Prefix, Roots, & Suffixes Flashcards
Prefix: a, an
without, not, lack of, Example: analgesic = without pain
Prefix: ante
before, in front of, Example: antepartum = before delivery
Prefix: bi
two, twice, double, Example: bifocal = two lenses
Prefix: brady
slow, Example: bradycardia = slow pulse, heartbeat
Prefix: contra
against, Example: contraceptive = prevents pregnancy
Prefix: dis
apart, free from, Example: disinfected = free from microorganisms
Prefix: dys
bad, painful, Example: dysuria = painful urination
Prefix: endo
inner, Example: endoscope = instrument for examining the inside of an organ
Prefix: epi
on, upon, over, Example: epidermis = outer layer of skin
Prefix: erythro
red, Example: erythrocyte = red blood cell
Prefix: ex
out, away from, Example: exhale = to breathe out
Prefix: hemi
half, Example: hemisphere = one of two parts of the brain
Prefix: hyper
too much, high, Example: hypertension = high blood pressure
Prefix: hypo
below, under, Example: hypotension = low blood pressure
Prefix: inter
between, within, Example: interdisciplinary = between disciplines
Prefix: leuk
white, Example: leukocyte = white blood cell
Prefix: mal
bad, illness, disorder , Example: malformed = badly made
Prefix: micro
small, Example: microscopic = too small for the eye to see
Prefix: olig
small, scant, Example: oliguria = small amount of urine
Prefix: patho
disease, suffering , Example: pathology = study of disease
Prefix: per
by, through, Example: perforate = to make a hole through
Prefix: peri
around, Example: pericardium = sac around the heart
Prefix: poly
many, much, Example: polyuria = much urine
Prefix: post
after, behind, Example: postmortem = period after death
Prefix: pre
before, in front of, Example: prenatal = period before birth
Prefix: psub
under, beneath , Example: subcutaneous = beneath the skin
Prefix: supra
above, over, Example: suprapelvic = located above the pelvis
Prefix: tachy
swift, fast, rapid, Example: tachycardia = rapid heartbeat
Root: abdomin(o)
abdomen, Example: abdominal = pertaining to the abdomen
Root: aden(o)
gland, Example: adenitis = inflammation of a gland
Root: angi(o)
vessel, Example: angioplasty = surgical repair of a vessel using a balloon
Root: arterio
artery, Example: arteriosclerosis = hardening of artery walls
Root: arthr(o)
joint, Example: arthrotomy = cut into a joint
Root: brachi(o)
arm, Example: brachial = pertaining to the arm
Root: bronchi, bronch(o)
bronchus , Example: bronchopneumonia = inflammation of lungs
Root: card, cardi(o)
heart, Example: cardiology = study of the heart
Root: cephal(o)
head, Example: cephalalgia = headache
Root: cerebr(o)
cerebrum, Example: cerebrospinal = pertaining to the brain and spinal cord
Root: chole, chol(o)
bile, Example: cholecystitis = inflammation of the gall bladder
Root: colo
colon, Example: colonoscopy = examination of the large intestine or colon with a scope
Root: cost(o)
rib, Example: costochondral = pertaining to a rib
Root: crani(o)
skull, Example: craniotomy = cutting into the skull
Root: cyan(o)
blue, Example: cyanosis = blue, gray, or purple tinge to the skin due to lack of oxygen in the blood
Root: cysto(o)
bladder, cyst, Example: cystitis = inflammation of the bladder
Root: derm, derma
skin, Example: dermatitis = inflammation of the skin
Root: duoden(o)
duodenum, Example: duodenal = pertaining to the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine
Root: encephal(o)
brain, Example: encephalitis = inflammation of the brain
Root: gaster(o), gastro
stomach, Example: gastritis = inflammation of the stomach
Root: geron
aged, Example: gerontology = study of the aged
Root: gluco
sweet, Example: glucometer = device used to measure blood glucose
Root: glyco, glyc
sweet, Example: glycosuria = glucose (sugar) in the urine
Root: gyneco, gyno
woman, Example: gynecology = study of diseases of the female reproductive organs
Root: hema, hemato, hemo
blood , Example: hematuria = blood in the urine
Root: hepato
liver, Example: hepatomegaly = enlargement of the liver
Root: hyster(o)
uterus, Example: hysterectomy = surgical removal of the uterus
Root: ile(o), ili(o)
ileum, Example: ileorrhaphy = surgical repair of the ileum
Root: laryng(o)
larynx, Example: laryngectomy = excision of the larynx
Root: lymph(o)
lymph, Example: lymphocyte = type of white blood cell
Root: mamm(o)
breast, Example: mammogram = x-ray of the breast
Root: mast(o)
breast, Example: mastectomy = excision of the breast
Root: melan(o)
black, Example: melanoma = black mole or tumor, may be cancerous
Root: mening(o)
meninges, membranes covering the spinal cord and brain, Example: meningitis = inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord or brain
Root: necro
death, Example: necrotic = dead tissue
Root: nephr(o)
kidney, Example: nephrectomy = removal of a kidney
Root: neur(o)
nerve, Example: neuritis = inflammation of a nerve
Root: onc(o)
tumor, Example: oncology = study of tumors
Root: ophthalm(o)
eye , Example: ophthalmologist = eye doctor
Root: oste(o)
bone, Example: osteoarthritis = disease of the joints
Root: ot(o)
ear, Example: otology = science of the ear
Root: pharyng(o)
pharynx, Example: pharyngitis = inflammation of the throat, sore throat
Root: phleb(o)
vein, Example: phlebitis = inflammation of a vein
Root: pneo/pnea
breathing , Example: tachypnea = rapid breathing
Root: pneum
air, gas, respiration, Example: pneumonia = inflammation of the lung
Root: pod(o)
foot, Example: podiatrist = foot doctor
Root: proct(o)
anus, rectum, Example: proctology = study of the rectum
Root: pulm(o)
lung, Example: pulmonary = relating to the lungs
Root: splen(o)
spleen, Example: splenomegaly = enlarged spleen
Root: stomat(o)
mouth, Example: stomatitis = inflammation of
Root: therm(o)
hot, heat, Example: thermoplegia = heatstroke
Root: thorac(o)
chest, Example: thoracotomy = incision into chest wall
Root: thromb(o)
blood clot, Example: thrombus = blood clot blocking a vessel
Root: toxic(o), tox(o)
poison, Example: toxicology = study of poisons
Root: trache(o)
trachea, windpipe, Example: tracheostomy = incision to make an artificial airway
Root: urethr(o)
urethra, Example: urethritis = inflammation of urethra
Suffix: cyte
cell, Example: leukocyte = white blood cell
Suffix: ectomy
excision, removal of, Example: splenectomy = removal of spleen
Suffix: emesis
vomiting, Example: hyperemesis = excessive vomiting
Suffix: emia
blood condition, Example: anemia = lack of red blood cells
Suffix: ism
a condition, Example: hyperthyroidism = condition caused by an excessive production of thyroid hormones
Suffix: itis
inflammation, Example: stomatitis = inflammation of the mouth
Suffix: logy
study of, Example: hematology = study of the blood
Suffix: megaly
enlargement, Example: splenomegaly = enlarged spleen
Suffix: oma
tumor, Example: melanoma = mole or tumor, may be cancerous
Suffix: osis
condition, Example: halitosis = bad breath
Suffix: ostomy
surgical creation of an opening, Example: ileostomy = creation of an opening into the ileum
Suffix: otomy
cut into, Example: laparotomy = cutting into the abdomen
Suffix: pathy
disease, Example: myopathy = disease of the muscle
Suffix: penia
lack, Example: leukopenia = a lack of white blood cells
Suffix: phagia
to eat, Example: dysphagia = difficulty swallowing
Suffix: phasia
speaking, Example: aphasia = absence of speaking
Suffix: phobia
exaggerated fear, Example: acrophobia = fear of high places
Suffix: plasty
surgical repair, Example: angioplasty = surgical repair of a vessel using a balloon
Suffix: plegia
paralysis, Example: paraplegia = paralysis of lower portion of the body
Suffix: rrhage
excessive flow, Example: hemorrhage = excessive flow of blood
Suffix: scopy
examination using a scope, Example: colonoscopy = examination of the large intestine or colon with a scope
Suffix: stomy
surgical creation of an opening, Example: colostomy = opening into the colon
Suffix: tomy
incision, cutting into, Example: thoracotomy = incision into chest wall
Suffix: uria
condition of the urine, Example: dysuria = painful urination
