Roots, Suffixes and Prefixes from Textbook Flashcards
a-
no, not, without (atom, agranulocyte)
ab-
away (abducens, abduction)
acetabulo-
small cup (acetabulum)
acro-
tip, extremity, peak (acromion, acromegaly)
ad-
to, toward, near (adsorption, adrenal)
adeno-
gland (lymphadenitis, adenohypophysis)
aero-
air, oxygen (aerobic, anaerobic)
af-
toward (aff erent)
ag-
together (agglutination)
ala-
wing (ala nasi)
albi-
white (albicans, linea alba, albino)
algi-
pain (analgesic, myalgia)
aliment-
nourishment (alimentary)
allo-
other, diff erent (allele, allograft)
amphi-
both, either (amphiphilic, amphiarthrosis)
an-
without (anaerobic, anemic)
ana-
- up, build up (anabolic, anaphylaxis) 2. apart (anaphase, anatomy) 3. back (anastomosis)
andro-
male (androgen)
angi-
vessel (angiogram, angioplasty, hemangioma)
ante-
before, in front (antebrachium)
antero-
forward (anterior, anterograde)
anti-
against (antidiuretic, antibody, antagonist)
apo-
from, off , away, above (apocrine, aponeurosis)
arbor-
tree (arboreal, arborization)
artic-
- joint (articulation) 2. speech (articulate)
-ary
pertaining to (axillary, coronary)
-ase
enzyme (polymerase, kinase, amylase)
ast-,
astro- star (aster, astrocyte)
-ata,
-ate 1. possessing (hamate, corniculate) 2. plural of -a (stomata carcinomata)
athero-
fat (atheroma, atherosclerosis)
atrio-
entryway (atrium, atrioventricular)
auri-
ear (auricle, binaural)
auto-
self (autolysis, autoimmune)
axi-
axis, straight line (axial, axoneme, axon)
baro-
pressure (baroreceptor, hyperbaric)
bene-
good, well (benign, beneficial)
bi-
two (bipedal, biceps, bifid)
bili-
bile (biliary, bilirubin)
bio-
life, living (biology, biopsy, microbial)
blasto-
precursor, bud, producer (fibroblast, osteoblast, blastomere)
brachi-
arm (brachium, brachialis, antebrachium)
brady-
slow (bradycardia, bradypnea)
bucco-
cheek (buccal, buccinator)
burso-
purse (bursa, bursitis)
calc-
calcium, stone (calcaneus, hypocalcemia)
callo-
thick (callus, callosum)
calori-
heat (calorie, calorimetry, calorigenic)
calv-,
calvari- bald, skull (calvaria)
capito-
head (capitis, capitate, capitulum)
capni-
smoke, carbon dioxide (hypocapnia)
carcino-
cancer (carcinogen, carcinoma)
cardi-
heart (cardiac, cardiology, pericardium)
carot-
- carrot (carotene) 2. stupor (carotid)
carpo-
wrist (carpus, metacarpal)
case-
cheese (caseosa, casein)
cata-
down, break down (catabolism)
cauda-
tail (cauda equina, caudate nucleus)
-cel
little (pedicel)
celi-
belly, abdomen (celiac)
centri-
center, middle (centromere, centriole)
cephalo-
head (cephalic, encephalitis)
cervi-
neck, narrow part (cervix, cervical)
chiasm-
cross, X (optic chiasm)
choano-
funnel (choana)
chole-
bile (cholecystokinin, cholelithotripsy)
chondro-
- grain (mitochondria) 2. cartilage, gristle (chondrocyte, perichondrium)
chromo-
color (dichromat, chromatin, cytochrome)
chrono-
time (chronotropic, chronic)
cili-
eyelash (cilium, superciliary)
circ-
about, around (circadian, circumduction)
cis-
cut (incision, incisor)
cistern,
cisterna reservoir (Golgi cistern, cisterna chyli)
clast-
break down, destroy (osteoclast)
clavi-
hammer, club, key (clavicle, supraclavicular)
-cle
little (tubercle, corpuscle)
cleido-
clavicle (sternocleidomastoid)
cnemo-
lower leg (gastrocnemius)
co-
together (coenzyme, cotransport)
collo-
- hill (colliculus) 2. glue (colloid, collagen)
contra-
opposite (contralateral)
corni-
horn (cornified, corniculate, cornu)
corono-
crown (coronary, corona, coronal)
corpo-
body (corpus luteum, corpora quadrigemina)
corti-
bark, rind (cortex, cortical)
costa-
rib (intercostal, subcostal)
coxa-
hip (os coxae, coxal)
crani-
helmet (cranium, epicranius)
cribri-
sieve, strainer (cribriform, area cribrosa)
crino-
separate, secrete (holocrine, endocrinology)
crista-
crest (crista galli, mitochondrial crista)
crito-
to separate (hematocrit)
cruci-
cross (cruciate ligament)
-cule,
-culus small (canaliculus, trabecula, auricular)
cune-
wedge (cuneiform, cuneatus)
cutane-,
cuti- skin (subcutaneous, cuticle)
cysto-
bladder (cystitis, cholecystectomy)
cyto-
cell (cytology, cytokinesis, monocyte)
de-
down (defecate, deglutition, dehydration)
demi-
half (demifacet, demilune)
den-,
denti- tooth (dentition, dens, dental)
dendro-
tree, branch (dendrite, oligodendrocyte)
derma-,
dermato- skin (dermatology, hypodermic)
desmo-
band, bond, ligament (desmosome, syndesmosis)
dia-
- across, through, separate (diaphragm, dialysis) 2. day (circadian)
dis-
- apart (dissect, dissociate) 2. opposite, absence (disinfect, disability)
diure-
pass through, urinate (diuretic, diuresis)
dorsi-
back (dorsal, dorsum, latissimus dorsi)
duc-
to carry (duct, adduction, abducens)
dys-
bad, abnormal, painful (dyspnea, dystrophy)
e-
out (ejaculate, eversion)
-eal
pertaining to (arboreal, pineal)
ec-,
ecto- outside, out of, external (ectopic, ectoderm, splenectomy)
ef-
out of (efferent, effusion)
-elle
small (fontanelle, organelle, micelle)
electro-
electricity (electrocardiogram, electrolyte)
em-
in, within (embolism, embedded)
emesi-,
emeti- vomiting (emetic, hyperemesis)
-emia
blood condition (anemia, hypoxemia)
en-
in, into (enzyme, parenchyma)
encephalo-
brain (encephalitis, telencephalon)
enchymo-
poured in (mesenchyme, parenchyma)
endo-
within, into, internal (endocrine, endocytosis)
entero-
gut, intestine (mesentery, myenteric)
epi-
upon, above (epidermis, epiphysis, epididymis)
ergo-
work, energy, action (allergy, adrenergic, synergist)
eryth-,
erythro- red (erythema, erythrocyte)
esthesio-
sensation, feeling (anesthesia, somesthetic)
eu-
good, true, normal, easy (eupnea, aneuploidy)
exo-
out (exopeptidase, exocytosis, exocrine)
facili-
easy (facilitated)
fasci-
band, bundle (fascia, fascicle)
fenestr-
window (fenestrated)
fer-
to carry (efferent, uriniferous)
ferri-
iron (ferritin, transferrin)
fibro-
fiber (fibroblast, fibrosis)
fili-
thread (myofilament, filiform)
flagello-
whip (flagellum)
foli-
leaf (folic acid, folia)
-form
shape (cuneiform, fusiform)
fove-
pit, depression (fovea)
funiculo-
little rope, cord (funiculus)
fusi-
- spindle (fusiform) 2. pour out (perfusion)
gamo-
marriage, union (monogamy, gamete)
gastro-
belly, stomach (gastrointestinal, digastric)
-gen,
-genic, -genesis producing, giving rise to (pathogen,
carcinogenic,
glycogenesis)
genio-
chin (geniohyoid, genioglossus)
germi-
- sprout, bud (germinal, germinativum) 2. microbe (germicide)
gero-
old age (progeria, geriatrics, gerontology)
gesto-
- to bear, carry (ingest). 2. pregnancy (gestation, progesterone)
glia-
glue (neuroglia, microglia)
globu-
ball, sphere (globulin, hemoglobin)
glom-
ball (glomerulus)
glosso-
tongue (glossopharyngeal, hypoglossal)
glyco-
sugar (glycogen, glycolysis, hypoglycemia)
gono-
- angle, corner (trigone) 2. seed, sex cell, generation (gonad, oogonium, gonorrhea)
gradi-
walk, step (retrograde, gradient)
-gram
recording of (electrocardiogram, sonogram)
-graph
recording instrument (sonograph, electrocardiograph)
-graphy
recording process (sonography, radiography)
gravi-
severe, heavy (gravid, myasthenia gravis)
gyro-
turn, twist (gyrus)