Return to Word Parts Index

Medical Word Parts: g

Word Part	Definition
µg	microgram
g	gram
gait	Manner or style of walking.
galact/o	milk
galactorrhea	Inappropriate lactation.
galactose	One of the two simple sugars in the protein, lactose, found in milk. The other sugar is glucose.
gallbladder	A reservoir for bile located under the right lobe of the liver.
gallop	A third heart sound that resembles the sound of a galloping horse.
gallstone	A hard mass that precipitates in the biliary tract, usually in the gallbladder.
gam-	marriage, sexual union
gamete	A mature sex cell.
ganglion	A structure containing an aggregation of nerve cell bodies located in the peripheral nervous system.
ganglion cyst	Swelling or tumor on a joint or tendon sheath due to trauma.
ganglion/o	ganglion
ganglioneuroma	A benign neoplasm that usually arises from the sympathetic trunk in the mediastinum.
gangrene	Death and putrefaction of tissue usually due to a loss of blood supply.
garg	gargle
gastr/o	stomach
gastralgia	Pain in the stomach or abdomen
gastrectomy	Excision of part or all of the stomach.
gastric	Pertaining to the stomach.
gastric absorption	Uptake of substances via the stomach.
gastritis	The painful inflammation of the stomach's lining.
gastroenteritis	Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
gastroenterology	A subspecialty of medicine concerned with diseases of the digestive system and related structures including the esophagus, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.
gastrointestinal tract	Generally refers to the digestive structures stretching from the mouth to anus, but does not include the accessory glandular organs (liver; biliary tract; pancreas).
gastroparesis	Chronic delayed gastric emptying.
gastrostomy	Creation of an artificial external opening into the stomach for nutritional support or gastrointestinal compression.
gavage	Forced feeding a patient especially through a tube passed into the stomach
GB	gallbladder
GC	gonorrhea
GDM	gestational diabetes mellitus
ge/o	soil
gel/o	to freeze, congeal
gemell/o	twins
gemin-	double, twin
-gen	producing, origin
gen/o	to become, being born, producing
gene	A unit of inheritance carrying a single trait occupying a certain location on a chromosome.
-genesis	formation, development
genetic	Pertaining to reproduction or to birth or origin.
geni/o	chin
-genic	producing, origin
genit/o	reproduction
genitalia	The male and female reproductive organs.
genocide	The deliberate annihilation of a national, ethnic, or religious group.
genome	The complete set of genes in the chromosomes of each cell. The human genome contains an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 genes.
genomics	The systematic study of the complete DNA sequences (genome) of organisms.
genotype	The genetic constitution of the individual.
genu	Knee.
genu varum	An outward slant of the thigh in which the knees are wide apart and the ankles close together.
ger/o	old age
GERD	gastroesophageal reflux disease
geriatrics	The branch of health care concerned with aging and diseases of the elderly.
germ	Any microorganism, particularly one that causes disease.
germination	The early stages of the growth of seeds. The embryonic shoot and embryonic plant roots emerge.
germinoma	A neoplasm of the germinal tissue of gonads, mediastinum, or pineal region.
gest/o	to bear
gestalt	A physical, mental or symbolic configuration where whole differs from, or is greater than, the sum of its parts.
gestation	The time period of development from fertilization to birth.
gesture	A movement that helps express a feeling, idea, intention or opinion.
GFR	glomerular filtration rate
GH	growth hormone
GI	gastrointestinal
giardiasis	An intestinal infection caused by the protozoan Giardia lamblia. It is spread via contaminated food and water and by direct person-to-person contact.
giga-	billion
gigant/o	huge
gigantism	Abnormal growth due to an excess of growth hormone during childhood.
gingiv/o	gums
gingiva	Oral tissue surrounding and attached to teeth. Gum.
gingivitis	Inflammation of gum tissue.
glabella	The area between the eyebrows immediately above the nose.
glanders	A chronic bacterial infection of horses occasionally transmitted to humans.
glandular fever	Infectious mononucleosis.
glare	A bright, dazzling light which produces discomfort and impairs vision.
glasgow coma scale	A scale for measuring level of consciousness, especially after craniocerebral injury
glaucoma	A disease that damages the optic nerve. Often caused by abnormally high pressure in the eye.
gleason score	A method of classifying malignancy of prostate cancers.
glenoid cavity	A depression in the lateral angle of the scapula that articulates with the head of the humerus.
gli/o	glue-like
-globin	containing protein
globulin	Any of a class of proteins that are found in blood plasma, milk and muscle that are insoluble in pure water but soluble in dilute salt solutions
globus	A sphere. A spherical structure.
glomerul/o	glomerulus
glomerulus	A small tuft of blood capillaries in the kidney that is an integral part of the nephron, the basic unit of the kidney.
gloss/o	tongue
glossitis	Inflammation of the tongue.
glottis	The vocal apparatus of the larynx, situated in the middle section of the larynx.
glucagon	A peptide hormone produced in the pancreas that opposes insulin.
gluco-	relating to glucose
glucose	Sugar in the blood that supplies energy to cells.
glyc/o	glucose, sugar
glycemic index	A numerical system of measuring the rate of blood glucose generation from a particular food item.
glycemic load	A quantitative value of a measured amount of a specific food that is equal to the glycemic index of that food multiplied by the carbohydrate content of that food.
glycine	A non-essential amino acid that is a major component of gelatin and silk fibroin. It used therapeutically as a nutrient.
glycosuria	The appearance of an abnormally amount of glucose in the urine.
gm	gram
gnath-	jaw, cheek
gnos/o	knowledge
GnRH	gonadotropin-releasing hormone
goiter	Enlargement of the thyroid gland causing a swelling in the front part of the neck.
gon-	seed, genital
gonad/o	sex glands
gonadal	Pertaining to or arising from a gonad.
gonads	The sex glands, ovary or testis.
goni/o	angle
gonorrhea	A sexually transmitted bacterial disease, mostly seen in young adults.
gout	Acute arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the joints due to the accumulation of urate crystals.
GP	general practitioner
gr	grain
-grade	step, degree in a scale
graft	Any tissue or organ for transplantation.
-gram	recording, metric unit of weight
gram stain	A method of staining bacteria, which is important in their identification.
granul/o	small grain
granulation tissue	A vascular connective tissue formed on the surface of a healing wound, ulcer, or inflamed tissue. It consists of new capillaries and an infiltrate containing lymphoid cells, macrophages, and plasma cells.
granuloma	A clump of cells that forms when the immune system fights harmful substance but cannot remove it from the body. Often foreign bodies stimulate these cells.
-graph	instrument that records
-graphy	process of recording
grav	gravida
Graves disease	An immune disease that causes hyperthyroidism.
gravid/o	pregnancy
-gravida	pregnant
gravidity	Pregnant.
groin	The external junctural region between the lower part of the abdomen and the thigh.
GSW	gunshot wound
GTT	glucose tolerance test
GU	genitourinary
guaifenesin	An expectorant that also has some muscle relaxing action. It is used in many cough preparations.
Guillain-Barre syndrome	A disorder in which the immune system attacks the nerves. A rare disease, usually preceded by a viral infection
gutta	One drop.
GVHD	graft-versus-host disease
GXT	graded exercise test
GYN	gynecology
gynec/o	woman, female
gynecology	The branch of medicine dealing with diseases unique to women, especially those of the genital tract and breasts.
gynecomastia	Non-cancerous swelling of the breast tissue in males due to an imbalance of hormones. Common in pre-adolescence, benign and self-limiting.
gyno-	woman
gyr-	ring, circle