Medical Roots (A-H) Flashcards

A useful resource for learning where all those fancy medical words come from. In this deck, all roots running from A-H.

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What does this medical root mean?

a-, an-

A

Denotes an absence of, without

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2
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ab-

A

away from

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3
Q

What does this medical root mean?

abdomin(o)-

A

Of or relating to the abdomen

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4
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ac, -acal

A

pertaining to

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5
Q

What does this medical root mean?

acanth(o)-

A

thorn or spine

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6
Q

What does this medical root mean?

acous(io)-

A

Of or relating to hearing

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7
Q

What does this medical root mean?

acr(o)-

A

extremity, topmost

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8
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-acusis

A

hearing

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9
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ad

A

toward, in the direction of

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10
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ad-

A

increase, adherence, motion toward, very

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11
Q

What does this medical root mean?

aden(o)-, aden(i)-

A

Of or relating to a gland

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12
Q

What does this medical root mean?

adip(o)-

A

Of or relating to fat or fatty tissue

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13
Q

What does this medical root mean?

adren(o)-

A

Of or relating to adrenal glands

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14
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-aemia

A

blood condition

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15
Q

What does this medical root mean?

aer(o)-

A

air, gas

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16
Q

What does this medical root mean?

aesthesio-

A

sensation

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17
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-al

A

pertaining to

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18
Q

What does this medical root mean?

alb-

A

Denoting a white or pale color

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19
Q

What does this medical root mean?

alge(si)-

A

pain

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20
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-algia

A

pain

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21
Q

What does this medical root mean?

alg(i)o-

A

pain

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22
Q

What does this medical root mean?

allo-

A

Denoting something as different, or as an addition

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23
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ambi-

A

Denoting something as positioned on both sides; Describing both of two

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24
Q

What does this medical root mean?

amnio-

A

Pertaining to the membranous fetal sac (amnion)

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25
Q

What does this medical root mean?

amph-, amphi-

A

on both sides

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26
Q

What does this medical root mean?

an-

A

not, without

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27
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ana-

A

back, again, up

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28
Q

What does this medical root mean?

an(o)

A

anus

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29
Q

What does this medical root mean?

andr(o)-

A

pertaining to a man

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30
Q

What does this medical root mean?

angi(o)-

A

blood vessel

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31
Q

What does this medical root mean?

aniso-

A

Describing something as unequal

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32
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ankyl(o)-,ancyl(o)-

A

Denoting something as crooked or bent

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33
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ante-

A

Describing something as positioned in front of another thing

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34
Q

What does this medical root mean?

anti-

A

Describing something as ‘against’ or ‘opposed to’ another

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35
Q

What does this medical root mean?

apo-

A

separated from, derived from

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36
Q

What does this medical root mean?

arch(i,e,o)

A

first, primitive

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37
Q

What does this medical root mean?

arsen(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to a male; masculine

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38
Q

What does this medical root mean?

arteri(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to an artery

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39
Q

What does this medical root mean?

arthr(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the joints, limbs

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40
Q

What does this medical root mean?

articul(o)-

A

joint

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41
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ary

A

pertaining to

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42
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ase

A

enzyme

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43
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-asthenia

A

weakness

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44
Q

What does this medical root mean?

atel(o)

A

imperfect or incomplete development

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45
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ather(o)-

A

fatty deposit, Soft gruel-like deposit

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46
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ation

A

process

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47
Q

What does this medical root mean?

atri(o)-

A

an atrium (esp. heart atrium)

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48
Q

What does this medical root mean?

aur(i)-

A

Of or pertaining to the ear

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49
Q

What does this medical root mean?

aut(o)-

A

self

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50
Q

What does this medical root mean?

aux(o)-

A

increase; growth

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51
Q

What does this medical root mean?

axill-

A

Of or pertaining to the armpit [uncommon as a prefix]

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52
Q

What does this medical root mean?

azo(to)

A

nitrogenous compound

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53
Q

What does this medical root mean?

balano-

A

Of the glans penis or glans clitoridis

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54
Q

What does this medical root mean?

bi-

A

twice, double

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55
Q

What does this medical root mean?

bio-

A

life

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56
Q

What does this medical root mean?

blast(o)-

A

germ or bud

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57
Q

What does this medical root mean?

blephar(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the eyelid

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58
Q

What does this medical root mean?

brachi(o)-

A

Of or relating to the arm

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59
Q

What does this medical root mean?

brachy-

A

Indicating ‘short’ or less commonly ‘little’

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60
Q

What does this medical root mean?

brady-

A

slow’

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61
Q

What does this medical root mean?

bronch(i)-

A

bronchus

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62
Q

What does this medical root mean?

bucc(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the cheek

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63
Q

What does this medical root mean?

burs(o)-

A

bursa (fluid sac between the bones)

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64
Q

What does this medical root mean?

capill-

A

Of or pertaining to hair

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65
Q

What does this medical root mean?

capit-

A

Pertaining to the head (as a whole)

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66
Q

What does this medical root mean?

carcin(o)-

A

cancer

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67
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cardi(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the heart

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68
Q

What does this medical root mean?

carp(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the wrist

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69
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cata-

A

down, under

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70
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-cele

A

pouching, hernia

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71
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-centesis

A

surgical puncture for aspiration

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72
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cephal(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the head (as a whole)

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73
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cerat(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the cornu[disambiguation needed]; a horn

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74
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cerebell(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the cerebellum

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75
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cerebr(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the brain

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76
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cervic-

A

Of or pertaining to the neck, the cervix

77
Q

What does this medical root mean?

chem(o)-

A

chemistry, drug

78
Q

What does this medical root mean?

chir(o)-, cheir(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the hand

79
Q

What does this medical root mean?

chlor(o)-

A

Denoting a green color

80
Q

What does this medical root mean?

chol(e)-

A

Of or pertaining to bile

81
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cholecyst(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the gallbladder

82
Q

What does this medical root mean?

chondr(i)o-

A

cartilage, gristle, granule, granular

83
Q

What does this medical root mean?

chrom(ato)-

A

color

84
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-cidal, -cide

A

killing, destroying

85
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cili-

A

Of or pertaining to the cilia, the eyelashes; eyelids

86
Q

What does this medical root mean?

circum-

A

Denoting something as ‘around’ another

87
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cis-

A

on this side

88
Q

What does this medical root mean?

clast

A

break

89
Q

What does this medical root mean?

co-

A

with, together, in association

90
Q

What does this medical root mean?

col-, colo-, colono-

A

colon

91
Q

What does this medical root mean?

colp(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the vagina

92
Q

What does this medical root mean?

com-

A

with, together

93
Q

What does this medical root mean?

contra

A

against

94
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cor-

A

with, together

95
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cor-, core-, coro-

A

Of or pertaining to eye’s pupil

96
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cordi-

A

Of or pertaining to the heart [Uncommon as a prefix]

97
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cornu-

A

Applied to processes and parts of the body describing them likened or similar to horns

98
Q

What does this medical root mean?

coron(o)-

A

crown

99
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cost(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the ribs

100
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cox-

A

Of or relating to the hip, haunch, or hip-joint

101
Q

What does this medical root mean?

crani(o)-

A

Belonging or relating to the cranium

102
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-crine

A

to secrete

103
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cry(o)-

A

cold

104
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cutane-

A

skin

105
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cyan(o)-

A

Denotes a blue color

106
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cycl-

A

circle, cycle

107
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cyph(o)-

A

Denotes something as bent (uncommon as a prefix)

108
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cyst(o)-, cyst(i)-

A

Of or pertaining to the urinary bladder

109
Q

What does this medical root mean?

cyt(o)-

A

cell

110
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-cyte

A

cell

111
Q

What does this medical root mean?

dacryo-

A

tear

112
Q

What does this medical root mean?

dactyl(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to a finger, toe

113
Q

What does this medical root mean?

de-

A

away from, cessation

114
Q

What does this medical root mean?

dent-

A

Of or pertaining to teeth

115
Q

What does this medical root mean?

dermat(o)-, derm(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the skin

116
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-desis

A

binding

117
Q

What does this medical root mean?

dextr(o)-

A

right, on the right side

118
Q

What does this medical root mean?

di-

A

two

119
Q

What does this medical root mean?

di-

A

apart, separation

120
Q

What does this medical root mean?

dia-

A

(same as Greek meaning)

121
Q

What does this medical root mean?

dif-

A

apart, separation

122
Q

What does this medical root mean?

digit-

A

Of or pertaining to the finger [rare as a root]

123
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-dipsia

A

suffix meaning ‘(condition of) thirst’

124
Q

What does this medical root mean?

dis-

A

separation, taking apart

125
Q

What does this medical root mean?

dors(o)-, dors(i)-

A

Of or pertaining to the back

126
Q

What does this medical root mean?

duodeno-

A

duodenum, twelve: upper part of the small intestine (twelve inches long on average), connects to the stomach

127
Q

What does this medical root mean?

dynam(o)-

A

force, energy, power

128
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-dynia

A

pain

129
Q

What does this medical root mean?

dys-

A

bad, difficult

130
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-eal

A

pertaining to

131
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ec-

A

out, away

132
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ect(o)-

A

outer, outside

133
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ectasis, -ectasia

A

expansion, dilation

134
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ectomy

A

Denotes a surgical operation or removal of a body part. Resection, excision

135
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-emesis

A

vomiting condition

136
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-emia

A

blood condition

137
Q

What does this medical root mean?

encephal(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the brain. Also see Cerebro.

138
Q

What does this medical root mean?

endo-

A

Denotes something as ‘inside’ or ‘within’

139
Q

What does this medical root mean?

eosin(o)-

A

Red

140
Q

What does this medical root mean?

enter(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the intestine

141
Q

What does this medical root mean?

epi-

A

[Same as Greek meaning: on, upon]

142
Q

What does this medical root mean?

episi(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the pubic region, the loins

143
Q

What does this medical root mean?

erythr(o)-

A

Denotes a red color

144
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-esophageal, -esophago

A

gullet

145
Q

What does this medical root mean?

esthesio-

A

sensation

146
Q

What does this medical root mean?

eu-

A

true, good, well, new

147
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ex-

A

out of, away from

148
Q

What does this medical root mean?

exo-

A

Denotes something as ‘outside’ another

149
Q

What does this medical root mean?

extra-

A

outside

150
Q

What does this medical root mean?

faci(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the face

151
Q

What does this medical root mean?

fibr(o)

A

fiber

152
Q

What does this medical root mean?

filli-

A

fine, hair like

153
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-form, -iform

A

Used to form adjectives indicating ‘having the form of’

154
Q

What does this medical root mean?

fossa

A

A hollow or depressed area; trench or channel

155
Q

What does this medical root mean?

front-

A

Of or pertaining to the forehead

156
Q

What does this medical root mean?

galact(o)-

A

milk

157
Q

What does this medical root mean?

gastr(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the stomach

158
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-gen

A

(1) Denotes the sense ‘born in, from’ (2) Denotes the sense ‘of a certain kind’

159
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-genic

A

Formative, pertaining to producing

160
Q

What does this medical root mean?

genu-

A

Of or pertaining to the knee

161
Q

What does this medical root mean?

gingiv-

A

Of or pertaining to the gums

162
Q

What does this medical root mean?

glauc(o)-

A

Denoting a grey or bluish-grey colour

163
Q

What does this medical root mean?

gloss(o)-, glott(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the tongue

164
Q

What does this medical root mean?

gluco-

A

glucose

165
Q

What does this medical root mean?

glyco-

A

sugar

166
Q

What does this medical root mean?

gnath(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the jaw

167
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-gnosis

A

knowledge

168
Q

What does this medical root mean?

gon(o)-

A

seed, semen; also, reproductive

169
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-gram, -gramme

A

record or picture

170
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-graph

A

instrument used to record data or picture

171
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-graphy

A

process of recording

172
Q

What does this medical root mean?

gyn(aec)o-, gyn(ec)o-

A

woman

173
Q

What does this medical root mean?

halluc-

A

to wander in mind

174
Q

What does this medical root mean?

hemat-, haemato- (haem-, hem-)

A

Of or pertaining to blood

175
Q

What does this medical root mean?

hema or hemo-

A

blood

176
Q

What does this medical root mean?

hemangi or hemangio-

A

blood vessels

177
Q

What does this medical root mean?

hemi-

A

one-half

178
Q

What does this medical root mean?

hepat- (hepatic-)

A

Of or pertaining to the liver

179
Q

What does this medical root mean?

heter(o)-

A

Denotes something as ‘the other’ (of two), as an addition, or different

180
Q

What does this medical root mean?

hidr(o)-

A

sweat

181
Q

What does this medical root mean?

hist(o)-, histio-

A

tissue

182
Q

What does this medical root mean?

home(o)-

A

similar

183
Q

What does this medical root mean?

hom(o)-

A

Denotes something as ‘the same’ as another or common

184
Q

What does this medical root mean?

humer(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the shoulder (or [rarely] the upper arm)

185
Q

What does this medical root mean?

hydr(o)-

A

water

186
Q

What does this medical root mean?

hyper-

A

Denotes something as ‘extreme’ or ‘beyond normal’

187
Q

What does this medical root mean?

hyp(o)-

A

Denotes something as ‘below normal’

188
Q

What does this medical root mean?

hyster(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the womb, the uterus