Chapter 3: Word Parts
Chapter Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter the participant will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Define the common anatomical roots for each body system.
Spell the common anatomical roots for the body systems.
Give the meaning for the commonly used suffixes
Spell the commonly used suffixes.
Define the suffixes that pertain to diseases, diagnostic procedures and surgical
procedures.
Identify the suffixes that convert a medical noun to an adjective.
Pronounce the suffixes contained in the chapter.
Give the meaning for the commonly used prefixes.
Spell the commonly used prefixes.
Define the prefixes that refer to position, direction, size, and number.
Identify prefixes that have the same meaning.
Identify prefixes that have opposite meanings.
Successfully complete the review exercises at the end of the chapter.
Roots
Each body system has a comprehensive list of roots that apply to that system. When
you have learned these roots you will be able to identify the body system being
discussed. Generally you will see a root combined with a prefix or a suffix, or both.
This combination of word parts will allow you to determine from the word what is
happening to that body system. You will also note that the medical term frequently has
a combining vowel present to give ease to pronouncing the word.
Table 3.1
Roots of the Integumentary System
Root
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
cili/o, pil/o
hair
pilosebaceous: pertaining to the hair
follicle and sebaceous gland
derm/o, dermat/o,
cutane/o
skin
dermatologist: doctor who
specializes in diseases of the skin
onych/o, ungu/o
nail
onychitis: inflammation of the nail
Revised August 2003
-21-
Table 3.2
Roots of the Nervous System
Root
Meaning
Example of Medical Term
cerebr/o,
encephal/o
brain
cerebral: pertaining to the brain
myel/o
spinal cord
myelogram: X-Ray of the spinal cord
neur/o
nerve
neuritis: inflammation of a nerve
psych/o
mind
psychosis: condition of the mind
mening/o,
meningi/o
meninges
meningitis: inflammation of the
meninges
corti/o
cortex
cortical: pertaining to the cortex
Table 3.3
Roots of the Musculoskeletal System
Root
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
arthr/o
joint
arthrogram: X-Ray picture of a joint
chondr/o
cartilage
chondrectomy: surgical removal of a
cartilage
crani/o
skull
craniotomy: surgical opening into the
skull
cost/o
rib
costectomy; surgical removal of a rib
my/o, muscul/o
muscle
myopathy: disease of the muscle
myel/o
marrow
myelopathy: disease of bone marrow
oste/o
bone
osteoplasty: surgical repair of a bone
pelv/o
pelvis
pelvimetry: measurement of the
dimensions of the pelvis
spin/o
spine
spinal: pertaining to the spine
tend/o, tendin/o,
ten/o
tendon
tenolysis: to free a tendon from
adhesions
thorac/o
chest
thoracotomy: surgical opening into the
chest
vertebr/o,
spondyl/o
vertebra
spondylosis: degeneration of vertebra
Revised August 2003
-22-
Table 3.4
Roots of the Sensory System
Term
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
blephar/o
eyelid
blepharitis: inflammation of the eyelid
ophthalm/o, opt/o
ocul/o, optic/o
eye
ocular: pertaining to the eye
ot/o, audit/o,
audi/o
ear
otoplasty: surgical repair of the ear
Table 3.5
Roots of the Digestive System
Term
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
abdomin/o
abdomen
abdominal: pertaining to the abdomen
cheil/o, labi/o
lips
cheiloplasty: surgical repair of the lip
chol/e
cyst/o
gall
bladder
cholecystectomy: surgical removal of gall
bladder
col/o, colon/o
large intestine, colon
colonoscopy: examination of the large
intestine using a scope
enter/o
small intestine
enteritis: inflammation of the small intestine
esophag/o
esophagus
esophagitis: inflammation of esophagus
gastr/o
stomach
gastric: pertaining to the stomach
gingiv/o
gums
gingivitis: inflammation of the gums
gloss/o, lingu/o
tongue
glossal: pertaining to the tongue
hepat/o
liver
hepatic: pertaining to the liver
lapar/o
abdomen
laparotomy: surgical opening into the abdomen
odont/o, dent/o,
dent/i
teeth
odontal: pertaining to the teeth
or/o, stomat/o
mouth
stomatitis: inflammation of the mouth
pancreat/o
pancreas
pancreatitis: inflammation of the pancreas
pharyng/o
throat, pharynx
pharyngeal: pertaining to the pharynx
rect/o
rectum
rectal: pertaining to the rectum
splen/o
spleen
splenectomy: surgical removal of spleen
Revised August 2003
-23-
Table 3.6
Roots of the Urinary System
Root
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
cyst/o
bladder
cystogram: X-Ray picture of the
bladder
pyel/o
renal pelvis
pyelitis: inflammation of the renal pelvis
ren/o, nephr/o
kidneys
renal: pertaining to the kidneys
ureter/o
ureters
ureteroplasty: surgical repair of a ureter
urethr/o
urethra
urethropexy: surgical fixation of the
urethra
Table 3.7
Roots of the Circulatory System
Root
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
angi/o, vascul/o,
vas/o
vessel
angiogram: X-Ray study of blood
vessels after a dye is injected
arteri/o
artery
arterionecrosis: necrosis of an artery
cardi/o
heart
cardiology: study of diseases of the
heart
hem/o, hemat/o
blood
hematologist: physician who
specializes in diseases of the blood
ven/o, phleb/o
vein
phlebotomy: surgical opening into a
vein
Table 3.8
Roots of the Endocrine System
Root
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
aden/o
gland
adenectomy: surgical removal of gland
adren/o, adrenal/o
adrenal gland
adrenalitis: inflammation of adrenal gland
parathyroid/o,
parathyr/o
parathyroid gland
parathyroidectomy: surgical removal of
the parathyroid gland
pituit/o
pituitary gland
pituitism: disorder if the pituitary gland
thyroid/o, thyr/o
thyroid gland
thyrotoxicosis: condition caused by
too much thyroid hormone
Revised August 2003
-24-
Table 3.9
Roots of the Lymphatic and Immune Systems
Root
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
adenoid/o
adenoids
adenoidectomy: surgical removal of the
adenoids
lymph/o
lymph fluid
lymphatic: pertaining to lymph fluid
lymphaden/o
lymph gland
lymphadenitis: inflammation of a lymph
gland
lymphangi/o
lymph vessels
lymphangiogram: X-Ray picture of a
lymph vessel using a dye.
splen/o
spleen
splenectomy: surgical removal of the
spleen
tonsill/o
tonsils
tonsillectomy: surgical removal of the
tonsils
thym/o
thymus
thymectomy: surgical removal of the
thymus gland
Table 3.10 Roots of Respiratory System
Root
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
alveol/o
air sacs
alveolar: pertaining to an air sac
bronch/o, bronchi/o
bronchus
bronchitis: inflammation of a bronchus
bronchiol/o
small bronchial tubes
bronchiolitis: inflammation of the small
bronchial tubes
laryng/o
voice box, larynx
laryngitis: inflammation of the voice box
nas/o, rhin/o
nose
rhinorrhea: discharge from the nose
pharyng/o
throat, pharynx
pharyngitis: inflammation of the throat
pneum/o,
pneumon/o
pulmon/o, pulm/o
lungs
pulmonary: pertaining to the lungs
thorac/o
chest
thoracotomy: create opening into chest
trache/o
windpipe, trachea
tracheostomy: creation of a permanent
opening in the windpipe
Revised August 2003
-25-
Table 3.11 Roots of the Male Reproductive System
Root
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
andr/o
male
android: male like
balan/o
glans penis (tip of the
penis)
balanitis: inflammation of the glans
penis
epididym/o
epididymis
epididymitis: inflammation of the
epididymis
orchid/o, orch/o,
orchi/o
testes
orchidectomy: removal of the testes
phall/o
penis
phallitis: inflammation of the penis
prostat/o
prostate gland
prostatectomy: surgical removal of the
prostate gland
test/o, testicul/o
testicle
testicular: pertaining to the testicle
vas/o
vas deferens, vessel,
duct
vasectomy: surgical removal of the vas
deferens
Table 3.12 Roots of the Female Reproductive System
Root
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
cervic/o
neck, uterus
cervical: pertaining to the cervix
colp/o, vagin/o
vagina
colposcopy: examination of the vagina
using a scope
gynec/o
female
gynecology: study of diseases of
females
mast/o, mamm/o
breast, mammary gland
mastectomy: removal of a breast
nat/i
birth
prenatal: pertaining to before birth
oophor/o, ovari/o
ovary
ovarian: pertaining to an ovary
salping/o
fallopian tubes
salpingitis: inflammation of fallopian
tube
uter/o, hyster/o,
metr/o
uterus
hysterectomy: surgical removal of
uterus
vulv/o
vulva
vulvitis: inflammation of the vulva
Revised August 2003
-26-
Table 3.13 Body as a Whole Roots
Roots
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
adip/o, lip/o,
steat/o
fat, lipid
lipoma: a tumor made up of fat cells
axill/o
armpit
axillary: pertaining to the armpit
bi/o
pertaining to life
biology: the study of life
cephal/o,
head
cephalic: pertaining to the head
cyt/o
cell
cytology: study of the cell
hist/o, histi/o
tissue
histology: pertaining to the study of
tissue
viscer/o
internal organs,
viscera
visceral: pertaining to internal organs
As discussed in the previous chapters, when analyzing a medical term the first part of
the word to analyze is the suffix. The most common suffixes used in medical terms can
be grouped into four sections: procedures, conditions, diagnostics, and diseases.
Table 3.14 Suffixes That Indicate A “Condition”
Suffix
Example of a medical term
Meaning
-algia, -dynia
pain
otalgia, otodynia: pain in the ear or
an earache
arthrodynia: joint pain
-cele
hernia (protrusion of an
organ through a body
part)
cystocele: hernia or protrusion of the
bladder
-ectasis, -ectasia
dilation, stretching
angiectasis: dilation of a vessel
-emesis
vomiting
hematemesis: vomiting of blood
-emia
blood condition, blood
ischemia: hold back of blood to an
area
-iasis
abnormal condition,
pathologic state
cholecystolithiasis: condition of
stones in the gall bladder
-itis
inflammation
gastritis: inflammation of stomach
-lith
stone, calculi
cholelith: bile stones, gall stones
Revised August 2003
-27-
Suffix
Example of a medical term
Meaning
-lysis
destruction, breakdown
hemolysis: breakdown of blood
-malacia
abnormal softening
osteomalacia: softening of bone
-megaly
enlargement, large,
great
cardiomegaly: enlarged heart
-oma
tumor, neoplasm
adenoma: tumor of a gland
-osis, ia
state, abnormal
condition, disease
nephrosis: abnormal condition of the
kidney
prognosis: prediction of disease
outcome
pneumonia: condition of the lungs
-pathy
disease
myopathy: disease of the muscle
-penia
decrease, deficiency
cytopenia: deficiency in cells
-phob
irrational fear
acrophobia: condition where there is
a fear of heights
-plegia
paralysis
quadriplegia: paralysis of four limbs
-ptosis
drooping, sagging,
prolapse
nephroptosis: drooping kidney
-ptysis
spitting
hemoptysis: spitting up blood
-rrhage, -rrhagia
bursting forth
hemorrhage: bursting forth of blood,
bleeding
-rrhea
flow, discharge
rhinorrhea: discharge from the nose
-rrhexis
rupture
splenorrhexis: ruptured spleen
-sclerosis
hardening, hardness
arteriosclerosis: hardening of the
arteries
-spasm
sudden involuntary
contractions, tightening
blepharospasm: sudden contraction
of the eyelid
-stenosis
narrowing, tightening
arteriostenosis: narrowing of the
arteries
-y, -ion
process
neuropathy: disease process of the
nerve
Revised August 2003
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Table 3.15 Suffixes Used To Indicate “Diagnostic & Surgical Procedures”
Suffix
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
-centesis
surgical puncture to
remove fluid
thoracocentesis: surgical puncture
into the chest wall to remove fluid
-desis
surgical fusion, bind, tie
together
arthrodesis: surgical fusion of a joint
-ectomy
cutting out, excision,
surgical removal
tonsillectomy: excision of the tonsils
-graphy
process of recording; a
picture or record
myelography: producing an image of
the spinal cord
-gram
tracing, picture record
electroencephalogram: record of the
electrical activity of the brain
-graph
instrument used to
record or create a
picture
electroencephalograph: instrument
used to record the electrical activity of
the brain
-metry
to measure
pelvimetry: measurement of pelvis
-meter
instrument used to
measure
craniometer: instrument used to
measure the skull
-opsy, -opsis,
-opsia
view of, vision
biopsy: removal of a piece of living
tissue for examination
-pexy
surgical fixation, to put
in place
nephropexy: surgical fixation of
kidney
-plasty
surgical repair
arthroplasty: surgical repair of a joint
-rrhaphy
suture
splenorrhaphy: suturing of spleen
-scope
instrument for visual
examination
bronchoscope: instrument used to
examine the bronchus
-scopy
examination using a
scope
bronchoscopy: examine the bronchus
-stasis
controlling, stopping
hemostasis: stoppage of blood
-stomy
create a permanent
opening
tracheostomy: create a permanent
opening into the trachea
-tome
instrument used to cut
osteotome: instrument used to cut
bone
-tomy
surgical incision, cutting
osteotomy: surgical incision into a bone
Revised August 2003
using a scope
-29-
Table 3.16 General Suffixes
Suffix
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
- blast
immature, growing
erythroblast: immature red blood cell
-cyte
cell
leukocyte: white blood cell
-er, -or, -ician,
-logist, -ist
specialist in the study of
cardiologist: heart specialist
-logy
study of
physiology: study of function
-phagia
eating, swallowing
dysphagia: difficulty swallowing
-phasia
speech, speak
aphasia: unable to speak
-plasia
formation, development,
growth
hyperplasia: excessive formation
-pnea
breathing
dyspnea: difficulty breathing
-poiesis
production, formation
hematopoiesis: formation of blood
-trophy
development, growth,
nourishment
hypertrophy: increase in the
development of a part of the body
-uria
urine, urination
anuria: absence of urine
-genous, -genic,
-genesis
producing, forming
carcinogenic: cancer producing
-oid
resembling, like
mucoid: resembling mucus
-ole, -ule
small
venule: small vein
-ac,-al, -ar, -ary,
-eal, -ic, -ior,
-ose, -ous, -tic,
-ine
pertaining to
gastric: pertaining to the stomach
Prefixes
Prefixes tell us how, why, where, when, how much, how many, what position, what
direction. Many prefixes are paired with another prefix that has just the opposite
meaning.
Revised August 2003
-30-
Table 3.17 Prefixes Referring to Direction and Position
Prefix
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
ab-, abs-
away from
abduction: drawing away from
ad-
toward, in direction of
adduction: drawing toward
ante-
before, forward
antenatal: pertaining to before birth
circum-
around, about
circumduction: process of putting a
part through circular motion
dia-
through, complete,
between
diagnosis: differentiating between
one disease and another
ecto-, e-, ex-,
exo-, extra-
outside, out, outward
ectogenous: produced from outside
excision: process of cutting out
endo-
within, inside
endoscope: instrument used to look
inside the body
epi-
upon, on, above
epicardium: above the heart
eso-
inward, within
esotropia: turning inward of the eye
hyper-, supra
excessive, above,
increased
hyperplasia: excessive formation
suprarenal: pertaining to above the
kidney
hypo-
decreased, below,
under, deficient
hypogastric: pertaining to below the
stomach
in-
in, into, not, without
incision: process of cutting into
infra-, sub-
below, beneath, inferior
to, less, under
infracostal: pertaining to below ribs
subdermal: pertaining to under the
skin
inter-
between, among
intercellular: pertaining to between
the cells
intra-
within, into, inside
intracranial: pertaining to within the
skull
meta-, ultra-
beyond, change, behind
metaplasia: change in formation
para-
beside, near, apart from
paranasal: pertaining to near the
nose
peri-
around, surrounding
perineuritis: inflammation around
nerve
Revised August 2003
-31-
Prefix
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
post-
after, behind
postpartum: after delivery of a baby
pre-
before, in front of
prenatal: pertaining to before birth
pro-
before
process: series of things before an
event concludes
retro-, retr/o
back of, backward,
behind
retroversion: tipping back of an
organ
trans-, per-
across, through
transection: process of cutting
across
percutaneous: pertaining to through
the skin
Table 3.18 Negative Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
anti-, contra-
counter, against
antibiotic: pertaining to against life
contralateral: pertaining to the
opposite side
a-, an-
no, not, lack of, without
anemia: lack of (red) blood cells
in-, ir-, im-
not, in, into, without
indigestible: not capable of digestion
Table 3.19 Prefixes Referring to Numbers
Prefix
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
bi-, di-
two, double, twice
bilateral: pertaining to both sides
hemi-, semi-
half, partial
hemiplegia: paralysis of half of body
mono-, uni-
one
unilateral: pertaining to one side
multi-, poly-
many, much
polyadenoma: tumor of many glands
oligo-
scant, few
oliguria: scant urine
quadri-
four
quadriplegia: paralysis of four limbs
tri-
three
tricuspid: three cusps or projections
Revised August 2003
-32-
Table 3.20 Miscellaneous Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example of a Medical Term
ana-
up
anadipsia: excessive thirst
auto-
self
autograph: graph taken from one
part of the body and placed on
another area of the same body
brady-
slow
bradycardia: slow heart rate
dys-
bad, abnormal, difficult,
painful
dysplasia: abnormal development
macro-
large
macrocephalic: pertaining to a large
head
mal-
bad, poor, evil
malaise: feeling poor
micro-
small
microcytic: pertaining to small cells
neo-
new
neoplasm: new development
pan-
all, entire, every
pancarditis: inflammation of all layers
of the heart
syn-, sym-
together, with, joined
synarthrotic: pertaining to a joint
where the bones are joined
tachy-
fast, rapid
tachycardia: pertaining to a fast heart
rate
Revised August 2003
-33-