Human Anatomical Terminology 2015 – 2016 partial list/draft
(Word Root, Prefix, Suffix, combining vowel)
What is Medical Terminology?
Different professions have different "languages". An example of this is auto maintenance: automobile mechanics use terms to describe the objects and
situations they encounter while working, such as "master cylinder" and "oil filter". Comparatively, medical workers use terms to describe the objects
and situations encountered in their fields, such as "hepatitis" and "intravenous". The words - or terms - which make up the language of medicine are
referred to as the terminology of the medical field, or Medical Terminology.
Anatomical and medical terms are formed from four basic components. The four parts are:
WORD ROOT: Foundation word enCEPHALogram
PREFIX: Word beginning ENcephalogram
SUFFIX: Word ending encephaloGRAM
COMBINING VOWEL: Vowel which links two roots or a root to a suffix - usually "O"
encephalOgram
By learning common prefixes, suffixes and Greek and Latin word roots, most anatomical and medical terms may be analyzed correctly. The following
are lists of those most common components which may be encountered. As in the study of any foreign language, practice and vocabulary building are
essential
This list is a work in progress, please learn as many as you can this summer. The first part is broken into words you will see in the first 6 chapters. The second list is
my old list that I will work into the “new 2015” list.
PREFIX (ch.1)
MEANING
EXAMPLE
Append
to hang something
appendicular – pertaining to the upper limbs and lower limbs
Cardi-
heart
pericardium – membrane that surrounds the heart
Cerebr-
brain
cerebrum – largest portion of the brain
Cran-
helmet
cranial – pertaing to the portion of the skull that surrounds the brain
Dors-
back
dorsal – position toward the back of the body
Homeo
same
homeostatsis – maintenance of a stable internal environment
-ology
the study of
physiology – study of body functions
meta-
change
metabolism – chemical changes that occur within the body
nas-
nose
nasal – pertaining to the nose
orb-
circle
orbital – pertaining to the portion of skull that encircles an eye
pariet-
wall
parietal membrane - membrane that lines the wall of a cavity
pelv-
basin
pelvic cavity – basin-shaped cavity enclosed by the pelvic bones
peri-
around
pericardial membrane – membrane that surrounds the heart
pleur-
rib
pleural membrane – membrane that encloses the lungs within the rib cage
-stasis
standing still
homeostasis – maintenance of stable internal environment
super-
above
superior – referring to a body part that is located above another
-tomy
cutting
anatomy – study of structure, which often involves cutting or removing body parts
PREFIX (ch.2)
MEANING
EXAMPLE
Bio-
living
biochemistry – branch of science dealing with the chemistry of life forms
di-
two
disaccharide – compound whose molecules are composed of two saccharide units bound together
(glucose + glucose = maltose so maltose is a disaccharide)
glyc-
sweet
glycogen – complex carbohydrate composed of sugar molecules bound together in a particular way
iso-
equal
isotope - atom that has the same atomic number as another atom but a different atomic mass
lip-
fat
lipids – group of organic compounds that includes fats
-lyt
dissolvable
electrolyte – substance that dissolves in water and releases ions
mono-
one
monosaccharide – compound whose molecule consists of a single saccharide unit ex glucose
nucle-
kernel
nucleus – central core of an atom
poly
many
polyunsaturated – molecule that has many double bonds between its carbon atoms
sacchar-
sugar
monosaccharide – sugar molecule composed of a single saccharide unit
syn-
together
synthesis – process by which substances are united to form a new type of substance
-valent
having power
covalent bond – chemical bond produced when tow atoms share electrons
PREFIX (ch.3)
MEANING
EXAMPLE
Cyt-
cell
cytoplasm – fluid (cytosol) and organelles between the cell membrane and nuclear envelope
Endo-
within
endoplasmic reticulum – membranous complex in the cytoplasm
Hyper-
above
hypertonic – solution that has a greater osmotic pressure than the cytosol
Hypo-
below
hypotonic – solution that has a lesser osmotic pressure than the cytosol
Inter-
between
interphase – stage between mitotic divisions of a cell
Iso-
equal
isotonic – solution that has an osmotic pressure equal to that of the cytosol
Lys-
to break up
lysosome- organelle containing enzymes that break down proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids
Mit-
thread
mitosis – stage of cell division when chromosomes condense
Phag-
to eat
phagocytosis – process by which a cell takes in solid particles
Pino-
to drink
pinocytosis – process by which a cell takes in tiny droplets of liquid
Pro-
before
prophase – first stage of mitosis
-som
body
ribosome – tiny, spherical structure in a cell composed of protein and RNA – site of protein synthesis
vesic-
bladder
vesicle – small, saclike organelle that contains substances to be transported within the cell
or secreted.
PREFIX (ch.4)
MEANING
EXAMPLE
Aer-
air
aerobic respiration – respiratory process that requires oxygen
An-
without
anaerobic respiration – respiratory process that does not require oxygen
Ana-
up
anabolism – cellular processes in which smaller molecules are used to build up larger ones
Cata-
down
catabolism – cellular processes in which larger molecules are broken down into smaller ones
Co-
with
coenzyme – substance that unites with a protein to complete the structure of an active enzyme
Moledule
De-
undoing
deamination – process that removes nitrogen containing portions of amino acid molecules
Mut-
change
mutation – change in genetic information
-strat
spread out
substrate – substance upon which an enzyme acts
sub-
under
substrate – substance upon which an enzyme acts (yea one that is the same!  )
-zym
causing to ferment
enzyme – protein that speeds up a chemical reaction without itself being consumed.
PREFIX (ch.5)
MEANING
EXAMPLE
Adip-
fat
*Adipose tissue-tissue that stores fats
Chondr-
cartilage
*Chondrocyte- cartilage cell
-Cyt
cell
*Osteocyte- bone cell
Epi-
upon/ in addition
*Epithelial tissue-tissue that covers all free body space.
-glia
glue
*Neuroglia- cells that support neurons
Hist-
web, tissue
*Histology- study of composition and function of tissues.
Hyal-
resemblance to glass
*Hyaline cartilage- flexible tissue containing chondrocytes.
Inter-
among/ between
*Intercalated disc- band between adjacent cardiac muscles.
Macr-
Large
*Macrophage- large phagocytic cell
Neur-
nerve
*Neuron- nerve cell
Os-
bone
*Osseous tissue- bone tissue
Phag-
to eat
*Phagocyte- cell that engulfs and destroys foreign particles
pseud-
False
*Pseudostratefied epithelium- tissue with cells that appear to be in layers, but are not in layers.
Squam-
scale/flat
*Squamous epithelium- tissue with flattened or scale-like cells.
Strat-
layer
*Stratified epithelium- tissue with cells that are in layers
Stria-
groove
Striated muscle- tissue whose cells have alternating light & dark cross-markings.
PREFIX (ch.6)
MEANING
EXAMPLE
Alb-
white
*albinisim- condition characterized by a lack of pigment.
Cut-
Skin
*Subcutaneous- beneath the skin
Derm-
Skin
*Dermis- inner layer of the skin
Epi-
upon
*Epidermis- outer layer of the skin
Follic-
small bag
*Hair Follicle- tube-like depression in which a hair develops.
Hol-
entire/ whole
* Holocrine Gland- gland – gland that discharges the entire cell contain the secretion.
Kerat-
horn
keratin – protein produced as epidermal cells die and harden
Melan-
black
melanin – dark pigment produced by certain cell called a melanocyte
Por-
passage, channel
pore – opening by which a sweat gland conmmunicates to the skin’s surface
Seb-
grease
sebaceous gland – gland that secretes an oily substance.
This is my old list but I will incorporate it into the list above. You will see repeats – sorry….
1. Prefixes Indicating Location, Direction, and Tendency Quiz
Prefix
Meaning
Example____________________________
Ab-
from, away
abnormal - away from normal
Ad-
to, near, toward
adrenal - near the kidney
Ante-
before
antepartum - before delivery of child
Brady-
slow
bradycardia - slow heart beat
Brev-
short
brevity - in a short time
Circum-
around
circumocular - around the eye
Co-
with, together
coordinate - work together
Con-
with, together
congenital - with birth
Contra-
against
contraindicated - not indicated
Counter-
against
counterirritant - against irritation
Dis-
apart from
disarticulated - taking a joint apart
Ect-
outside
End-
within
endocardium - membrane lining inner heart
Epi-
upon, on top of
epidermis - upon the skin
Ex-
out from
exhalation - breathe out
Prefix
Meaning
Example____________________________
Hypo-
under, lower
hypodermic - under the skin
Hyper-
above, higher
hyperactive - higher level activity
Im-
not
immature - not mature
In-
not
incurable - not curable
Infra-
under, below
infrapatellar - below the knee
ectonuclear - outside the nucleus
Peri-
around
pericardium - sac around the heart
Post-
after
postmortem - after death
Pre-
before
prenatal - before birth
Pro-
before
prognosis - a fore-knowing
Super-
above, on top
superciliary - above the eyebrow
Supra-
above, on top
suprapubic - above the pubic bone
Sym-
with, together
symphony - sounds played together
Syn-
with, together
synarthrosis - union of bones
Trans-
through, across
transurethral - through the urethra
2. Prefixes Indicating Number and Measurement
Prefix
Meaning
Example____________________________
Uni-
one
unicycle - one wheel
Mono-
one
mononuclear - one nucleus
Bi-
two
bilateral - two sides
Bin-
two
binocular - two eyes
Di-
two
dicephalic - two heads
Ter-
three
tertiary - the third part or stage
Tri-
three
trilobar - three lobes
Quadr-
four
quadriceps - muscle with four heads
Tetra-
four
tetracylcine - a four-ringed molecule
Poly-
many
polydactyly - many digits (more than 5)
Oligo-
few
oligosaccharide - few sugars linked together
Micro-
small
microscope - equipment to view small things
Macro-
large
macrophage - large eating cell
Mega-
great, enormous
megadontia - huge teeth
3. Prefixes Denoting Organs, Structures, Things
Prefix
Meaning
Example____________________________
Acoust-
sound
acoustics - quality of sound
Aud-
ear, hear
audition - to hear someone
Abdomin/o
abdomen
abdominal - relating to the abdomen
Acr/o
extremity, limbs
acromegaly - abnormally large limbs
Blast/o
early, embryonic
blastocyte - embryonic type cell
Aden/o
Angi/o
gland
vessel
Arthr/o
Bucc/o
Cardi/o
adenopathy - disease of a gland
angiogram - picture of a vessel
joint
cheek
arthritis - inflammation of a joint
buccolabial - relating to cheek and lip
heart
cardiology - study of the heart
Corp-
body
corpus callosum - connecting body
Chondr/o
cartilage
chondrocyte - cartilage cell
Cephal/o
head
cephalic - relating to the head
Cyst/o
bladder
Cyt/o
cell
cytokinesis - cell movement
Dent/o
tooth
dental - referring to teeth
Dermat/o
skin
dermatitis - skin inflammation
Duoden/o
duodenum
duodenal - relating to the duodenum
Encephal/o
brain
encephalitis - brain inflammation
Gastr/o
stomach
cystoscopy - view of the bladder
gastrointestinal - stomach and intestine
Hepat/o
liver
hepatitis - liver inflammation
Gloss/o
tongue
glossopathy - tongue disease
Glute-
buttocks
gluteus minimus - small buttocks muscle
Laryng/o
larynx
laryngitis - larynx inflammation
My/o
muscle
myocardium - heart muscle
Nephr/o
kidney
nephrologist - one who studies kidneys
Neur/o
nerve
neurosurgeon - surgeon of nervous system
Oste/o
bone
osteocyte - bone cell
Ot/o
ear
otitis media - middle ear inflammation
Ophthalm/o
eye
exophthalmos - eyes bulge out
Path/o
disease
Pneumon/o
lung
pneumonia - condition of the lung
Rhin/o
nose
rhinoplasty - reform the nose
Stomat/o
mouth, opening
stomatitis - mouth inflammation
Thorac/o
chest or thorax
pathological - relating to disease
thoracocentesis - puncture of the thorax
4. Suffixes Denoting Relations, Conditions, and Agents
Suffix
Meaning
Example____________________________
-ac
related to
cardiac - related to the heart
-ious
related to
contagious - communicable by contact
-ic
related to
pyloric - related to pyloric valve of stomach
-ism
condition
mutism - condition of being mute
-osis
condition
scoliosis - S-shaped condition of backbone
-tion
condition
constipation - constant blockage condition
-ist
agent (a person)
opthalmologist - eye doctor
-or
agent
operator
-er
agent
examiner
-ician
agent
physician
5. Suffixes Used for Surgical and Operative Terminology
Suffix
Meaning
Example____________________________
-centesis
to puncture
amniocentesis - puncture the amnion (fluid)
-ectomy
to cut out and remove
-ostomy
to cut and form opening
colostomy - opening to drain the colon
-otomy
to cut or slice
tracheotomy - cut the trachea
-pexy
to fix or repair
gastropexy - repair the stomach
-plasty
to reform or repair
rhinoplasty - reform the nose
-rraphy
to suture, sew
ateriorraphy - suture an artery
-scopy
to view
otoscope - instrument to view ear
appendectomy - cut out & remove appendix
6. Other Suffixes Used in Anatomy
Suffix
Meaning
Example____________________________
-algia
pain
neuralgia - nerve pain
-cide
kill or destroy
germicide - substance that kills germs
-emia
of the blood
cholesterolemia - cholesterol in the blood
-gram
writing or record
electrocardiogram - record of heart action
-graph
recording instrument
electrocardiograph - records the heart
-itis
inflammation
appendicitis - appendix inflammation
-ology
the study of
ophthalmology - study of the eye
-oma
tumor
lymphoma - tumor of lymphatics
-orrhea
flow
menorrhea - flow during menstruation
-malacia
soft
osteomalacia - bone softening
-phasia
speech
dysphasia - slurred or blunted speech
-phobia
fear
arachnophobia - fear of spiders