¶ … functioning understanding of medical terminology is not only a requisite for application but a necessity for understanding and working within the fields of anatomy and physiology. The terms that encode the common lingua of medicine are, like the basic building blocks of any language, an operable set of tools that allow for the user to manipulate them for the purpose of conversation and comprehension. With their base in Latin and Greek, the prefixes, suffixes, and roots establish a system of linking and combined terminology. The medical system in its physicality is based on a set of rules and facts that can be creatively combined to achieve a goal: in the case of medicine, a doctor applies his or her knowledge to execute a complex operation by using the smaller skill-sets carefully developed over time; in the case of the language that supports it, the operational digest of words is utilized to communicate coherently, integrating the foundational bricks of vocabulary to achieve a common understanding.

This lingual support system is epitomized by the word pericarditis, which means inflammation of the outer layer of the heart. Without knowing the actual meaning of the word, a working familiarity with the parts that combine it allows for an initial understanding immediately. For example, pericarditis can be broen down into three parts: peri, card, and it is. Peri is the prefix, which means surrounding. The root, card, means heart. The suffix, itis, means inflammation. Even with a meager understanding of the vast terminology in the medical lingua, a knowledge of the words that are used to construct the language promotes an immediate translation.

Medical terms are systematically constructed by prefixes, suffixes, and roots, and some words even incorporate more than one root. The roots -- a far more vast collection of words that allow for true meaning than the suffixes and prefixes -- are then augmented by terms either inserted in the beginning or tacked on at the end that translate in a way to describe what is happening to that root. Some terms, like mastoid, clavicle, or sternum, do not even demand both a prefix and suffix and are entirely self-sufficient in their basic descriptions.

A functional understanding of these prefixes, suffixes, and combining terms allows for a viable interaction within the language of medicine for any party. As such, any student of anatomy or physiology is demanded by the field to exercise their use of the new language by becoming fluent in it. Each system of the body and natural fields have their own terms, specific to either the blood, digestive system, pharmacology, or even psychiatry, but by developing the skill set of the lingual building blocks, many of these fields can be easily navigated and even provide a lasting language base for medical care for life, treatment, and future, far beyond school.

Dictionary of Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Terminology.

A

A-

without

Ab

away

Abdomin/o stomach

Able

capable

Abort

to end

Abrupt

to tear away

Abcess

going away

Acanth

thorny (skin growths)

Access

supplemental

Acetabul

hip joint

Acne

pointed

Acoust

hearing

Acro extremity. Acrophobia is a fear of heights.

Actin

ray, radium

Acu

sharp

Ad

near or beside

Aden

gland

Adeno gland. Adenoid is a lymph gland found in the nasopharynx

Adhes

to stick (together)

Adip

fat

Aer

air or gas

Af

toward

-age

pertains to Agglutin

clumping

Agon

walls

Al

refers to Alba

Albinsm is the white appearance of skin lacking melanin.

Algia

Neuroalgia is a pain following the course of a nerve

Ambi

both

Amblyo

dull

Ambul

walk related

Amylo

starch

An

lacking

Ana

apart

Ancone

elbow

Andro

man or male

Anecto without expansion or dilation vessel. Angioplasty is the repair of a blood vessel

Ante-before - as in ante-room, antecedent.

Arthro joint. Arthritis is the inflammation of skeletal joints.

Asbest

unquenchable

Ascar

worm

Asco

bag

-ase

enzyme

-asthenia

weakness

-ate

refers to action

-ation

process of or precedure

Auto self; automatic, autonomous, autolysis.

Azygo

single

B

Bacill

rod-like

Bacteri

rod

Balan

glans penis

Baro

weight

Bary

heavy

Bas

Basic or base

Bene

good or normal

Benign

kind

Beri

weakness

Bi

duality, two; as in bi-lingual, bipolar means life; as in biography, biology.

Blast germ, bud. Osteoblast is the germ of a bone cell.

Bleb

blister

Blenno

mucus

Blephar eyelid. A blepharoplasty is eyelid surgery.

- brady slow short

Brachi arm. The brachialis muscle moves the arm.

Broncho trachea, windpipe. Bronchitis is the inflammation of the respiratory system.

Brucc cheek. The buccinator muscle is in the cheek

Bulba

vesicle

Bulimo

hunger

Burs

sac, pouch

C

Cac

diseased

Cal

heat or hot

Calcane

heel

Calcin

calcium

Calco

granules

Caligi

dim vision

Capit head.

Capn

carbon dioxide

Capsulo

little box

Caput

head

Carbo

Carbon

Carcin cancer. A carcinogen is a substance that triggers cancer formation.

Cardia heart. Cardiologist is a heart specialist.

Caud

tall

Cephal head. Cephalon is another term for the brain.

Cerebro brain.

Chole bile, gall. Cholecestectomy is removal of the gallbladder.

Cholra

bile

Chondro cartilage. A chondrocyte is a cartilage cell.

Chroma color; as in chromosome.

Cili eyelash. Supercilia are eyebrows -- the hairs above the eyelashes.

Corpus body.

Corona

Crown.

Cost rib. Costal cartilages attach ribs to the sternum.

Cox

hip or joint

Crani

skull

Cras

mixture

Crenat

notched

Cric

ring

-crit

separate

-cule

little

Cut skin. Cutaneous tissue is skin tissue.

Cysti sac, bladder.

Cyt cell. Cytology is the study of cells.

-cytosis

increase

D

Dacryo

tear

Dactyl digits. Polydactylism, the presence of more fingers than is normal.

De

away

Debride

removal

Deca

one/tenth

Decub

to lie down

Deep

most inward

Dendr

tree-shaped

Dent

tooth

Depress

lower

Derma

skin

Dis negativity; as in disagree, disengage.

Dist

father frum

Diverticul

outpouching

Doch

duct or canal

Doct

to teach or teacher

Du

two

Duct

to draw or lead

Dy

two or a pair

Dynam

work or strength

-dynia pain dys difficulty, faulty, painful.

E

-e

instrument

E

out or remove

-eal

refers to Ec, ect outside, outward, or out

Ecchymo

juice out

Eccrine

secreting or to secret

Echo

sound

Ecstasis

dilation

Ectomy

excision or removal

Eczema

to boil out

Edema

swelling

Ef, effer away or out

-enchyma

anything poured in Endo

within or inside

Enema

injection

Enteritis is inflammation of the intestines.
Enuresis

to void

Eosin

rose red

Epi

upon

Episi

pubic region

-er

one who

Erythro red. Erythrocytes are red blood cells cause

Eu

good or normal

Ex-from, out of; as in expire, ex-patriot.

G

Galacto

milk, Galactose- Milk Sugar.

Gastro stomach, belly.

Glosso tongue. Hypoglossal means "below the tongue."

Glyco sugar. Glycosuria is sugar in the urine.

H

Hema blood; hemoglobin.

Hepato liver. The hepatic vein drains blood away from the liver.

Hyper

beyond or excessive - as in hypercritical, or very critical, especially of small faults

Hyster uterus. Hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus.

I

-ia

abnormal state

-iac

pertains to -ial refers to iatr treat or cure

-ible

ability to -id state of -ide specific quantity of in situ in, position or location.

negativity; as in infidel, inebriated, in Inter-between or among; international, interfaith.

Ileo ileum. Part of the small intestine.

Ilio ilium. Part of the hip bone.

-is

refers to Isch

deficiency

Ischi

hip joint

-ish

resembling

-ism

state or condition

Iso-same

-itis

inflammation

-ity

State of -ive attributing; dismissive, unobtrusive

-ize

state or acts of J

Jejuno

to empty

Junctiv

join

Juxta

near, close by, adjoining

K

Kako

calcium

Kali

potassium

Kary

nucleus

Kel

scar

Kerat

cornea or horny

Ket

sour or acid

Kil

one thousand

Kine

movement or action

Kraur

dryness

Kyph

hunchback

L

Lachry tears. Lacrimal glands secrete tears.

Leuko white. Leukocytes are white cells of the blood.

Lingua tongue. Sublingual glands are beneath the tongue.

Lipo fat. Liposuction is the removal of fat by suction tube.

Lith stone. Lithotripsy is used to treat kidney stones.

Lumbo lower back. Lumbar vertebrae are located in the lower back.

M

Macul spot, blotch. The macula lutea is a spot on the retina of an eyeball.

Mamm breast. Mammogram is a picture of a breast.

Mast breast.

Mega

large or big in number - as in megabyte, or a million bytes, or a thousand kilobytes

Meningo membrane. Meninges are the coverings of the brain and spinal cord.

Meta

Relating, circling but not directly addressing; metaphysical, metamorphoses

Metro uterus. Endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus.

Mono

means one or single - as in monorail, a train which operates on a single rail

Morpho shape. Endomorphs are people whose physical shape extends to the limits of human dimension.

Myelo spinal cord. Poliomyelitis is inflammation of the grey matter of the spinal cord.

Myo muscle. Myo-cardiac infarction is a problem with the heart muscle.

N

Necro death. Necrosis is death of cell tissue.

Nephro kidney. Nephrons are the functional units of a kidney.

Neuro nerve. Neurons are individual nerve cells.

O

Oculo eye. An oculist supplies eyeglasses.

Odont tooth. Othodontics refers to repair of teeth.

Onco tumor. Oncology is the study of tumors.

Ophthalm eye. Ophthalmology is the study of eye and its diseases.

Oro mouth. The oral cavity is the other name for the mouth.

Orchido testicle. Orchidectomy is removal of a testicle.

Osse-, Osteo bone. Osteoporosis is porosity of bone.

Oto ear. Otosclerosis is the formation of bone in the ear.Otomycosis-fungal infection in ear

P

Patho disease. Pathogens are agents which cause disease.

Peps digestion. Pepsin is an enzyme found in the digestive system.

Phago eat. Phagocytes are cells (cyto-) which eat foreign material.

Philo love, to have an affinity for.

Phleb vein. Phlebitis is inflammation of the veins.

Phren diaphragm. Phrenic refers to a diaphragm.

Pla/Pli

Fill, fufill; re-plicate, placate.

many - as in polysyllable, or a word with lots of syllables.

Pneumo lung. Pneumonia is a disease of the lungs.

Pre

before; as in prefix, predator

Pro-to, for; prodigal, profane, prognosis, prong.

Pulmo lung.

Pur theoretical, intentional; purify, purport, purge.

Pyo pus. Pyruria is pus in the urine.

Q

Qui pacific, calm, lethargy, heavenly; quiescent, quibble, quietude.

Quint fifth; quintessential, quitessence.

Quo insignificance; quorum, quotidian.

R

Ra reciprocity of cycle; raconteur, rabid, ravine.

Rai

Assemble, garb; as in raiment t (clothing), rail (dress in complaint)

Ram

extend outward; rampart, ramify

Re

From; reactionary, realm, reaper.

Reg instituted; regulatory, regimen.

Ren kidney. Renal artery supplies blood to the kidney.

Rhin nose. Rhinoplasty is a nose job.

S

Sacchar

Sugar

Sacr

saucer or sacred bone

Sagitt

arrow or arrow-like

Sangu

blood

Sarc

fleshy

Sartor

patcher

Scab

to itch

Scaph

skiff or boat shaped

Scapul

shoulder blade

Scirrh

hard

Scler

hardening yellow fat

Scoli

crookied or twisted

-scope

to view or examine

-scopy

to examine or view

Scor

darkness

Scrot

sc or pouch

Scurvy

to scratch

Se

oriented to the self; secrete (release from the self), sedate (quiet self)

Seb

oil

Secreto

separating or to separate

Sect

to cut

Scler hard. Atherosclerosis is hardening of the arteries.

Semi

half

Semin

seed or seed producer

Sept

partion

Septi

seventh

Somn

sleep

-spasm

contraction

Sperm

sperm

Stasis stand still. Homeostasis is the process of maintaining constant conditions within the body.

Stri line; striate, stricture, strident.

Strict

drawing or binding

Sty

raised

Su after; as in suffix.

Super

above or upon

Supinat

to throw backward

Suture

sewing together

Syco

fig or fig-like

Sym

together

Sub-under, lower; subliminal, subordinate, submissive.

T

Thromb clot, lump. Thrombosis refers to a clot in the heart or blood vessel.

Tri three, as in tricycle, trident.

Trich hair. Trichosis is a disease of the hair.

Tu

under advise or protection; tutelage, tutelary, turpitude

Ty substantive; typhoon, tyranny, tyro.

U

Ul-ultimate

-um singular.

Um-

heated; umbrage.

Un-

negativity; unreasonable, undone.

W

Wheal

round or cicle

Whitlow

white flow

X

Xanth

yellow

Xen

strange or foreign

Xero

dry

V

Va-

Indicative of hierarchy in relation to the greater; vassal, vaunt

Vas vessel, duct. Vas deferens is the vessel which carries sperm from the epididymus.

Veg-

Relating to vegetation; vegetarian, vegan.

Ven-

Coming (into), venue (a place into which things come), venture (coming into a risk), vendor (coming into goods) venire.

Ver-truth; veracity, veracious, verbatim

Viscer organ. Visceral refers to organs.

Z

Ze-

excess; zeal, zenith, zephyr.

Zoo…