Medical Words and Definition

acous-, acouso-

hearing

aden-, adeno-

gland

adip-, adipo-

fat

adren-, adreno-

gland

angi-, angio-

blood vessel

ateri-, aterio-

artery

arthr-, arthro-

joint

blephar-

eyelid

bronch-, bronchi-

bronchus  (large airway that leads from the trachea (windpipe) to a lung)

bucc-, bucco-

cheek

burs-, burso-

bursa (a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a bone and other moving parts)

carcin-, carcino-

cancer

cardi-, cardio-

heart

cephal-, cephalo-

head

chol-

bile

chondr-

cartilage

Coron-

heart

cost-

rib

crani-, cranio-

brain

cutane

skin

cyst-, cysti-, cysto-

bladder or sac

dactyl-, dactylo-

digit (finger or toe)

derm-, dermato-

skin

duodeno-

duodenum (the first part of your small intestine, right after your stomach)

-esthesio

sensation

gloss-, gloss-

tongue

gastr-

stomach

gnath-, gnatho-

jaw

grav-

heavy

hem, hema-, hemat-, hemato-, hemo-

blood

hepat-, hepatico-, hepato-

liver

hidr-, hidro-

sweat

hist-, histio-, histo-

tissue

hyster-, hystero-

uterus

ileo-

ileum (the lower part of the small intestine)

irid-, irido-

iris

ischi-, ischio-

ischium (the lower and back part of the hip bone)

-ium

structure or tissue

kerat-, kerato-

cornea (eye or skin)

lacrim-, lacrimo-

tear (from your eyes)

lact-, lacti-, lacto-

milk

laryng-, laryngo-

larynx (voice box)

lingu-, linguo-

tongue

lip-, lipo-

fat

lith-, litho-

stone

lymph-, lympho-

lymph

mamm, mast-, masto-

breast

mening-, meningo-

meninges (the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord)

muscul-, musclo-

muscle

my-, myo-

muscle

myel-, myelo-

spinal cord OR bone marrow

myring-, myringo-

eardrum

nephr-, nephro-

kidney

neur-, neuri-, neuron

nerve

oculo-

eye

odont-, odonto-

tooth

onych-, onycho-

fingernail, toenail

oo-

egg, ovary

oophor-, oophoro-

ovary

op-, opt-

vision

ophthalm-, ophthalmo-

eye

orchid-, orchido-, orchio-

testis

ossi-

bone

osseo-

bony

ost-, oste-, osteo-

bone

ot-, oto-

ear

ovari-, ovario-, ovi-, ovo-

ovary

phalang-

phalanx (any bone in the fingers or toes)

pharyng-, pharyngo-

pharynx, throat

phleb-, phlebo-

vein

phob-, phobia

fear

phren-, phreni-, phrenico-, phreno-

diaphragm

pleur-, pleura-, pleuro-

rib, pleura (membrane that wraps around the outside of your lungs and lines the inside of your chest cavity)

pneum-, pneuma-, pneumat-, pneumato-

air, lung

pod-, podo

foot

prostat-

prostate

psych-, psyche-, psycho-

mind

proct-, procto-

anus, rectum

pyel-, pyelo-

pelvis

rachi-

spine

rect-, recto-

rectum

ren-, reno-

kidney

retin-

retina (of the eye)

rhin-, rhino-

nose

salping-, salpingo-

tube

sial-, sialo-

saliva, salivary gland

sigmoid-, sigmoido-

sigmoid colon

splanchn-, splanchni-, splanchno-

viscera (internal organ)

sperma-, spermato-, spermo-

sperm

spirat-

breathe

splen-, spleno-

spleen

spondyl-, spondylo-

vertebra

stern-

sternum (breastbone)

stom-, stoma-, stomat-, stomato-

mouth

thel-, thelo-

nipples

thorac-, thoracico-, thoraco-

chest

thromb-, thrombo-

blood clot

thyr-, thyro-

thyroid gland

trache-, tracheo-

trachea (windpipe)

tympan-, tympano-

eardrum

ur-, uro-

urine

uri-, uric-, urico-

uric acid

-uria

in the urine

vagin-

vagina

varic-, varico-

duct, blood vessel

vasculo-

blood vessel

ven-, veno-

vein

vertebr-

vertebra, spine

vesic-, vesico-

vesicle (cyst or pouch)

ab-, abs-

away from

ambi-

both sides

ante-

before, forward

circum-

around

cycl-

circle, cycle

dextr-, dextro-

right side

de-

away from, ending

dia-

across, through

ect-, ecto-, exo-

outer; outside

en-

inside

end-, endo-, ent- enter-, entero-,

within; inner

epi-

Upon, outside of

ex-, extra-

beyond

infra-

beneath; below

inter-

between

intra-

within

meso-

middle

meta-

beyond, change

para-

alongside, abnormal

per-

through

peri-

around

post-

behind, after

pre-

before, in front

retro-

backward, behind

sinistr-, sinistro-

left, left side

sub-

under

super-

above

supra-

above, upon

sy-. syl-, sym-, syn-, sys-

together

trans-

across, through

bi-

two

brady-

slow

diplo-

double

hemi-

half

homo-

same

hyper-

above, beyond, excessive

hypo-

under, deficient

iso-

equal, like

macro-

large, long, big

meg-, mega-, megal-, megalo-

great, large

-megaly

enlargement

mic-, micro-

small

mon-, mono-

one

multi-

many

olig-, oligo-

few, little

poly-

many, excessive

quadri-

four

semi-

half

tachy-

fast

tetra-

four

tri-

three

uni-

one

chlor-, chloro-

green

chrom-, chromato-

color

Cyano-

blue

erythr-, erythro-

red

leuk-, leuko-

white

melan-, melano-

black

xanth-, xantho-

yellow

-cele

bulge 

elect-

electrical activity

kin-, kine-, kinesi-, kinesio-, kino-

movement

kyph-, kypho-

humped

morph-, morpho-

shape

rhabd-, rhabdo-

rod-shaped, striated

scoli-, scolio-

twisted

cry-, cryo-

cold

phon-, phono-

sound

phos-

light

phot-, photo-

light

reticul-, reticulo-

net

therm-, thermo-

heat

tono-

tone, tension, pressure

-alge-, -algesi

pain

a-, an-

without; lacking

anti-

against

contra-

against

dis-

separation, taking apart

-dynia

pain, swelling 

dys-

difficult, abnormal 

-eal, -ial

pertaining to

-ectasis

expansion or dilation

-emesis

vomiting

-emia

blood condition

-esis

state or condition

eu-

good, well

-ia

condition

-iasis

condition, formation of   

-ism

condition

-ites, -itis        

inflammation

-lysis, -lytic, lyso-, lys-

break down, destruction, dissolving

mal-

bad, abnormal

-malacia

softening

-mania

morbid impulse towards an object/thing

myc-, myco-

fungus

myx-, myxo-

mucus

necr-, necro-

death

normo-

normal

-odyn

pain

-oma

tumor

-oid

resembling

orth-, ortho-

straight, normal, correct

-osis

condition, usually abnormal

-pathy, patho-, path-

disease  

-penia

deficiency, lack of

-phagia, phagy

eating, swallowing

-phasia

speech

-plasia, -plastic

growth

-plegia

paralysis

-pnea

breathing

-poiesis

production

-praxia

movement

pro-

favoring, supporting

pseudo-

false

pro-

favoring, supporting

-ptosis

falling, drooping

pyo-

pus

pyro-

fever

onco-

tumor, bulk, volume

-rrhage, -rrhagic

bleeding

-rrhea 

flow or discharge

sarco-

muscular, fleshlike

schisto-

split, cleft, division

schiz-, schizo

split, cleft

sclera-, sclero-

hardness

-sclerosis

hardening

-sis

condition

-spasm

muscle condition

spasmo-

spasm

-stasis

level, unchanging

sten-, steno-

narrowed, blocked 

-taxis

movement

-trophy

growth

-centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid

-desis

surgical binding

-ectomy

cut out, removal  

-gram, -graph, -graphy

recording, written

-meter

device used for measuring

-metry

measurement of

-opsy

visual examination

-ostomy

opening

-otomy

Incision

-pexy

surgical fixation

-plasty

surgical reconstruction

radio-

radiation, radius

-rrhaphy

suture

-scope, -scopy

examine, for examining

-stomy

surgical opening

-tomy

cutting; incision

-tripsy

crushing