General
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Start Flashcard Study Return to Medical Terminology homepage| Medical Term | Description |
| -ac | pertaining to |
| -agogue | simulator, agent causing change |
| -algia | pain |
| -an | pertaining to |
| -ar | pertaining to |
| -clast | break |
| -coma | profound unconsciousness |
| -cyte | cell |
| -cytosis | condition of cells, increase in number of cells |
| -dynia | pain |
| -ectomy | removal, excision |
| -edema | swelling |
| -gen | producing, origin |
| -genic | producing, origin |
| -gram | recording, metric unit of weight |
| -graph | instrument that records |
| -ia | condition, state, disease |
| -iasis | condition, state |
| -ic | pertaining to |
| -ior | pertaining to |
| -ism | condition, process |
| -ist | person who specializes |
| -itis | inflammation |
| -logy | study of |
| -malacia | softening |
| -meter | measurement, instrument to measure |
| -metry | to measure |
| -oid | resembling |
| -opsy | process of viewing |
| -osis | abnormal condition |
| -ous | pertaining to |
| -pathy | disease |
| -piesis | pressure |
| -plakia | patches |
| -plasty | surgical repair |
| -poiesis | production, formation |
| -ptosis | drooping, prolapse |
| -rrhea | discharge, flow |
| -sclerosis | abnormal hardening |
| -scope | instrument used to view |
| -scopy | process of viewing |
| -sis | condition |
| -spadia | to tear, cut |
| -spasm | sudden, involuntary muscle contraction |
| -stalsis | contraction |
| -stasis | maintenance of level, prevent increase |
| -stomy | new opening |
| -therapy | treatment |
| -tion | process of |
| -tome | instrument to cut |
| -tomy | cutting, incision |
| -trophy | nourishment, development |
| -um | structure, tissue |
| a- | no, not, without, away from |
| abdomen | The part of the body cavity below the thorax. |
| abscess | Accumulation of purulent material in tissues, organs, or circumscribed spaces, usually associated with signs of infection. |
| absorption | The processes by which substances, tissue, cells, etc. take up or take in other substances or energy. |
| abstract | A summary of the facts, ideas and opinions presented in articles, studies, literature or presentations. |
| acid/o | acid, sour, bitter |
| acu- | needle |
| acute | severe; sudden in onset; lasting a short time |
| adip/o | fat |
| aer- | air |
| aggression | Forceful verbal or physical behavior, or an overt attitude of hostility. |
| agit/o | rapidity, restlessness |
| albin/o | white, deficient pigmentation |
| alcoholism | A primary, chronic disease creating a physical dependence on alcohol. Genetic and environmental factors influence its development. |
| allo- | other |
| ambul/o | walking |
| ambulance | A vehicle for transporting patients for treatment. |
| ambulatory | Able to walk. |
| amphi- | both sides |
| ampho- | both sides, double |
| anatomy | The study of the structure of organisms. |
| andro- | male |
| anomal/o | irregular |
| aphth/o | ulcer |
| appendectomy | Surgical removal of the appendix. |
| aque/o | water |
| arch- | beginning, origin, first |
| aspirin | An analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agent. It also reduces the risk of vascular thrombosis. |
| auto- | self, same |
| axill/o | armpit |
| bacteri- | bacteria |
| bandages | Material used for wrapping or binding any part of the body. Used to secure wound dressing or immobilize a limb. |
| bar/o | pressure, weight |
| bas/o | base, bottom |
| basi- | base, foundation |
| bi- | double, twice, two |
| bi/o | life |
| blast- | bud, germ |
| brachy- | short |
| capit/o | head |
| cauter/i | burn |
| cellul/o | cell |
| centi- | hundred |
| charts | A patient record including data in tables and graphs. |
| chem- | chemistry |
| chem/o | chemical |
| chest | The part of the body between the neck and the abdomen. Thorax. |
| chrom/o | color |
| chronic | Prolonged. Long-term. |
| chym/o | juice, to pour |
| claustr/o | closed space |
| cold | A contagious viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Transmitted by coughing and sneezing. |
| colp- | vagina |
| comatose | Pertaining to a state of coma. |
| compress | A pad of soft material used to apply cold, heat, medication or to control bleeding. |
| congestion | Presence of abnormal amounts of fluids in an organ or vessel. |
| consensual | Giving permission or agreement. |
| consent forms | Documents describing a medical treatment or research project, including proposed procedures, risks, and alternatives, that are to be signed by an individual, or the individual's proxy, to indicate his/her understanding of the document and a willingness to undergo the treatment or to participate in the research. |
| contagious | A transmissible or communicable disease or a person with such a disease. |
| copr- | feces |
| corpor/o | body |
| crur/o | leg |
| cry/o | very cold |
| crypt/o | hidden |
| cyan/o | blue |
| cycl/o | recurring, round |
| cyt/o | cell |
| de- | lack of, without, less, down |
| deci- | one tenth |
| dem/o | people, population |
| di- | two, twice, double |
| differential diagnosis | Distinguishing between two or more conditions having similar symptoms by systematic clinical comparison. |
| dipl/o | double, two-sided |
| disease | A disorder of an organ or body function. Characterized by signs and symptoms. |
| disinfectant | Substance that kills or inhibits harmful microorganisms. |
| drainage | The removal of fluids or discharges from the body, such as from a wound, sore, or cavity. |
| dys- | bad, painful, abnormal |
| echo- | reflected sound |
| eco- | environment |
| edema | Swelling due to excess fluid in the body's tissues. |
| electro/o | electricity |
| eosin/o | rose-colored |
| epidemic | An rapid, widespread outbreak of a contagious disease. |
| epidemiology | Field of medicine concerned with the determination of causes, incidence, and characteristic behavior of disease outbreaks affecting human populations. |
| eponym | The name of a disease, procedure or body structure that is based upon the name of the discoverer. |
| equi- | equal |
| erg- | work |
| eu- | normal, good |
| excision | Removal of tissue using a scalpel. |
| fat | A substance that stores energy in the body and serves as an insulating material. One of the three primary constituents of food. |
| fiss- | split |
| fissure | A slit, cleft or deep furrow; a small tear. |
| fistula | An abnormal connection between two body parts. |
| fluor/o | fluorine, fluoride |
| fract- | break |
| gen/o | to become, being born, producing |
| ger/o | old age |
| giga- | billion |
| granul/o | small grain |
| hemi- | half |
| hiat/o | gap, opening, pause |
| hist/o | tissue |
| holo- | entire, complete |
| home/o | same, not changed |
| hydr/o | water, fluid |
| hyper- | excessive, above |
| hypo- | deficient, under |
| iatr/o | treatment, medicine |
| in- | in, not or fiber |
| incision | A cut made by a medical professional. |
| indication | The basis, evidence or rationale for using a particular treatment or diagnostic test. |
| infant | A child between 1 and 23 months of age. |
| infection | The invasion of the body by disease causing agents and the body's reaction. |
| inflammation | The response of body tissues to injury, irritation or infection. Usually manifested by the signs of pain, heat, redness and swelling. |
| interstitial | Small space(s) between biological structures. |
| intra- | within |
| intro- | within |
| is/o | equal |
| joints | The points of connection between the ends of certain bones. Also known as articulations |
| jug- | yoke |
| kal/i | potassium |
| kary/o | nucleus |
| kilo- | one thousand |
| laceration | A wound, specifically a deep tear or cut of the flesh. |
| lesion | Any abnormal changes or damage to body tissues. |
| lob/o | lobe |
| loc- | place |
| lumin/o | lumen (channel within a tube) |
| macro- | large |
| mal- | bad, deficient |
| malaise | A general feeling of illness or discomfort or feeling unhealthy. |
| meat/o | a natural opening |
| medicare | Federal program that provides health insurance benefits to persons over the age of 65 and others eligible for Social Security benefits. It consists of hospital insurance (Part A) and supplementary medical insurance (Part B). |
| meta- | beyond, change |
| micro- | small |
| mon/o | single, one |
| morph/o | shape, form |
| muc/o | mucus |
| mycosis | A fungal inflection. |
| nano- | one-billionth, dwarfism |
| natr/o | sodium |
| necr- | death, corpse |
| neo- | new |
| neutr/o | neutral |
| noct/i | night |
| nod/o | knot |
| non- | not |
| norm- | normal |
| nucle/o | nucleus |
| nyct/o | night, darkness |
| obstetrician | A medical doctor specialized in the management of pregnancy, labor and birth |
| olig/o | few, scanty |
| orth/o | straight |
| papill/o | nipple, optic disc |
| para- | similar, beside |
| path/o | disease |
| pathological | Pertaining to or caused by disease. |
| pathology | A medical specialty concerned with the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences. |
| ped/o | child, foot |
| pediatrics | A medical specialty concerned with maintaining health and providing medical care to children from birth to adolescence. |
| pedophilia | An adult abnormal attraction to children for sexual purposes. |
| penta- | five |
| phalanges | Fingers or toes |
| phil/o | attraction |
| phor/o | to carry |
| plic/o | fold |
| poly- | many |
| por/o | passage, opening, duct |
| pro- | before, in front of |
| prognosis | A prediction of a outcome of a disease. |
| proto- | first |
| pseudo- | false |
| pyr/o | fire, fever |
| pyrex/o | fever |
| quadr- | four |
| quadri- | four |
| radi/o | x-rays, radius |
| re- | again, back |
| rhabd- | rod |
| rot- | wheel, turn |
| sect- | dissect, cut |
| semi- | half |
| sept/o | septum, seven |
| sign | Objective evidence of a disease. |
| somat/o | body |
| steat/o | fat |
| sterc- | feces |
| stere/o | three dimensional |
| stethoscope | Instrument for listening to body sounds (auscultation). |
| symptom | Subjective evidence of disease. For example, a patient's complaints. |
| syn- | together |
| teg- | cover |
| temperature | The sensible intensity of heat of any substance. |
| tetra- | four |
| therm/o | heat, temperature |
| tissue | A group of differentiated cells that perform a specific function. There are four basic tissues in the body: epithelium, connective (including bone, blood and cartilage), muscle and nerve. |
| tom/o | section, slice |
| top/o | place |
| trauma | Physical or emotional injuries that are severe and of sudden onset. |
| triage | The process of classifying patients into groups based upon need and likely benefit of treatment |
| troph/o | nourishment, development |
| ultra- | beyond |
| uni- | one |
| vir/o | virus |
| viscer/o | body organs |
| xen/o | foreign |
| zo/o | animal life |
Authors and Reviewers
Authored by Dr. Barbara A. EricksonMedically reviewed by Dr. Jonathan Keroes, MD
Last Update: 12/18/2022
