Prefixes and suffixes Flashcards
A-
Without or not - Avascular
Allo-:
other or different (Greek). Changes in body proportions occur as a result of allometric growth, i.e., different body parts growing at different rates.
Ante-:
before, ahead of, preceding, or in front of (Latin). Antemortem injuries occur before the death of the individual.
Anti-:
: opposite or against (Greek, contrasts with pro-). Because of lateral symmetry, each right bone has a left antimere.
Apo-:
separate, apart, away from, or detached (Greek). Secondary growth centers at sites of muscular insertions are called apophyses, or traction epiphyses.
Basi-:
of, or relating to the bottom or base (Latin, basis, base, pedestal). The bottom of the cranium is referred to as the basicranium.
Bi-
twice, double, on both sides, in both directions, between both (Latin, see also di-). The osteometric measurement ‘bi-iliac breadth’ is often used as a proxy (or surrogate) for body width.
Brachi-, brachio-, or -brachial:
of, or relating to the arm, specifically the upper arm (Latin, brachialis, from brachium, arm). The brachioradialis muscle reaches from the humerus to
the radius. Do not confuse with brachy-
Brachy-
short (Greek, brakhus, short). A cranium that is short (front-to-back) relative to its width (side-to-side) is considered to be brachycephalic. Do not confuse with brachi-.
-cep, -ceps
head or heads (Latin, ceps, from caput, head). The biceps brachii muscle has two distinct heads, each originating from a different part of the scapula.
Chondro- or -chondro
cartilage or cartilaginous (Greek, khondros, grain or cartilage). Chondroblasts are cartilage-forming cells.
Circum-:
around (Latin). The action of swinging your arm in a large circle is called circumduction.
Con-:
with or together (Latin). A disease present from birth is called a congenital disease
Cost- or -costal
related to a rib or ribs (Latin, costa, rib). The ostoclavicular ligament runs between the clavicle and the first rib.
Cyt- -cyte, or -cytic
a mature cell (Greek, kutos, vessel). Osteocytes are found in lacunae (small spaces in the bone in which living bone cells live), trapped by the very matrix they
have secreted.
Demi-:
half (Latin). The sixth thoracic vertebra has both superior and inferior demifacets
Di-:
twice or double (Greek, see also bi-). The digastric muscle is named for its two bellies
Dia-:
across, through, or apart (Greek). A long bone’s diaphysis reaches from one epiphysis to the other
Dis-
undoing, removal, reversal, or absence (Latin). When part of a joint is separated from the rest of the joint, it is referred to as a dislocation
Ecto
outside (Greek, contrasts with endo-). Button sarcomas, small cancerous lesions, are frequently found on the ectocranial surface of the cranial vault
Endo-:
inside (Greek, contrasts with ecto-). Endocranial capacity is often used as a proxy for brain size in skeletal remains.
Epi
at, upon, close to, adjacent, above, or in addition (Greek). The bony endplates of a growing bone are called epiphyses.
-form -iform
having the shape or form of (Latin). The piriform aperture is an opening roughly in the shape of a pear.
Hemi-:
half (Greek, similar to semi-). The humeral head is only hemispheric, while the femoral head is much closer to spherical.
Hetero-
other, or different (Greek, contrasts with homo-). Humans, like most mammals, have complex and differentiated teeth, a trait called heterodonty
Homo-
similar, same, or identical (Greek, contrasts with Homo- hetero-). The vertebral column is made up of a set of serially homologous elements
Hypo-
less than, under, beneath, below, or to a lesser degree (Greek, contrasts with Hypo- hyper-. See also sub-). The hypoglossal nerve enters the underside of the tongue.
Hyper-
more than, over, beyond, above, or to a greater degree (Greek, contrasts with hypo-; see also super-). The radial tuberosity was enlarged and roughened, probably in response to a hypertrophied biceps brachii muscle
Infra-
below or beneath (Latin). The Infra- infraorbital foramen opens beneath the eye socket.
Inter
between. An Inter- interosseous membrane connects the shafts of the tibia and the fibula
-itis
denotes an inflammatory disease (Greek). Osteitis is an inflammation of bony tissue
Lacri-/lacry-:
of, belonging to, or related to tears (Latin, lacrima, “tear”). The nasolacrimal duct drains tears into the nasal cavity
Meso-
intermediate, medium (Greek, Meso- mesos, middle). The mesosternum is referred to as the corpus sterni.
Meta-
between or with (Greek). The metaphysis is an area of growth sandwiched between the epiphysis and the diaphysis.
Neuro-
related to the brain or central nervous system (Greek, Neuro- neuron, nerve or sinew). The neurocranium is that part of the cranium that houses the brain.
-oma -omata)
growth or tumor. (Latin, from Greek) An osteoma is a bone tumor
Ortho
straight or upright (Greek). An animal whose trunk is kept habitually upright is Orthosaid to have orthograde posture.
-osis:
designates a disease, condition, or disorder (Greek). Osteoporosis is a condition in which bone becomes less dense (i.e., more porous)
Osteo- or -osteo-
of, or relating to, bones (Greek, osteon, “bone”). The study of bones is called osteology.
Para-
beside, next to, or parallel to (Greek). A body has only one sagittal plane, but it may have an infinite number of parasagittal planes.
Peri-
near, around, or about (Greek). The membrane that tightly covers a bone is called the periosteum.
-physis (pl. -physes)
a growth, projection, or protuberance (Greek). The rear articular surfaces of vertebrae extend towards their neighbors on zygapophyses
-phyte
a pathological outgrowth (Greek, phyton, “plant”). normal bony outgrowths are called osteophytes
Platy-
broad and flat (Greek). Side-to-side flattening of the tibia is called platycnemia
Pre-
before—with respect to location, time, degree, or importance (Latin). The vertebrae above the sacrum are referred to collectively as presacral vertebrae
Proto-
first, largest, primary, most important (Greek, protos, first). The protocone dominates the other molar cusps
Retro-:
having a location behind (Latin, retro, backward). Neanderthals have a retromolar sulcus behind their lower wisdom tooth
Semi-:
half or partly (Latin, similar to hemi-). The semicircular canals of the middle ear house the organs of balance.
Splanchno-
related to the viscera or internal organs (latinized Greek). The part of the cranium that encases the beginnings of the digestive and respiratory systems is called the splanchnocranium.
- stitial
related to a place where something stands (Latin, sistere, to stand). Bone growth that happens between the epiphyses and pushes them apart is called interstitial bone growth.
Sub-
under, below, beneath, or less than (Latin, see also hypo-). The subclavius muscle attaches to the underside of the clavicle.
Super-
above, extra, beyond, in addition, or greater than (Latin, see also hyper-). There are usually only three molars per side and per arch. Occasionally, an additional molar will develop; these are called supernumerary molars
Supra-
above, beyond, in addition (Latin, related to super-). The supraspinous fossa, as its name suggests, is a depression found above the scapular spine
Syn-:
similarly, alike, or together (Latin, syn, from Greek sun, together). Cranial sutures are one kind of synarthrosis—a nearly immovable articulation—where bones are held
together by fibrous connective tissue
-topic
place or usual location (Greek, -topia, from topos, place). Heterotopic ossification is a condition in which bone tissue is formed in places in the body other than the skeleton.
- trophy
maintenance, nourishment (Greek, trophia, nourishment). If muscles are not used, they atrophy; if heavily used, they hypertrophy
Tri-
having three parts (Latin, tri, three). The triceps brachialis muscle has three heads, each originating from a different location but all merging into a single insertion
Zygo-
denoting a joining or pairing (Greek, zugon, “yoke”). There are two zygomatic bones, one at each side of the face.
