Basic Word Structure Flashcards
ROOT
foundation of term
Ie.) electr/o/cardi/o/gram
Electro an Cardi are the roots
SUFFIX
Word ending.
Ie) oma (tumour or mass)
PREFIX
Word Beginning.
Ie) Hypo/gastr/ic
Hypo is the prefix (below)
COMBINING VOWEL
Links root to suffix, or root to another root.
Usually o.
COMBINING FORM
Combination of root and combining vowel.
Ie) gastro, cardio.
Suffix meaning: -oma
Tumour or mass.
Suffix meaning: -itis
Inflammation.
Ie) dermatitis
Suffix meaning: -logy
Made of the root log (study) and y (process or condition)
The process of study.
Ie) cardiology
Suffix meaning: -opsy
Process of viewing.
Ie) biopsy - process of viewing living tissue
Suffix meaning: -ic
Pertaining to.
Suffix meaning: al
Pertaining to.
Suffix meaning: scopy
Complex suffix. Root of scop, meaning visual examination, and suffix y meaning process.
Visual examination.
Suffix meaning: gram
Record.
Ie) electrocardiogram
Suffix meaning: cyte
Cell.
Ie) erythr/o/cyte - red blood cell
Suffix meaning: ectomy
Excision or removal. (Resection)
Suffix meaning: tomy
Complex suffix.
Root: tom (meaning to cut)
Suffix: y (process of)
Process of cutting, incision.
Suffix meaning: globin
Protein.
Suffix meaning: emia
Blood condition.
Ie) hyperglycemia
Suffix meaning: genic
Pertaining to producing, produced by, or produced in.
Suffix meaning: ist
One who specializes in a field.
Suffix meaning: scope
An instrument for visual examination.
Suffix meaning: osis
Condition, usually abnormal.
Ie) psychosis
Suffix meaning: ac
Pertaining to.
Ie) cardiac
Suffix meaning: algia
Pain.
Arthralgia: joint pain
Suffix meaning: ion
Process.
Ie) Excision: process of cutting out
Suffix meaning: ical
Pertaining to.
Suffix meaning: pathy
Disease condition.
Ie) enteropathy: a condition of the intestines (usually small)
Suffix meaning: ia
Process or condition.
Suffix meaning: ism
Condition.
Ie) hyperthyroidism. (Condition of high thyroid hormone)
Prefix meaning: a-, an-
No, not, without.
Ie) anemia - “without blood” bc they look so pale.
Prefix meaning: aut-, auto-
Self, own.
Ie) autopsy - examining dead with your own eyes to determine cause of death
Prefix meaning: dia-
Complete, through.
Ie) diagnosis - state of complete knowledge
Prefix meaning: endo-
Within.
Ie) endocrine glands
Prefix meaning: epi-
Above, upon.
Ie) epigastric - pertaining to above the stomach
Prefix meaning: ex-, exo-
Out, outside of, outward.
Ie) excision: process of cutting out
Prefix meaning: hyper-
Excessive, above, more than normal.
Ie) hyperthyroidism
Prefix meaning: hypo-
Deficient, below, under, less than normal.
Ie) hypogastric - pertaining to below the stomach
hypoglycemia - in which hypo means deficient
Prefix meaning: in-
Into, in.
Ie) incision - process of cutting into
Prefix meaning: peri-
Surrounding, around.
Ie) pericardium - a structure surrounding the heart
Suffix meaning: -um
A structure.
Prefix meaning: pro-
Before, forward.
Ie) prostate gland - exocrine gland that stands (-state) before or in front of male urinary bladder.
Prefix meaning: re-
Back, backward, again.
Ie) resection - an operation in which tissue is “cut back” or removed.
Prefix meaning: retro-
Behind.
Ie) retrocardiac - pertaining to behind the heart
Prefix meaning: sub-
Below, under.
Ie) subhepatic - below the liver
Prefix meaning: trans-
Across, through.
Ie) transhepatic - pertaining to across/ or through the lived
What is the meaning of the combining form aden/o?
Gland.
What is the meaning of the combining form arthr/o?
Joint.
What is the meaning of bi/o?
Life.
What is the meaning of the combining form carcin/o?
Cancer, cancerous.
What is the meaning of the combining form cardi/o?
Heart.
What is the meaning of the combining form cephal/o?
Head.
What is the meaning of the combining form cerebral/o?
Cerebrum (largest part of the brain).
What is the meaning of the combining form cis/o?
To cut.
Ie) incision.
What is the meaning of the combining form crin/o?
To secrete (to form and give off).
What is the meaning of the combining form cyst/o?
Urinary bladder; a sad or cyst (sac containing fluid).
What is the meaning of the combining form cyt/o?
Cell.
What is the meaning of the combining form derm/o, or dermat/o?
Skin.
What is the meaning of the combining form electr/o?
Electricity.
What is the meaning of the combining form encephal/o?
Brain.
What is the meaning of the combining form enter/o?
Intestines (usually small intestine).
What is the meaning of the combining form erythr/o?
Red.
What is the meaning of the combining form gastr/o?
Stomach.
What is the meaning of the combining form glyc/o?
Sugar.
What is the meaning of the combining form gnos/o?
Knowledge.
Ie) diaGNOSis
What is the meaning of the combining form gynec/o?
Woman, female.
What is the meaning of the combining form hemat/o and hem/o?
Blood.
What is the meaning of the combining form hepat/o?
Liver.
What is the meaning of the combining form iatr/o?
Treatment; physician.
What is the meaning of the combining form leuk/o?
White.
What is the meaning of the combining form log/o?
Study of.
What is the meaning of the combining form nephr/o?
Kidney.
What is the meaning of the combining form neur/o?
Nerve.
What is the meaning of the combining form onc/o?
Tumour (cancerous).
What is the meaning of the combining form ophthalm/o?
Eye.
What is the meaning of the combining form oste/o?
Bone.
What is the meaning of the combining form path/o?
Disease.
What is the meaning of the combining form ped/o?
Child.
What is the meaning of the combining form psych/o?
Mind.
What is the meaning of the combining form radi/o?
x-rays.
What is the meaning of the combining form rhin/o?
Nose.
What is the meaning of the combining form sarc/o?
Flesh.
What is the meaning of the combining form sect/o?
To cut.
What is the meaning of the combining form thromb/o?
Clot; clotting.
What is the meaning of the combining form ur/o?
Urinary tract, urine.