Medical Roots (I-R) Flashcards

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

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

What does this medical root mean?

-i-asis

A

condition

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2
Q

What does this medical root mean?

iatr(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to medicine, or a physician [uncommon as a prefix; common as as suffix, see -iatry]

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3
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-iatry

A

Denotes a field in medicine of a certain body component

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4
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ic

A

pertaining to

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5
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-icle

A

small

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6
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ics

A

organized knowledge, treatment

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7
Q

What does this medical root mean?

idio-

A

self, one’s own

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8
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ileo-

A

ileum

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9
Q

What does this medical root mean?

infra-

A

below

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10
Q

What does this medical root mean?

inter-

A

between, among

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11
Q

What does this medical root mean?

intra-

A

within

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12
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ipsi-

A

same

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13
Q

What does this medical root mean?

irid(o)-

A

iris

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14
Q

What does this medical root mean?

isch-

A

restriction

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15
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ischio-

A

Of or pertaining to the ischium, the hip-joint

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16
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ism

A

condition, disease

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17
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ismus

A

spasm, contraction

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18
Q

What does this medical root mean?

iso-

A

Denoting something as being ‘equal’

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19
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ist

A

one who specializes in

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20
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ite

A

the nature of, resembling

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21
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-itis

A

inflammation

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22
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ium

A

structure, tissue

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23
Q

What does this medical root mean?

kal/i

A

potassium

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24
Q

What does this medical root mean?

karyo-

A

nucleus

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25
Q

What does this medical root mean?

kerat(o)-

A

cornea (eye or skin)

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26
Q

What does this medical root mean?

kin(e)-, kin(o), kinesi(o)-

A

movement

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27
Q

What does this medical root mean?

koil(o)-

A

hollow

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28
Q

What does this medical root mean?

kyph(o)-

A

humped

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29
Q

What does this medical root mean?

labi(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the lip

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30
Q

What does this medical root mean?

lacrim(o)-

A

tear

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31
Q

What does this medical root mean?

lact(i)-, lact(o)

A

milk

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32
Q

What does this medical root mean?

lapar(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the abdomen-wall, flank

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33
Q

What does this medical root mean?

laryng(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the larynx, the lower throat cavity where the voice box is

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34
Q

What does this medical root mean?

latero-

A

lateral

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35
Q

What does this medical root mean?

lei(o)-

A

smooth

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36
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-lepsis, -lepsy

A

attack, seizure

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37
Q

What does this medical root mean?

lept(o)-

A

light, slender

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38
Q

What does this medical root mean?

leuc(o)-, leuk(o)-

A

Denoting a white color

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39
Q

What does this medical root mean?

lingu(a)-, lingu(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the tongue

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40
Q

What does this medical root mean?

lip(o)-

A

fat

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41
Q

What does this medical root mean?

lith(o)-

A

stone, calculus

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42
Q

What does this medical root mean?

log(o)-

A

speech

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43
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-logist

A

Denotes someone who studies a certain field: _____-logy

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44
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-logy

A

Denotes the academic study or practice of a certain field; The study of

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45
Q

What does this medical root mean?

lymph(o)-

A

lymph

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46
Q

What does this medical root mean?

lys(o)-, -lytic

A

dissolution

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47
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-lysis

A

Destruction, separation

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48
Q

What does this medical root mean?

macr(o)-

A

large, long

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49
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-malacia

A

softening

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50
Q

What does this medical root mean?

mamm(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the breast

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51
Q

What does this medical root mean?

mammill(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the nipple

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52
Q

What does this medical root mean?

manu-

A

Of or pertaining to the hand

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53
Q

What does this medical root mean?

mast(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the breast

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54
Q

What does this medical root mean?

meg(a)-, megal(o)-, -megaly

A

enlargement

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55
Q

What does this medical root mean?

melan(o)-

A

black color

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56
Q

What does this medical root mean?

melos

A

extremity

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57
Q

What does this medical root mean?

mening(o)-

A

membrane

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58
Q

What does this medical root mean?

mero-

A

part

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59
Q

What does this medical root mean?

mes(o)-

A

middle

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60
Q

What does this medical root mean?

meta-

A

after, behind

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61
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-meter

A

instrument used to measure or count

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62
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-metry

A

process of measuring

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63
Q

What does this medical root mean?

metr(o)-

A

Pertaining to conditions or instruments of the uterus

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64
Q

What does this medical root mean?

micro-

A

denoting something as small, or relating to smallness

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65
Q

What does this medical root mean?

mon(o)-

A

single

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66
Q

What does this medical root mean?

morph(o)-

A

form, shape

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67
Q

What does this medical root mean?

muscul(o)-

A

muscle

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68
Q

What does this medical root mean?

my(o)-

A

Of or relating to muscle

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69
Q

What does this medical root mean?

myc(o)-

A

fungus

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70
Q

What does this medical root mean?

myel(o)-

A

Of or relating to bone marrow

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71
Q

What does this medical root mean?

myring(o)-

A

eardrum

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72
Q

What does this medical root mean?

myx(o)-

A

mucus

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73
Q

What does this medical root mean?

narc(o)-

A

numb, sleep

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74
Q

What does this medical root mean?

nas(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the nose

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75
Q

What does this medical root mean?

necr(o)-

A

death

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76
Q

What does this medical root mean?

neo-

A

new

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77
Q

What does this medical root mean?

nephr(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the kidney

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78
Q

What does this medical root mean?

nerv-

A

Of or pertaining to nerves and the nervous system [Uncommon as a root: neuro- mostly always used]

79
Q

What does this medical root mean?

neur(i)-, neur(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to nerves and the nervous system

80
Q

What does this medical root mean?

normo-

A

normal

81
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ocul(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the eye

82
Q

What does this medical root mean?

odont(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to teeth

83
Q

What does this medical root mean?

odyn(o)-

A

pain

84
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-oesophageal, oesophago-(BrE)

A

gullet

85
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-oid

A

resemblance to

86
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ole

A

small or little

87
Q

What does this medical root mean?

olig(o)-

A

Denoting something as ‘having little, having few’

88
Q

What does this medical root mean?

om(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the shoulder

89
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-oma (singular), -omata (plural)

A

tumor, mass, collection

90
Q

What does this medical root mean?

omphal(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the navel, the umbilicus

91
Q

What does this medical root mean?

onco-

A

tumor, bulk, volume

92
Q

What does this medical root mean?

onych(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the nail (of a finger or toe)

93
Q

What does this medical root mean?

oo-

A

Of or pertaining to the an egg, a woman’s egg, the ovum

94
Q

What does this medical root mean?

oophor(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the woman’s ovary

95
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ophthalm(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the eye

96
Q

What does this medical root mean?

optic(o)-

A

Of or relating to chemical properties of the eye

97
Q

What does this medical root mean?

or(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the mouth

98
Q

What does this medical root mean?

orchi(o)-, orchid(o)-, orch(o)-

A

testis

99
Q

What does this medical root mean?

orth(o)-

A

Denoting something as straight or correct

100
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-osis

A

a condition, disease or increase

101
Q

What does this medical root mean?

osseo-

A

bony

102
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ossi-

A

bone

103
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ost(e)-, oste(o)-

A

bone

104
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ot(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the ear

105
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ous

A

pertaining to

106
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ovari(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the ovaries

107
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ovo-, ovi-, ov-

A

Of or pertaining to the eggs, the ovum

108
Q

What does this medical root mean?

oxo-

A

addition of oxygen

109
Q

What does this medical root mean?

oxy-

A

sharp, acid, acute, oxygen

110
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pachy-

A

thick

111
Q

What does this medical root mean?

palpebr-

A

Of or pertaining to the eyelid [uncommon as a root]

112
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pan-, pant(o)-

A

Denoting something as ‘complete’ or containing ‘everything’

113
Q

What does this medical root mean?

papill-

A

Of or pertaining to the nipple (of the chest/breast)

114
Q

What does this medical root mean?

papul(o)-

A

Indicates papulosity, a small elevation or swelling in the skin, a pimple, swelling

115
Q

What does this medical root mean?

para-

A

alongside of, abnormal

116
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-paresis

A

slight paralysis

117
Q

What does this medical root mean?

parvo-

A

small

118
Q

What does this medical root mean?

path(o)-

A

disease

119
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-pathy

A

Denotes (with a negative sense) a disease, or disorder

120
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ped-, -ped-, -pes

A

Of or pertaining to the foot; -footed

121
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pelv(i)-, pelv(o)-

A

hip bone

122
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-penia

A

deficiency

123
Q

What does this medical root mean?

peo-

A

Of or pertaining to the penis

124
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-pepsia

A

Denotes something relating to digestion, or the digestive tract.

125
Q

What does this medical root mean?

per-

A

through

126
Q

What does this medical root mean?

peri-

A

Denoting something with a position ‘surrounding’ or ‘around’ another

127
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-pexy

A

fixation

128
Q

What does this medical root mean?

phaco-

A

lens-shaped

129
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-phage, -phagia

A

Forms terms denoting conditions relating to eating or ingestion

130
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-phago-

A

eating, devouring

131
Q

What does this medical root mean?

phagist-:

A

Forms nouns that denote a person who ‘feeds on’ the first element or part of the word

132
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-phagy

A

Forms nouns that denotes ‘feeding on’ the first element or part of the word

133
Q

What does this medical root mean?

phallo-

A

phallus

134
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pharmaco-

A

drug, medication

135
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pharyng(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the pharynx, the upper throat cavity

136
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-phil(ia)

A

attraction for

137
Q

What does this medical root mean?

phleb(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the (blood) veins, a vein

138
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-phobia

A

exaggerated fear, sensitivity

139
Q

What does this medical root mean?

phon(o)-

A

sound

140
Q

What does this medical root mean?

phos-

A

Of or pertaining to light or its chemical properties, now historic and used rarely. See the common root phot(o)- below.

141
Q

What does this medical root mean?

phot(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to light

142
Q

What does this medical root mean?

piri-

A

Pear

143
Q

What does this medical root mean?

phren(i)-, phren(o)-, phrenico

A

the mind

144
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-plasia

A

formation, development

145
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-plasty

A

surgical repair, reconstruction

146
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-plegia

A

paralysis

147
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pleio-

A

more, excessive, multiple

148
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pleur(o)-, pleur(a)

A

Of or pertaining to the ribs

149
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-plexy

A

stroke or seizure

150
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pneum(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the lungs

151
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pneumat(o)-

A

air, lung

152
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pod-, -pod-, -pus

A

Of or pertaining to the foot, -footed

153
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-poiesis

A

production

154
Q

What does this medical root mean?

polio-

A

Denoting a grey color

155
Q

What does this medical root mean?

poly-

A

Denotes a ‘plurality’ of something

156
Q

What does this medical root mean?

por(o)-

A

pore, porous

157
Q

What does this medical root mean?

porphyr(o)-

A

Denotes a purple color

158
Q

What does this medical root mean?

post-

A

Denotes something as ‘after’ or ‘behind’ another

159
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pre-

A

Denotes something as ‘before’ another (in [physical] position or time)

160
Q

What does this medical root mean?

presby(o)-

A

old age

161
Q

What does this medical root mean?

prim-

A

Denotes something as ‘first’ or ‘most-important’

162
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pro-

A

Denotes something as ‘before’ another (in [physical] position or time)

163
Q

What does this medical root mean?

proct(o)-

A

anus, rectum

164
Q

What does this medical root mean?

prosop(o)-

A

face

165
Q

What does this medical root mean?

prot(o)-

A

Denotes something as ‘first’ or ‘most important’

166
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pseud(o)-

A

Denotes something false or fake

167
Q

What does this medical root mean?

psych(e)-, psych(o)

A

Of or pertaining to the mind

168
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pterygo-

A

Pertaining to a wing

169
Q

What does this medical root mean?

psor-

A

Itching

170
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ptosis

A

falling, drooping, downward placement, prolapse

171
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-ptysis

A

(a spitting), spitting, hemoptysis, the spitting of blood derived from the lungs or bronchial tubes

172
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pulmon-, pulmo-

A

Of or relating to the lungs.

173
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pyel(o)-

A

pelvis

174
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pyo-

A

pus

175
Q

What does this medical root mean?

pyro-

A

fever

176
Q

What does this medical root mean?

quadr(i)-

A

four

177
Q

What does this medical root mean?

radio-

A

radiation

178
Q

What does this medical root mean?

re-

A

again, backward

179
Q

What does this medical root mean?

rect(o)-

A

rectum

180
Q

What does this medical root mean?

ren(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the kidney

181
Q

What does this medical root mean?

reticul(o)-

A

net

182
Q

What does this medical root mean?

retro-

A

backward, behind

183
Q

What does this medical root mean?

rhabd(o)-

A

rod shaped, striated

184
Q

What does this medical root mean?

rhachi(o)-

A

spine

185
Q

What does this medical root mean?

rhin(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the nose

186
Q

What does this medical root mean?

rhod(o)-

A

Denoting a rose-red color

187
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-rrhage

A

burst forth

188
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-rrhagia

A

rapid flow of blood

189
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-rrhaphy

A

surgical suturing

190
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-rrhea (AmE)

A

flowing, discharge

191
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-rrhexis

A

rupture

192
Q

What does this medical root mean?

-rrhoea

A

flowing, discharge

193
Q

What does this medical root mean?

rubr(o)-

A

Of or pertaining to the red nucleus of the brain