Greek and Latin Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words



Greek and Latin Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words

|Prefix, Suffix, or Root Word |Meaning |Example |

|A |

|a-, an- |no, not, without |atrophy, abiogenesis |

|ab- |away from, negative, absent |abnormal, abduct |

|abdomin/o |abdomen |abdominoplasty |

|ad- |toward, to, in direction of |adduct, adhesion, adrenal |

|aden/o |gland, glandular tissue |adenoids |

|adip/o |fat |adipose, adipocyte |

|af- |to, toward |afferent |

|aero- |air |aerobic, anaerobic |

|agglutin/o |clumping, stick together |agglutinate |

|algesi-, algesio-, -algesia, -algesic, -algia, -algic, |pain, suffering |analgesic, fibromyalgia |

|-algy | | |

|allo- |other, different |allograft |

|alveol/o |air sac, small sac |alveolus |

|amyl/o |starch |amylase |

|andr/o |relationship to the male |androgen |

|angio- |blood vessel |angiogram, angioplasty |

|ante-, anter/o |before, in front of |anterior |

|anti |against |anti-inflammatory, antihistamine |

|aqua, aqu/i, aqu/o, aque/o |water |aqueous |

|areol/o |little open space, small area |areola |

|arrect/o |upright, lifted up, raised |arrector pili |

|arter/o, arteri/o |of or pertaining to artery | arterial, arteriosclerosis |

|arthro |joint |arthritis |

|articulo |joint |articulate, articulation |

|-ase |enzyme |sucrase, lactase, amylase |

|aspir/o, aspirat/o |to breathe in |aspirate |

|asthmat/o |gasping, choking |asthma |

|astr/o |star, star-shaped |astrocytes |

|athero |plaque, fatty substance |atherosclerosis |

|aud-, audi/o, audit/o, aur/i,aur/o |ear, hearing |auricle, auditory |

|aut/o |self |autoimmune, autograft |

|axill/o |armpit |axilla |

|B |

|bi-, bis- |twice, double, two |bilateral, bicuspid |

|bio- |life, living |biology, biogenesis |

|blast/o, -blast |bud, germ, embryonic, immature |osteoblast, blastula |

|brachi/o, -brachial |arm |brachial artery, antebrachium |

|brady- |slow |bradycardia |

|bronch/i, bronchi/o, bronch/o |windpipe |bronchitis, bronchi |

|bucc/o |of or pertaining to the cheek |buccal, buccinator |

|burs/o |sac of fluid near joint |bursitis, bursa |

|C |

|-calyx |covering |glycocalyx |

|canalicul/o |little canal or duct |canaliculus |

|capill-, capilla- |hair, hairlike |capillary |

|capit/o |head |capitulum |

|carcin/o |cancer |carcinogenic, carcinoma |

|cardia, cardi/o, card/o |heart |cardiac, cardiovascular, cardiology |

|carp/o |wrist bones |carpus, carpals |

|caud/o |tail, lower part of body |caudal |

|cec/o |blind |cecum |

|-cele |tumor, swelling, pouch |hydrocele |

|-centesis |puncture, aspiration of |amniocentesis |

|cephal/o, -ceps |head |cephalad, hydrocephalic, bicep |

|cerebr/o |brain |cerebrum, cerebral |

|cervic/o |neck |cervix, cervical |

|chondr/o |cartilage |chondrocyte |

|chrom/o |color |chromatin, chromosomes |

|-cide |kill, killing |bactericide, spermicide |

|circa, circum |around, about |circumcise, circumflex artery |

|cirrh/o |orange-yellow, tawny |cirrhosis |

|-clasis, -clast |break down |osteoclast |

|co-, con- |with, together |coenzyme, cofactor, congenital |

|corn-, corne-, corni- |horn, horny, beak, claw |stratum corneum |

|coron/o |crown, garland |coronal suture |

|corp/u, corpor/o |body |corpus luteum, corpuscles |

|cost/o |rib |costal, intercostal |

|cox/o |hip, hip joint |coxa |

|crani/o |skull |cranium |

|crin/o, -crine |secrete |endocrine |

|-cutane, cutaneo |skin |cutaneous |

|cubit/o, -cubital |elbow, forearm, ulna |cubital, antecubital |

|cyan/o |blue |cyanotic |

|cyst-, -cyst |bladder, bag |cyst, blastocyst |

|cyt/o, -cyte |cell |cytology, leukocyte |

|D |

|-dactyl |finger |polydactyly |

|de- |away from, remove, off, without |dehydrate |

|derma-, dermis, dermat/o, derm/o |skin |dermal, ectoderm, dermatologist |

|desm, desmo |tie, a bond |desmosome |

|di- |twice, double, twofold |disaccharide |

|di- |take apart, separate |dissect |

|dia- |through, between, apart |diaphragm |

|-dont |tooth |odontoid process |

|dors/o, dors/i |back |dorsal |

|-duct |opening, vessel, tube, to lead/draws |oviduct, abduct, adduct |

|dys- |bad, difficult, painful |dysfunctional, dystrophy |

|E |

|e-, ex-, exo- |out, outer, out of, from, external |excise, excrete, exocrine, exotoxin |

|ecto- |out, outside | ectoderm, ectopic |

|-ectomy |surgcial removal, cutting out, excision |appendectomy, hysterectomy |

|ef- |out, away from |efferent |

|-emia |blood, blood condition |anemia, leukemia |

|en-, end-, endo- |in, within, inside, internal |endoderm, encephalitis |

|entero- |intestine |dysentery, gastroenterologist |

|epi- |over, above, on, upon |epithelium, epidermis |

|episi/o |loins, pubic area, vulva |episiotomy |

|erythr/o |red |erythema, erythrocyte |

|-esthetic |sensation, feeling |anesthetic |

|eu- |true, good, well, new |eukaryote |

|extra- |on the outside, beyond, outside |extracellular |

|F |

|femor/o |thigh bone |femur |

|-ferent |carrying |efferent, afferent |

|fibr/o |fiber |fibroblast |

|fore- |before, in front of |forearm, foreskin, forehead |

|fossa |hollow, depressed area |olecranon fossa |

|G |

|galact/o |milk |galactose |

|gam, gamo, gamet/o |marriage, sexual, joined |gamete |

|gaster-, gastr-, gastr/o |stomach, belly |gastric, gastrointestinal, gastritis |

|-genic, -genesis |origin, birth, creation |carcinogenic, biogenesis |

|gingiv- |gum |gingivitis |

|gluco- |sweet |glucose |

|glute/o |buttocks |gluteal, gluteus maximus |

|glyc/o, glycos/o |sugar, sweet |glycogen, hyperglycemia, glycocalyx |

|gracil/o |slender |gracilis |

|-gram |record, picture |angiogram |

|gyn-, gyno-, gynec-, gyneco- |woman |gynecology |

|H |

|hem/o, hema, hemat/o |blood, relating to the blood |hemorrhage, hemoglobin |

|hemi- |half |hemisphere |

|hepat/o |liver |hepatic vein, hepatitis |

|hist/o, histi/o |tissue |histology |

|holo- |all |holocrine |

|hom/o, homos |same, alike |homogenous |

|home/o |same, unchanging, constant |homeostasis |

|hydr/o, hydra- |water |hydrolysis, dehydration |

|hyper- |excessive, above, beyond |hyperglycemia, hypertonic |

|hypo- |below, under, decreased |hypoglycemia, hypotonic |

|hyster/o |uterus |hysterectomy |

|I |

|im- |not, in, into, inward, to cause |impermeable, impregnate |

|infra- |below, beneath |infraorbital |

|inguin/o |groin |inguinal canal |

|inter- |between, among |intercellular, interstitial |

|intra- |inside, within |intracellular, intravenous, intramuscular |

|iso- |equal, same |isotonic, isometric, isograft |

|-itis |disease, inflammation |bronchitis, arthritis |

|J |

|K |

|kary/o |nucleus, nut, kernel |karyotype, eukaryote |

|kines/o, kinesi/o, -kinesia |movement |cytokinesis, kinesiology |

|kypho- |bent, humped |kyphosis |

|L |

|labio- |lip |labium |

|lacrim/o |of or relating to tear |lacrimal bone, lacrimal duct |

|lact/i, lact/o |milk |lactose, lactate, lactase |

|-lemma |sheath, covering, envelope |sarcolemma |

|leuk/o |white |leukocyte, leukemia |

|lip/o |fat |lipid, liposuction, lipoma |

|-logy |study |cytology, histology, hematology |

|lys, lyse, -lysis |breakdown, rupture, destruction, separation |cytolysis, hydrolysis, lysosome |

|M |

|macro- |large, abnormal size or length, long |macromolecule, macrophage |

|mal- |abnormal, bad, inadequate |malnutrition |

|-malacia |soft, softening |osteomalacia |

|mamm/o |of or pertaining to breast |mammary, mammogram |

|mast- |of or pertaining to breast |mastectomy |

|melan/o |dark, black color |melanin, melanoma |

|mening/o, meningi/o |membrane |meningitis |

|-mer |part |polymer, monomer |

|mes-, meso- |middle |mesoderm |

|micr/o, micro- |small |microscope |

|mono- |one, single |monomer, monosaccharide |

|morph/o |shape, form, structure |morphology |

|muc/o, mucos/o |mucus |mucosa, mucous membrane, mucus |

|multi- |many, much |multinucleate |

|my/o, myos/o |muscle |myocardium |

|myel/o |bone marrow |myeloblast |

|N |

|narc/o |numb, sleep |narcotic |

|necr/o, -necrosis |of or pertaining to death/dead things |necrosis, necrotizing fasciitis |

|nephr-, nephra-, nephro- |kidney |nephritis, nephrology |

|nerv/o, neur/i, neur/o |nerve, nerve tissue |neuron, neurology |

|nuc-, nucle-, nucleo- |nut, kernel |nucleus, nucleoplasm |

|O |

|obliqu/o |slanted |oblique |

|occipit/o |back of the skull |occipital bone |

|ocul/o |eye |ocular, binocular |

|odont/o |tooth |odontoid process |

|olecran/o |elbow |olecranon process |

|-ology |science or study of |physiology, cardiology |

|-oma |tumor |carcinoma, sarcoma |

|onc/o |tumor |oncogene, oncology |

|o/o,oo/o |beginning, egg |oocyte, oogenesis |

|ophthalm/o |eye, vision |ophthalmology |

|opt-, opto-, optic-, optico- |eye, vision |optic nerve |

|or/o |mouth, oral cavity |oral, oropharynx |

|ortho- |direct, straight |orthopedic |

|osmo- |push |osmosis, osmotic pressure |

|oss/e, oss/i, oste/o, osst/o |bone |osteon, osteocyte, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis |

|ot/o |ear, hearing |otitis, otic |

|ov/i, ov/o |egg |ovary, ovum, oviduct |

|P |

|pall/o, pallid/o |pale, lacking color |pallor |

|para- |beside, near |parasagittal |

|path-, -pathy |disease |pathogen, osteopathy |

|pector/o |chest | pectoralis major |

|-ped, -pede, ped/o, pedia, pedis, pes, pod |foot |bipedal, podiatrist |

|pedi/a |child |pediatrician |

|-penia |deficient |osteopenia |

|peri- |surrounding, around |pericardium |

|-phaga, -phage, -phagia, phago- | to eat, devour |macrophage, phagocyte |

|phil, -phile, -philia, -philic, philo- |love, attract |hydrophilic |

|phleb/o |vein |phlebitis, phlebotomist |

|phob/o, -phobia, -phobic |abnormal fear |hydrophobic |

|physi/o |body function |physiology |

|-plasia, plasm-, plasmo-, plast/o |anything formed or molded |plasma, cytoplasm |

|-plasty |reconstruction |rhinoplasty |

|-plegia |paralysis |quadriplegic, paraplegic |

|pleura- |rib, side |pleural cavity |

|pneum/o |lungs |pneumonia |

|pod-, podo- |foot |podiatrist |

|-poiesis |production, formation, to make |hematopoiesis |

|poly- |many |polymer, polysaccharide |

|post- |after, behind |posterior, postoperative |

|pro- |before, foreward |prothrombin |

|pre- |before, in front of |precancerous, prenatal |

|proct/o |anus, rectum |proctology |

|proxim/o |near |proximal |

|pterygo- |wing |pterygoid process |

|pulmon-, pulmo- |lung |pulmonary |

|pylor-, pyloro |gatekeeper |pyloric valve |

|Q |

|quadr/i, quadr/o |four |quadriceps, quadriplegic |

|R |

|ren/i, ren/o |kidney |renal |

|reti-, reticul- , reticul/o |network |endoplasmic reticulum, reticular, |

|-rrhage, -rrhagia |bleeding, abnormal excessive fluid discharge |hemorrhage, hemorrhagic |

|-rrhea |abnormal flow, discharge |diarrhea |

|rug/o |wrinkle, fold |rugae |

|S |

|sacchar/o |sugar |polysaccharide |

|sarc/o |flesh, muscular, connective tissue |sarcoma, sarcomere |

|scler/o, -sclerosis |hard, hardening |atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis |

|scoli/o |curved, bent |scoliosis |

|-scope |instrument for viewing |stethoscope, microscope |

|scrot/o |bag, pouch |scrotum |

|sell/o |saddle |sella turcica |

|semi- |half |semilunar valve |

|semin/i |seed, sperm |seminal vesicle |

|seps/o, sept/i, sept/o |infection, separate |sepsis, septic, septum |

|som-, soma-, somat/o, -some |body |chromosome, lysosome |

|sperm-, sperma, spermi, spermo, spermato |seed |spermatid, spermatogenesis |

|-stasia, -stasis, -static |control, maintenance of constant level |homeostasis |

|sten/o |narrowing, contracted |stenosis |

|steth- |chest |stethoscope |

|stomat/o |mouth |stoma |

|-stomosis, -stomy |surgical opening, new opening |colostomy |

|styl/o |pillar, point, pen |styloid process |

|sub- |under, below, less, smaller than |subcutaneous |

|sulc/o |furrow, groove |lacrimal sulcus |

|super-, super/o, supra |above, excessive, higher than |superior, suprarenal, supraorbital |

|sym-, syn- |with, together, united |bilateral symmetry, synapse |

|T |

|tach-, tacho-, tachy- |fast, rapid |tachycardia |

|tars-, tarso-, -tarsal |foot |tarsus, metatarsal |

|tel-, tele-, telo- |end, completion |telomere, telophase |

|tetan/o |rigid, tense |tetanus |

|therm/o, -thermia |heat |hypothermia, endothermic |

|thorac/o, -thorax |chest |pneumothorax, thoracic cavity |

|thromb/o |blood clot |thrombus, thrombosis |

|-tibial |shinbone |tibia |

|-tomy |cutting, sharp |lobotomy, episiotomy |

|-ton |tension, to stretch |hypotonic, hypertonic, isotonic |

|tox/o, toxic/o, -toxin |poison, poisonous |toxic, toxemia |

|trabecul/o |little beam |trabeculae |

|trache-, trachea- |throat, neck, windpipe |trachea |

|trans- |across, through |transverse, transfusion |

|tri- |three |tricuspid |

|troph/o, -trophic, -trophy |development, nourishment, to feed or eat, food |hypertrophy, hypotrophy, dystrophy |

|U |

|uln-, ulno- |forearm |ulna |

|umbilic/o |navel |umbilical cord |

|uni- |one |uninucleate |

|uter/o |womb |uterus |

|V |

|vagin- |sheath, scabbard |vagina |

|vaso- |duct, blood vessel |vasoconstriction |

|ven/o, veni- |vein |venous, intravenous |

|ventr/o, ventri- |in front, belly side |ventral |

|vesicul- |small bladder, blister |vesicle |

|vill- |shaggy hair |microvilli, villi |

|viscer/o |internal organ |viscera, visceral |

|viscos/o |sticky |viscous |

|vitre-, vitreo- |glassy, clear |vitreous humor |

|vulv/o |covering |vulva |

|W |

|X |

|xeno- |foreign, different |xenograft |

|xiphi-, xipho- |sword |xiphoid process |

|Y |

|Z |

|zygot/o |joined together |zygote |

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