Medical terminology 1
Medical Terminology
2. Description
Prefixes
1. Position
meaning
upon, top
in front, before
behind, after
side
split
difference
same
out
in
toward,near
away from, separate
back again
backward
against
apart
through
around
left
right
prefixes
epi
pro, pre, ante, ventr(o)
poster(o), dors(o)
later(o)
schi(z)
allo, hetero
homo,
ec(o), ex(o)
en(o), in(o)
ad(o)
ab(o), ap(o)
re(o)
retro, opistho
anti(o), contra(o)
dis(o)
trans(o), per(o), dia(o),
peri(o), cercum(o)
laev(o)
dextro(o)
examples
epidermis
prototype, precapillary, antepartum,
post-operation, dorsal ganglion
lateral aspect
schizophrenia
allograft, heterogeneous
homograft, homogeneous
ectoderm, extrovert
endocardium, endoscopy, introvert
adduction, addict
abduction
restart, reuse
retrograde, opisthotonos
antioxidant, contraindication
dissection, disinfectant
transsexual, per oral, diaphysis
periodontal, cercumduction
levorotation
dextrocardia
meaning
bent, crooked
narrow
short
straight (normal)
slow
fast
gray
white
red
black
blue
yellow
green
prefixes
ankyl(o), kyph(o)
sten(o)
brachy(o)
orth(o)
brady
tachy
glauc(o)
leuk(o), leuc(o)
erythr(o)
melan(o)
cyan(o)
cirrh(o)
chlor(o)
examples
ankylosis, kyphscolioosis
stenosis
brachydactyly
orthopedist
bradycardia
tachycardia, tachypnia
glaucoma
leukocyte
erythrocyte
melanocyte
cyanosis
cirrhosis
chlorophil
3. Number, measurement
meanings
small
large
equal
unequal
first
both, double
many
few
all
none
prefixes
examples
micro(o)
macro(o), mega(o)
iso(o)
aniso(o)
prot(o), prim(o)
amphi, diplo(o), ambi
poly(o), hyper(o), multi(o)
oligo(o), hypo(o), (o)pen(ia)
pan(o)
a(o), in
microspherocyte
macrocephaly, megakaryocyte
isotonic, isokinetic
anisocytosis
prototype, primigravida
diplopia, ambiguous, amphibian
polyphagia, hypermenorrhea, multidisciplinary
oliguria, hypothyroid, neutropenia
pancarditis
anencephaly, inert
Medical terminology 2
Suffixes
1. Diseases / Changes in the body
meaning
pain
hernia
pain, swelling
dilation, expansion
blood
producing, beginning
abnormal condition, formation of, presence of
inflammation
softening
enlargement
resemble
tumor
abnormal condition,
disease
decrease, deficiency
eating, swallowing
speech
paralysis, stroke
fear
prolapse, falling dropping
burst forth
discharge
rupture
hardening
involuntary contraction, twitching
suffixes
-algia
-cele
-dynia
-ectasis
-(a)emia
-gen
-iasis
-itis
-malacia
-megaly
-oid
-oma
-osis
-pathy
-penia
-phagia
-phasia
-plegia
-phobia
-ptosis
-rrhage
-rrhea
-rrhexis
-sclerosis
-spasm
examples
myalgia
meningocele
urodynia
gronchiolectasis
leuk(a)emia
carcinogen, antigen
cholelithiasis
hepatitis
osteomalacia
splenomegaly
leukemoid reaction
adenoma gland
dermatosis
arthropathy
leukopenia
dysphagia
aphasia
hemiplegia
hydrophobia
nephroptosis
haemorrhage
diarrhea
enterorrhexis
arterosclerosis
bronchospasm
Suffixes used for diagnosis
meaning
record of data
instrument for recording
act of recording data
instrument for measuring
measurement of
instrument for viewing
examination of
suffixes
-gram
-graph
-graphy
-meter
-metry
-scope
-scopy
examples
encephalogram
cardiograph
radiography
craniometer
audiometry
laryngoscope
laparoscopy
suffixes
-ectomy
-centesis
-stomy
-tomy
examples
mastectomy
thoracentesis
colostomy
tracheotomy
2. Surgery and incisions
meaning
removal
tap, puncture
forming an opening
incision
repairing, rebuilding, reconstructing, or binding
meaning
binding ,stabilization
suture
fixation, suspension
formation, plastic repair
to break down, refracture
loosen, free form adhesions, destruction
to crush
suffixes
-desis
-rrhapy
-pexy
-plasty
-clasis
-lysis
-tripsy
examples
pleurodesis
arteriorrhaphy
gastropexy
rhinoplasty
osteoclasis
enterolysis
cholelithotripsy
Medical terminology 3
These suffixes show the word is a small version of a thing.
3. Others medical suffixes
The following suffixes show the word parts. In other words, these suffixes show whether a
word is an adjective, noun, singular or plural or a diminutive of a larger word.
suffix
-ole
-icle
-ule
meanings
small, little, minute
example
artiole
particle
veinule
Adjective endings that mean "pertaining to" are:
suffix
-ac
-al
-ary
-ic
-ical
-ous
-tic
-ar
examples
cadiac
skeletal
salivary
pelvic
surgical
venous
paralytic
muscular
These suffixes indicate whether the noun is singular or plural.
These suffixes show the word is a noun
suffix
-iac
-ia
-is
-ism
-ist
-y
meanings
indicates person afflicted with certain
diseases or conditions
an unhealthy state
forms the noun from the root
condition, state of being
one who specialises
condition, process
example
hemophiliac
anesthesia
cutis
alcholism
radiologist
neuropathy
singular
a
ax
en
ix, ex
sis
on
um
us
y
ma
pleural
ae
aces
ina
ices
ses
a
a
i
ies
mata
examples (singular)
patella
thorax
lumen
index
diagnosis
ganglion
ovum
digitus
deformity
carcinoma
examples (pleural)
patellae
throraces
lumina
indices
diagnoses
Ganglia
ova
digiti
deformities
carcinomata
Note: ___________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________