Top 400 Med Terms Flashcards
-ac
“Means pertaining to and forms an adjective when combined with a
root”
-al
“Means pertaining to or concerning and forms an adjective when
combined with a root”
-algia, -dynia
pain
-an, -ar, -ic, -ical, -ory, -tic, -eal
pertaining to
-arche
beginning
-cele
pertaining to a tumor or swelling, or hernia
-centesis
procedure in which a body cavity is punctured often to drain fluid or collect a sample
-cidal, -cide
pertaining to killing
-cle, cule, culun, culuc, et, ium, ole, olum, olus
small
-dynia
difficult, painful, abnormal
-e, er, icing, ist, or
Agent or noun maker or one who specializes in
-ectasia, ectasis
dilation, dilatation, widening
-ectomy
excision, removal
-edema
swelling
-emesis
vomiting
-emia
blood condition
a/an-
without, out
ab-, apo-, de-
away from
abdomin-
abdomen
acou-
hear
acr/o-
an extremity
ad-
to, toward, near
Adherence
The patient taking the right drug as prescribed, including the prescribed dose of medication at the prescribed frequency for the prescribed length of time.
adip/o-
fat
adren/o-, adrenal/o-
adrenal gland
aerlo-, aero-
air, gas
alb-, album-, leuko-
white
alge-, alges-
pain
allo-
not normal
alveo-
hollow
ambi-, amphi-, ampho-
both
ambulo-
walk about
an/o-
pertaining to the anus
ana-
up, back, again
Analgesic
Relieves pain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) (aka APAP), aspirin (aka ASA), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) likeibuprofen(Advil®, Motrin®), and narcotics are examples of analgesics.
andr-
male
aneurysm/o-
Localized abnormal dilatation of a vessel.
angio-, vas(o)-
vessel
ankyl-
attached, crooked
ante-, fore-, pre-, pro-
before, forward
anter/o-
in front of
anti-, contra-, counter-
against, opposite
Anti-inflammatory
Counteracting inflammation. An agent that counteracts inflammation.
Antibiotic
Inhibits growth or destroys microorganisms whose overgrowth causes infection. Penicillins, quinolones, β-lactams, and cephalosporins are all examples.
Anticoagulant
Delaying or preventing blood coagulation. (2) An agent that prevents or delays blood coagulation, for examplewarfarinsodium (Coumadin®) or dabagatrin (Pradaxa®).
Antidepressant
Any medicine or other mode of therapy that acts to prevent, cure, or alleviate mental depression.
Antihistamine
A drug that opposes the action of histamine. Although there are two classes of histamine-blocking drugs, the term antihistamine is typically used to describe agents that block the action of histamines on the H1receptors. These agents are used to treat allergies, hives, etc.
aphth/o-
ulcer
aque/o-
water
arteri/o-
artery
arthr/o-, articul/o-
joint
asphyxia-
lack of oxygen or excess carbon dioxide
asthen/o-, asthen/o
weak, weakness
Astringent
Drawing together, constricting, binding. An agent that has a constricting or binding effect.
astro-
Combining form indicating relationship to a star
ather/o-
plaque (fatty substance)
atri/o-
atrium (upper heart chamber)
audi/o-
hearing
aur/o-, auricul/o-
ear
auscult/o-
to listen
auto-
self
axill/o-
armpit
bacteri/o-
bacteria
balan/o-
glans penis
benign
not harmful, tumor - not cancerous
bi-, bin-, di-, diplo-, dis-
two, twice
bio-
life
blast-
germ or cell
blephar/o-
pertaining to an eyelid
brachy-, brevi-
short
brady-
slow
bronch/i-, bronch/o
bronchus (airway)
bucc/o-
cheek
bursa-
pouch or sac
caco-
bad, ill
calc-
stone; also heel
callus
hard thick skin
calori-
heat
capillar/o-
capillary
carcin/o-
cancer
cardio-
heart
carotid
large arteries in the neck
carpus, carp/o-
wrist, pertaining to wrist bones (carpals)
cata-
down
cathar/o-, cathart/o-
cleansing, purging
cente-
to puncture (a body cavity)
centi-
one-hundredth
cephal/o-
head
cerebell/o-
cerebellum
cerebr/o-
cerebrum
cerumin/o-
wax
cervico-
Pertaining to the neck or cervix (neck of uterus)
cheil/o-
lip
chir-
hand
chlor, verdin-
green
chole-
pertaining to bile
cholecyst/o-
gallbladder
chondr/o-
pertaining to cartilage
chroma-
color
chron-
time
cili-
eyelid
ciner, glauc, polio-
gray
circum, peri-
around
cirrh, flav, lute, xanth-
yellow
clas-, -clasis, -clast
smash
cleid/o-
clavicle
co, com, con, sym, syn-
together, with
colon/o-
colon (large intestines)
colp/o-
vagina
conjunctiv/o-
conjunctiva (mucous membrane that lines inner surface of eyelids)
contra-
against or opposed
Contraceptive
Any process, device, or method that prevents conception. Categories of contraceptives include steroids, chemical, physical, or barrier or combinations of these.
corpor/o-
body