Medical Terminology Prefix and Suffix Flashcards
Types of word parts
Word root: contains basic meaning of term. usu indicates involved body part
Combining form: word root with a vowel at end so that suffix beginning with a consonant can be added. When form appears alone, it is shown with a / between the word root and the combining vowel (gastr/o)
Suffix: usu indicates procedure, condition, disorder, or disease
Prefix: usu indicates location, time, number, or status
a-
no, not, without, away from, negative
-a
noun ending
ab-
away from, negative, absent
abdomin/o
abdomen
-able
capable of, able to
abort/o
premature expulsion of a nonviable fetus
abrad/o, abras/o
rub or scrape off
abrupt/o
broken away from
abs-
away from
abscess/o
collection of pus, going away
absorpt/o
suck up, suck in
-ac
pertaining to
acanth/o
spiny, thorny
acetabul/o
acetabulum
-acious
characterized by
acne/o
point or peak
acous/o, acoust/o
hearing, sound
acquir/o
get, obtain
acr/o
extremities (hands and feet), top, extreme point
acromi/o
acromion, point of shoulder blade
actin/o
light
acu/o
sharp, severe, sudden
acuit/o, acut/o
sharp, sharpness
acust/o, -acusia, -acusis
hearing, sense of hearing
ad-
toward, to, in the direction of
aden/o
gland
adenoid/o
adenoids
adhes/o
stick to, cling to
adip/o
fat
adnex/o
bound to
adren/o, adrenal/o
adrenal glands
aer/o
air, gas
aesthet/o
sensation, sense of perception
af-
toward, to
affect/o
exert influence on
agglutin/o
clumping, stick together
aggress/o
attack, step forward
-ago
abnormal condition, disease
agor/a
marketplace
-agra
excessive pain, seizure, attack of severe pain
-aise
comfort, ease
-al
pertaining to
alb/i, alb/o
white
albumin/o
albumin, protein
alg/e, algi/o, alg/o, algesi/o
relationship to pain
-algesia, -algesic
painful, pain sense
-algia
pain, painful condition
align/o
bring into line or correct position
aliment/o
to nourish
all/o, all-
other, different from normal, reversal
alopec/o
baldness, mangy
alveol/o
alveolus, air sac, small sac
ambi-
both sides, around or about, double
ambly/o
dull, dim
ambul/o, ambulat/o
walk
amert/o
out of proportion
-amine
nitrogen compound
amni/o
amnion, fetal membrane
amph-
around, on both sides, doubly
amput/o, amputat/o
cut away, cut off a part of the body
amyl/o
starch
an-
no, not, without
an-, ana-
up, apart, backward, excessive
an/o
anus, ring
-an
characteristic of, pertaining to
-ancy
state of
andr/o
relationship to the male
aneurysm/o
aneurysm
angi/o
blood or lymph vessel
angin/o
angina, choking, strangling
anis/o
unequal
ankyl/o
crooked, bent, stiff
anomal/o
irregularity
ante-
before, in front of
anter/o
before, front
anthrac/o
coal, coal dust
anti-
against
anxi/o, anxiet/o
anxiety, anxious, uneasy
aort/o
aorta
ap-
toward, to
-apheresis
removal
aphth/o
ulcer
apic/o
apex
ap-, apo-
separation, away from, opposed, detached
aplast/o
defective development, lack of development
aponeur/o
aponeurosis (type of tendon)
apoplect/o
a stroke
append/o, appendic/o
appendix
aqu/i, aqu/o, aque/o
water
-ar
pertaining to
arachn/o
spider web, spider
arc/o
bow, arc or arch
-arche
beginning
areat/o
occurring in patches or circumscribed areas
areol/o
little open space
-aria
connected with
arrect/o
upright, lifted up, raised
arter/o, arteri/o
artery
arthr/o
joint
articul/o
joint
-ary
pertaining to
as-
toward, to
asbest/o
asbestos
-ase
enzyme
aspir/o, aspirat/o
to breathe in
asten-, -asthenia
weakness, lack of strength
asthmat/o
gasping, choking
astr/o
star, star-shaped
at-
toward, to
atel/o
incomplete, imperfect
ather/o
plaque, fatty substance
athet/o
uncontrollable
atop/o
strange, out of place
atres/i
without an opening
atri/o
atrium
attenuate/o
diluted, weakened
aud-, audi/o, audit/o
ear, hearing, the sense of hearing
aur/i, aur/o
ear, hearing
auscult/a, auscult/o
listen
aut/o
self
-ax
noun ending
ax/o
axis, main stem
axill/o
armpit
azot/o
urea, nitrogen
bacill/o
rod-shaped bacterium (plural, bacteria)
bacteri/o
bacteria (singular, bacterium)
balan/o
glans penis
