- a, an-
without, absent (apnea: temporary absence of respiration).
ab- away from
(abduct: move away from).
abdomin(o)-
abdomen (abdominal: pertaining to the abdomen).
acou- hearing
(acoustics: study of sound).
acr(o)-
extremity, tip (acromegaly: disease characterized
by enlargement of
distal parts of the skeleton).
ad- to,
toward, near (adduct: move toward).
aden- gland (adenocarcinoma:
carcinoma of glandular tissues).
adip(o)-
relating to fat.
aero- relating
to gas or air.
af- to, toward
(afferent: conveying toward a central point).
alba- white
(albino: lacking color, appearing white).
alg- pain (cephalgia:
pain in the head/headache).
all- meaning
another, other or different.
allo-
indicates difference or divergence from the norm.
alve- channel
(alveolus: air channel in lung).
ambi- both, on
both sides (ambidextrous: using both hands.
ambly-
impaired,dull (amblyopia: impaired vision).
amphi- around
or about, doubly (amphiboious: capable of living on land or water).
an- without
ana- up,
positive, back again (anastamosis: connection of two vessels).
andr(o)- male
(androgens: male sex hormones).
angi(o)-
vessel, duct, usually a blood vessel (angioplasty operation to repair
narrowing blood vessels).
aniso-
dissimilar, unequal, or asymmetrical
ankyl(o)-
crooked, bent, fused, stiff (ankylosed: fused, as in joints).
ante- before,
in front of (antepartum: before delivery).
antero-
before, front, anterior
anti- against,
counteracting (antido te: treatment to
counter-act the
effects of a poison).
arthr(o)-
relating to joint(s) (arthritis: inflammation of a joint).
antro-
relating to a chamber or cavity.
appendi-
relating to the appendix
arch-
beginning, first, principle
archo-
relating to the rectum/anus
arteri-
relating to the arteries
arth- joint
asthenia-
weakness
astro-
star-shaped or star-like.
atel-
imperfect, incomplete (atelencephalia: incomplete
development of the
brain).
audi- related
to hearing
auto- self
(autophobia: the fear of self or being alone).
axio- relating
to an axis.
axo- relating
to an axis.
balano-
relating to the glans penis or glans clitoridis
baro- relating
to weight or heaviness.
basi- relating
to the base or foundation (also basio-)
bi- two, twice
(binocular: of both eyes).
bio- life
(biomicroscope; a microscope used to veiw living tissue).
blasto-
growth, bud (blastocyst: hollow ball of embryonic cells).
blenn-
relating to mucus (also blenno)
blepharo-
relating to the eyelid (blepharoplasty: operation to repair the
eyelid(s))
brachi(o)- arm
(brachialis: muscle for flexing forearm).
brachy- short
(brachydactyly: abnormal shortness of fingers or toes).
brachy- short
brady- slow or
prolonged (bradycardia: slow heart rate).
bronch-
windpipe (bronchitis: inflammation of the bronchus).
burs- relating
to bursa
cac(o)- bad,
ill, abnormal (cachexia: generally poor condition of the body).
capit- head
(capitulum: small eminence, or little head, on a
bone by which it
articulates with another bone).
carcin(o)-
cancer (carcinogenic: cancer causing).
cardi-
relating to the heart
carp(o)-
relating to the wrist.
cata-, kata-
down, through (catabolisrm: breaking down).
caud- tail
(caudal: toward the posterior part of the body).
cele-, celo-
indicating a tumor or hernia; cavity
centi- 1/100,
100 (centimeter: 1/100 meter).
cephal(o)-
head (encephalitis: inflammation of the brain).
cerebr(o)-
brain (cerebral: pertaining to the brain).
cervi(co)-
neck or neck of an organ (cervix: neck-shaped
outer end of the
uterus).
chilo-,
cheil- relating to the lip
chole-
relating to the gallbladder
chondr(o)-,
chondri-, chondrio- cartilage
(chondromalacia:
softening of cartilage).
chromo-, chromato-
color (polychromatic: multi-colored).
circum- around
(circumduction: circular motion around a
joint).
cirrh- yellow
(cirrhosis: disease causing yellowing of the
liver).
cleido-
relating to the clavicle
co-, com-, con-
with, together (congenital: born with).
coel- cavity
within a body or body organ (coelenteron:
gastrovascular
cavity).
contra-
opposite, against (contralateral: opposite side).
cor(e)-
relating to the pupil of the eye
cost(o)-
relating to the ribs
crani(o)-
skull (craniotomy: surgical opening in the skull).
cryo- cold
(cryosurgery: surgery performed with
application of
extreme cold to tissues).
crypt(o)-
hidden (cryptoplasmic: occurring in a concealed
form).
cutane-
relating to the skin
cyan(o)- blue
(cyanosis: bluish discoloration of the skin).
cyst- sac,
bladder (cystitis: inflammation of the bladder).
cyst(o)-
relating to the urinary bladder o r a cyst
cyt(o)- cell
(cytology: study of cells).
dacry-
pertaining to the lacrimal glands
de- away, not,
down (dehydrate; take water away from).
deca- deci-
1/10 (deciliter: 1/10 liter).
demi- half the
amount.
dent(i)- tooth
(interdental: between the teeth).
derm- skin
(dermatitis: inflammation of the skin).
desmo-
relating to the ligaments
deuter-
secondary or second.
dextr(o)- on
the right or towards the right (dextrogastria:
displacement of the
stomach to the right side of body).
di- two,
twice, doubly (diphasic: occurring in two stages).
dia- apart,
across, through, between, completely (diastasis:
separation of normal
joined parts).
diplo- double
(diplopia: double vision).
dis(t)- apart,
away from (disarticulate: come apart at the
joints).
dorso-, do rsi-
back (dorsiflection: bending to the back of
hand, foot, or
spine).
duct- lead,
conduct (ductulus: a minute duct/tube).
dys- diseased,
difficult; bad ; painful (dystrophy: disorder
arising from faulty
nutrition).
ecto- outside
(ectoderm: outer germ layer).
ectro-
congenital absence of something.
edem- swelling
(edema: swelling).
em-, en- in
(encapsulated: enclosed in a capsule).
endo- within
(endoderm: inner germ layer).
enter(o)-
intestine (gastroenteritis: inflammation of the
digestive system).
epi- on, over,
upon (epidermis: outer layer of skin).
erythr(o)- red
(erythropoiesis: formation of red blood
cells).
eu- good,
normal (eupnea: easy, normal breathing).
ex- out of
(exhale: breathe out).
exo- outside (exocytosis:
process of expelling large
particles from a
cell).
extra- outside
of, in addition to, beyond (extracellular:
outside a cell).
fasci- band
(fascia: sheet of fibrous tissue).
fibro-
relating to fibers or fibrous tissue
fore- before,
in front (forebrain: front part of brain).
galacto-
relating to milk
gastr(o)-
stomach (gastritis: inflammation of the stomach).
genito-
relating to reproduction
glyco-, gluco-
sugar, sweet (glycolysis: breakdown of
glucose)
gono- relating
to genitals; offspring; origination
gyn(o), gyne(co)-
female, woman (gynecology: study of
the female
reproductive system).
haplo- single,
simple (haploid: having a single set of
chromosomes).
hema-, hemato-,
hemo- blood (hematoma: a localized
collection of blood).
hemi- one-half
(hemiplegia: paralysis of one side of the
body).
hepat(o)-
liver (hepatitis: inflammation of the liver).
hetero- other,
different (heterosexual: other sex).
hist(o)-
tissue (histology: study of tissues).
homeo-
unchanged, resembling, or likeness (homeo stasis:
state of inner
stability of the body).
homo- same
(homogeneous: comprised of same/similar
elements).
hydr(o)-
water, fluid, or hydrogen (hydrocele:
accumulation of
serous fluid in a body cavity).
hyper- above,
excessive (hyperactivity: excessive activity).
hypo- beneath,
under, deficient (hypoglycemic: having low
blood glucose
levels).
hyster-relating
to the womb or hysteria
idio- peculiar
to the individual, distinct (idiopathic: disease
with no apparent
cause).
ileo-
ileum/part of the small intestine
ilio- relating
to the pelvis.
in-, im- in,
within, into; not (indigestion: difficulty in
digest-ing food;
immerse: dip into).
infra- below
(infracostal: below the ribs).
inter-
between, among (intercellular: between cells).
intra- within
(intracellular: within a cell).
ir- against,
into, toward (irradiate: emit rays into).
irid- relating
to the iris.
is(o)- equals,
same (isopia: equal vision in both eyes).
ischio-
relating to the hip.
jejuno-
relating to the jejunum (part of the small intestine)
juxta- next to
or near.
karyo-
relating to the nucleus of a cell.
kerato-
relating to the cornea or horny tissue.
labi- lip
(labia majora: external folds or lips of the vulva).
lacri- tears (nasolacrimal
apparatus: tear-producing and
tear-carryring
apparatus).
lact(o)- milk
(lactose: milk sugar).
laparo- flank,
loins, operations through the abdominal
wall.
laryng(o)-
relating to the larynx.
leuk(o)- white
(leukocyte: white blood cell).
lien- relating
to the spleen.
lip(o)- fat,
fatty (lipoma: benign tumor of fatty cells).
lith(o)-
relating to a hard or calcified substance/stone.
lumb(o)-
relating to the lumbar spine region.
macr(o)- large
(macrophage: large phagocytic cell).
mal- bad
(malnutrition: impaired/poor diet).
medi- middle
(medial: near the midline of the body).
mega- large (megakaryocyte:
large cellular forerunner of
platelet).
melan(o)-
black (melanin: dark skin pigment).
meningo-
relating to the membranes covering the brain and
spine.
mesio- towards
the middle; secondary
meso- middle
(mesoderm: middle layer of skin).
meta- beyond,
next to (metacarpal: bone of the hand that is
next to the wrist).
micr(o)-
.small (photomicrograph: photograph of a very
small object as seen
through a microscope).
milli- 1/1000
(millimeter: 1/1000 meter).
mis- bad,
improper.
mon(o)- one
(monocular: pertaining to one eye).
morph(o)-
form, shape (morphology: study of the form
and structure of
organisms and parts of organisms).
multi- many (multicellular:
having many cells).
my(o)- muscle
(myocardium: heart muscle).
myc- relating
to fungus.
myel(o)- bone
marrow, spinal cord (myelitis: inflamation
of the spinal cord).
narco-
insensate condition or numbness.
necro- death
or dead tissue.
neo- new,
strange (neonatal: newborn).
nephr(o)-
kidney (nephrectomy: surgical removal of a
kidney).
neur(o)- nerve
(neuron: nerve cell).
noci- relating
to injury or pain.
non- not
(noninfectious: not able to spread).
nycto-
relating to darkness or night.
ob- against
(obstruction: blocking of a structure).
ocul(o)- eye (octclomotor:
pertaining to eye movement).
odont-
relating to the teeth.
olig(o)-
little, few, scanty (oligtrria: secretion of a small
amount of urine).
omo- relating
to the shoulder.
omphalo-
relating to the navel.
onco- relating
to a mass, tumor, or swelling.
onycho-
relating to the fingernails or toenails.
(onychomycosis: a
fungal condition of the nail)
oo- egg (oocyte:
egg cell).
oophor-
relating to the ovaries.
ophthalmo- eye
(ophthalmology: study of the eye).
opistho-
indicates behind or backwards.
orchi-
relating to the testicles.
orth(o)-
straight, normal, correct (orthodontic: pertaining
to the straightening
of teeth).
oscheo-
relating to the scrotum.
oste(o)- bone
(osteitis: inflammation of the bone).
ot(o)- ear
(otology: study of the ear).
ovi- ovo- egg
(ovum: egg cell).
pachy- large,
heavy, or thick.
pali-
repetition, back again, recurrent
panto-
indicates the whole or all.
para- beside,
beyond, similar (paraspinal: beside the
spine).
path(o)-
disease, suffering (pathogenic: capable of
producing disease).
ped(i)-
relating to the foot.
pedia- child
(pediatrician: physician who specializes in
childhood diseases).
pend- hang
down (appendicular skeleton: portion of the
skeleton that hangs
from the pectoral and pelvic girdles).
per- through
(permeate: to pass through).
peri- around
or in the vicinity of(pericardium: membrane
surrounding the
heart).
pero-
indicates being maimed or deformed.
phaco-
relating to the llens of the eye.
phag(o)- eat,
consume (phagocyte: cell that ingests other
cells or particles).
pharyngo-
relating to the pharynx/throat.
phleb(o)- vein
(phlebitis: inflammation of a vein).
phreno-
relating to the diaphragm, head or mind.
pimel-
relating to fat.
platy- wide;
broad
pleio- more;
additional
pleuro-, pleura-
rib, side (pleurisy: inflammation of
pleura, the membrane
covering the lungs and lining the
thoracic sac).
plur(i)- many,
more (pluriglandular: several glands).
pneum-
relating to respiration, air, or the lungs.
pneumato-,
pneuma- air (pneumatometer: instrument for
measuring pressure of
inspiration and expiration of lungs).
pneumo-, pneumono-
lung, respiratory organs
(pneumonia: chronic
lung infection).
pod- foot
(podiatrist: a specialist in care and treatment of
the foot).
poly- many
(polycystic: having many cysts).
post- after
(postpartum: after delivery).
pre-, pro-
before (prenatal: before birth).
pro- for, in
front of, before (prophylaxis: preventive treatment,
to keep guard before
development of problems).
proct- rectum,
anus (proctoscope: instrument for
examining the
rectum).
proso-
indicates toward the front, anterior, of forward
pseudo- false
(pseudoparaplegia: hysterical/false
paralysis).
pulmo- lung
(pulmonary: pertaining to the lungs).
py(o)- pus (pyocyst:
pus-filled cyst).
pyelo-
relating to the renal pevis
pyreto- fever,
heat
quadr(i)- four
(quadriplegia: paralysis of all four limbs).
rachi-
relating to the spine.
re- back,
again (reflex: bend back).
recto-
straight or relating to the rectum
ren- kidney
(adrenal: relating to the position of the adrenal
gland atop the
kidney).
retro- behind,
backward (retrograde: going backward).
rheo- a flow
or stream of fluid.
rhin(o)- nose
(rhinitis: inflammation of nasal mucous
membranes).
sacro-
relating to the sacrum; base of the vertebral column
salping-
relating to the fallopian or eustachian tubes.
sarco-
relating to flesh
scapho-
deformed condition, shaped like a boat
scapulo-
relating to the shoulder.
schisto- cleft
or split; a fissure.
sclero- hard
(sclerosis: hardening of tissue).
scoto-
relating to darkness; a visual field gap.
semi-
one-half, partly (semilunar valve: half moon-shaped
valve).
sial- relating
to saliva.
sinistro- (sinister)
relating to the left side.
somato-
relating to the body.
spheno-
relating to the sphenoid bone at the base of the
skull.
sphygmo-
relating to the pulse.
sphlanch-
intestines; viscera
steato- fat
steno-
contracted, narrow (stenosis: condition of being
narrowed).
stetho-
relating to the chest.
stom(ato)-
relating to the mouth.
sub- beneath
(subcutaneous: beneath the skin).
super- above
(superior: toward the head).
supra- above,
over (suprapubic: above the pubic bone).
sym-, syn-
together, union (synapse: meeting between two
or more nerve cells).
tachy- fast
(tachycardia: abnormally fast heart rate).
tarso-
relating to the foot; margin of the eyelid.
telo-,
teleo- end; complete or perfectly formed (telophase:
final phase of
mitosis).
teno- relating
to tendons.
terato-
indicates being seriously deformed.
tetr(a)- four
(tetrad: group of four chromosomes formed
during meiosis).
thalmo-
relating to the thalmus, origin of nerves in the
brain.
thanato-
relating to death.
therap-
treatment (therapeutic: having a healing effect).
therm(o)-
heat, warmth (thermometer: device to measure
heat).
thorac(o)-
chest (thoracic cavity: chest cavity).
thromb(o)-
lump, clot (thrombosis: formation of a blood
clot in a vessel or
heart cavity).
thymo-
relating to the thymus.
toco- birth
tox- poison
(toxemia: blood poisoning).
trachelo- neck
trans- across,
through (transepidermal: occurring through
or across the skin).
tri- three
(triceps: three-headed muscle of the posterior of
arm).
trichi-,
tricho- relating to hair; hair-like shape or
appearance.
tympano-
eardrum
typhlo-
relating to th cecum; relating to blindness
ultra-
excessive, extreme (ultrasonic: sound waves beyond
the audio-frequency
range).
un(i)- one
(unilateral: one side).
uria-, uro-
urine, urinary tract (polyuria: production of excess
urine).
vas(o)- vessel
(cardiovascular: vessel related to the heart)
ventr(o)-
relating to the abdomen; anterior surface of the
body.
vesic(o)-
relating to the bladder.
viscera-, viscero-
organ (visceral: pertaining to a body
organ, usually
abdominal).
xeno- a
foreign substance
xero-
indicates a dry condition
-ac pertaining
to (celiac: penaining to the abdominal
region).
-ad toward, in
the direction of (cephalad: toward the head).
-agra severe
pain, seizure (podagra: severe pain of the
foot).
-al pertaining
to (digital: pertaining to the finger or toe).
-alg, algia-
pain, painful (cephalgia: head pain/headache)
-an, -ian
pertaining to, characteristic of, belonging to
(ovarian: penaining
to the ovary).
-apheresis
removal
-ar of or
relating to, being, resembling (valvular: relating
to a valve).
-ary of or
relating to, connected with (biliary: relating to
bile).
-ase enzyme
(lactase: enzyme that catalyzes conversion of
lactose into glucose
and galactose).
-asthenia
weakness
-ate that
which is acted upon, marked by having, to act on
(substrate: substance
acted on by enzyme; lobate: having
lobes; separate: to
keep apart).
-atresia
abnormal closure, occlusion, or absence of a
normal body opening (proczafresia:
closed anus).
-blast sprout,
growth (osteoblast: cell from which bone
develops).
-capnia
relating to carbon dioxide
-cele
swelling, tumor, hernia, or protrusion (cystocele:
hernia of urinary
bladder).
-centesis
puncture of a cavity (paracentesis: puncture of a
space around an organ
or within a cavity to remove fluid).
-cephal
pertaining to the head (cephalgia: head
pain/headache)
-cide kill
(germicide: killer of germs).
-cis cut
(excise: cut out).
-clasis, -clasia,
-clast breaking up (bacterioclasis: breaking
up of bacteria).
-cle, -cule
small or little
-cleisis
closure (colpocelisis: operation for closure of
vagina).
-coccus
berry-shaped, a form of bacterium
-crit to
separate
-cyte having
to do with cells
-dactyl
pertaining to the fingers
-desis
binding, fusion (tenodesis: fixation of a loose
tendon).
-drome run,
running
-dynia pain (pleurodynia:
pain on the side of the chest).
-eal
pertaining to
-ectasia, -ectasis
dilation, expansion (telangieaasis:
dilation of
capillaries).
-ectomy
excision, cutting out, remo val (laryngectomy:
removal of larynx
-emia
condition of the blood (leukemia: blood condition
characterized by
excess leukocytes).
-facient
making or causing to become (febrifacient:
causing a fever).
-ferent
carrying (efferent: carrying away from).
-ferous
produces, causes, or brings about
-form
structure, shape (ossiform: resembing the form of
bone).
-fugal, -fuge
driving or traveling away from; expel
(centrifugal: moving
away from the center).
-ful full of,
characterized by (stressful: causing stress).
-gen, -gene
producer (mutagen: substance that increases
the frequency of
mutation).
- genic,-genesis
production of, origin of (glycogenesis:
production of
glycogen).
-gram record
(electrocardiogram: record of electrical
activity in the
heart).
-graph
instrument for making records (electroencephalograph:
apparatus for
recording brain waves).
-ia condition
(anuria: condition of lack of urine).
-iasis a
diseased condition (cholelithiasis: condition of bile
stones).
-ic penaining
to (colonic: pertaining to the colon).
-ician, -ist
specialist, practitioner (pediatrician: specialist
in childhood
diseases).
-ile having
the qualities of or capability for (febrile: feverish).
-ion act of,
state of, result of (incision: act of cutting or result
of cutting).
-ism
condition, act of, process of (dwarfism: condition of
being a dwarf.
-itis
inflammation (phlebitis: inflammation of a vein).
-ity quality
of, state of (obesity: state of being obese).
-ive that
which performs or tends toward (tardive disease:
disease with
late-appearing symptoms).
-logy study of
(cardiology: study of the heart).
-lysis
breaking down, release, free, reduction of
(glycolysis:
breakdown of glucose).
-malacia
softening (osteomalacia: softening of bone).
-megaly
enlargement
-meter
instrument or means of measuring (thermometer:
instrument to measure
heat).
-metry
measurement of
-ness quality
of, state of (illness: state of being ill).
-odynia
indicates pain or discomfort (mastodynia: painful
breast(s)).
-oid having
the appearance of; resemblance to (cuboid:
resembling a cube).
-ologist, -ology
specialist, study of
-oma tumor
(carcinoma: malignant tumor).
-opia eye
disorder (myopia: nearsightedness).
-or that
which, one who (receptor: that which receives).
-orrhagia
rapid, excessive flow of blood
-orrhaphy
suture, repair of
-orrhexis
rupture
-ory process
of, penaining to, function of (sensory:
pertaining to the
senses).
-oscopy to
examine; visualize
-ose full of,
having the qualities of (comatose: having the
qualities of a coma).
-osis action,
state, process, abnormal condition (halitosis:
condition of having
bad breath).
-osis
condition; process
-ostomy
creation of an artificial opening (colostomy:
creation of a new
opening between the bowel and
abdominal wall).
-otomy cutting
into, incision into (tracheotomy: cut into the
trachea).
-ous, -ious
having the qualities of, capable of, full of
(infectious: capable
of being transmitted).
-oxia
pertaining to oxygen (hypoxia: reduced oxygen
condition)
-pagus fixed
or joined together
-paresis
slight paralysis
-pathic a
feeling, diseased condition, or therapy
-pathy disease
(cardiopathy: heart disease).
-penia
deficiency, lack (leukopenia: lack of white blood
cells).
-pexy
fixation, suspension (sigmoidopexy: fixation of large
intestine).
-philia love
of, tendency toward (hemophilia: "love of
blood," a blood
disease).
-phobia
abnormal fear or aversion (claustrophobia: fear of
confinement).
-phonia
relating to sound or voice
-physis growth
-plasty
molding, forming, or shaping (osteoplasty: plastic
surgery on bone).
-plegia
paralysis (paraplegia: paralysis of lower half of
body).
-poiesis
production, formation of (hematopoiesis:
production of blood
cells).
-praxis
indicates activity, action, condition, or use
-ptosis
dropping, downward displacement, prolapse
(carpoptosis: wrist
drop).
-rhage, rrhagia
bursting forth, excessive discharge,
bleeding (hemorrhage:
escape of blood from vessels).
-rrhaphy
closure of by suturing, repair (cystorrhaphy:
suture of bladder).
-rrhea flow,
discharge (galactorrhea: excessive or
spontaneous flow of
milk).
-rrhexis
splitting or breaking
-salpinx
fallopian tube
-schisis
split, fissure
-sclerosis
hardening
-scope, -scopy, -scopic
looking at, examining
(bronchoscope:
instrument used to view inside breathing
tubes).
-sect cut
(dissect: cut into parts).
-sis process,
action, state of (dialysis: separation of
particles through a
semipermeable membrane).
-spasm
contraction
-stasis state
of being at a standstill (hemostasis: stopping of
blood tlow).
-sthenia
strength (asthenia: loss of strength).
-stomy
surginal opening (colostomy: surgical opening in
the colon).
-taxy, -taxis
arrangement or grouping
-thora, -thorax
thorax, chest
-tion act of,
result of, process of (elongation: process of
making longer).
-tocia birth,
labor
-tome
instrument used to cut
-tomy to cut
(lobotomy: incision into a lobe).
-tonia
stretching, putting under tension (hypertonia: exces
sive tension).
-tripsy
rubbing, crushing (lithotripsy: surgical crushing of
kidney stones).
-trophic, -trophy
related to nutrition, growth,
development (dysrophic:
faulty nutrition).
-tropic
turning toward, changing (hydrotropic: turning toward
water).
-tropism
responding to external stimulus
-y having the
nature or quality of (gouty: goutlike).