Medical Terminology:
Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes
C. Miller
John Milledge Academy
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Bellwork Set #1
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
1. a-
Without
Abiotic
Non-living
Asexual
Asymmetrical
2. ab-
Away from
Abduct
Take away;
move away
Abnormal
Abduction
3. Abdomin
Abdomen
Abdominal
Pertaining to Abdominothe abdomen pelvic
4. –ac, -al,an, -ar, -ary
Pertaining to Coronary
5. Acu
Needle;
sharp
Pertaining to Median
the heart
Dermal
Acupuncture Therapy
Acute
using needles Acupressure
Bellwork Set #2
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of
Example
Other
Terms
6. ad-
Toward
Adduction
Moving
toward the
midline
Adductor
Advance
7. Aden
Gland
Adenoma
Tumor of a
gland
Adenoids
8. Adip
Fat
Adipose
Pertaining to
fat
Adipectomy
9. aer-
Air
Aerobic
Pertaining to
air
Aerodynamic
Aerospace
10. Albin
White
Albino
Unpigmented
skin
Albinism
Bellwork Set #3
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
11. –algesia
Pain
Analgesia
Without pain
perception
Analgesic
12. –algia
Pain
Neuralgia
Nerve Pain
Myalgia
13. Ambi
Both
Ambidextrous
Using both
hands
Ambiguous
14. Amni
Amnion
Amniotic
(sac covers
fetus)
Pertaining to
the amnion
Amniocentesis
15. an-
Without
Without air
Anoxia
Anoxemica
Anarchy
Anaerobic
Bellwork Set #4
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of
Example
Other
Terms
16. andr
Male
Androgen
Male sex
hormone
Android
17. Angi
Vessel
Angiogram
X-ray of
blood vessels
Angioplasty
Angioma
18. ante-
Before
Antepartum
Before birth
Antecubital
Anteversion
19. antero-
Before; in
front of
Anterior
In front of
Anterolateral
20. anti-
Against
Antibiotic
Works
against
microorganisms
Antibody
Antidepressant
Antiseptic
Antiviral
Bellwork Set #5
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
21. Arter
Artery
Arteriole
Small artery
Artery
Arteriosclerosis
22. Arthr
Joint
Arthroscopy
Joint
examination
w/ a scope
Arthroplasty
Arthrocentesis
23. auto-
Self; own
Autoimmune Attack of
one’s own
immunity
24. Axill
Armpit
Axillary
Pertaining to
the armpit
25. bi-
Two
Biceps
Muscle with 2
origins
Autograph
Autonomy
Autobiography
Biped
Bicuspid
PRACTICE EXERCISES
Bellwork Quiz over 1-25!!
both hands
1. Ambidextrous: using _____
Pertaining to
2. Coronary: ____________
the heart
pain
3. Neuralgia: Nerve _______
vessels
4. Angiogram: X-ray of blood _______
joint exam using a
5. Arthroscope: _____
scope
REVIEW NOW!!
Bellwork Quiz over 1-25
TOMORROW!!
Sample Questions:
GLAND
 An adenoma is a tumor of a ________.
MALE sex hormones.
 Androgens are _______
** Be prepared for T/F, MC, matching,
and fill-in-the-blank!
Bellwork Set #6
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
26. Bio
Life
Biology
Study of Life
Biosphere
Biofuel
27. –blast
Immature; Cytoblast
embryonic
Immature
Cell
Osteoblast
28. Blephar
Eyelid
Blepharoplasty
Surgically
repair eyelid
Blepharotomy
29. Brachi
Arm
Brachial
Pertaining to
the arm
Brachiocephalic
30. brady-
Slow
Bradycardia
Pertaining to
a slow
heartbeat
Bradyarrhthmia
Bradypnea
Bellwork Set #7
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
31. bronch
Bronchus
Bronchial
Pertaining to
the bronchi
32. Bucc
Cheek
Buccal
Pertaining to
the cheek
33. Carcin
Cancer
Carcinogen
Cancercausing agent
Carcinogenic
34. Cardi
Heart
Cardiogram
Record of
Heart activity
Cardiovascular
Cardiac
Cardiopulmonary
35. Carp
Wrist
Carpal
Pertaining to
the wrist
Carpal Tunnel
Bronchiole
Bronchospasm
Bellwork Set #8
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
36. Caud
Tail
Caudal
Pertaining to
the tail
Cauda equina
37. –cele
Protrusion Hydrocele
Water-filled
protrusion
Omphalocele
38. –centesis Puncture
to
withdraw
fluid
Amniocentesis
Withdrawal
of fluid from
the amnion
Arthrocentesis
39. Cephal
Head
Cephalic
Pertaining to
the head
Brachiocephalic
Cephalothoracic
40. Cerebr
Brain
Cerebrum
Pertaining to
the brain
Cerebral
Cerebrosclerosis
Bellwork Set #9
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
41. Cervic
Neck
Cervical
Pertaining to
the neck
42. Chem
Chemical;
drug
Chemotherapy Drug
43. Chlor
Green
44.
Cholecyst
45. Chondr
Cervicoplasty
Cervicoccipital
Treatment
Chemiosmosis
Chemistry
Chlorine
Green tinted
gas
Chlorophyll
Chloroseptic
Gallbladder
Cholecystectomy
Removal of
the
gallbladder
Cholecystitis
Cholecysostomy
Cartilage
Chondrocyte
Cartilage cell
Chondroitin
Chondroplasty
Bellwork Set #10
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
46. Chrom
Color
Chromatic
Pertaining to
color
Chromosomes
Chromatography
47. Chron
Time
Chronology
Study of time
Chronological
Chronic
48. –cide
To kill
Suicide
To kill one’s
self
Homocide
Genocide
49. circum-
Around
Circumduction
Movement of
a part in a
circular
pattern
Circumference
Circumcision
Circumaxillary
50. Celi
Abdomen
Celiotomy
Incision into
the abdomen
Celitis
Celiac Disease
PRACTICE EXERCISES
Bellwork Quiz over 26-50!!
eyelid
1. Blepharoplasty: repair of the ______
Cancer causing agent
2. Carcinogenic: ______
neck
3. Cervical: Pertaining to the _______
4. Cholecystitis: inflammation of the
Gallbladder
_____________
5. Celiotomy: incision into the abdomen
_______
REVIEW NOW!!
Bellwork Quiz over 1-50
TOMORROW!!
Sample Questions:
Protrusion of parts in the head
 A cephalocele is ___________________.
Removal of fluid from a joint
 Arthrocentesis ___________________.
** Be prepared for T/F, MC, matching,
and fill-in-the-blank!
Bellwork Set #11
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
51. –cise
To Cut
Excise
To cut out
Incision
52. –cle
Small
Vesicle
Small fluidfilled sac
Ventricle
Tubercle
53. –coccus
Round
Staphylococcus Round grape-
Streptococcus
like clustered
bacteria
54. Col
colon
Colonoscopy
Using a scope
to view the
colon
Colonic
Colocentesis
55. con-
With;
together
Consult
Work
together
Concordant
Concentric
Bellwork Set #12
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
56. contra-
Against;
opposite
Contralateral
On opposite
sides
Contradict
Contraceptive
57. Coron
Heart
Coronary
Pertaining to
the heart
Coronary artery
Coronary sinus
58. Cost
Rib
Costal
Pertaining to
the ribs
Costochondritis
Costvertebral
59. Crani
Skull
Craniopathy
Any disease
relating to
the skull
Cranial
Craniofacial
Craniectomy
60. cryo-
Cold
Cryotherapy
Treatment
using cold
(ex: ice)
Cryophilic
Cryopreservation
Bellwork Set #13
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
61. Cutane
Skin
Subcutaneous
Beneath the
skin
Cutaneous
62. Cyan
Blue
Cyanosis
Bluish skin
Cyanobacteria
Cyanopsia
63. Cyst
Bladder
Cystitis
Inflammation
of the bladder
Cystectomy
Cystocele
64. Cyt
Cell
Cytoplasm
Fluid of a cell
Cytolysis
Cytokinesis
65. –cyte
Cell
Erythrocyte
Red blood
cell
Blastocyte
Leukocyte
Bellwork Set #14
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
66. Dactyl
Fingers;
toes
Polydactyly
Having too
many fingers
or toes
Adactyly
67. de-
Down; away Depress
from
Move down
Decalcify
Decay
68. Derm
Skin
Dermis
Pertaining to
the skin
Epidermis
Subdermal
69. Dermat
Skin
Dermatitis
Inflammation
of the skin
Dermatologist
70. dextro-
To the right
Dextrocardia
Displacement
of the heart
to the right
Dextroposition
Bellwork Set #15
Prefix/
Suffix
Meaning
Example
Meaning of Other
Example
Terms
71. di-
Two
Didactyly
Two fingers or Diatomic
toes on one
Diataxia
hand or foot
72. dia-
Through;
across
Diapedesis
blood cells
through
blood vessels
Diameter
73. Dipl
Two;
double
Diplopia
Double vision
Diploid
Diplococcus
74. dips
thirst
Polydipsia
Excessive
thirst
Dipsesis
Dipsomania
75. dorso-
Back
Dorsal
Pertaining to
the back part
Dorsolateral
Dorsiflexion
PRACTICE EXERCISES
Bellwork Quiz over 51-75!!
small
1. Vesicle: _______
fluid-filled sac
heart
2. Coronary: Pertaining to the _______
bladder
3. Cystitis: Inflammation of the _______
skin
4. Subdermal: Beneath the ______
double vision
5. Diplopia: _______
REVIEW NOW!!
Bellwork Quiz over 51-75
TOMORROW!!
Sample Questions:
2 fingers/toes on 1 hand/foot
 Didactyly is Having
_____________________.
 Costochondritis is inflammation of the
Ribs and cartilage
_________________.
** Be prepared for T/F, MC, matching,
and fill-in-the-blank!