List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes

List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes

1

List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes

This is a list of roots, suffixes, and prefixes used in medical terminology, their meanings, and their etymology. There are a few rules when using medical roots. Firstly, prefixes and suffixes, primarily in Greek, but also in Latin, have a droppable -o-. As a general rule, this -o- almost always acts as a joint-stem to connect two consonantal roots, e.g. arthr- + -o- + logy = arthrology. But generally, the -o- is dropped when connecting to a vowel-stem; e.g. arthr+ itis = arthritis, instead of arthr-o-itis. Secondly, medical roots generally go together according to language: Greek prefixes go with Greek suffixes and Latin prefixes with Latin suffixes. Although international scientific vocabulary is not stringent about segregating combining forms of different languages, it is advisable when coining new words not to mix different lingual roots.

Prefixes and suffixes

The following is an alphabetical list of medical prefixes and suffixes, along with their meanings, origin, and an English example.

A

Prefix or suffix

Meaning

a-, an-

Denotes an absence of, without

ab-

away

abdomin(o)- Of or relating to the abdomen

-ac, -acal acanth(o)-

pertaining to thorn or spine

acous(io)-

Of or relating to hearing

acr(o)-

extremity, topmost

-acusis

hearing

-ad ad-

aden(o)-, aden(i)adip(o)adren(o)-aemia (BrE) aer(o)aesthesio(BrE) -al alb-

toward, in the direction of increase, adherence, motion toward, very Of or relating to a gland

Of or relating to fat or fatty tissue Of or relating to adrenal glands blood condition air, gas sensation

pertaining to Denoting a white or pale color

Origin language and etymology

Example(s)

Ancient Greek -/- (a-/an-), without, not Apathy, Analgia

Latin

Abduction

Latin (abdmen), abdomen, fat around the Abdomen belly

Greek - (-akos)

cardiac, hydrophobiac, pharmacomaniacal

Ancient Greek (akantha), thorn

acanthion, acanthocyte, acanthoma, acanthulus

Greek (acoustikos), of or for hearing

acoumeter, acoustician

Greek (akron), highest or farthest point

Acrocrany, acromegaly, acroosteolysis, acroposthia

Greek (acoustikos), of or for hearing

paracusis

dorsad

Latin

Adduction

Ancient Greek , - (adn, aden-), an acorn; a gland Latin (adeps, adip-), fat Latin Greek , without blood Greek , Greek

Adenocarcinoma, adenology, adenotome, adenotyphus Adipocyte adrenal artery Anaemia Aerosinusitis Anesthesia

Latin -alis Latin albus, white

abdominal Albino

List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes

2

alge(si)-

pain

Greek

Analgesic

-algia

pain

Greek

Myalgia

alg(i)o-

pain

Greek

Myalgia

allo-

Denoting something as different, or as Ancient Greek (allos), another, other Alloantigen, allopathy

an addition

ambi-

Denoting something as positioned on Latin (ambi-, ambo), both, on both sides both sides; Describing both of two

Ambidextrous

amnio-

Pertaining to the membranous fetal sac Greek (amnion)

Amniocentesis

amph-, amphi- on both sides

Greek (amphi)

Amphicrania, amphismela, amphomycin

an-

not, without

Greek

Analgesia

ana-

back, again, up

Greek

Anaplasia

an(o)

anus

Latin

andr(o)-

pertaining to a man

Greek , -

Andrology, android

angi(o)-

blood vessel

Greek

Angiogram

aniso-

Describing something as unequal

Ancient Greek (ansos), unequal Anisotropic, anisocytosis

ankyl(o)-, ancyl(o)-

Denoting something as crooked or bent Ancient Greek (ank?los), crooked, Ankylosis curved

ante-

Describing something as positioned in Latin (nt), before, in front of front of another thing

antepartum

anti-

Describing something as 'against' or 'opposed to' another

Ancient Greek (anti), against

Antibody, antipsychotic

apo-

separated from, derived from

Ancient Greek

Apoptosis

arch(i,e,o)

first, primitive

archinephron : first formed kidney

arsen(o)-

Of or pertaining to a male; masculine Greek (arsein)

arteri(o)-

Of or pertaining to an artery

Ancient Greek (artr?a), a wind-pipe, artery (used distinctly versus a vein)

Artery, Arteriole

arthr(o)-

Of or pertaining to the joints, limbs

Ancient Greek (arthros), a joint, limb

Arthritis

articul(o)-

joint

Latin articulum

Articulation

-ary

pertaining to

Latin -arius

bilary tract

-ase

enzyme

Greek , division

Lactase

-asthenia

weakness

Greek,

Myasthenia gravis

atel(o)

imperfect or incomplete development

atelocardia : imperfect development of the heart

ather(o)-

fatty deposit, Soft gruel-like deposit

Atherosclerosis

-ation

process

Latin

Habitation, Lubrication

atri(o)-

an atrium (esp. heart atrium)

atrioventricular

aur(i)-

Of or pertaining to the ear

Latin (auris), the ear

Aural

aut(o)-

self

Greek -

Autoimmune

aux(o)-

increase; growth

auxocardia : enlargement of the heart

List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes

axillazo(to)

Of or pertaining to the armpit [uncommon as a prefix]

nitrogenous compound

Latin (axilla), armpit

3

Axilla

azothermia : raised temperature due to nitrogenous substances in blood

B

Prefix/suffix

Meaning

balano-

Of the glans penis or glans clitoridis

bi-

twice, double

bio-

life

blast(o)- germ or bud

blephar(o)- Of or pertaining to the eyelid

brachi(o)- Of or relating to the arm

brachy-

bradybronch(i)bucc(o)burs(o)-

Indicating 'short' or less commonly 'little' 'slow' bronchus Of or pertaining to the cheek bursa (fluid sac between the bones)

Origin language and etymology

Example(s)

Greek - balanos, acorn, glans

Balanitis

Latin

Binary

Ancient Greek

Biology

Greek

Blastomere

Ancient Greek (bl?pharon), eyelid

Blepharoplast

Latin (brachium), from Ancient Greek (brachin), Brachium of inferior

arm

colliculus

Ancient Greek (brachys), short, little, shallow

brachycephalic

Ancient Greek (bradys), slow

Latin (bucca), cheek Latin

Bradycardia Bronchiolitis obliterans Buccolabial Bursitis

C

Prefix or suffix

capillcapitcarcin(o)cardi(o)carp(o)-

cata-cele

-centesis cephal(o)cerat(o)cerebell(o)cerebr(o)cervicchem(o)-

Meaning

Origin language and etymology

Example(s)

Of or pertaining to hair

Latin (capillus), hair

Capillus

Pertaining to the head (as a whole)

Latin (caput, capit-), the head

Capitation

cancer

Greek (karkinos), crab

Carcinoma

Of or pertaining to the heart

Ancient Greek (kard?a), heart

Cardiology

Of or pertaining to the wrist

Latin (carpus) < Ancient Greek (karp?s), wrist; NOTE: This root should not be confused with the mirror root carp(o)meaning fruit.

Carpopedal

down, under

Greek (kata)

Cataract

pouching, hernia

Ancient Greek (kl)

Hydrocele, Varicocele

surgical puncture for aspiration

Ancient Greek (kentsis)

Amniocentesis

Of or pertaining to the head (as a whole) Ancient Greek (k?phal), the head

Cephalalgy

Of or pertaining to the cornu; a horn

Ancient Greek , - (k?ras, kerat-), a horn

Ceratoid

Of or pertaining to the cerebellum

Latin (cerebellum), little brain

Cerebellum

Of or pertaining to the brain

Latin (cerebrum), brain

Cerebrology

Of or pertaining to the neck, the cervix Latin (cervix, cervc-), neck, cervix

Cervicodorsal

chemistry, drug

Greek

Chemotherapy

List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes

4

chir(o)-, cheir(o)chlor(o)chol(e)cholecyst(o)-

chondr(i)ochrom(ato)-cidal, -cide cili-

circumcisclast cocol-, colo-, colonocolp(o)comcontra corcor-, core-, corocordi-

cornu-

coron(o)cost(o)cox-

crani(o)-

-crine cry(o)cutanecyan(o)cyclcyph(o)-

cyst(o)-, cyst(i)-

Of or pertaining to the hand

Ancient Greek , - (cheir, cheiro-), hand

Denoting a green color Of or pertaining to bile Of or pertaining to the gallbladder

cartilage, gristle, granule, granular color killing, destroying Of or pertaining to the cilia, the eyelashes; eyelids Denoting something as 'around' another on this side break with, together, in association colon

Ancient Greek (chloros), green, yellow-green Ancient Greek (chol), bile Ancient Greek (cholk?stis), gallbladder < (chol), bile, gall + (k?stis), bladder Ancient Greek (chondros) Ancient Greek Latin < Latin (cilium), eyelash; eyelid

Latin (circum), around Latin (cis) Greek Latin

Of or pertaining to the vagina with, together against with, together Of or pertaining to eye's pupil

Ancient Greek (k?lpos), bosom, womb; hollow, depth Latin Latin Latin Ancient Greek (k?r), girl, doll; pupil of the eye

Of or pertaining to the heart [Uncommon Latin (cor, cordi-), heart as a prefix]

Applied to processes and parts of the body describing them likened or similar to horns

Latin (corn), horn

crown

Latin corna ("garland, crown")

Of or pertaining to the ribs

Latin (costa), rib

Of or relating to the hip, haunch, or hip-joint

Latin (coxa), hip

Belonging or relating to the cranium

Latin (cranium) < Ancient Greek (krnion), the cranium, skull, bones enclosing the brain

to secrete

ecrine

cold

Greek

skin

Latin cutis

Denotes a blue color

Ancient Greek , (k?anos, ky?neos), blue

circle, cycle

Greek (kuklos)

Denotes something as bent (uncommon as Ancient Greek (kph?s), bent, hunchback a prefix)

Of or pertaining to the urinary bladder Ancient Greek (k?stis); bladder, cyst

Chiropractor Chlorophyll Cholaemia Cholecystectomy Chondrocalcinosis Hemochromatosis bacteriocidal Ciliary Circumcision

osteoclast coenzymes Colonoscopy Colposcopy

Contraindicate

Corectomy Commotio cordis

Costochondral Coxopodite Craniology Endocrine Cryoablation Subcutaneous Cyanopsia

Cyphosis Cystotomy

List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes

cyt(o)-

cell

-cyte

cell

Greek Greek

5

Cytokine Leukocyte

D

Prefix/suffix dacryodactyl(o)-

Meaning tear Of or pertaining to a finger, toe

dedentdermat(o)-, derm(o)-desis dextr(o)dididia-

away from, cessation Of or pertaining to teeth Of or pertaining to the skin

binding right, on the right side two apart, separation (same as Greek meaning)

difdigit-dipsia

apart, separation Of or pertaining to the finger [rare as a root] suffix meaning "(condition of) thirst"'

Origin language and etymology Greek Ancient Greek (d?ktylos), finger, toe Latin deLatin (dens, dentis), tooth Ancient Greek , (d?rma, d?mat-), skin, human skin Greek (desis) Latin dexter Greek Latin Ancient Greek (di?), through, during, across Latin Latin (digitus), finger, toe

dis-

separation, taking apart

Latin dis-

dors(o)-, dors(i)- Of or pertaining to the back

Latin (dorsum), back

duodeno-

duodenum, twelve: upper part of the small intestine (twelve Latin duodeni inches long on average), connects to the stomach

dynam(o)-

force, energy, power

Greek (dunamis)

-dynia

pain

dys-

bad, difficult

Greek -

Example(s)

Dactylology

Dentist Dermatology arthrodesis Dextrocardia Diplopia

Diacetyl

Digit polydipsia hydroadipsia, oligodipsia Dissection dorsal, Dorsocephalad Duodenal atresia

Vulvodynia Dysphagia, dysphasia

E

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