Medical Terminology: Lesson 1

a-/an-

without, lack of ex: anemia

ab-

away from ex: abduct

ad-

towards, near ex: adrenal

ambi-

both ex: ambidextrous

ante-

before, in front of ex: antecubital

anti-

against ex: antiseptic

bi-

two ex: bilateral

brady-

slow ex: bradycardia

tachy-

rapid ex: tachycardia

circum-

around ex: circumoral

co-, com-

with, together ex: commissure

contra-

opposed ex: contralateral

de-

down, from ex: dehydrate

dys-

difficult, bad, painful ex: dyspnea

ecto-

outside ex: ectoderm

endo-

within, inner ex: endocrainal

epi-

upon, on, over ex: epidermis

erythro-/ery-

red ex: erythrocyte

eu-

normal, good, healthy ex: euphoria

hemi-

half ex: hemiplegia

hyper-

means excessive or higher than normal ex: hyperactive

hypo-

means below or lower than normal ex: hypothyroid

im-

into ex: implant

infra-

below ex: infrarenal

inter

between ex: intercostal

intra-/intro-

within ex: intrathoracic

macro-

large ex: marcocytic

meta-

change ex: metachrosis

micro-

small ex: microbe

oligo-

small, few ex: oliguria

pan-

entire, all ex: pandemic

para-

beside ex: paracardiac

peri-

around ex: periosteum

poly-

many ex: polycystic

post-

after ex: postoperative

pre-

before ex: preop

pseudo-

false ex: pseudocyst

quad-

one-fourth ex: quadriplegia

retro-

behind, backward ex: retrograde

sub-

under, beneath ex: sublingual

super-, supra-

above, superior ex: supraclavicular

-algia

pain ex: arthralgia

-cele

protrusion ex: cystocele

-centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid ex: thoracentesis

-ectomy

cutting out ex: appendectomy

-gram

drawing or written record ex: mammogram

-itis

inflammation ex: pneumonitis

-lytic

destroy, reduce ex: hemolytic

-megaly

enlargement ex: splenomegaly

-oophor(o)

ovary ex: oophorectomy

-ology/logy

study of ex: cardiology

-oma

tumor ex: carcinoma

-orrhaphy

suturing, repairing ex: herniorrhaphy

-osis

condition ex: thrombosis

-ostomy

artificial opening ex: colostomy

-otomy

incision ex: laparotomy

-pathy

disease ex: encephalopathy

-penia

decrease of ex: leukopenia

-phobia

abnormal fear or intolerance ex: acrophobia

-plasty

surgical repair or shaping ex: rhinoplasty

-plegia

paralysis ex: hemiplegia

-pnea

breathing, respiration ex: apnea

-renal

kidney ex: intrarenal

-rrhage

excessive flow ex: hemorrhage

-salpingo

fallopian tube ex: salpingogram

-scopy/-scopic

act of examining ex: gastroscopy

-sepsis

decay or infection ex: asepsis

-uria

urination/urine ex: hematuria

adeno

gland

arthro

joint

cardio

heart

cephalo

head

cerebro

brain

chole

bile

cutis

skin

cysto

bladder

dento

teeth

emetic

pertaining to vomiting

entero

intestine

gastro

stomach

hero/hemat

blood

hepato

liver

hyster

uterus

ileo-ileum

small intestine

leuko

white

mamma

breast

myo

muscle

nemia

pertaining to blood

nephro

kidney

neuro

nerve

oculo

eye

osteo

bone

ped

foot

phleb

vein

pneumo

lung

rhin(o)

nose

sepsis

infection

spleno

spleen

thoraco

chest

thrombo

clot