottis
vulva
equality, equal
irritation
work
flushed, redness
red
scab
within
esophagus
sensation, feeling
outside, out
spiny, prickly
reverberating sound
environment
dilation, expansion
surgical removal
congenital absence
swelling
oil
electricity
4
K
kal/i
potassium
kary/o
nucleus
kel/o
tumor, fibrous growth
ken/o
empty
kerat/o
horny tissue, cornea
keraun/o
lightning
keton/o
ketones
kilothousand (103)
kinesi/o,
movement
-kinesia, -kinetic
klept/o
theft, stealing
koil/o
hollow, concave,
depressed
kraur/o
dry
kym/o
waves
kyph/o
humpback
L
-labile
lacrim/o
lact/o
lal/o, -lalia
lamin/o
lampr/o
lapar/o
laryng/o
later/o
laxat/o
lecith/o
-legia
lei/o
-lemma
lepid/o
lepr/o
-lepsy
lept/o
letharg/o
leuk/o
levo-lexia
lien/o
ligament/o
ligat/o
lim/o
lingu/o
lip/o
-lipsis
-listhesis
lith/o
lob/o
logad/o
log/o, -log,
-logue
-logist
-logy
loph/o
lord/o
lox/o
-lucent
luc/i
lucid/o
lumb/o
lumin/o
lute/o
luxat/o
ly/o
lymph/o
-lysis
unstable, perishable
tear, lacrimal duct
milk
speech, babble
lamina
clear
abdomen,
abdominal wall
larynx
side
to slacken, relax,
loosen
yolk, ovum
reading
smooth
confining membrane
flakes, scales
leprosy
seizure
slender, thin, delicate
drowsiness
white
left
speech, word
spleen
ligament
binding, tying
hunger
tongue
fat
omit, fail
slipping
stone, calculus
lobe
whites of the eyes
word, speech,
thought
specialist
study of
ridge
curvature, bending
oblique, slanting
light-admitting
light
clear
loin
light
yellow
dislocate
dissolve, loosen
lymph
dissolution, breakdown
M
softening
breast
madness, obsessive
preoccupation
-masesis
mastication, chewing
mast/o
breast
maxill/o
maxilla
medi/o
middle
mediastin/o
mediastinum
medic/o
heal, healing
medull/o
medulla, marrow
megamillion (106)
mega-, megalo- large
-megaly
enlargement
mel/o
limbs, limb
-malacia
mamm/o
-mania
melan/o
meli-, melitmen/o
mening/o
ment/o
mer/o
mesometametall/o
-meter
method/o
metr/o
-metry
micromi/o
milli-mimesis
mis/o
-mnesia
mogimonomorph/o
mort/o
-motor
muc/o
multimuscul/o
mutilat/o
my/o, myos/o
myc/o
myel/o
myring/o
myx/o
black
honey, sugar
menses, menstruation
meninges, membranes
mind
part
middle
after, beyond, change
metal
instrument for measuring
procedure, technique
uterus
process of measuring
one millionth (10-6),
small
less, smaller
one thousandth (10-3)
imitation, simulation
hatred of, aversion
memory
difficult
one
shape, form
death
movement, motion
mucus
many, much
muscle
to maim, disfigure
muscle
fungus
bone marrow, spinal cord
eardrum
mucus
orch/o, orchi/o,
orchid/o
-orexia
organ/o
ornith/o
orth/o
osche/o
oscill/o
-osis
osm/o, -osmia
osphresi/o,
-osphresia
oste/o
ot/o
ov/o, ov/i
ovari/o
ox/o, -oxia
oxy-
appetite
organ
bird
straight, normal, correct
scrotum
to swing
condition, status,
abnormal increase
sense of smell, odor,
impulse
sense of smell, odor
bone
ear
egg, ovum
ovary
oxygen
sharp, quick, sour
phot/o
phren/o
phyc/o
phyl/o
-phylaxis
phyll/o
-phyma
physic/o
physi/o
phys/o
-physis
phyt/o, -phyte
picopicr/o
piez/o, pies/i,
-piesis
pil/o
pimel/o
pin/o
pineal/o
pituitar/o
plagi/o
plan/o
plant/o
-plasm
plasm/o
light
mind, diaphragm
seaweed, algae
race, species, type
protection
leaf, leaf-like
tumor, growth
physical, natural
nature
air, gas
growth, growing
plant
one trillionth (10-12)
bitter
pressure
hair
fat, fatty
to drink
pineal gland
pituitary gland
slanting, oblique
P
flat, level, wandering
pachythick
sole of the foot
-pagus
conjoined twins
formation, growth
palat/o
palate
plasma, formative
pale/o
old
palin-, palirecurrence, repetition
substance
palliat/o
soothe, relieve
-plasty
surgical correction/repair
palp/o, palpat/o to touch gently
platybroad, flat
palpebr/o
eyelid
ple/o
more
palpit/o, palpitat/o flutter, throbbing
-plegia
paralysis
panall
plesi/o
nearness, similarity
pancreat/o
pancreas
pless/i
striking
pant/o
all, whole
pleur/o
pleura
papill/o
nipple-like, papilla
plex/o
network (nerves or
papul/o
papule, pimple
vessels), plexus
paraalongside, near, beyond, plic/o, plicat/o to fold, pleat
abnormal
-ploid, -ploidy number of chromosome
-para, -parous to bear, bring forth
sets
parasit/o
parasite
plurimore, several
parathyroid/o parathyroid
-pnea
breathe
-paresis
partial paralysis
pneum/o
lung, air
-partum
childbirth, labor
pneumon/o
lung, air
patell/o
patella
pod/o
foot
path/o
disease
-poiesis
formation
-pause
cessation
poikil/o
variation, irregular
pector/o
chest
poli/o
gray (matter)
ped/o
foot, child
polymany, much
pedicul/o
louse
pon/o
fatigue, overwork, pain
pel/o
mud
-pore, por/o
opening, passageway
pelv/i
pelvis
-porosis
porous, decrease in
-penia
deficiency
density
pent-, penta- five
-posia
drinking
-pepsia
digestion
posit/o
arrangement, place
perthrough, throughout
postafter, behind
percuss/o
to tap
poster/o
behind, towards the back
periaround, surrounding
potenti/o
power, strength
perine/o
perineum
-prandial
meal
peritone/o
peritoneum
-praxia
action, activity
per/o
deformed, maimed
prebefore, in front of
perone/o
fibula
presbyaging, elderly
perspir/o
breathe through
primifirst
pest/i
plague, pests
-privia
loss, deprivation
petaquadrillion (1015)
before
-petal
moving toward, seeking proproct/o
rectum, anus
petr/o
stone, petrous region
pros/o
forward, anterior
of temporal bone
prosop/o
face
-pexy
fixation
prostat/o
prostate gland
phac/o
lens
prote/o
protein
phag/o, -phagia eating, ingestion
prot/o
first
phak/o
lens
proxim/o
near
phalang/o
phalanges
prurit/o
itching
phall/o
penis
psamm/o
sand, sand-like material
phaner/o
visible, apparent
pselaphes/o
touch
pharmac/o
drugs
pseudofalse
phas/o, -phasia speech
psor/o
itching
phe/o
dusky
psych/o
mind
phen/o
appearance
psychr/o
cold
-pheresis
removal
-phil, -philia
affinity for, tendency
-pterygium
abnormality of the
towards
conjunctiva
phim/o
muzzle
pteryg/o
wing-shaped
phleb/o
vein
-ptosis
prolapse, drooping
-phobia, phob/o fear, aversion
ptyal/o
saliva
phon/o, -phonia voice, sound
-ptysis
spitting
-phore, phor/o bearer, processor
pub/o
pubis
-phoresis
bearing, transmission
pulmon/o
lung
phosphat/o
phosphate
puls/o, pulsat/o to beat, beating
N
one billionth (10-9)
numbness, stupor
nose
birth
sodium
death
new
kidney
nerve
neutral
mole, birthmark
to cause harm, injury
or pain
noct/i
night
nod/o
knot
-noia
mind, will
nom/o
custom, law
nomenname
noninine
norm/o
normal, usual
nos/o
disease
not/o
the back
nucle/o
nucleus
nullinone
nutri/o, nutrit/o nourish
nyct/o
night
nanonarc/o
nas/o
nat/o
natr/o
necr/o
neonephr/o
neur/o
neutr/o
nev/o
noci-
O
obstetr/o
octa-, octiocul/o
odont/o
-oid
-ole
ole/o
olfact/o
olig/o
-oma
om/o
omphal/o
onc/o
onych/o
o/o
oophor/o
ophry/o
ophthalm/o
-opia, -opsia
opisth/o
op/o
-opsy
opt/o
or/o
testis
midwife
eight
eye
tooth
resembling
little, small
oil
smell
scanty, few, little
tumor, mass
shoulder
navel
tumor, mass
nail
egg, ovum
ovary
eyebrow
eye
vision
backward, behind
juice, face
to view
eye, vision
mouth
5
-puncture
pupill/o
purgat/o
purpur/i
purul/o
py/o
pyel/o
pyg/o
pykn/o, pycn/o
pyl/e
pylor/o
pyret/o
pyrex/o
pyr/o
to pierce a surface
pupil
cleansing
purple
pus formation
pus
renal pelvis
buttocks
thick, dense
portal vein
pylorus
fever
feverishness, fever
heat, fire, fever
Q
quadriquinquequint/i
four
five
fifth
R
rachi/o
radi/o
radicul/o
ram/i
re-receptor, -ceptor
rect/o
reflex/o, reflect/o
registrat/o
relaps/o
ren/o
respir/o, respirat/o
resuscit/o
reticul/o
retin/o
retract/o
retrorhabd/o
rhabdomy/o
rhe/o
rhin/o
rhiz/o
rhod/o
rhytid/o
rose/o
rot/o, rotat/o
-rrhagia, -rrhage
-rrhaphy
-rrhea
-rrhexis
rrhythm/o
-rubr/o, rubr/i
spine
x-ray, radiation
nerve root
branch
back, again
receiver
rectum
to bend back
recording
to slide back
kidney
breathe, breathing
revive
netlike
retina
drawing back
behind, backward
rod
striated/skeletal
muscle
flow, current, stream
nose
root
red, rosy
wrinkle
rosy
turn, revolve
excessive flow,profuse
fluid discharge
suture
flow, discharge
rupture
rhythm
red
S
sacchar/o
sacr/o
salping/o
sangu/i, sanguin/o
sanit/a
sap/o
sapr/o
sarc/o
saur/o
scaph/o
scapul/o
scat/o
scel/o, -scelia
schist/o, -schisis
schiz/o
scint/i
scirrh/o
scler/o
-sclerosis
scolec/o
scoli/o
-scope
-scopy
scot/o
scrib/o, script/o
seb/o
sugar
sacrum
fallopian tube
blood
health
soap
rotten, decay
flesh
lizard
a scapha, boat-shaped
scapula
feces
leg
split, cleft
split, division
spark
hard
sclera
hardening
worm
crooked, twisted
instrument for visual
examination
visual examination
darkness
to write
sebum
U.S. $5.95 / CAN $8.95
March 2005
-sect
secund/i
sedat/o
semisemin/i
senil/o
sens/o, sensat/o
sensor/i
-sepsis, septic/o
sept-, septisept/o
ser/o
sesquisexsial/o
sicc/o
sider/o
sigmoid/o
silic/o
sinistr/o
sinus/o, sin/o
sit/o
skelet/o
soci/o
sodi/o
solut/o
somat/o
-some
somn/i, -somnia
son/o
span/o
-spasm, spasm/o
spectr/o
sperm/o,
spermat/o
sphen/o
spher/o
sphygm/o
-sphyxia
spin/o
spir/o
splanchn/o
splen/o
spondyl/o
spongi/o
spor/o
squam/o
-stabile
-stalsis
staped/o
staphyl/o
-stasis
-stat
steat/o
-stenosis, sten/o
stere/o
steril/o
stern/o
steth/o
sthen/o, -sthenia
stich/o, -stichia
stigmat/o
stomat/o
-stomy
strat/i
strept/o
strict/o
-stroma
stroph/o
subsucc/o
suct/o
sud/o
sulc/o
supersupra-
to cut
second
to calm
half
semen
old, old age
feeling, perception
sensory
putrefaction,
putrifying
seven
partition
serum, serous
one and a half
six
saliva
to dry
iron
sigmoid colon
silica, quartz
left
cavity, sinus
food
skeleton
social, society
compound containing
sodium
dissolved
body
body
sleep
sound
scanty, scarce
involuntary
contraction
image, spectrum
spermatozoa
suspend/o,
suspens/o
sym-, synsymptom/o
synaps/o, synapt/o
syndesm/o
synov/o
syphil/o
syring/o
system/o
systol/o
syzygi/o
to hang up, suspend
with, together
occurrence
point of contact, to
join
ligament, connective
tissue
synovia, synovial
membrane
syphilis
tube, fistula
system
contraction
bound together,
conjunction
T
fast
touch
talus
grave
low
tarsus, edge of eyelid
identical, same
arrangement,
coordination
techn/o
skill, art
tect/o
rooflike
tegment/o
covering
tel/e
end, distant
tel/o
end
tele/o
perfect, complete
temp/o, tempor/o period of time, the
temples
ten/o
tendon
tenont/o
tendon
-tension, tens/o
stretched, strained
tephr/o
gray (ashen)
teratrillion (1012)
terat/o
monster
termin/o
boundary, limit
tertithird
test/o, testicul/o
testis
tetan/o
tetanus
tetrafour
thalam/o
thalamus
thanat/o
death
thec/o
sheath
thel/o
nipple
theor/o
speculation
-therapy, therapeut/o treatment
theri/o
animals
therm/o
heat
thigm/o
touch
thiopresence of sulfur
thorac/o
chest
thromb/o
clot, thrombus
-thymia
mind, emotions
thym/o
thymus gland
thyr/o
thyroid gland
tibi/o
tibia
toc/o, -tocia
childbirth, labor
-tome
instrument for cutting
tom/o
a cutting (section/layer)
-tomy
surgical incision
ton/o
tone, tension
tonsill/o
tonsils
top/o
particular place or area
torpid/o
sluggish, inactive
tors/o
twisting, twisted
tox/o, toxic/o
poison
trachel/o
neck
trache/o
trachea
trachyrough
transacross
traumat/o
trauma, injury, wound
trem/o, tremul/o
shaking, trembling
-tresia
opening, perforation
trithree
tri/o
to sort out, sorting
trich/o
hair
-tripsy
to crush, break
-trophy, troph/o
nourishment, growth
-tropia
to turn
tachytact/o
tal/o
taph/o
tapin/o
tars/o
tauto-taxia, tax/o
wedge, sphenoid bone
round, sphere
pulse
pulse
spinal cord, spine
breathe
viscera
spleen
vertebrae, spinal
column
spongelike, spongy
spore, seed
squamous, scales
stable, fixed
contraction
stapes
uvula, grape like
clusters
standing still, standing
device/instrument for
keeping something
stationary
fat
narrowed, constricted
solid, three
dimensional
barren
sternum
chest
strength
rows
mark, point
mouth
surgical opening
layer
twisted, curved
to tighten, bind
supporting tissue of
an organ
twisted
under, beneath
juice
to suck
sweat
furrow, groove
above, beyond
above, beyond
NOTE TO STUDENT
This QuickStudy ® reference guide is a comprehensive list
of medical terminology. Use it to your advantage in class, during homework and as a memory refresher while preparing for
exams. Reinforce your knowledge of medical terminology
with this convenient guide. This is a powerful study tool that
can be quickly and repeatedly referred to during and well
beyond your college years.
6
tubercul/o
tub/o
-tumescence,
tumesc/o
turbid/i
turg/o, turgid/o
tympan/o
-type, typ/o
typhl/o
typh/o
tyr/o
tubercle, tuberculosis
tube
swelling
cloudy, confused
to swell, swollen
eardrum (tympanic
membrane)
class, representa
-tive form
cecum,
blindness
typhus, typhoid
cheese, caseous
U
-ule
ul/o
ultraunungu/o
uniuran/o
-uresis
ureter/o
urethr/o
-uria
uric/o
urin/o
ur/o
uter/o
uve/o
uvul/o
little, small
scar, scarring
beyond, excess
not, reversal
nail
one
palate
urination
ureter
urethra
urine condition
uric acid
urine
urine
uterus
uvea
uvula
V
vaccin/o
vag/o
vagin/o
valv/o, valvul/o
varic/o
vari/o, variat/o
vas/o
vascul/o
ven/o
venere/o
ventil/o
ventr/o
ventricul/o
venul/o
verm/i
verruc/i
vers/o, -verse
vertebr/o
vesic/o
vesicul/o
vestibul/o
vibr/o, vibrat/o
viril/o
vir/o
viscer/o
viscid/o, viscos/o
vitell/o
vit/o, vital/o
vitre/o
viv/i
-volemia
volv/o, volut/o
vulv/o
vaccine
vagus nerve
vagina
valve
varicose veins
change, vary
vessel, vas deferens
blood vessel
vein
sexual intercourse
to aerate,
oxygenate
belly, front of
the body
ventricle of the
heart or brain
venule
worm
wart
turn, turning
vertebra
urinary bladder
seminal vesicle, a
vesicle
vestibule
to quiver, shake
masculine, manly
virus
internal organs
sticky, glutinous
yolk
life
glassy, vitreous body
life, alive
blood volume
to roll
vulva
X
xanth/o
xen/o
xer/o
xiph/o
yellow
strange, foreign matter
dry
sword-shaped, xiphoid
Z
zon/i, zon/o
zo/o
zyg/o
zym/o
CREDITS
Author: Dr. Corinne B. Linton
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zone, encircling region
animal
union, junction
enzyme, ferment