Medical Terminology in Alphabetical Order
Medical Terminology in Alphabetical Order
Medical Terminology in Alphabetical Order
not, without
a-, an- analgesic, apathy
(alpha privative)
from; away
ab- abduction
from
of or relating to
abdomin- abdominal muscles
the abdomen
pertaining to;
-ac one afflicted cardiac
with
of or relating
acou- hyperacusis
to hearing
extremity,
acr- acromegaly
topmost
of or relating
adip- to fat or fatty adipocyte
tissue
of or relating to
adren- the adrenal adrenal artery
glands
-aemia, ema,
hemat blood condition anaemia
denoting
something as
all- alloantigen
different, or as
an addition
denoting
something as
positioned on
ambi- ambidextrous
both sides;
describing both
of two
Pertaining to
the
amnio- membranous amniocentesis
fetal sac
(amnion)
amph(i)-, on both sides amphicrania
starchy,
amylo- carbohydrate- Amylase
related
not, without
an- analgesia
(alpha privative)
ana- back, again, up anaplasia
an- anus Anal
pertaining to
andr- andrology, androgen
a man
describing
anti- antibody, antipsychotic
something as
'against' or
'opposed to'
another
away,
separated
apo- apoptosis
from, derived
from
archi- first, primitive Archinephron
of or pertaining
arsen(o)- to a male; Arsenoblast
masculine
of or pertaining
arteri(o)- arteriole, artery
to an artery
of or pertaining
arthr- to the joints, arthritis
limbs
articul- joint Articulation
-ary pertaining to biliary tract, coronary
-ase enzyme Lactase
imperfect or
atel(o)- incomplete atelocardia
development
fatty deposit,
ather- soft gruel-like Atherosclerosis
deposit
an atrium (esp.
atri- atrioventricular
heart atrium)
of or pertaining
aur- Aural
to the ear
of or pertaining
to the armpit
axill- Axilla
(uncommon as
a prefix)
azothermia: raised temperature
nitrogenous
azo(to)- due to nitrogenous substances in
compound
blood
B[edit]
C[edit]
of or pertaining
cholecyst(o)- to cholecystectomy
the gallbladder
cartilage,
gristle,
chondr(i)o- chondrocalcinosis
granule,
granular
chrom(ato)- color hemochromatosis
killing,
-cidal, -cide Bactericidal
destroying
of or pertaining
to the cilia, the
cili- ciliary
eyelashes;
eyelids
denoting
something as
circum- circumcision
'around'
another
cis- on this side cisgender
clast break osteoclast
clostr- spindle Clostridium
with, together,
co- Co-enzyme
in association
round,
coccus Streptococcus
spherical
col-, colo-,
colon colonoscopy
colono-
of or pertaining
colp(o)- colposcopy
to the vagina
com- with, together Communicate
contra against contraindication
cor- with, together Corrective
of or pertaining
cor- to the corectomy
eye's pupil
of or pertaining
to the heart
cord(i)- commotio cordis,
(uncommon as
a prefix)
applied to
describing
processes and
cornu- parts of the greater cornu
body as
likened or
similar to horns
pertaining to
coron(o)- coronary heart disease
the heart
cortex, outer
cortic(o)- corticosteroid
region
of or pertaining
cost- costochondral
to the ribs
of or relating to
cox- the hip, haunch, Coccyx
or hip-joint
belonging or
crani(o)- relating to Cranial nerves
the cranium
denotes
something as
cyph(o)- bent cyphosis
(uncommon as
a prefix)
of or pertaining
cyst(o)-, cyst(i)- to the urinary cystotomy
bladder
D[edit]
of or pertaining
-dactyl(o)- polydactyly
to a finger, toe
from, down, or
de- dehydrate
away from
of or pertaining
dent- dentist, dental
to teeth
dermat(o)-, of or pertaining
Xeroderma
derm(o)- to the skin
-desis binding arthrodesis
right, on the
dextr(o)- dextrocardia
right side
di- two diplopia,
apart,
di- dilation, distal, dilute
separation
through,
dia- dialysis
during, across
apart,
dif- Different
separation
of or pertaining
to the
digit- digit
finger [rare as
a root]
diplo- twofold diploid
(condition of)
-dipsia polydipsia
thirst
separation,
dis- dissection
taking apart
dors(o)-, of or pertaining
Dorsal
dors(i)- to the back
running,
dromo- conduction, dromotropic
course
E[edit]
adenohypophyseal, corneal, esop
-eal (see -al) pertaining to
hageal, perineal
Ectopia vesica, ectopic
ec- out, away
pregnancy
ect(o)- outer, outside ectoblast, ectoderm, ectoplasm
-ectasia, expansion, dilati
Bronchiectasis
-ectasis on
denotes a
surgical
operation or
-ectomy removal of a mastectomy
body part;
resection,
excision
vomiting conditi
-emesis hematemesis
on
blood condition
-emia anemia
(Am. Engl.)
of or pertaining
encephal(o)- to the brain; see encephalogram
also cerebro-
denotes
endo- something as endocrinology
inside or within
having a red
eosin(o)- eosinophil
color
of or pertaining
enter(o)- gastroenterology
to the intestine
of or pertaining
to the pubic
episi(o)- episiotomy
region, the
loins
having a red
erythr(o)- erythrocyte
color
-esophageal,
gullet (AmE) esophagus
-esophago-
sensation
esthesio- Anesthesia
(AmE)
true, good,
eu- eukaryote
well, new
out of, away
ex- excision, except
from
denotes
something as
exo- exophthalmos
"outside"
another
F[edit]
hole, opening,
or aperture,
foramen foramen magnum
particularly in
bone
used to form
adjectives
-form indicating falciform
"having the
form of"
before or
fore- foregut
ahead
a hollow or
depressed
fossa fossa ovalis
area; a trench
or channel
of or pertaining
front- frontonasal
to the forehead
G[edit]
of a certain
heterogenous
kind
formative;
-genic pertaining to cardiogenic shock
producing
of or pertaining
genu- genu valgum
to the knee
ageusia, dysgeusia, hypergeusia,
-geusia taste
hypogeusia, parageusia
of or pertaining
gingiv- gingivitis
to the gums
Having a grey
glauc(o)- or bluish-grey glaucoma
colour
gloss(o)-, glott( of or pertaining
glossitis
o)- to the tongue
H[edit]
hemat-,
of or pertaining hematology, older
haemato-
to blood form haematology
(haem-, hem-)
hemangi or
blood vessels hemangioma
hemangio-
hepat- of or pertaining
hepatitis
(hepatic-) to the liver
denotes
something as
"the other" (of
heter(o)- heterogeneous
two), as an
addition, or
different
hidr(o)- sweat hyperhidrosis
denotes
something as
homosexuality, homozygote,
hom(o)- "the same" as
homophobic
another or
common
of or pertaining
to the shoulder
humer(o)- humerus
(or [rarely] the
upper arm)
extreme or
hyper- Hypertension
beyond normal
hyp(o)- below normal hypovolemia, hypoxia
of or pertaining
hyster(o)- to the womb or Hysterectomy
the uterus
I[edit]
J–K[edit]
L[edit]
of or pertaining
to the
lapar(o)- laparotomy
abdominal
wall, flank
of or pertaining
to the larynx,
the lower
laryng(o)- throat cavity Laryngeal nerve
where
the voice
box is
latero- lateral lateral pectoral nerve
lei(o)- smooth leiomyoma
leuc(o)-, denoting a
leukocyte
leuk(o)- white color
lingu(a)-, of or pertaining
linguistics
lingu(o)- to the tongue
M[edit]
meg(a)-,
enlargement,
megal(o)-, Splenomegaly
million
-megaly
having a black
melan(o)- melanin
color
melos extremity erythromelalgia
month, menstru
men- menopause, menorrhagia
al cycle
after, beside,
met, meta- beyond or metacarpal
change
instrument
used to sphygmomanometer, thermomete
-meter
measure or r
count
process of
measuring, -
-metry optometry
meter + -y (see -
meter)
pertaining to
conditions or
metr- metrorrhagia
instruments of
the uterus
millionth;
denoting
micr- something as microscope
small, relating
to smallness
milli- thousandth milli liter
of or relating
my(o)- myoblast
to muscle
myc(o)- fungus onychomycosis
of or relating
to bone
myel(o)- myelin sheath, myeloblast
marrow or
the spinal cord
of or relating
myl(o)- to molar teeth mylohyoid nerve
or the lower jaw
myri- ten thousand myriad
N[edit]
O[edit]
-oesophageal,
oesophago- (Br gullet oesophagus
E)
resemblance
-oid Sarcoidosis
to
Ole small or little arteriole
having little,
olig(o)- oligotrophy
having few
om(o)- shoulder omoplate
of or pertaining
omphal(o)- to the navel, omphalocele
the umbilicus
onco- tumor, bulk, oncology
volume
-one hormone
of or pertaining
onych(o)- to the nail (of a onychomycosis
finger or toe)
of or pertaining
to an (egg), a
oo- oogenesis
woman's egg,
the ovum
of or pertaining
oophor(o)- to the woman's oophorectomy
(ovary)
of or pertaining
ophthalm(o)- ophthalmology
to the (eye)
back, behind,
opistho- opisthotonus
rear[8]
examination or
-opsy biopsy, autopsy
inspection
of or relating to
chemical
optic(o)- optic nerve
properties of
the eye
of or pertaining
or(o)- oral
to the mouth
one who,
-or agent noun– Doctor
forming suffix
orchi(o)-,
orchid(o)-, testis orchiectomy, orchidectomy
orch(o)-
denoting
something as
orth(o)- orthodontist
straight or
correct
a
-osis condition, disea osteoporosis
se or increase
of or pertaining
ot(o)- otology
to the ear
-ous pertaining to porous
of or pertaining
ovari(o)- ovariectomy
to the ovaries
of or pertaining
ovo-, ovi-, ov- to the eggs, ovogenesis
the ovum
addition
oxo-
of oxygen
sharp, acid,
oxy- oxytocin, oxygenated, oxycodone
acute; oxygen
P
Affix Meaning Example(s)
pachy- thick pachyderma
of or pertaining
to the eyelid
palpebr- palpebra
(uncommon as
a root)
denoting
something as
'complete' or
pan-, pant(o)- Pancytopenia
containing
'everything';
"all"
of or pertaining
to the nipple
papill- papillitis
(of the
chest/breast)
Indicates papulo
sity, a small
elevation or
papul(o)- papulation
swelling in the
skin, a pimple,
swelling
para- alongside of paraubilical hernia
-paresis slight paralysis hemiparesis
parvo- small Parvovirus
path(o)- disease Pathological fracture
denotes (with a
negative
-pathy sense) a sociopathy, neuropathy
disease, or
disorder
pauci- Few Pauci-immune
of or pertaining
ped-, -ped-,
to the foot; Pedoscope
-pes
-footed
of or pertaining
ped-, pedo- Pediatrics
to the child
phacolysis, phacometer,
phaco- lens-shaped
phacoscotoma
Forms terms
denoting
conditions
-phagia, -phage Odynophagia
relating to
eating or
ingestion
eating,
-phago- phagocyte
devouring
Forms nouns
phagist- that denote a Lotophagi
person who
'feeds on' the
first element or
part of the
word
Forms nouns
that denotes
'feeding on' the
-phagy hematophagy
first element or
part of the
word
phall- phallus Aphallia
drug,
pharmac- pharmacology
medication
of or pertaining
to the pharynx,
pharyng- pharyngitis, pharyngoscopy
the upper throat
cavity
-phil(ia) attraction for hemophilia
of or pertaining
phleb- to the (blood) phlebography, phlebotomy
veins, a vein
exaggerated
fear,
-phobia arachnophobia
sensitivity,
aversion
phon- sound phonograph, symphony
of or pertaining
to light or its
chemical
properties, now
phos- historic and phosphene
used rarely. See
the common
root phot- belo
w.
of or pertaining
phot- photopathy
to light
The
phren-, phrenic
diaphragm/ the Phrenic nerve, schizophrenia
-
mind
of or pertaining
pod-, -pod-,
to the foot, podiatry
-pus
-footed
-poiesis production hematopoiesis
having a grey
polio- poliomyelitis
color
denotes a
poly- 'plurality' of polymyositis
something
por- pore, porous Pore
denotes a
porphyr- porphyria
purple color
denotes
something as
post- 'after' or postoperation, postmortem
'behind'
another
denotes
something as
'before'
pre- another (in premature birth
[physical]
position or
time)
presby- old age presbyopia, presbycusis[10]
denotes
something as
prim- Primary
'first' or 'most-
important'
pro- denotes procephalic
something as
'before'
another (in
[physical]
position or
time)
proct- anus, rectum proctology
prosop- face prosopagnosia
denotes
something as
prot- protoneuron
'first' or 'most
important'
denotes
pseud- something pseudoephedrine
false or fake
psor- Itching psoriasis
of or pertaining
psych- psychology, psychiatry
to the mind
Pertaining to a
wing;
ptero-, ptery- lateral pterygoid plate
'pterygo-',
wing-shaped
falling,
drooping,
-ptosis downward apoptosis, nephroptosis
placement,
prolapse
saliva, salivary
-ptyal-,ptyalo glands, ptyalolithiasis
sialaden
pulmon-, of or relating to
Pulmonary artery
pulmo- the lungs
py- pus pyometra
pyel- pelvis pyelonephritis
to thicken (as
the nucleus
pykno- does in early pyknosis
stages of cell
death)
pylor- gate pyloric sphincter
pyr- fever antipyretic
Q-R
backward,
retro- retroversion, retroverted
behind
rod shaped,
rhabd(o)- rhabdomyolysis
striated
of or pertaining
rhin(o)- rhinoplasty
to the nose
denoting a
rhod(o)- Rhodopsin
rose-red color
burst forth,
-rrhage,
rapid flow (of hemorrhage, menorrhagia
-rrhagia
blood, usually)
surgical
-rrhaphy hymenorrhaphy, neurorrhaphy
suturing
flowing,
-rrhea (AmE) galactorrhea, diarrhea
discharge
flowing,
-rrhoea (BrE) diarrhoea
discharge
S[edit]
sangui-, of or pertaining
sanguineous discharge
sanguine- to blood
relating to
sapro- putrefaction or Saprogenic
decay.
muscular,
sarco- sarcoma, sarcoidosis
flesh-like
denoting
something
schiz(o)- schizophrenia
"split" or
"double-sided"
somat(o)-,
body, bodily Somatic
somatico-
sperma-,
semen, sperm
spermo-, spermatogenesis
atozoa
spermato-
splanchn(i)-,
viscera Splanchnic vessels
splanchn(o)-
of or pertaining
spondyl(o)- to the spine, spondylitis
the vertebra
denoting
something as
squamos(o)- squamous cell
"full of scales"
or "scaly"
-stalsis contraction peristalsis
stopping,
-stasis cytostasis, homeostasis
standing
dripping,
-staxis Epistaxis
trickling
denoting
something as
narrow in
sten(o)- stenography
shape or
pertaining to
narrowness
-stenosis abnormal restenosis, stenosis
narrowing of a
blood vessel or
other tubular
organ or
structure
of or pertaining
to the upper
chest, the area
steth- stethoscope
above the
breast and
under the neck
strength, force,
stheno- Asthenospermia
power
of or pertaining
to the mouth;
stom-, stomat- an artificially Stomatitis
created
opening[12]
creation of an
-stomy colostomy
opening
sub- beneath, under subcutaneous tissue
in excess,
super- above, superior vena cava
superior
above,
supra- supraorbital vein
excessive
indicates
similarity,
likeness, or
being together;
assimilates
sy, syl-, sym-, before some symptom, synalgia, synesthesia,
syn-, sys- consonants: syssarcosis
before l to syl-, s
to sys-, before
a labial
consonant to sy
m-
T[edit]
-tension,
pressure hypertension
-tensive
terato- Monster teratoma, teratogen
tetan- rigid, tense tetanus
thec- case, sheath intrathecal
of or pertaining
to a nipple
thel- Theleplasty, thelarche
(uncommon as
a prefix)
denoting
something as
thely- relating to a Thelygenous
woman,
feminine
therap- treatment hydrotherapy, therapeutic
of or pertaining
to the upper
thorac(i)-,
chest, chest;
thorac(o)-, thoracic, thorax
the area above
thoracico-
the breast and
under the neck
of or relating to
a blood clot,
thromb(o)- thrombus, thrombocytopenia
clotting of
blood
thyr(o)- thyroid Thyroid lobe
thym- Emotions dysthymia
-tic pertaining to
toco- Childbirth tocolytic
cutting
-tome Microtome
instrument
act of cutting;
-tomy incising, Gastrotomy
incision
tone, tension,
ton-
pressure
-tony Tension
top(o)- place, topical Topical anesthetic
tort(i)- Twisted Torticollis
tox(i)-, tox(o)-,
toxin, poison Toxoplasmosis
toxic(o)-
trache(a)- trachea Tracheotomy
of or pertaining
trachel(o)- tracheloplasty
to the neck
denoting
something as
trans- moving or Transfusion
situated across
or through
tri- three triangle, triceps
of or pertaining
trich(i)-, trichia,
to hair, hair- trichocyst
trich(o)-
like structure
gonadotropic (pertaining to
substances formed in the anterior
pituitary gland that affect the
activity of the ovary or testis)
U[edit]
beyond,
ultra- ultrasound, ultraviolet
excessive
of or pertaining
umbilic- to the navel, umbilical
the umbilicus
of or pertaining
ungui- to the nail, a unguiform, ungual
claw
un(i)- one unilateral hearing loss
antidiuretic,
of or pertaining diuresis, diuretic, dysuria,
ur- to urine, the enuresis, polyurea, polyuria, urae
urinary system mia/uremia, uremic, ureter,
urethra, urology
of or pertaining
urin- to urine, the uriniferous
urinary system
of or pertaining
uter(o)- to the uterus or uterus
womb
V[edit]
of or pertaining
to the veins,
venous blood,
ven- venule, venospasm
and
the vascular
system
of or pertaining
to the belly, the
ventr(o)- ventrodorsal
stomach
cavities
of or pertaining
to
cardiac
the ventricles;
ventricul(o)- ventriculography, atrioventricular
any hollow
node
region inside an
organ
of or pertaining
vesic(o)- vesical arteries
to the bladder
of or pertaining
to the internal
viscer(o)- viscera
organs,
the viscera
X–Z[edit]