a-, an-

no; not; without

ab-

away from

abdomin/o

abdomen

-ac

pertaining to

acanth/o

spiny; thorny

acetabul/o

acetabulum (hip socket)

acous/o

hearing

acr/o

extremities; top; extreme point

acromi/o

acromion (extension of the shoulder bones)

actin/o 

light

acu/o

sharp, severe, sudden

-acusis

hearing

ad-

toward

aden/o

gland

adenoid/o

adenoids

adip/o 

fat

adren/o

adrenal gland

adrenal/o

adrenal gland

aer/o

air

af-

toward

agglutin/o

clumping; sticking together

-agon

to assemble; gather

agora-

marketplace

-agra

excessive pain

-al

pertaining to

alb/o

white

albin/o

white

albumin/o

albumin (protein)

alges/o

sensitivity to pain

-algesia

sensitivity to pain

-algia

pain

all/o

other

alveol/o

alveolus; air sac; small sac

ambly/o

dim; dull

-amine

nitrogen compound

amni/o

amnion

(sac surrounding the embryo)

amyl/o

starch

an/o

anus

-an

pertaining to

ana-

up; apart; backward

andr/o

male

aneurysm/o

aneurysm

(widened blood vessel)

angi/o

vessel (blood)

anis/o

unequal

ankyl/o

crooked; bent; stiff

ante-

before; forward

 anter/o

forward

anthrac/o

coal

anti-

against

anxi/o

uneasy; anxious

aort/o

aorta

(largest artery)

-apheresis

removal

aphth/o

ulcer

apo-

off; away

aponeur/o

aponeurosis

(type of tendon)

append/o

appendix

appendic/o

appendix

aque/o

water

-ar

pertaining to

-arche

beginning

arter/o

artery

arteri/o

artery

arteriol/o

arteriole

(small artery)

arthr/o

joint

-arthria

articulate (speak distinctly)

articul/o

joint

-ary

pertaining to

asbest/o

asbestos

-ase

enzyme

-asthenia

lack of strength

atel/o

incomplete

ather/o

placque

(fatty substance)

-ation

process; condition

atri/o

atrium

(upper heart chamber)

audi/o

hearing

audit/o

hearing

aur/o

ear

auricul/o

ear

auto-

self, own

axill/o

axilla (armpit)

azot/o

urea; nitrogen

bacill/o

bacilli (bacteria)

bacteri/o

bacteria

balan/o

glans penis

bar/o

pressure;weight

bartholin/o

Bartholin glands

bas/o

base; opposite of acid

bi-

two

bi/o

life

bil/i

bile; gall

bilirubin/o

bilirubin

-blast

embryonic, immature

blephar/o

eyelid

bol/o

cast; throw

brachi/o

arm

brachy-

short

brady-

slow

bronch/o

bronchial tube

bronchiol/o

bronchiole

bronchi/o

bronchial tube

bucc/o

cheek

bunion/o

bunion

burs/o

bursa

(sac of fluid near joints)

byssin/o

cotton dust

cac/o

bad

calc/o

calcium

calcane/o

calcaneus

calci/o

calcium

cali/o

calyx

calic/o

calyx

capillar/o

capillary

(smallest blood vessel)

capn/o

carbon dioxide

-capnia

carbon dioxide

carcin/o

cancerous; cancer

cardi/o

heart

carp/o

wrist bones (carpals)

cata-

down

caud/o

tail; lower part of body

caus/o

burn; burning

cauter/o

heat; burn

cec/o

cecum

(first part of the colon)

-cele

hernia

celi/o

belly; abdomen

-centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid

cephal/o

head

cerebell/o

cerebellum

(posterior part of the brain)

cerebr/o

cerebrum

(largest part of the brain)

cerumin/o

cerumen

cervic/o

neck; cervix (neck of the uterus)

-chalasia

relaxation

-chalasis

relaxation

cheil/o

lip

chem/o

drug; chemical

-chezia

defecation; elimination of waste

chir/o

hand

chlor/o

green

chlorhydr/o

hydrochloric acid

 chol/e

bile; gall

cholangi/o

bile vessel

cholecyst/o

gallbladder

choledoch/o

common bile duct

cholesterol/o

cholesterol

chondr/o

cartilage

chore/o

dance

chori/o

chorion

(outermost membrane of the fetus)

chorion/o

chorion

(outermost membrane of the fetus)

choroid/o

choriod layer of the eye

chrom/o

color

chron/o

time

chym/o

to pour

cib/o

meal

-cide

killing

-cidal

pertaining to killing

cine/o

movement

cirrh/o

orange-yellow

cis/o

to cut

-clasis

to break

-clast

to break

claustr/o

enclosed space

clavicul/o

clavicle

-clysis

irrigation; washing

coagul/o

coagulation

(clotting)

-coccus

(cocci, pl.)

berry-shaped bacterium

coccyg/o

coccyx

(tailbone)

col/o

colon

(large intestine)

coll/a

glue

colon/o

colon

(large intestine)

colp/o

vagina

comat/o

deep sleep