Medical Terminology:
Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes
2nd 9 Weeks
J. HINSON
Ridgeview High School
Health Science Department
Bellwork Set #16
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
76. duct:
Duct (tube Ductolith
that carries)
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
Stone in a
duct
Ductus deferens
Ductogram
Odontodynia
Orchydynia
77. –dynia: pain
Oculodynia
Eye pain
78. dys-:
Difficult;
painful
dysphagia
Difficulty
swallowing
Dysuria
Dysentery
79. ec-:
out
Ectropian
Eyelids out
Ecchymosis
80. ectasis:
dilation
Telangectasis
Growth of
dilated blood
vessels
Bellwork Set #17
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
81.
–ectomy:
surgical
removal
Hysterectomy
Removal of
the uterus
82.
–ectopia:
displacement
Ectopic
Pregnancy
Displaced
egg
implantation
83.
–emia:
blood
condition
Leukemia
Cancer of the
WBCs
84.
encephal: brain
Encephalopathy Disease of
the brain
85.
endo-:
Endocardium
within; inner
Inner heart
layer
Spleenectomy
Cystectomy
Anemia
Hyponatremia
Encephalitis
Encephalocele
Endometrium
Endocytosis
Bellwork Set #18
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
86. enter:
Small intestine
Gastroenteritis
Inflammation
of stomach
and intestine
87. eosin:
rosy
Eosinophil
Type of white
blood cell
88. epi-:
upon; over
Epidermis
Upon the
skin
Epicondyle
Epididymis
89. –er:
one who
Radiographer
One who
takes x-rays
Sonographer
Teacher
90. erythr:
red
Erythrocytes
Red blood
cells
erythema
Dysentery
Enteric
Bellwork Set #19
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of
Example
Other
Terms
91. –esthesia: feeling;
sensation
Anesthesia
Without
feeling
Paresthesia
92. esophag:
esophagus
Esophageal
Pertaining to
the
esophagus
Esophagectomy
Esophagoscopy
93. eu-:
normal
Eublepharon
Normal
eyelid
Eustasis
94. ex-:
exit; out
from
Exophthalmos
Eyes bulge
out
Exocytosis
Exit
95. flex
to bend
Flexion
Pertaining to
bending
Bellwork Set #20
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
96. gastr:
stomach
Gastritis
Inflammation Gastric
of the stomach Gastrectomy
97. –gen:
that which
produces
Pathogen
Producing a
disease
Allergen
Carcinogen
98. –genesis: creates
Oogenesis
Egg creation
Spermatogenesis
Biogenesis
99. –genic:
producing
Oncogenic
Producing
cancer
Hypoallergenic
100. gloss:
tongue
Glossal
Pertaining to
the tongue
Glossitis
PRACTICE EXERCISES
Bellwork Quiz over 1-100!!
1. Gastroenteritis: inflammation of the
Stomach and Small Intestine
______________________________
pain
2. Oculodynia: Eye _________
Inner heart muscle
3. Endocardium: ____________________
Without feeling
4. Anesthesia: _____________________
Pertaining to the tongue
5. Glossal: ________________________
REVIEW NOW!!
Bellwork Quiz over 1-100
TOMORROW!!
Sample Questions:
PRODUCES _________.
CANCER
 A carcinogenic agent ___________
RED _______
BLOOD _______.
CELLS
 Erythrocytes are _____
** Be prepared for T/F, MC, matching, and
fill-in-the-blank!
Bellwork Set #21
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
101. Glyc
sugar
Glucose
Simple Sugar
102. –gram
Record;
picture
Electrocardio- Electrical
heart record
gram
Sonogram
Histogram
103. –graph
Instrument
for recording
Phonograph
Instrument
for recording
sound
Telegraph
Radiograph
104. –graphy
Process of
recording
Radiography
Process of
taking x-rays
Biography
Sonography
105. –gravida
Pregnancy
Multigravida
Many
pregnancies
Nulligravida
Monogravida
Glycogen
Glycolysis
Bellwork Set #22
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
106. gynec
Female
Gynecology
Study of
female organs
107. Hema
blood
Hemoglobin
Blood protein Hemostasis
that carries O2 Hemorrhage
108. hemat-
blood
Hematuria
Blood in the
urine
Hematopoeisis
Hematology
Hematoma
109. Hemi-
Half
Hemiparesis
Weakness of
half the body
Hemisphere
Hemiplegia
110. hepat-
liver
Hepatitis
Inflammation
of the liver
Hepatology
Hepatectomy
Gynecological
Gynecomastia
Bellwork Set #23
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
111. Hetero-
different
Heterozygous
Different
genes
Heterosexual
Heterogenous
112. Hist
tissue
Histology
Study of
tissues
Histogram
113. Home
same
Homeostasis
Internal
balance
…
114. Homo-
same
Homogenous
Uniform
mixture
Homosexual
Homozygous
115. Hidr
Sweat
Hyperhidrosis
Abnormal
condition of
excessive
sweating
Hidradenitis
Bellwork Set #24
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
116. Hydro-
water
Hydrocephaly
Water in the
head
117. hyper-
Over;
above
Hyperthyroidism Overactive
118. Hypo-
Under;
below
Hypochondriac
Pertaining to
below the
ribs
Hypogastric
Hypoxia
119. Hyster
Uterus
Hysterectomy
Removal of
the uterus
Hysteroscopy
120. –ia
state
Hysteria
State of
madness
Hyponatremia
Malaria
Anemia
Leukemia
thyroid
Hydroculator
Hydroelectric
Hyperactive
Hyperkalemia
Bellwork Set #25
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
121. -iasis
abnormal
Psoriasis
Abnormal
skin condition
Elephantiasis
122. –iatric:
Medicine
Psychiatric
Mind
medicine
Pediatric
Geriatric
123. –ic,
-ical, -ior
Pertaining Surgical
to
Pertaining to
surgery
Medical
Clinical
124. Ichthy
Scaly
Ichthyderma
Scaly skin
Chondrichthyes
Osteichthyes
Ichthyology
125. Ile
Ileum
Ilectomy
Removal of
the first
portion of the
small
intestine
Ileum
PRACTICE EXERCISES
Bellwork Quiz over 101-125!!
Scaly skin
1. Ichthyderma: _________________
Water in the head
2. Hydrocephaly: ________________
Removal of the uterus
3. Hysterectomy: ________________
4. Electrocardiogram:
Record of electrical activity in the heart
___________________________
to below the ribs
5. Hypochondriac: Pertaining
_______________
REVIEW NOW!!
Bellwork Quiz over 1-125
TOMORROW!!
Sample Questions:
Pregnancies
 Multigravida is many ____________.
abnormal
 Psoriasis is an __________
skin condition.
** Be prepared for T/F, MC, matching,
and fill-in-the-blank!
Bellwork Set #26
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
126. im-
not
Immature
Not mature
Impotent
Impatient
127. Immune Immune
(against
disease)
Immunology
Study of
immunity
Immunosupressed
Immunization
128. in-
not; into
Incise
To cut into
Infertility
Insignificant
129. infra
under;
beneath;
below
Infrapatellar
Below the
patella
Infrastructure
130. infer-
below
Inferior
Pertaining to
below
…
Bellwork Set #27
Prefix/
Suffix
Meanin
g
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
131. inguin
groin
Inguinal
Pertaining to
the groin
…
132. inter-
among;
between
Intercostal
Pertaining to
between ribs
Interstate
Intercellular
133. intra-
within,
inside
Intracranial
Within the
skull
Intraocular
Intravenous (IV)
134. –ion
process
Inhalation
Process of
breathing in
Observation
Exhalation
135. –ism
State of
Hyperthyroidism State of overactive thyroid
Hirsutism
Dwarfism
Albinism
Bellwork Set #28
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
136. –ist
one who
Cardiologist
specializes
in
Heart
specialist
Dermatologist
Orthopedist
Psychiatrist
137. –itis
inflammat Cholecystitis
ion;
infection
Inflammation
of the
gallbladder
Hepatitis
Blepharitis
Dermatitis
138. –ize
use or take Sanitize
away
Take away
germs
Cauterize
Euthanize
139. –kinesia movement dyskinesia
Difficult
moving
Kinesiology
Cytokinesis
140. kyph
Abnormal
condition of a
humpback
Kyphotic
hump
Example
Kyphosis
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
Bellwork Set #29
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
141. lapar
abdomen
Laparoscopy
Using a scope
to view the
abdomen
Laparotomy
142. –lapse
slide or a
sag
Collapse
slide down
Prolapse
Relapse
143. laryng
voice box
Laryngitis
Inflammation
of the larynx
Laryngotomy
Laryngeal
144. latero-
side
Bilateral
Pertaining to
both sides
Lateral
Dorsolateral
145. leuk
white
Leukemia
Disorder of
white blood
cells
Leukocytes
Bellwork Set #30
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
146. lip
fat
Lipectomy
Removal of fat Lipid
Lipoma
147. lingu
tongue
Lingual
Pertaining to
Bilingual
the tongue
Multilingual
(aka language)
148. –lith
stone
Cholelith
gallstone
Nephrolith
Ductolith
149. –logist
one who
studies
Dermatologist
One who
studies skin
Cardiologist
Immunologist
150. –logy
study of
Histology
Study of
tissues
Biology
Ichthyology
PRACTICE EXERCISES
Bellwork Quiz over 126-150!!
Surgical removal of fat
1. Lipectomy: ___________________
Process of breathing in
2. Inhalation: ____________________
gallstone
3. Cholelith: ____________________
Study of tissues
4. Histology: ____________________
Pertaining to between ribs
5. Intercostal: ___________________
REVIEW NOW!!
Bellwork Quiz over 1-150
TOMORROW!!
Sample Questions:
Disorder of white blood cells
 Leukemia is a ____________________.
Pertaining to both sides
 Bilateral is ______________________.
** Be prepared for T/F, MC, matching,
and fill-in-the-blank!