root words Flashcards
intra-
within, inside
intracellular, within a cell
io-
violet
iodine, a chemical element that produces a violet vapor
iso-
equal, same
iostonic, having the same osmotic pressure in comparison with another
-itis
inflammation of
colitis, inflammation of the large intestine
-karyo, -caryon
a seed, nut
eukaryote, a cell with a membrane-enclosed nucleus
kin-
movement
streptokinase, an enzyme that lyses or moves fibrin
lactic-
milk
lactose, the sugar of milk
Leuko -
whiteness
leukocyte, a white blood cell
lip- lipo-
fat, lipid
lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fats
-logy
the study of
pathology, the study of changes in structure and function brought on by disease
lute-, luteo-
yellow
micrococcus lutes has yellow colonies
-lysis
loosening
hydrolysis, chemical decomposition of a compound into into other compounds as a result of taking up water
macro-
largeness
macromolecules, large molecules like lipids, proteins and carbohydrates
meningo-
membrane
meningitis, inflammation of the membranes of the brain
meso-
middle
mesophile, an organism whose optimum temperature is in the middle range
meta-
beyond, between, transition
metabolism, chemical changes occurring within a living organism
micro -
smallness
microscope, an instrument used to make small objects appear large
-monas
a unit
Methylomonas, a unit that utilizes methane as its carbon source
mono-
singleness
monotrichous, having one flagellum
moropho-
form
morphology, the study of the form and structure of organisms
multi-
many
multinuclear, having several nuclei
mur-
wall
murrain, a component of bacterial cell walls
mus-, muri-
mouse
murein typhus, a form of typhus endemic in mice
mut-
to change
mutation, a sudden change in characteristics
myco-, -mycetoma, -myces
a fungus
saccharomyces, sugar fungus, a genus of yeast
myxo-
slime, mucus
myxobacterials, an order of slime-producing bacteria
necro-
a corpse
necrosis, cell death or death of a portion of tissue
-nema
a thread
treponema has long, threadlike cells
nigr-
black
Aspergillus niger, a fungus that produces black condia
ob-
before, against
obstruction, impending or blocking up
oculo-
eye
monocular, pertaining to one eye
-oecium, ecium
a house
perithecium, an ascus with an opening that encloses spores
-oid
like, resembling
coccoid, resembling a coccus
olio-
small, few
oligosaccharide, a carbohydrate composed of a few
-oma
tumor
lymphoma, a tumor of the lymphatic tissues
ortho-
straight, direct
orthomyxovirus, a virus with a straight, tubular capsid
-osis, -sis
condition of
lysis, the condition of loosening, symbiosis, the condition of living together
pan-
all universal
pandemic, an epidemic affecting a large region
para-
beside, near
parasite, an organism the “feeds beside” another
peri-
around
peritrichous, projections from all sides