COMBINING FORMS, WORD ROOTS, PREFIXES,
AND SUFFIXES
Many of the terms used in anatomy and physiology are compound words; that is, they are made up of word roots and one or more prefixes or suffixes. For
example, leukocyte is formed from the word roots leuk- meaning “white,” a connecting vowel-o-, and -cyte meaning “cell.” Thus, a leukocyte is a white blood
cell. The following list includes some of the most commonly used combining forms, word roots, prefixes, and suffixes used in the study of anatomy and
physiology. Each entry includes a usage example. Learning the meanings of these fundamental word parts will help you remember terms that, at first glance,
may seem long or complicated.
COMBINING FORMS AND
WORD ROOTS
Acous-, Acu- hearing Acoustics.
Acr- extremity Acromegaly.
Aden- gland Adenoma.
Alg-, Algia- pain Neuralgia.
Angi- vessel Angiocardiography.
Arthr- joint Arthropathy.
Audit- hearing Auditory canal.
Aut-, Auto- self Autolysis.
Bio- life, living Biopsy.
Blast- germ, bud Blastula.
Blephar- eyelid Blepharitis.
Brachi- arm Brachial plexus.
Bronch- trachea, windpipe Bronchoscopy.
Bucc- cheek Buccal.
Macul- spot, blotch Macula.
Malign- bad, harmful Malignant.
Mamm-, Mast- breast Mammography, Mastitis.
Meningo- membrane Meningitis.
My-, Myo- muscle Myocardium.
Myel- marrow, spinal cord Myeloblast.
Necro- corpse, dead Necrosis.
Nephro- kidney Nephron.
Neuro- nerve Neurotransmitter.
Ocul- eye Binocular.
Odont- tooth Orthodontic.
Onco- mass, tumor Oncology.
Oo- egg Oocyte.
Ophthalm- eye Ophthalmology.
Or- mouth Oral.
Os-, Osseo-, Osteo- bone Osteocyte.
Osm- odor, sense of small Anosmia.
Ot- ear Otitis media.
Capit- head Decapitate.
Carcin- cancer Carcinogenic.
Cardi-, Cardia-, Cardio- heart Cardiogram.
Cephal- head Hydrocephalus.
Cerebro- brain Cerebrospinal fluid.
Chole- bile, gall Cholecystogram.
Chondr-, cartilage Chondrocyte.
Cor-, Coron- heart Coronary.
Cost- rib Costal.
Crani- skull Craniotomy.
Cut- skin Subcutaneous.
Cyst- sac, bladder Cystoscope.
Palpebr- eyelid Palpebra.
Patho- disease Pathogen.
Pelv- basin Renal pelvis.
Phag- to eat Phagocytosis.
Phleb- vein Phlebitis.
Phren- diaphragm Phrenic.
Pilo- hair Depilatory.
Pneumo- lung, air Pneumothorax.
Pod- foot Podocyte.
Procto- anus, rectum Proctology.
Pulmon- lung Pulmonary.
Derma-, Dermato- skin Dermatosis.
Dura- hard Dura mater.
Ren- kidneys Renal artery.
Rhin- nose Rhinitis.
Enter- intestine Enteritis.
Erythr- red Erythrocyte.
Scler-, Sclero- hard Atherosclerosis.
Sep-, Septic- toxic condition due to
microorganisms Septicemia.
Soma-, Somato- body Somatotropin.
Stasis-, Stat- standstill Homeostasis.
Sten- narrow Stenosis.
Gastr- stomach Gastrointestinal.
Gloss- tongue Hypoglossal.
Glyco- sugar Glycogen.
Gyn-, Gynec- female, woman Gynecology.
Hem-, Hemat- blood Hematoma.
Hepar-, Hepat- liver Hepatitis.
Hist-, Histio- tissue Histology.
Hydr- water Dehydration.
Hyster- uterus Hysterectomy.
Tegument- skin, covering Integumentary.
Therm- heat Thermogenesis.
Thromb- clot, lump Thrombus.
Vas- vessel, duct Vasoconstriction.
Zyg- joined Zygote.
Ischi- hip, hip joint Ischium.
Kines- motion Kinesiology.
PREFIXES
Labi- lip Labial.
Lacri- tears Lacrimal glands.
Laparo- loin, flank, abdomen Laparoscopy.
Leuko- white Leukocyte.
Lingu- tongue Sublingual glands.
Lip- fat Lipid.
Lumb- lower back, loin Lumbar.
A-, An- without, lack of, deficient Anesthesia.
Ab- away from, from Abnormal.
Ad-, Af- to, toward Adduction, Afferent neuron.
Alb- white Albino.
Alveol- cavity, socket Alveolus.
Andro- male, masculine Androgen.
Ante- before Antebrachial vein.
Anti- against Anticoagulant.
Bas- base, foundation Basal nuclei.
Bi- two, double Biceps.
Brady- slow Bradycardia.
Cata- down, lower, under Catabolism.
Circum- around Circumduction.
Cirrh- yellow Cirrhosis of the liver.
Co-, Con-, Com with, together Congenital.
Contra- against, opposite Contraception.
Crypt- hidden, concealed Cryptorchidism.
Cyano- blue Cyanosis.
De- down, from Deciduous.
Demi-, hemi- half Hemiplegia.
Di-, Diplo- two Diploid.
Dis- separation, apart, away from Dissection.
Dys- painful, difficult Dyspnea.
E-, Ec-, Ef- out from, out of Efferent neuron.
Ecto-, Exo- outside Ectopic pregnancy.
Em-, En- in, on Emmetropia.
End-, Endo- within, inside Endocardium.
Epi- upon, on, above Epidermis.
Eu- good, easy, normal Eupnea.
Ex-, Exo- outside, beyond Exocrine gland.
Extra- outside, beyond, in addition to
Extracellular fluid.
Fore- before, in front of Forehead.
Gen- originate, produce, form Genitalia.
Gingiv- gum Gingivitis.
Hemi- half Hemiplegia.
Heter-, Hetero- other, different Heterozygous.
Homeo-, Homo- unchanging, the same, steady
Homeostasis.
Hyper- over, above, excessive Hyperglycemia.
Hypo- under, beneath, deficient Hypothalamus.
Im-, In- in, inside, not Incontinent.
Infra- beneath Infraorbital.
Inter- among, between Intercostal.
Intra- within, inside Intracellular fluid.
Ipsi- same Ipsilateral.
Iso- equal, like Isotonic.
Juxta- near to Juxtaglomerular apparatus.
Later- side Lateral.
Macro- large, great Macrophage.
Mal- bad, abnormal Malnutrition.
Medi-, Meso- middle Medial.
Mega-, Megalo- great, large Megakaryocyte.
Melan- black Melanin.
Meta- after, beyond Metacarpus.
Micro- small Microfilament.
Mono- one Monounsaturated fat.
Neo- new Neonatal.
Oligo- small, few Oliguria.
Ortho- straight, normal Orthopedics.
-asthenia weakness Myasthenia.
-ation process, action, condition Inhalation.
Para- near, beyond, beside Paranasal sinus.
Peri- around Pericardium.
Poly- much, many, too much Polycythemia.
Post- after, beyond Postnatal.
Pre-, Pro- before, in front of Presynaptic.
Pseudo- false Pseudostratified.
-centesis puncture, usually for drainage
Amniocentesis.
-cid, -cide, -cis cut, kill, destroy Spermicide.
Retro- backward, behind Retroperitoneal.
Semi- half Semicircular canals.
Sub- under, beneath, below Submucosa.
Super- above, beyond Superficial.
Supra- above, over Suprarenal.
Sym-, Syn- with, together Symphysis.
Tachy- rapid Tachycardia.
Trans- across, through, beyond Transudation.
Tri- three Trigone.
SUFFIXES
-able capable of, having ability to Viable.
-ac, -al pertaining to Cardiac.
-algia painful condition Myalgia.
-an, -ian pertaining to Circadian.
-ant having the characteristic of Malignant.
-ary connected with Ciliary.
-asis, -asia, -esis, -osis condition or state of
Hemostasis.
-ectomize, -ectomy excision of, removal of
Thyroidectomy.
-emia condition of blood Anemia.
-esthesia sensation, feeling Anesthesia.
-fer carry Efferent arteriole.
-gen agent that produces or originates Pathogen.
-genic producing Pyogenic.
-gram record Electrocardiogram.
-graph instrument for recording
Electroencephalograph.
-ia state, condition Hypermetropia.
-ician person associated with Pediatrician.
-ics art of, science of Optics.
-ism condition, state Rheumatism.
-itis inflammation Neuritis.
-logy the study or science of Physiology.
-lysis dissolution, loosening, destruction
Hemolysis.
-malacia softening Osteomalacia.
-megaly enlarged Cardiomegaly.
-mers, -meres parts Polymers.
-oma tumor Fibroma.
-osis condition, disease Necrosis.
-ostomy create an opening Colostomy.
-otomy surgical incision Tracheotomy.
-pathy disease Myopathy.
-penia deficiency Thrombocytopenia.
-philic to like, have an affinity for Hydrophilic.
-phobe, -phobia fear of, aversion to Photophobia.
-plasia, -plasty forming, molding Rhinoplasty.
-pnea breath Apnea.
-poiesis making Hemopoiesis.
-ptosis falling, sagging Blepharoptosis.
-rrhage bursting forth, abnormal discharge
Hemorrhage.
-rrhea flow, discharge Diarrhea.
-scope instrument for viewing Bronchoscope.
-stomy creation of a mouth or artificial
opening Tracheostomy.
-tomy cutting into, incision into Laparotomy.
-tripsy crushing Lithotripsy.
-trophy relating to nutrition or growth Atrophy.
-uria urine Polyuria.