MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
Components of Medical Words
1- root words
2- prefixes (at the start of a word)
3- suffixes (at the end of a word).
Example: neuroblastoma
neuro- means nerve
blast- relates to immature cells
oma means tumour.
Therefore by breaking down a complex word we can
see that neuroblastoma literally means a tumour
made up of immature nerve cells
They may also have a prefix, a suffix, or both a
prefix and a suffix.
WORD ROOTS
The main part of the word is the word root.
teacher, teaches, teaching (teach)
speaking, speaker, speaks (speak)
reader, reading, reads (read)
We use combining forms frequently in the English
language. For example, we say speedometer rather
than speedmeter. In medical terminology the
combining form is usually an "o". Identify the
combining forms in the following words:
thermometer (o)
microscope
A combining form is denoted by a "/" following the
word root. For example: aden/o
• Root
abdomin/o
acr/o
aden/o
adip/o
adren/o
aer/o
angi/o
anter/o
aort/o
arteri/o
arthr/o
audi/o
bronchi/o,
Meaning
abdominal
extremities
gland
fat
adrenal gland
air
vessel
front, anterior
aorta
artery
joint
sound
bronch/o bronchus
ic
external
2- Colour
Grey
glauc(o) glaucoma
Red
erythr(o)erythrocyte
Black
melan(o)melanin
White
leuc(o), leuk(o)leukomyelitis
Blue
cyan(o)cyanopsia
Yellow
cirrh(o)cirrhosis
Green
chlor(o)chloroma
i
g
calc/o
carcin/o
cardi/o
cephal/o
cerebr/o
chondr/o
col/o, colon/o
cost/o
crani/o
cutane/o
cyan/o
cyst/o
cyt/o
dent/o
derm/o
dipl/o
dist/o
dors/o
encephal/o
enter/o
calicum
cancer
heart
head
brain, cerebrum
cartilage
colon
ribs
cranium, skull
skin
blue
bladder
cell
teeth
skin
double
far, farthest
back (of body)
brain
intestine
erythr/o
esophag/o
gastr/o
gingiv/o
gloss/o
gluc/o, glyc/o
hema, hemat/o, hem/o
hepat/o
hidr/o
hist/o
hydr/o
lapar/o
laryng/o
latr/o
leuk/o
lingu/o
red
esophagus
stomach
gum
tongue
sugar, glucose
blood
liver
sweat
tissue
water
abdominal
larynx (voice box)
side
white
tongue
lip/o
lith/o
lumb/o
lymph/o
melan/o
mening/o
myc/o
myel/o
my/o
nas/o
necr/o
nephr/o
neur/o
noct/o
odont/o
olig/o
fat
stone
lower back
lymph
black
meninges
fungus
spinal cord, bone marrow
muscle
nose
death
kidneys
nerve
night
teeth
scanty, little
ophthalm/o, ocul/o, opt/o
or/o, stomat/o
orth/o
oste/o
ot/o
pelv/o, pelv/i
phalang/o
pharyng/o
phleb/o
pleur/o
pneum/o
poster/o (posterior)
proxim/o
py/o
radi/o
rhin/o
eye
mouth
straight
bone
ear
pelvis
fingers and toes
pharynx (throat)
vein
pleura
lung
back (of body), behind,
near, nearest
pus
x-rays, radiation
nose
• scler/o hardening, white of eye
tend/o
tendons
therm/o
heat
thorac/o
chest
thromb/o
blood clot
toxic/o, tox/o
poison
trache/o
trachea (windpipe)
ur/o
urine
vascul/o
blood vessel
vertebr/o
vertebra
(backbone)
•
PREFIX MASTER LIST
Prefix
Meaning
a-, an-,
without, not
autoself
bitwo, double
bradyslow
diathrough
dysbad, painful,
difficult
echosound
epiabove, upon
hemi-,
semi- half,
partly
hypo-,
sub under,
below
• hyperintermacromicroneoparaperipoly-,
postprequadrisupratachy• tri-
excessive,
high
between
large
small
new
near, beside,
around
around
multi- many,
much
after, behind
before
four
above
rapid
three
component meaning example
-ARTHR- joint arthritis = inflammation of the bone
CHONDR- cartilage Chondrocyte = a cartilage cell.
COST- rib costalgia = pain in the ribs.
OSTEO- bone osteosarcoma = a type of bone
tumour
SCOLIO- curved / crooked scoliosis = curvature of
the spine.
-LYSIS Disintegration
osteomyelitis = inflammation of the bone
-OSIS disease osteoporosis = reduced bone massfracture prone
-TOMY incision into thoracotomy = incision into
chest/thorax
SUFFIXES
• A suffix is added to the end of a word root
to modify its meaning
• The suffix will usually tell what is happening
to the root.
☻speaker (er)
☻ running (ing)
☻ reading (ing)
Adjective endings that
mean "pertaining to"
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Adjective endings
Ac
Al
Ary
-ic
-ical
-ous
-tic
paralysis
Examplecadiac, heartskeletal, skeletonsalivary, saliva
pelvic, pelvis
surgical, surgery
venous, vein
paralytic,
These suffixes show the word is a noun
Noun endings
-iac
-ia
-is
Meaning
indicates
person
affected
with certain
diseases or
conditions
an unhealthy
state
forms the
noun from
the root
Example
hemophiliac
anesthesia
cutis/ skin
Noun endings
Meaning
-ism
condition,
state of
being
-ist
one who
specialists
-y
condition,
process
Example
alcoholism
alcohol
radiologist
radiology
neuropathy
nervous
system
disease
These suffixes show the word is
a small version of a thing.
Diminutive
Ending
-ole
-icle
-ule
Meaning
small, little
minute
Example
arteriole, artery
particle, piece
veinule, vein
suffixes indicate noun is singular or plural.
Singular
Plural
A
Ax
en
Ix/ex
on
um
Us
Ae
Aces
Ina
Ices
A
A
I
Example Example
Singular Plural
Patella Patellae
thorax Thoraces
lumen
Lumina
index
Indices
ganglion Ganglia
Ovum
Ova
digitus Digiti
Suffixes: Surgery-incisions
Suffix
ectomy
-centesis
-stomy
-tomy
Meaning
removal
Example
mastectomy
breast
tap, puncture thoracocentesis
chest
mouth, forming
Colostomy
an opening
colon
incision,
to cut into
tracheotomy
trachea
Suffix
-desis
Meaning
Binding ,
stabilization
-rrhapy
suture
-pexy
fixation,
suspension
-plasty
formation,
plastic repair
to break down,
refracture
loosen, free
form adhesions,
destruction
to crush
-clasis
-lysis
-tripsy
Example
pleurodesis
pleural membrane
(lining of the lung)
arteriorrhaphy
artery
gastropexy
stomach
rhinoplasty
nose
osteoclasis
bone
enterolysis
small intestine
cholelithotripsy
gallstone
SUFFIX MASTER LIST
Suffix
• al, -ic, -ous
• algia, -dynia
• cele
• centesis
• cyte
• ectasis
• ectomy
• edema
• emesis
• emia
Meaning
pertaining to
pain
hernia, swelling
surgical puncture
cell
dilation, expansion
excision, removal
swelling
vomiting
blood
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
genesis
producing, forming
gram
record
graph
instrument for recording
graphy
process of recording
iasis, -osis
abnormal condition
ist
specialist
itis
inflammation
logist
specialist in the study of
logy
study of
lysis
separation, destruction
malacia
softening
megaly
enlargement
oma
tumor
opia, -opsia
vision
osis
abnormal condition
pathy
disease
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
penia
decrease
pepsia
digestion
phagia
swallow, eat
phobia
fear
plasia, -plasm
formation, growth
plegia
paralysis
pnea
breathing
rhage, rrhagia
bursting force of
rrhea
flow, discharge
scope
instrument to view
scopy
visual examination
spasm involuntary contraction, twitching
stasis
standing still
stenosis
narrowing, stricture
therapy
treatment
tome
instrument to cut
TERM
▒ Pericarditis
1- itis (meaning inflammation)
2- peri (meaning around)
3- card (meaning heart).
4- This word means inflammation around the heart.
▒ stomatomycosis
1- osis (meaning abnormal condition)
2- stomat/o (meaning mouth)
3- myc (meaning fungus)
4- This means abnormal condition of mouth fungus
▒ leukocytopenia
1- penia (meaning decrease)
2- leuk/o (meaning white)
3- cyt/o (meaning cell)
4- Leukocytopenia means a decrease in white cells
Prefixes Pertaining To Numbers
Prefix Meaning
Prim/I First
Example
Primigravida
time
Uni
Pronunciation & Definition
pri - mih - grav'ih-dah, woman
pregnant for the first
unilateral
u- ni - lat - er – al, affecting
only one side
mon. - o - klone'al, pertaining to
cell colony arising from a single
One
mono - One
a
cell
biTwo, twice
Monoclonal
di-
diplegia
Two, twice
bisexual
Diplo two (double) twice Diplopia
triThree
Tricuspid
points
heart
Terti
Third
Tertigravida
quadri- Four
of
Tetra
Four
Quadriplegia
Tetrad
bi - seksh - e – wal, Possessing
characters of both sexes
di -ple'je – ah, Paralysis affecting
both sides of the body
dih - plo'pe – ah, double vision
Tri - kus – pid, having three
or cups, as a valve of the
terti - gra v'ih – dah, woman who
hadthree pregnancies
kwad' - ri -ple'je – ah, paralysis
all four limbs
te ' trad, a group or
ABBREVIATIONS
► CNS: central nervous system
► CVS: cardiovascular system
► GIT: gastrointestinal tract
► ATP: adenosine triphosphate
► NSAID: non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
►Suffix
cephal/o
cervic/o
thorac/o
abdomin/o or celi/o
lapar/o
lumb/o
Head
Neck
chest, thorax
Abdomen
abdominal wall
lumbar region, lower
back
periton or peritone/o peritoneum
Acro
extremity
endbrachi/o
arm
cheir/o or chir/o
hand
ped/o or pod/o
foot
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
dactyl/o
finger, Toe
circum- or periaround
intrain, within
epiupon, over
extraoutside
infrabelow
subunder, below
interbetween
juxta- or paranear, beside
retrobehind, backward
supraAbove
Digit
a finger or toe (adj.digital)
Epigastrium
the epigastric region
• Fundus
• Hypochondrium
• Lumen
• Meatus
• Orifice
• Os
• Septuma
• Sinus
• Sphincter
the area of an organ
farthest from its opening
the hypochondriac
region (under ribs,left or
right)
the central opening within a
tube or vessel
a passage or opening
the opening of a cavity
mouth; any body
opening
wall dividing two cavities
a cavity, as within a bone
a circular muscle that
regulates an opening
▒
►
☻
♣
♣
☺
♥
#
☼
☼
Roots, suffixes, and prefixes
Component
meaning
example
ARTHRjoint
arthritis =
inflammation of the bone
CHONDRcartilage
Chondrocyte = a
cartilage cell.
COSTrib costalgia = pain in the ribs.
OSTEObone
osteosarcoma = a type
of bone tumour
SCOLIOcurved
scoliosis = curvature
of the spine.
LYSIS
disintegration osteomyelitis =
inflammation of the bone
OSIS
disease osteoporosis = reduced
bone mass-fracture prone
TOMY
incision into
thoracotomy =
incision into
Types of muscles
Osteo
bone.
inflammation of bone and joint.os"te-o-ar-thri'-tis
arthro,
joint
fixation of a joint by fusion.ar"thro-de'-sis
chondro
cartilage.
chondr-itis, = inflammation of the cartilagekon-dri'tis
myelo
bone marrow or spine.
myelitis inflammation of bone/bone marrow.mi"e-li'tis
Myo
muscle.
Myospasm= involuntary contraction of muscle.
Tendo
tendon.
tend-initis has inflammation of a tendon. ten"di-ni'tis
Costo
intercostal space= the space between the
rib.
ribs.in"ter-kos'tal
Integumentary System
►Functions
skin, and skin derivatives; (hair, nails,
glands and receptors).
1- Protects the body's internal living tissues
and organs
2- Protects against invasion by infectious
organisms
3- Protects the body from dehydration
4- Protects the body against abrupt changes in
temperature
5- Helps dispose of waste materials
6- Acts as a receptor for touch, pressure,
pain, heat and cold
7- Stores water, fat, and vitamin D.
Roots, suffixes, and prefixes
component
CUTDERMA-
EPIabove
LIPOMELANONYCH-
meaning
Skin
example
subcutaneous layer =
layer below the skin
Skin
dermatology = study of
the skin and its diseases
upon
epidermis = layer
the dermis
fat
lipoatrophy = atrophy of
fat below the skin
black
melanin = the black
pigment in the skin
Nail
onychectomy = excision of
a nail
PACHY-
thick
SCLERO- hard /tough
hardening of the skin
SUDOR- sweat
pachyderma = abnormal
thickening of skin
scleroderma = chronic
sudorific = an agent that
promotes sweat
dermatitis =
-ITIS
inflammation
inflammation of the skin
-OMA
tumour
melanoma = black
coloured skin tumour
-OSIS
condition / disease dermatophytosis = a
fungal infection of the skin
A
Melanin
B
dark brown to black pigment
contained in melanocytes
Sebum
oily substance secreted by the
sebaceous glands
sudoriferous glands
sweat glands
Keratin
hard protein material found in
the epidermis, hair, and nails
Macule
flat discolored spot on the skin
UP to 1 cm across
Patch
flat discolored area on the skin
LARGER than 1 cm (vitiligo)
Papule
solid mass on the skin UP to
0.5 cm in diameter
Plaque
solid mass GREATER than 1 cm
in diameter, limited to the
surface of the skin
solid mass GREATER than 1
cm, which extends deeper
into the epidermis
Wheal
area of localized skin edema
(swellling)(hive)
Vesicle
elevated fluid-filled sac
(blister) within or under the
epidermis up to 0.5 cm
diameter (fever blister)
Bulla
blister larger than 0.5 cm
(second degree burn)
Pustule
pus filled sac
Erosion
loss of superficial epidermis
leaving an area of moisture
but no bleeding
Nodule
Ulcer
open sore on the skin or
mucous membrane that can
bleed & scar & sometimes
accompanied by infection
Excoriations cratch mark
Fissure
linear crack in the skin
Scale
thin flake of exfoliated
epidermis (dandruff)
Crust
dried residue of serum (body
liquid), pus, or blood on the
skin (impetigo)
Erythema
redness of skin
Pruritus
severe itching
Rash
general term for skin
eruptions
Vitiligo
appearance of white patches
on the skin caused by loss of
melanin
Xeroderma
dry skin
Acne
inflammation of the
sebaceous glands & hair follicles
Albinism
partial or total lack of melanin
pigment in the body
Dermatitis
inflammation of the skin
characterized by erythema,
pruiritis, and various lesions
Dermatosis any disorder of the skin not
usually associated with
inflammation
Rubella
German measles (reddish)
Gangrene
death of tissue associated
with loss of blood supply
Impetigo
bacterial skin inflammation
marked by pustules that
rupture & become crusted,
most often occurs around nose
& mouth
Keratoses
thickened areas of epidermis
Onychia
inflammation of fingernail or
toenail
Paronychia inflammation of nail fold
Pediculosis infestation with lice that
causes itching & dermatitis
Psoriasis
itching; chronic, recurrent skin
disease marked by silver-gray
scales covering red patches on
the skin that result from
overproduction & thickening of skin cells
Scabies
contagious disease caused by
a parasite (mite) that invades
the skin causing intense itching
Seborrhea
skin condition marked by the
hypersecretion of sebum from
the sebaceous glands
biopsy (Bx) removal of a small piece of
tissue for microscropic
pathological exam
anti-inflammatory
drug that reduces
inflammation
Antipruritic
drug that relieves itching
Antiseptic
an agent that inhibits the
growth of infectious
microorganisms
Heterograft
graft transfer from one
animal species to one of another species
psoriasis
Paronychia
Acne
• _rash
Excoriations
Pustule
Macule•
Nodule•
Wheal•
• Roots, suffixes, and prefixes
• Component
CARDIO•
•
•
•
•
meaning
heart
example
echocardiogram =
sound wave image of the heart.
CYTEcell thrombocyte = clot forming cell.
HAEMblood
haematoma - swelling filled
with blood.
THROMBclot
thrombocytopenia =
deficiency of thrombocytes in the blood
ETHROred
erythrocyte = red blood cell
LEUKOwhite
leukocyte = white blood cell
SEP, SEPTIV- toxicity due to micro-organisms
septicaemia
VASvessel / duct
cerebrovascular = blood
vessels of the cerebrum of the brain.
•
HYPER- excessive hyperglycaemia =
excessive levels of glucose in blood.
• HYPO• -PENIA
• -EMIA
deficient / below
hypoglycaemia
= abnormally low
glucose blood levels.
deficiency
neutropenia = low
levels of neutrophils
condition of blood
anaemia =
abnormally low
levels of red blood cells.
component
CHOLE-
meaning
example
bile / gall cholecystectomy
= removal of the gallbladder.
CYSTObladder / sac
cystitis =
inflammation of the urinary bladder.
GASTR- stomach
gastritis =
inflammation of the stomach.
HEPATO- liver
hepatitis =
inflammation of the liver.
NEPHRkidney
nephrotoxic =
toxic to the kidney.
PROCTO- anus / rectum Proctalgia =
pain in the rectum.
RENkidney
renal
failure -
Roots, suffixes, and prefixes
component
A-
meaning
example
Lack of
anosmia = lack
of the sense of smell.
PNEAbreath
dyspnea =
difficult or painful breathing.
BRONCHbronchi
Bronchoscope =
instrument to
examine the bronchi.
LARYNGlarynx
laryngitis =
inflammation of the larynx.
PULMOlung
pulmonary edema
PNEUMlung / Air pneumonia =
severe infection of the lungs.
Rhinonose
Rhinoplasty
=
cosmetic surgery
component
A-, An-
meaning
example
without, lack
muscular atrophy =
'wasting away' of muscles
ADENgland
adenoma = tumour
with gland like structure.
End-, Endo- within
endocrine =
secreting within.
Exoaway from
exocrine = secreting
outwardly or away from.
GLYCO-, GLUCO- sugar, sweet hyperglycaemia =
excessive blood sugar levels
Paranear, beside
parathyroid = beside
the thyroid.
Polymuch, many
polyadenitis =
inflamation of many glands.
THYRO-
thyroid
thyroaplasia
= defective growth of the thyroid.
-CRINE
to secrete endocrine = endo
(within) crine (secrete).
-TROPHY
growth
hypertrophy = excessive
growth of an organ or part.
-MEGALY
enlargement
hepatomegaly =
enlarged liver with hepatitis.
-MALACIA softening neuromalacia = morbid
softening of the nerves.
-GRAM record electroencephalogram
(EEG) = brain scan.
• Component
• ASTRO•
•
•
•
•
meaning
star. astrocyte = star
shaped brain cell
CRANIskull cranial radiation =
radiation to the head.
CEPHALhead encephal = the brain,
en(in) cephal (the head).
MENINGmembrane meningitis =
inflammation of the
membranes of the spinal chord.
NEURnerve neuroblast = an
immature nerve cell.
VENTRICULO- cavity ventricles are small
cavities in the brain &
spinal cord.
Ventriculscopy = examination
of
ventricles.
F
Compone
nt
ANTE-
COLP-
MAMM-
Meaning
Example
Before
antenatal = before the
birth of a baby
Vagina
e.g colpotomy =
incision into the
vaginal wall.
Breast
mammography =
imaging of the breasts
MAST- Breast mastectomy
=surgical removal of a breast or
part of a breast
NEOneonatal = the first 4
weeks after birth
New
GYNWoman gynocologist =
medical specialist in diseases of
the genital tract in women.