Combining Forms/Prefixes/Suffixes Flashcards
A Whole Whack
Combining Form, Suffix, or Prefix
Meaning
a-, an-
no; not; without
ab-
away from (abort!!)
abdomin/o
abdomen
-ac
pertaining to
acanth/o
spiny; thorny (ex. Acanthocytes, spiny cells)
acetabul/o
acetabulum (hip socket)
acous/o
hearing
acr/o
extremities; top; extreme point
acromi/o
acromion (extension of shoulder bone)
actin/o
light/ray (like radiation)
acu/o
sharp; severe; sudden
-acusis
hearing
ad-
toward
-ad
toward
aden/o
gland
adenoid/o
adenoids
adip/o
fat
adren/o
adrenal gland
adrenal/o
adrenal gland
aer/o
air
af-
toward
agglutin/o
clumping; sticking together
-agon
assemble, gather
agora-
marketplace
-agra
excessive pain
-al
pertaining to
alb/o
white
albin/o
white
albumin/o
albumin (protein)
alges/o
sensitivity to pain
-algesia
sensitivity to pain
-algia
pain
all/o
other
alveol/o
alveolus; air sac; small sac
ambly/o
dim; dull
-amine
nitrogen compound
amni/o
amnion (sac surrounding the embryo)
amyl/o
starch
an/o
anus
-an
pertaining to
ana-
up; apart; backward; again, anew
andr/o
male
aneurysm/o
aneurysm (widened blood vessel)
angi/o
vessel (blood)
anis/o
unequal
ankyl/o
stiff
ante-
before; forward
anter/o
front
anthrac/o
coal
anthr/o
antrum of the stomach
anti-
against
anxi/o
uneasy; anxious
aort/o
aorta (largest artery)
-apheresis
removal
aphth/o
ulcer
apo-
off, away
aponeur/o
aponeurosis (type of tendon)
append/o
appendix
appendic/o
appendix
aque/o
water
-ar
pertaining to
-arche
beginning
arter/o
artery
arteri/o
artery
arteriol/o
arteriole (small artery)
arthr/o
joint
-arthria
articulate (speak distinctly)
articul/o
joint
-ary
pertaining to
asbest/o
asbestos
-ase
enzyme
-asthenia
lack of strength
atel/o
incomplete
ather/o
plaque (fatty substance)
-ation
process; condition
atri/o
atrium (upper heart chamber)
audi/o
hearing
audit/o
hearing
aur/o
ear
auricul/o
ear
aut/o
self, own
aut-, auto-
self, own
axill/o
armpit
azot/o
urea; nitrogen
bacill/o
bacilli (bacteria)
bacteri/o
bacteria
balan/o
glans penis
bar/o
pressure; weight
bartholin/o
Bartholin glands
bas/o
base; opposite of acid
bi-
two
bi/o
life
bil/i
bile; gall
bilirubin/o
bilirubin
-blast
embryonic; immature cell
-blastoma
immature tumor (cells)
blephar/o
eyelid
bol/o
cast; throw
brachi/o
arm
brachy-
short
brady-
slow
bronch/o
bronchial tube
bronchi/o
bronchial tube
bronchiol/o
bronchiole
bucc/o
cheek
bunion/o
bunion
burs/o
bursa (sac of fluid near joints)
byssin/o
cotton dust
cac/o
bad
calc/o
calcium
calcane/o
calcaneus (heel bone)
calci/o
calcium
cali/o, calic/o
calyx (cup-shaped)
capillar/o
capillary (tiniest blood vessel)
capn/o
carbon dioxide
-capnia
carbon dioxide
carcin/o
cancerous; cancer
cardi/o
heart
carp/o
wrist bones (carpals)
cata-
down
caud/o
tail; lower part of body
caus/o
burn; burning
cauter/o
heat; burn
cec/o
cecum (first part of the colon)
-cele
hernia
celi/o
belly; abdomen
-centesis
surgical puncture to remove fluid
cephal/o
head
cerebell/o
cerebellum (posterior part of the brain)
cerebr/o
cerebrum (largest part of the brain)
cerumin/o
cerumen
cervic/o
neck; cervix (neck of uterus)
-chalasia
relaxation
-chalasis
relaxation
cheil/o
lip
chem/o
drug; chemical
-chezia
defecation; elimination of wastes
chir/o
hand
chlor/o
green
chlorhydr/o
hydrochloric acid
chol/e
bile; gall
cholangi/o
bile vessel
cholecyst/o
gallbladder
choledoch/o
common bile duct
cholesterol/o
cholesterol
chondr/o
cartilage
chore/o
dance
chori/o
chorion (outermost membrane of the fetus)
chorion/o
chorion
choroid/o
choroid layer of eye
chrom/o
color
chron/o
time
chym/o
to pour
cib/o
meal
-cide
killing
-cidal
pertaining to killing
cine/o
movement
cirrh/o
orange-yellow
cis/o
to cut
-clasis
to break
-clast
to break
claustr/o
enclosed space
clavicul/o
clavicle (collar bone)
-clysis
irrigation; washing
coagul/o
coagulation (clotting)
-coccus (-cocci, pl.)
berry-shaped bacterium
coccyg/o
coccyx (tailbone)
cochle/o
cochlea (inner part of ear)
col/o
colon
coll/a
glue
colon/o
colon (large intestine)
colp/o
vagina
comat/o
deep sleep
comi/o
to care for
con-
together, with
coni/o
dust
conjunctiv/o
conjunctiva (lines the eyelids)
-constriction
narrowing
contra-
against; opposite
cor/o
pupil
core/o
pupil
corne/o
cornea
coron/o
heart (crown or circle)
corpor/o
body
cortic/o
cortex, outer region
cost/o
rib
crani/o
skull
cras/o
mixture; temperament
crin/o
secrete
-crine
secrete; separate
-crit
separate
cry/o
cold
crypt/o
hidden
culd/o
cul-de-sac
-cusis
hearing
cutane/o
skin
cyan/o
blue
cycl/o
ciliary body of eye; cycle; circle
-cyesis
pregnancy
cyst/o
urinary bladder; cyst; sac of fluid
cyt/o
cell
-cyte
cell
-cytosis
abnormal condition of cells; slight increase in numbers
dacry/o
tear
dacryoaden/o
tear gland
dacryocyst/o
tear sac; lacrimal sac
dactyl/o
fingers; toes
de-
lack of; down; less; removal of
dem/o
people
dent/i
tooth; teeth
derm/o
skin
-derma
skin
dermat/o
skin
desicc/o
drying
-desis
bind, tie together
dia-
complete; through
diaphor/o
sweat
-dilation
widening; stretching; expanding
dipl/o
double
dips/o
thirst
dist/o
far; distant
dors/o
back (of body)
dorsi-
back
-dote
to give
-drome
to run
duct/o
to lead, carry
duoden/o
duodenum
dur/o
dura mater
-dynia
pain
dys-
bad; painful; difficult; abnormal
-eal
pertaining to
ec-
out; outside
echo-
reflected sound
-ectasia
dilation; dilatation; widening
-ectasis
dilation; dilatation; widening
ecto-
out; outside
-ectomy
removal; excision; resection
-edema
swelling
-elasma
flat plate
electr/o
electricity
em-
in
-ema
condition
-emesis
vomiting
-emia
blood condition
-emic
pertaining to blood condition
emmetr/o
in due measure
en-
in; within
encephal/o
brain
end-
in; within
endo-
in; within
enter/o
intestines (usually small intestine)
eosin/o
red; rosy; dawn-colored
epi-
above; upon; on
epididym/o
epididymis
epiglott/o
epiglottis
episi/o
vulva (external female genitalia)
epitheli/o
skin; epithelium
equin/o
horse
-er
one who
erg/o
work
erythem/o
flushed; redness
erythr/o
red
-esis
action; condition; state of
eso-
inward
esophag/o
esophagus
esthes/o
feeling (nervous sensation)
esthesi/o
feeling (nervous sensation)
-esthesia
feeling (nervous sensation)
estr/o
female
ethm/o
sieve
eti/o
cause
eu-
good; normal; true
-eurysm
widening
ex-
out; away from
exanthemat/o
rash
exo-
out; away from
extra-
outside
faci/o
face
fasci/o
fascia (membrane supporting muscles)
femor/o
femur (thigh bone)
-ferent
to carry
fibrin/o
fiber
fibr/o, fibromat/o
fiber
fibros/o
fibrous connective tissue
fibul/o
fibula
-fication
process of making
-fida
split
flex/o
bend
fluor/o
luminous
follicul/o
follicle; small sac
-form
resembling; in the shape of
fung/i
fungus; mushroom (lower organism lacking chlorophyll)
furc/o
forking; branching
-fusion
to pour; to come together
galact/o
milk
ganglion/o
ganglion; collection of nerve cell bodies
gastr/o
stomach
-gen
substance that produces
-genesis
producing; forming
-genic
produced by or in
ger/o
old age
geront/o
old age
gest/o
pregnancy
gester/o
pregnancy
gingiv/o
gum
glauc/o
gray
gli/o
glial cells; neuroglial cells (supportive tissue of nervous system)
-globin
protein
-globulin
protein
glomerul/o
glomerulus
gloss/o
tongue
gluc/o
glucose; sugar
glyc/o
glucose; sugar
glycogen/o
glycogen; animal starch
glycos/o
glucose; sugar
gnos/o
knowledge
gon/o
seed
gonad/o
sex glands
goni/o
angle
-grade
to go
-gram
record
granul/o
granule(s)
-graph
instrument for recording
-graphy
process of recording
gravid/o
pregnancy
-gravida
pregnant woman
gynec/o
woman; female
hallucin/o
hallucination
hem/o
blood
hemat/o
blood
hemi-
half
hemoglobin/o
hemoglobin
hepat/o
liver
herni/o
hernia
-hexia
state of
hidr/o
sweat
hist/o, histi/o
tissue
home/o
sameness; unchanging; constant
hormon/o
hormone
humer/o
humerus (upper arm bone)
hydr/o
water
hyper-
above; excessive
hypn/o
sleep
hypo-
deficient; below; under; less than normal
hypophys/o
pituitary gland
hyster/o
uterus; womb
-ia
condition
-iac
pertaining to
-iasis
abnormal condition
iatr/o
physician; treatment
-ic
pertaining to
-ical
pertaining to
ichthy/o
dry; scaly
-icle
small
idi/o
unknown; individual; distinct
-ile
pertaining to
ile/o
ileum
ili/o
ilium
immun/o
immune; protection; safe
in-
in; into; not
-in, -ine
substance
-ine
pertaining to
infra-
below; inferior to; beneath
inguin/o
groin
insulin/o
insulin (pancreatic hormone)
inter-
between
intra-
within; into
iod/o
iodine
ion/o
ion; to wander
-ion
process
-ior
pertaining to
ipsi-
same
ir-
in
ir/o
iris (colored portion of eye)
irid/o
iris (colored portion of eye)
is/o
same; equal
isch/o
hold back; back
ischi/o
ischium (part of hip bone)
-ism
process; condition
-ist
specialist
-itis
inflammation
-itus
condition
-ium
structure; tissue
jaund/o
yellow
jejun/o
jejunum
kal/i
potassium
kary/o
nucleus
kerat/o
cornea; hard, horny tissue
kern-
nucleus (collection of nerve cells in the brain)
ket/o
ketones; acetones
keton/o
ketones; acetones
kines/o
movement
kinesi/o
movement
-kinesia
movement
-kinesis
movement
klept/o
to steal
kyph/o
humpback
labi/o
lip
lacrim/o
tear; tear duct; lacrimal duct
lact/o
milk
lamin/o
lamina (part of vertebral arch)
lapar/o
abdominal wall; abdomen
-lapse
slide, fall, sag
laryng/o
larynx (voice box)
later/o
side
leiomy/o
smooth (visceral) muscle
-lemma
sheath, covering
-lepsy
seizure
lept/o
thin, slender
-leptic
pertaining to seizing, taking hold of
leth/o
death
leuk/o
white
lex/o
word; phrase
-lexia
word; phrase
ligament/o
ligament
lingu/o
tongue
lip/o
fat (a type of lipid)
lipid/o
lipid
-listhesis
slipping
lith/o
stone; calculus
-lithiasis
condition of stones
-lithotomy
incision (for removal) of a stone
lob/o
lobe
log/o
study
-logy
study (process of)
lord/o
curve; swayback
-lucent
to shine
lumb/o
lower back; loin
lute/o
yellow
lux/o
slide
lymph/o
lymph
lymphaden/o
lymph gland (node)
lymphangi/o
lymph vessel
-lysis
breakdown; separation; destruction; loosening
-lytic
reducing, destroying; separating; breakdown
macro-
large
mal-
bad
-malacia
softening
malleol/o
malleolus
mamm/o
breast
mandibul/o
mandible (lower jaw bone)
-mania
obsessive preoccupation
mast/o
breast
mastoid/o
mastoid process (behind the ear)
maxill/o
maxilla (upper jaw bone)
meat/o
meatus (opening)
medi/o
middle
mediastin/o
mediastinum
medull/o
medulla (inner section); middle; soft, marrow
mega-
large
-megaly
enlargement
melan/o
black
men/o
menses; menstruation
mening/o
meninges (membranes covering the spinal cord and brain)
meningi/o
meninges
ment/o
mind; chin
meso-
middle
meta-
change; beyond
metacarp/o
metacarpals (hand bones)
metatars/o
metatarsals (foot bones)
-meter
measure
metr/o
uterus (womb); measure
metri/o
uterus (womb)
mi/o
smaller; less
micro-
small
-mimetic
mimic; copy
-mission
send
mon/o
one; single
morph/o
shape; form
mort/o
death
-mortem
death
-motor
movement
muc/o
mucus
mucos/o
mucous membrane (mucosa)
multi-
many
mut/a
genetic change
mutagen/o
causing genetic change
my/o
muscle
myc/o
fungus
mydr/o
wide
myel/o
spinal cord; bone marrow
myocardi/o
myocardium (heart muscle)
myom/o
muscle tumor
myos/o
muscle
myring/o
tympanic membrane (eardrum)
myx/o
mucus
narc/o
numbness; stupor; sleep
nas/o
nose
nat/i
birth
natr/o
sodium
necr/o
death
nect/o
bind, tie, connect
neo-
new
nephr/o
kidney
neur/o
nerve
neutr/o
neither; neutral; neutrophil
nid/o
nest
noct/o
night
norm/o
rule; order
nos/o
disease
nucle/o
nucleus
nulli-
none
nyct/o
night
obstetr/o
pregnancy; childbirth
ocul/o
eye
odont/o
tooth
odyn/o
pain
-oid
resembling; originating from
-ole
little; small
olecran/o
olecranon (elbow)
olig/o
scanty
om/o
shoulder
-oma
tumor; mass; fluid collection
omphal/o
umbilicus (navel)
onc/o
tumor
-one
hormone
onych/o
nail (of fingers or toes)
o/o
egg
oophor/o
ovary
-opaque
obscure
ophthalm/o
eye
-opia
vision condition
-opsia
vision condition
-opsy
view of
opt/o
eye; vision
optic/o
eye; vision
-or
one who
or/o
mouth
orch/o
testis
orchi/o
testis
orchid/o
testis
-orexia
appetite
orth/o
straight
-ose
full of; pertaining to; sugar
-osis
condition, usually abnormal
-osmia
smell
ossicul/o
ossicle (small bone)
oste/o
bone
-ostosis
condition of bone
ot/o
ear
-otia
ear condition
-ous
pertaining to
ov/o
egg
ovari/o
ovary
ovul/o
egg
ox/o
oxygen
-oxia
oxygen
oxy-
rapid; sharp; acid
oxysm/o
sudden
pachy-
heavy; thick
palat/o
palate (roof of the mouth)
palpebr/o
eyelid
pan-
all
pancreat/o
pancreas
papill/o
nipple-like; optic disc (disk)
par-
other than; abnormal
para-
near; beside; abnormal; apart from; along the side of
-para
to bear, bring forth (live births)
-parous
to bear, bring forth
parathyroid/o
parathyroid glands
-paresis
weakness
-pareunia
sexual intercourse
-partum
birth; labor
patell/a
patella
patell/o
patella
path/o
disease
-pathy
disease; emotion
pector/o
chest
ped/o
child; foot
pelv/i
pelvis; hip region
pelv/o
pelvis; hip region
pend/o
hang
-penia
deficiency
pen/o
penis
-pepsia
digestion
per-
through
peri-
surrounding
perine/o
perineum
peritone/o
peritoneum
perone/o
fibula
-pexy
fixation; to put in place
phac/o
lens of eye
phag/o
eat; swallow
-phage
eat; swallow
-phagia
condition of eating; swallowing
phak/o
lens of eye
phalang/o
phalanges (of fingers and toes)
phall/o
penis
pharmac/o
drug
pharmaceut/o
drug
pharyng/o
throat (pharynx)
phas/o
speech
-phasia
speech
phe/o
dusky; dark
-pheresis
removal
phil/o
like; love; attraction to
-phil
attraction for
-philia
attraction for
phim/o
muzzle
phleb/o
vein
phob/o
fear
