Basic Word Structure Flashcards
aden/o
gland
adenoma- tumor of a gland
the suffix -oma means tumor or mass
adenitis- the suffix -itis means inflammation
arthr/o
joint
arthritis
bi/o
life
biology- the suffix -ology is composed of the root log (study) and the final suffix -y (process or condition).
biopsy- the suffix -opsy means process of viewing. Living tissue is removed from the body and viewed under a microscope
carcin/o
cancerous,cancer
carcinoma- is a cancerous tumor. Carcinoma grow from the epithelial (surface or skin) cells that cover the outside of the body and line organs, cavities, and tubes within the body
cardi/o
heart: cardiology
cephal/o
head
cephalic- the suffix -ic means pertaining to. A cephalic presentation describes a “head first” position for the delivery of an infant
cerebr/o
cerebrum (largest part of the brain)
cerebral: the suffix -al means pertaining to
cis/o
to cut
incision-the prefix in- means into, and the suffix -ion means process
excision-the prefix ex- means out
crin/o
to secerte (to form to give off)
endocrine glands- the prefix endo- means within; endocrine glands (e.g., thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands) secrete hormones directly within (into) the bloodstream. Other glands, called exocrine glands, release their secretions (e.g., saliva, sweat, tears) through tubes
(ducts) to the outside of the body.
cysto/o
urinary bladder; a sac or a cyst (sac containing fluid)
The suffix -scopy is a complex suffix that includes the root scope, meaning visual examination, and the final suffix -y, meaning process
cyt/o
cell- cytology
derm/o
skin
hypodermic- the prefix hypo- means under or below
dermat/o
skin- dermatitis
electr/o
electricity
electrocardiogram- the suffix means record. Abbreviated ECG (or sometime EKG)
encephal/o
brain
electroencephalogram- abbreviated EEG
enter/o
intestines (usually the small intestines)
enteritis- the small intestine is narrower but much longer than the large intestine (colon)
erythr/o
red
erythrocyte- the suffix -ctye means cell. Erythrocyte carry oxygen in the blood
gastr/o
stomach
gastrectomy- the suffix-ectomy means excision or removal. All or, more commonly, part of the stomach is removed
gastrotomy- the suffix -tomy is another complex suffix, which contains the root tom, meaning to cut, and the final suffix -y, meaning process of
glyc/o
sugar
hyperglycemia- the prefix hyper- means excessive, above, or more than normal. The suffix -emia means blood condition
gnos/o
knowledge
diagnosis- the prefix dia-means complete. The suffix -sis means state or condition of. A diagnosis is made after sufficient information has been obtained about the patients condition. Literally it is a state knowledge.
prognosis- the prefix -pro means before. Literally “knowledge before,” a prognosis is a prediction about the outcome of an illness, but it is always given after the diagnosis has been determined
gynec/o
woman,female : gynecology
hermat/o
blood: hematology
hem/o
blood
hematoma: in this term, -oma means a mass or collection of blood, rather than a growth of cells (tumor). A hematoma forms when blood escapes from blood vessels and collects as a clot in a cavity or organ or under the skin
hemoglobin: the suffix -globin means protein. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in red blood cells
hepat/o
liver: hepatitis
iatr/o
treatment, physician
iatrogenic: the suffix -genic means pertaining to producing, produced by, or produced in. Iatrogenic conditions are adverse effects that result from treatment or intervention by a physicians.
leuk/o
white
leukocyte: this blood cells helps the body fight disease
log/o
study of: dermatology
nephr/o
kidney: nephritis, nephrology
neur/o
nerve: neurology
onc/o
tumor: oncology
oncology: the suffix -ist means one who specialize in a fields of medicine (or other profession)
ophthalm/o
eye: ophthalmoscope- the suffix -scope means an interment for visual examination.
oste/o
bone: osteitis
osteoarthritis: this condition of aging is actually a degeneration of bones and joints often accompanied by inflammation
path/o
disease : pathology
pathologist: examines biopsy samples microscopically and examine dead bodies to determine the cause of death
ped/o
child
pediatric: Notice that ped/o is also in the term orthopedist. Orthopedists once were doctors who straightened (ortho/o means straight) children’s bones and corrected deformities. Nowadays, orthopedists specialize in disorders of bones and muscles in people of all ages
psych/o
mind: psychology, psychiatrist
radi/o
x-rays: radiology- low-energy x-rays are used for diagnostic imaging
ren/o
kidney: renal- ren/o and nephr/o both mean kidney. Ren/o is used with -al to describe the kidney, whereas nephr/o is used with other suffixes such as -osis, -itis and -ectomy to describe abnormal conditions and operative procedures
rhin/o
nose: rhinitis
sarc/o
flesh: sarcoma- this is a cancerous (malignant) tumor. A sarcoma grows from cells of “fleshy”connective tissue such as muscle, bone, fat, whereas a carcinoma (another type of cancerous tumor) grows from epithelial cells that line the outside of the body or the inside of organs in the body
sect/o
to cut: resection- the prefix means back. A resection is a cutting back in the sense of cutting out or removal (excision). A gastric resection is a gastrectomy, or excision of the stomach
thromb/o
clot,clotting
thrombocyte: also known as platelets, these cells help clot blood. A thrombus is an actual clot that form, and thrombosis (-osis means condition) is the condition of clot formation
ur/o
urinary tract, urine
urology: A urologist is a surgeon who operates on the organs of the urinary tract and the organs of the male reproductive system
-ac
pertaining to: cardiac
-al
pertaining to: neural
-algia
pain: arthralgia, neuralgia
-cyte
cell: erythrocyte
-ectomy
excision, removal : nephrectomy
-emia
blood condition
leukemia: literally, this term means “ a blood condition of white (blood cells). Actaully, it is a condition of blood in which cancerous white blood cells proliferate (increase in number)
-genic
pertaining to producing, produced by or produced in
carcinogenic: cigarette smoke is carcinogenic
-globin
protein : hemoglobin
-gram
record: electroencephalogram
-ic,-ical
pertaining to: gastric
neurologic: log/o means study of
-ion
process: excision
-ist
specialist: ophthalmologist
-itis
inflammation: cystitis
-olgy
process of studying: endocrinology
-oma
tumor, mass, swelling
hepatoma: is a tumor of the liver
-opsy
process of viewing
biopsy: specimens are obtained and viewed under a microscope
-osis
condition, usually abnormal (slight increase in numbers when used with blood cells)
nephrosis
leukocytosis: this condition, a slight increase in normal white blood cells, occurs as white blood cells multiply to fight an infection. Don’t confuse leukocytosis with leukemia, which is a cancerous (malignant) condition marked by high levels of abnormal, immature white blood cells
-pathy
diease, condition: enteropathy
-scope
instrument to visually examine
endoscope: endo- means within. A cystoscope is a type of endoscope
-scopy
process of visually examining
endoscopy: endoscopy is performed with an endoscope
-sis
state of; condition: prognosis
-tomy
process of cutting,incision: osteotomy
-y
process,condition: gastroenterology
a-,an-
no,not,without
anemia: is a decreased number of erythrocytes or an abnormality of the hemoglobin (a chemical) within the red blood cells. This results in decreased delivery of oxygen to cells of the body. Anemic patients look so pale that early physicians thought they were literally “without blood”
aut-,auto-
self, own
autopsy: “process of viewing oneself”. Hence, an autopsy is the examination of a dead body with one’s own eyes to determine the cause of death and nature of disease
dia-
complete, through
diagnosis: the purl of diagnosis is diagnoses
endo-
within: endocrinologist
epi-
above,upon: epigastric
epidemis: this outermost layer of the skin lies above the middle layer of skin, known as the dermis
ex-,exo-
outside, outside of, outward: excision, exocrine glands
hyper-
excessive, above, more than normal
hyperthyroidism: the suffix -ism means process or condition
hypo-
deficient, below, under, less than normal
hypogastric: when hypo- is used with a part of the body, it means below
hypoglycemia: in this term hypo- means below
in-
into, in: incision
peri-
surrounding, around
pericardium: the suffix -um means a structure. The pericardium is the membrane that surrounds the heart
pro-
before, forward
prostate gland: this endocrine gland “stands” (-state) before or in front of the urinary bladder. It produces semen, which contains fluid and sperm cells
re-
back, backward, again
resection: this is an operation in which tissue is “cut back” or removed.
retro-
behind: retrocardiac
sub-
below, under: subhepatic
trans-
across, through: transhepatic
