Medical terminology Flashcards
What is a prefix?
A single letter or group of letters attached to the front of a root word.
Example: un- in understand
What is a suffix?
A single letter or group of letters attached to the end of a root word.
For medical terms, what does the prefix usually determine?
Location, time or number.
For medical terms, what does a suffix usually determine?
The condition/disease, procedure or treatment.
Root word: Alveol
Air sacks within the lungs.
Root word: Arthr
Joints.
Root word: Aur
Ear.
Root word: Bi
Root: Life
Prefix: Two
Root word: Cardi
Heart.
Root word: Caud
Tail.
Root word: Cephal
Head.
Root word: Cervic
Neck.
Root word: Col or Colon
Large intestine.
Root word: Cost
Rib.
Root word: Cutane
Skin.
Root word: Enter
Small intestines.
Root word: Gastr
Stomach.
Root word: Glyc
Sugar.
Root word: Hem
Blood.
Root word: Hepat
Liver.
Root word: Lip
Fat.
Root word: Log
Study.
Root word: My
Muscle.
Root word: Nas
Nose.
Root word: Nephr
Pronunciation: Nefer
Kidney.
Root word: Neur
Nerve.
Root word: Or
Mouth.
Root word: Oste
Bone.
Root word: Path
Disease.
Root word: Pulmon
Lungs.
Root word: Rhin
Nose.
Root word: Sarc
Tissue, Flesh, Connective tissues.
Example: Ligaments and tendons
Root word: Thorac
Chest.
Root word: Uter
Uterus.
Prefix: a or an-
Not or without.
Prefix: ante-
Before.
Prefix: anti-
Against.
Prefix: bi-
Two.
Prefix: brady-
Slow.
Prefix: endo-
In or within.
Prefix: epi-
Over or upon.
Prefix: hyper-
Above or excessive.
Prefix: hypo-
Below or deficient.
Prefix: inter-
Between.
Prefix: intra-
The process of going within or into.
Prefix: peri-
Around or surrounding.
Prefix: sub-
Below or under.
Prefix: supra-
Above.
Prefix: tachy-
Fast.
Prefix: trans-
Across.
Prefix: ultra-
Beyond or excess.
Prefix: -ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -lac, -lal, -ic, -ical, -ior
Pertaining to.
Suffix: -algia
Pain.
Suffix: -cyte
Cell.
Suffix: -ectomy
Surgical removal.
Suffix: -emia
Blood conditions.
Suffix: -gen
Substance that produces.
Suffix: -ia
Condition.
Suffix: -ine
Substance if it used as a noun.
or
Pertaining to it if used as an adjective.
Suffix: -itis
Inflammation.
Suffix: -logist
Specialist (one who studies).
Suffix: -logy
Study of.
Suffix: -megaly
Enlargement.
Suffix: -oma
Tumor or a mass.
Suffix: -osis
Abnormal condition.
Suffix: -pathy
Disease.
Suffix: -plasty
Surgical repair.
Suffix: -stomy
Surgical opening.
Suffix: -tomy
Process of cutting.
Suffix: -um
Structure.
