GLOSSARY of prefixes, suffixes, roots, bases of common biological terms
key: Gr. (Greek), L. (Latin), Ar. (Arabic), Fr. (French), G. (German), E. (English)
a (Gr., L.): lack, without (apnea)
ab (L.): from, away from (abduction)
ac (L.): toward (accessory)
acetabul (L.): vinegar cup (acetabulum)
ad (L.): toward (adduction)
aden (L.): gland (adenohypophysis)
aer (L.): air (aerate)
af (L.): toward (afferent)
aethes (Gr.): feeling (anesthesia)
-al (L.): of, relating to (dorsal)
alb (L.): white (albumin)
algos,-algia (Gr.): pain (neuralgia)
ala, ali (L.): wing, other (alisphenoid)
alveolus (L.): grape, socket (alveolus)
ambi (Gr.): both ambilateral
amphi (Gr.): on both sides, in two ways (amphibious)
amyl (Gr.?): starch (amylase)
an (L.): lack (anemia)
ana (Gr.): upon, again, within (anabolism)
angio (Gr.): vessel (angiography)
ano-,anus (L.): ring, around (anorectal)
ante (L.): before (antebrachial)
anti (L.): against (antitoxin)
apo (Gr.): from, off, away (apoplasmia)
apse (Gr.): to touch (synapse)
aqua (L.): water (aquatic)
arbor (L.): a tree (arbor vitae)
arachne (Gr.): spider, spider web (arachnoid)
archein (Gr.): to be first (archicerebellum)
arthron (Gr.): joint (arthritis)
as (L.?): up (ascending)
-ase (L.): enzyme (lipase)
asper (L.): rough (linea aspera)
aster, astron (Gr.): a star (astrocyte)
atheros (Gr.): gruel, groats, porridge (atheroma)
athetos (Gr.): set aside, not fixed (athetosis)
atri (L.): a vestibule (atrium)
aur (L.): ear (auricle)
axia (Gr., L.?): value (chronaxial)
axis, axon (Gr.,L.): line (of reference) (axon)
baro (Gr.): pressure (baroreceptor)
bêtes (Gr.): to pass (diabetes)
bili (L.) bile (biliary)
bio-,bios (Gr.): life (biology)
blastos (Gr.): germ or forming (erythroblast)
bolus (Gr.): a clod, a throw (embolism)
brachium (Gr.): arm (brachial)
branchia (Gr.): gills (branchiomeric)
bryein (Gr.): to swell or teem (embryology)
caecus (L.): blind (caecum, cecum)
calci (L): calcium, lime (calcification)
callosum (L.): hard, large (corpus callosum)
calor (L.): heat (caloric)
calvus (L.): bald (calvaria)
cancer (Gr.): crab (cancer)
capere (L., Gr.?): to take (exteroceptive)
capillus (L.): a hair or minute tube (capillary)
carna (L.): flesh (trabeculae carneae)
cata (Gr.): entire, down (catabolism)
cauda (L.): tail (caudal)
cele, coel (Gr., L.): cyst (hydrocele)
cell, cellule (L., Fr.): a little room
cephale (from Gr. kephalos): head (encephalitis)
cera (L.): wax (cere alba)
cereb (L.): the brain (cerebral)
chi (Gr.); X (chiasma)
chiros (Gr.): hand (chiropractor)
chole (Gr.): bile (cholecystectomy)
chondros (Gr.): cartilage (chondrocyte)
chorea (Gr.): a choral dance (chorea)
chorion (Gr.): a delicate membrane (chorion)
chromo (Gr.): color (chromosome)
chronos (Gr.): time (chronometer)
cidal (L., Gr?): killing (bacteriocidal)
cili (L.): hair (cilia)
circum (L.): around (circumduction)
clast (Gr.): to break (osteoclast)
clavicula (L.): a little key (clavicle)
-cle (L.): small (muscle)
cleidos (Gr.): a little key (sternocleidomastoid)
coll (L.): glue (colloid)
collar (L.): neck (collar
collic (L.): hill (collicular)
com (L.): with (commissure)
con (L.): with (confluent)
concha (L.): shell (concha nasalis)
conjugare (L.): to connect (conjugate)
contra (L.): opposite (contralateral)
coraco (L. Gr.?): beak of a crow, raven (coracoid process)
corneus (L.): horny (cornea)
corpus (L.): body (corpuscle)
coronalis (L.): crown (coronal)
cortex (L.): bark of a tree (adrenal cortex)
costa, costra (L.): rib (iliocostalis)
-crine (see krinein)
-cule (L.): small (miniscule)
cuneus (L.): wedge (cuneatus)
cuspis (L.): a point (tricuspid)
cyte, cyt (L.): cell (cytology)
dactylos (Gr.): a finger (polydactyly)
dendron (Gr.): a tree (dendrite)
derm (L.): skin (dermatology)
di (L.): two (didactic)
dia (L.): through (dialysis)
diploos (Gr.): double (diplopia)
dis(L.): apart from, negative (disinfectent)
durus (L.): hard (dura mater)
dyn (Gr.): power (dynamic)
dys (Gr.): bad (dyspepsia)
ecto (Gr.); on the outside (ectoderm)
-ectomy (Gr.); removal (appendectomy)
ef (L.): out (efferent)
em (Gr.); in (embolus)
endo (Gr.): inner, within (endoderm)
enter (L.): intestine (enteric)
ependyma (Gr.): an upper garment (ependyma)
epi (Gr.): upon (epicondyle)
erythros (Gr.): red (erythrocyte)
extra (L.): outside (extraperitoneal)
falx (L.): sickle (falciform)
fascis (L.): a bundle, (a facing) (fascia, fasciculus)
fenestra (L.): a window (fenestrated)
fer (L.): to bear or carry (lactiferous)
flaccidus (L.): flabby (flaccid)
flectere (L.): to bend (flexure)
forare (L.): to bore or pierce (foramen)
fovea (L.): a small pit (fovea centralis)
fract (L.): to break (fracture)
funis (L.): a cord (funiculus)
furca (L.): fork (bifurcate)
fusio (L.,): a pouring (transfusion)
gala (Gr.): milk (galactose)
ganglion (Gr.): swelling or enlargment, aggregation (ganglionic)
gastro (Gr.): stomach (epigastric)
gen (L., Gr.): producing (collagen)
genu (L, Gr.): a bend, knee (geniculate)
genitus (L.): born (congenital)
gerontos (Gr.); old man, old age (gerontology)
glia (Gr.): glue (neuroglia)
glob (Gr.?): ball (globus pallidus)
glossus (Gr.): tongue (hypoglossal)
glyco(Gr.): sugar (glycogen)
gnosos (Gr.): knowledge (diagnosis)
gogue (Gr.): producing (secretogogue)
gracile (L.): thin, slender (gracilis)
gram (L.): letter or record (electrocardiogram)
graph (L.): writing (myograph)
gynekos (Gr.): woman (gynecology)
gyros (Gr.): circle or spiral form (gyrus)
haustrum (G.): sac, room (haustra)
heme, hematos (Gr.): (blood hematology)
hemi (Gr.): half (hemisection)
hepar (Gr.): liver (hepatic)
hippos (Gr.): horse (hippocampus)
histos (Gr.): tissue, web (histology)
hyalos (Gr.): glass (hyaline)
hyper (L.): above, over (hypertrophy)
hypo (L.): below, under (hypodermis)
hyster (Gr.): uterus, womb (hysterectomy)
iasis (Gr.): condition of (amebiasis)
iatros (Gr.): a physician (psychiatry)
-ic (L.): pertaining to (phrenic)
idios (L., Gr.): individual (idiopathic)
infer-, infra(L.): below (inferior, infaorbital)
inter (L.): between (interlobar)
intra (L.): within, inside (intracranial)
ipsi (L.): same (ipsilateral)
ir (L.): not (irregular)
iso (Gr.?): same (isotonic)
-itis (Gr.): inflamation, involvement (appendicitis)
ject (L.?): throw (injection)
kampos (Gr.): sea monster (hippocampus)
karotoo (Gr.): to put to sleep (carotid)
karyon (Gr.): nut or nucleus (perikaryon)
kata (see cata)
kilo (Gr.): thousand (kilogram)
kin (Gr.): moving (kinetic)
klonos (Gr.): violent (clonic)
kochlias (Gr.): snail (cochlea)
krinein (Gr.): to separate (endocrine)
kymo (Gr.): wave (kymograph)
labium, labrum (L.): lip (labia majora)
lac (Fr., L.): milk (lactose)
lamella (L.): small plate or layer (lamellar)
lampein (Gr.): to flash (eclampsia)
latus (L.): broad, wide or side (lateral)
lemma (L., Gr.): skin or peel (neurilemma)
lemniskoe (Gr.): fillet or thread (lemniscus)
leuko (Gr.): white (leukocyte)
lipos (Gr.): fat (lipid)
lithos (Gr.): stone (otolith)
lodos (Gr.): way (electrode)
logos, logia,-logy (Gr.): word, study or knowledge of (osteology)
luna (L.): moon (semilunar)
lyein (Gr.): to loosen or dissolve (paralysis)
lymph (Gr.): lymph (lymphocyte)
lysis (Gr.): dissolving (hemolysis)
macro (Gr.): large (macroscopic)
macula (L.): a post or stain (macula lutea)
mal (L.): bad (malnutrition)
manus (L.): hand (manual)
melan (Gr.): black (melanocyte)
meso (Gr.): middle (mesoderm)
meta (Gr.): beyond or change (metamorphosis)
mater (L.): mother (pia mater)
mania (L.): madness insane (pyromania)
medulla (L., Gr.): marrow, white (medulla oblongata)
mega (Gr.): large, (megakaryocyte)
men (Gr.): month (dysmenorrhea)
meninx (Gr.): covering, membrane (meninges)
meros (Gr.): part or portion (branchiomeric)
meter (L.): measure (thermometer)
micro (Gr.): small (microscope)
mole (Gr.): body (molecule)
morpho (Gr.): body, shape, form (morphology)
motor (L.): motion (oculomotor)
mus (L.): mouse (muscle)
myo (Gr.): muscle (myograph)
nataro (L.): to float (supernatant)
natus (L.): birth (prenatal)
necro (Gr.): death (necrosis)
nephr (Gr): kidney (nephron)
neuro (Gr): nerve (neurology)
nigra (L.): black (substantia nigra)
nod (L.): a swelling (nodule)
nomos (Gr.): law (autonomic)
nomy(Gr.): name, science of (autonomy)
nucleus (Gr.): nut (nuclear)
-oid (Gr.): like (styloid)
-ole (Gr.): small (bronchiole)
oma (Gr.): tumor (sarcoma)
opia (Gr.): sight (presbyopia)
ophthalmos (Gr.): eye (ophthalmic)
ortho (Gr.): straight (orthopedic)
-osis (Gr.): morbid, disease (cyanosis)
osmo (Gr.): pushing (osmosis)
osteo (Gr.): bone (osteology)
ostomy (Gr.): opening (enterostomy)
otid (Gr.): ear (parotid)
otomy (Gr.): cutting into (osteotomy)
ovum (L.): egg (oviduct)
pallium (L., Gr.): cloak or mantle (neopallium)
para (L., Gr.): near (parathyroid)
paries (L.): wall (parietal)
patho (Gr.): disease (pathology)
pectus (L.); chest (expectorate)
ped, pes (L.): a foot (pedicle); (Gr.); a child (pediatrics)
pelvis (L.): basin, bowl (pelvic bone)
per (L.): through, excessively (permeate)
peri (L.): around (pericardium)
phago (Gr.): eating (phagocyte)
phasis (Gr.): speech (dysphasia)
phil (Gr.): loving (hemophiliac)
phleb (Gr.): vein (phlebitis)
phobia (Gr.): fear (acrophobia)
phren (L., Gr.): diaphragm (phrenic)
physio (Gr.): nature (physiology)
pineas (L.): a pine cone (pineal)
pius (L.): tender, kind (pia mater)
placenta (L.): a flat cake (placental)
plasty (Gr.): to make or mold (rhinoplasty)
plegia, plexy (Gr.): stroke (hemiplegia, apoplexy)
plexus (Gr.); a turning or braid (plexiform)
pnea (Gr.): breathing (apnea)
pneumo (Gr.): lung (pneumonia)
pos, podos (Gr.): foot (podiatrist)
pol (Gr.): gray (poliomyelitis)
poly (Gr.): many, much (polycytic)
pons (L.): bridge (pontine)
port (L.): to carry (transport)
post (L.): behind (posterior)
pre (L.): before (precentral)
prorio (L.): oneself (proprioception)
proto (L): first (protoplasm)
proximar (L.): to come near (proximal)
ptosis (Gr.): drooping, dropping (visceroptosis)
pudendeo (Gr.,L.): to feel embarrassed (pudendal)
pulmo (L.): lung (pulmonary)
pyloros (Gr.); gate keeper (pylorus)
pyros (Gr.): fire (pyrogenic)
pyo (Gr.?): pus (pyocyst)
radius (L.): ray (radiology)
ramus (L.): branch (ramus)
rectus (L.): straight (rectum)
ren (L.): kidney
restis (L.): rope (restiform)
rete (Ar., L.): net, network (retina)
retinaculum (L.): a holdfast (retinaculum)
retro (L.): backward (retroversion)
rheos (Gr.) current, flow (rhinorhea)
rhino (Gr.): nose (rhinoscope)
rrhage (Gr.): bursting forth (hemorrhage)
rubro (L.): red (nucleus ruber)
sacchar (L.): sugar (saccharide)
saccus (L.): sac (sacculation)
sagitta (L.): an arrow (sagittal)
sal (L.): salt (saline)
sapien (L.): wise (Homa sapiens)
sarco (Gr.): flesh (sarcolemma)
sclero (Gr.): hard (sclerosis)
scopo (Gr.) I see (microscope)
section (L.) cutting bisect
semi (L.): partial (semicircular)
-sis (L.): condition (sclerosis)
soma, somatos (Gr.) body (somatic)
sphygmos (Gr.): pulse (sphygmomanometer)
sphyzia (Gr.): pulse, throb (asphyzia)
spire (L.): to blow or breath (respire)
splanchnos (Gr.) organ (splanchnology)
squama (L.): a scale, flake (squamous)
stasis (L.): slowing (hemostasis)
stella (L.): a star (stellate)
stellein (Gr.): to set or place (diastole)
steno (L.): narrow (stenosis)
sthenia (Gr.): strength (asthenia)
strata (L.): layer (stratified)
stria (L.): stripe or band, line (striated)
stroma (Gr.): bed or couch (stroma)
super, supra (L.): above (suprascapular)
sutura (L.): a seam (suture)
syn (L.): binding together (synthesis)
systellein (Gr.): to contract (systole)
tabes (L.): a wasting (tabes dorsalis)
tactum (L.): to touch (tactile)
taktos (Gr.): order (ataxia)taxis (Gr.) arrangement (chemotaxis)
thelium (Gr.): a nipple (polythelia)
tere (L.): round (teres major)
thalmos (Gr.): inner chamber (thalamus)
thermo (L.): heat (thermometer)
thrombos (Gr.): clot (thrombosis)
thyreos (Gr.): shield (thyroid)
-tion (L.): condition of (constipation)
trabeculate (L.): cross bars (tracecular)
tome (Gr.): cutting (microtome)
troclea (L.): pulley (trochlear)
trophos (Gr.): growth, nourish (gonadotroph)
tropos (Gr.): a turning (gonadotropin)
tuber (L.): bump, knob, potato (tuberosity)
tunica (L.): a coat (tunica media)
tympanum (L.): a drum (tympanic)
-ule (L.): small (pustule)
ultra (L.): beyond (ultrastructure)
un (L.): not (undifferentiated)
uria (L.): urine (glycosuria)
uter (L.): sac or vesicle (uterus)
vagari (L.): wandering (vagus)
vagina (L.): a sheath (vagina)
valva (L.): one leaf of a double door (valve)
vaso (L.): vessel (vasodilation)
vehere (L.): to convey (vein)
venter (L.): belly (ventral)
vermis (L.): a worm (vermiform)
vestibulum (L.): a passage or chamber (vestibular)
viscus (L.): to turn or wind (viscera)
xiphus (Gr.): tip of a spear (xiphoid)
zygos (Gr.): yoked (zygomatic)