a-

ex: achlorhydria & anemia

without or absence

achlorhydria = absence of hydrochloric acid

anemia = absence/deficiency of red blood cells due to bone marrow failure

acro-

ex: acromegaly

extremity

acromegaly = large extremities

adeno-

ex: adenoma

gland

adenoma = benign gland tumor

an-

ex: anoxia & anicteric

without

anoxia = without oxygen

anicteric = without jaundice

angio-

ex: angiitis

vessel

angiitis = vessel inflammation

ankylo-

ex: ankylosis

stiff

ankylosis = a pathologic stiffening

ante-

ex: antemortem

before

antemortem = before death

antero-

ex: anterolateral

in front

anterolateral = to the front and side

anti-

ex: antitoxin

against

antitoxin = against a toxin

arthro-

ex: arthritis

joint

arthritis = joint inflammation

athero-

ex: atheroma

mushy

atheroma = deposits of material in a vessel

auto-

ex: autoimmunity

self

autoimmunity = self-induced immunity

bili-

ex: biliary

bile

biliary = of or pertaining to bile ducts

blast-

ex: blastoma

a primitive cell

blastoma = embryonic tumor

carpo-

ex: carpal tunnel

wrist

carpal tunnel = a tendon containing tunnel of the wrist

caudo-

ex: caudal

tail

caudal = toward the tail

cephalo-

ex: cephalgia

head

cephalgia = headache

chol-

ex: cholecystitis

bile

cholecystitis = gallbladder inflammation

*cyst- means "bladder"

chond-

ex: chondroma

cartilage

chondroma = a benign cartilage tumor

colpo-

ex: colposcope

vagina

colposcope = instrument used to inspect vagina

costo-

ex: costochondral junction

rib

costochondral junction = junction of bony rib to cartilaginous rib

*chond- means "cartilage"

cranio-

ex: craniotomy

head

craniotomy = surgical opening of the head

crypto-

ex: cryptogenic

hidden

cryptogenic = of unknown origin

cyan-

ex: cyanosis

blue

cyanosis = a pathologic state of being blue

cyst-

ex: cystitis

bladder

cystitis = bladder inflammation

*Normally urinary (cholecystitis if it's gallbladder)

cyto-

ex: cytolysis

cell

cytolysis = cell breakdown

dent-

ex: dental

tooth

dental = pertaining to teeth

derm-

ex: dermatitis

skin

dermatitis = skin inflammation

dia-

ex: diarrhea

through

diarrhea = a flowing through

dipl-

ex: diplococci

double

diplococci = two cocci

dorso-

ex: dorsiflexed

back

dorsiflexed = bent toward the back

dys-

ex: dyspnea

difficult, bad or painful

dyspnea = difficult breathing

ecto-

ex: ectopic

outside

ectopic = out of place

en-

ex: endemic

into or in

endemic = in a population

encephalo-

ex: encephalitis

brain ("in the head")

encephalitis = brain inflammation

endo-

ex: endometrium

within

endometrium = lining of the uterus

entero-

ex: enteritis

intestine

enteritis = intestinal inflammation

ex-

ex: exostosis & exophthalmos

out of

exostosis = bone growth out of surface

exophthalmos = protruding eyes

fibr-

ex: fibroma

fiber or fibrous

fibroma = fibrous tumor

gastr-

ex: gastrostomy

stomach

gastrostomy = the creation of an artificial stomach opening

gloss-

ex: glossitis

tongue

glossitis = inflamed tongue

hem-, hemo-, hemato-

ex: hemoglobin & hematopoiesis

blood

hemoglobin = coloring material of red cells

hematopoiesis = the formation of blood cells

hapato-

ex: hepatomegaly

liver

hepatomegaly = enlarged liver

hetero-

heterophile antibody

dissimilar

heterophile antibody = one having an affinity for an antigen (foreign molecule that triggers production of an antibody) other than that for which it's specific

hidro-

ex: hidradenoma

sweat

hidradenoma = benign sweat gland tumor

homeo-

ex: homeostasis

similar

homeostasis = stability (the keeping similar) of normal body states

hydro-

ex: hydrothorax

water

hydrothorax = fluid in the pleural cavity

hyper-

ex: hyperacidity

above, excessive

hyperacidity = excessive acidity

hypo-

ex: hypoacidity & hypodermic

deficiency or beneath

hypoacidity = deficient acidity

hypodermic = beneath the skin

hyster-

ex: hysterectomy

uterus

hysterectomy = excision of the uterus

infra-

ex: infraorbital

below

infraorbital = beneath the orbit

inter-

ex: intercellular

between

intercellular = between cells

intra-

ex: intracellular

within

intracellular = within cells

iso-

ex: isotonic

equal

isotonic = equal strength

latero-

leuko-

ex: leukemia

white

leukemia = "white blood"

lipo-

ex: lipomatosis

fat

lipomatosis = having benign fatty tumors

lith-

ex: lithiasis

stones

lithiasis = a pathologic presence of stones

lumbo-

ex: lumbar

loin

lumbar = of the lower back

macro-

ex: macrocyte

large

macrocyte = large cell

mal-

ex: malnutrition

bad

malnutrition = poor nutrition

mast-

ex: mastitis

breast

mastitis = breast inflammation

*mast cells refer to tissue basophils (type of white blood cell)

mega-

ex: megacolon

great

megacolon = colon enlargement

melan-

ex: melanin

black

melanin = black pigment

men-

ex: menses/menstruation

month

menses/menstruation = monthly blood flow from uterus

mento-

ex: submental

chin

submental = under the chin

meta-

ex: metastasis

beyond

metastasis = spread beyond the original site

micro-

ex: microcyte

small

microcyte = an undersized red blood cell

muto-

ex: mutation

change

mutation = change

myelo-

ex: myelocyte & myelitis

marrow or spinal cord

myelocyte = bone marrow cell

myelitis = cord inflammation

myo-

ex: myositis

muscle

myositis = muscle inflammation

myx-

ex: myxedema

mucus

myxedema = mucinous edema

narco-

ex: narcolepsy

sleep

narcolepsy = seizures producing sleep

naso-

ex: nasal

nose

nasal = of the nose

necro-

ex: necrosis & necropsy

death

necrosis = death of cells

necropsy = performance of an autopsy

neo-

ex: neoplasm

new

neoplasm = new growth

nephro-

ex: nephritis

kidney

nephritis = kidney inflammation

neuro-

ex: neuralgia

neural

neuralgia = nerve pain

noct-

ex: nocturnal

night

nocturnal = at night

oculo-

ex: monocular

eye

monocular = one eye

oligo-

ex: oliguria

few

oliguria = scant urination

oophor-

ex: oophorectomy

ovary

oophorectomy = ovary removal

ophthalmo-

ex: ophthalmologist

eye

ophthalmologist = eye specialist

orchio-

ex: orchiectomy

testes

orchiectomy = testes removal

oro-

ex: oral

mouth

oral = of the mouth

osteo-

ex: osteomyelitis

bone

osteomyelitis = inflammation of bone and marrow

oto-

ex: otitis

ear

otitis = ear inflammation

pan-

ex: panophthalmitis

whole

panophthalmitis = inflammation of the whole eye

para-

ex: parathyroid

beside

parathyroid = adjacent to the thyroid gland

patho-

ex: pathogenic

disease

pathogenic = disease producing

peri-

ex: pericardium

around

pericardium = membrane around the heart

phago-

ex: phagocyte & esophagus

eat or devour

phagocyte = a cell that eats foreign material

esophagus = gullet

phleb-

ex: phlebitis

vein

phlebitis = inflammation of a vein

pneumo-

ex: pneumothorax

breath or air

pneumothorax = air in chest (outside of lung)

polio-

ex: poliomyelitis

gray

poliomyelitis = inflammation of spinal cord gray matter

*myelo- means "marrow or spinal cord"

poly-

ex: polycythemia

many

polycythemia = excess number of red blood cells

post-

ex: postmortem

after

postmortem = after death

postero-

ex: posterolateral

behind

posterolateral = behind and to the side

pre-

ex: preoperative

before

preoperative = before operation

pro-

ex: promyelocyte

before

promyelocyte = the cell that develops into a myelocyte

pseudo-

ex: pseudohypertrophic

false

pseudohypertrophic = false appearance of great growth

pyo-

ex: pyosalpinx

pus

pyosalpinx = uterine tube filled with pus

*salp- means "uterine tube"

pyelo-

ex: pyelonephritis

kidney pelvis

pyelonephritis = inflammation of renal pelvis and kidney

*nephro- means "kidney"

ren-

ex: renal

kidney

renal = of the kidney

rhino-

ex: rhinorrhea

nose

rhinorrhea = flow from the nose

retro-

ex: retrocecal

behind

retrocecal = behind the cecum (beginning of LI)

salp-

ex: salpingitis

uterine tube

salpingitis = uterine tube inflammation

sarc-

ex: sarcoma

flesh

sarcoma = a tumor of fleshy appearance

sclero-

ex: scleroderma

hard or fibrous

scleroderma = hard skin

sial-

ex: sialoadenitis

salivary

sialoadenitis = salivary gland inflammation

steno-

ex: stenosis

narrow, contracted

stenosis = a pathologic narrowing

supra-

ex: suprapubic

above

suprapubic = above the pubis

syn-

ex: syndrome

together

syndrome = a constant complex of symptoms

thrombo-

ex: thrombocyte (platelet)

clot

thrombocyte (platelet) = a clot making cell

trans-

ex: translocation

across

translocation = displacement

uro-

ex: dysuria

relating to the urine or urination

dysuria = painful urination

*dys- means "difficult, bad or painful"

vaso-

ex: vasospasm

vessel

vasospasm = vessel spasm

vermi-

ex: vermiform appendix

worm

vermiform appendix = appendix shaped like a worm

xantho-

ex: xanthochromia

yellow

xanthochromia = yellow coloration (usually of spinal fluid)

*-chrome means "color"

-angio

ex: lymphangitis

vessel

lymphangitis = lymph vessel inflammation

-al

ex: renal

adjectival suffix

renal = of the kidney

-ase

ex: amylase

enzyme

amylase = starch splitting enzyme

-blast

ex: myoblast

embryo cell

myoblast = muscle forming cell

-carcinoma

ex: adenocarcinomal tumor of glandular epithelium (no definition)

-cele

ex: meningocele

protrusion or hernia

meningocele = hernia protrusion of meninges

-centesis

ex: thoracentesis & paracentesis

perforating or tapping

thoracentesis = taking fluid from thorax

paracentesis = taking fluid from peritoneal cavity (abdominal space that includes intestines, stomach & liver)

-chole

ex: acholic

bile

acholic = without bile

-chrome

ex: polychromatic

color

polychromatic = many colors

-crine

ex: endocrine

secretion

endocrine = secretion into blood vessels

-cyte

ex: lymphocyte

cell

lymphocyte = lymph cell

-demic

ex: endemic

population

endemic = in a population

-dynia

ex: pleurodynia

pain

pleurodynia = pleural (chest) pain

-ectasis

ex: bronchiectasis

dilate

bronchiectasis = bronchial dilation

-ectomy

ex: tonsillectomy & appendectomy

excision

tonsillectomy = removal of a tonsil

appendectomy = removal of an appendix

-embolus

ex: thromboembolus

a plug (in a vessel)

thromboembolus = a plugging clot that moved from its origin

*-thrombo means "clot"

-emesis

ex: hematemesis

vomit

hematemesis = vomiting blood

*hem-, hemo-, hemato- mean "blood"

-emia

ex: anemia & uremia

blood

anemia = red cell deficiency

uremia = urine contents in blood

-esthesia

ex: anesthesia

sensation

anesthesia = absence of sensation

*an- means "without"

-genesis

ex: pathogenesis

origin, production

pathogenesis = origin of disease

-genic

ex: pathogenic (adjective)

producing

pathogenic (adj) = disease producing

-gram

ex: electrocardiogram

record

electrocardiogram = electrical heart activity record

-iasis

ex: amebiasis

process, usually pathologic

amebiasis = a pathologic presence of amebae

-icterus

ex: anicteric

jaundice

anicteric = without jaundice

-itis

ex: appendicitis

inflammation

appendicitis = inflammation of the appendix

-iosis

ex: pneumoconiosis

dust

pneumoconiosis = dust produced pathologic states of lung

*pneumo means "breath, air"

-lith

ex: phlebolith

stone

phlebolith = calcified body in a vein

*phleb- means "vein"

-locus

ex: translocation

place

translocation = displacement

-lysis

ex: autolysis & fibrinolysis

breakdown

autolysis = self dissolution, dissolving

fibrinolysis = fibrin (essential for clotting blood) dissolving process

-malacia

ex: osteomalacia

softening

osteomalacia = bone softening

-megaly

ex: splenomegaly

enlarged, large

splenomegaly = enlarged spleen

-nephros

ex: hydronephrosis

kidney

hydronephrosis = water filled kidney

*hydro- means "water"

-oid

ex: mucoid

like

mucoid = raucous-like (not smooth)

-oma

ex: osteoma & blastoma

tumor

osteoma = bone tumor

blastoma = embryonic tumor

*blast- means "a primitive cell"

-ophthalmos

ex: exophthalmos

eye

exophthalmos = protruding eyes

*ex- means "out of"

-orrhea/-rrhea

ex: diarrhea

flow

diarrhea = a flow through

*dia- means "through"

-osis

ex: amyloidosis

a pathologic process or possession

amyloidosis = the pathologic state of having or forming amyloid (protein deposits in a tissue)

-ostomy

ex: gastrostomy

formation of an opening

gastrostomy = making a stomach opening

-otomy

ex: gastrotomy

cutting

gastrotomy = a cutting of the stomach

-pathy

ex: neuropathy

disease

neuropathy = any nerve disease

-penia

ex: thrombocytopenia

poverty, shortage

thrombocytopenia = decrease in thrombocytes or blood platelets

*cyto- means "cell"

*thrombo- means "clot"

-peps

ex: dyspepsia

digestion

dyspepsia = indigestion

*dys- means "difficult, bad or painful"

-philia

ex: eosinophil

affinity for

eosinophil = a leukocyte staining with eosin (red dye)

-plakia

ex: leukoplakia

plaque

leukoplakia = white patch

*leuko- means "white"

-plasia

ex: hyperplasia & aplastic anemia

growth, formation

hyperplasia = overgrowth of tissue

aplastic anemia = anemia (deficiency of RBCs) due to marrow failure

*a- means "without or absence"

-plegia

ex: hemiplegia

paralysis

hemiplegia = paralysis of half of body

*hemi- means "half"

-pnea

ex: dyspnea

breath

dyspnea = shortage of breath

*dys- means "difficult, bad or painful"

-poiesis

ex: hematopoiesis

growth or formation

hematopoiesis = blood formation

*hem-, hemo- & hemato- mean "blood"

-ptosis

ex: visceroptosis

falling

visceroptosis = falling of abdominal viscera

-phthisis

ex: myelophthisic anemia

wasting or decay

myelophthisic anemia = displacement of normal marrow cells

*myelo- means "marrow or spinal cord" *anemia = absence/deficiency of RBCs

-rrhagia

ex: menorrhagia

bursting forth

menorrhagia = profuse menstruation

*men- means "month"

-sarcoma

-sclerosis

ex: arteriosclerosis

hardening

arteriosclerosis = hardening of arteries

-some

ex: lysosome

body

lysosome = destroying body

*-lysis means "breakdown"

-stasis

ex: hemostasis & metastasis

standing still

hemostasis = arrest of circulation

*hem-, hemo- & hemato- mean "blood"

metastasis = standing in a different place

*meta- means "beyond"

-tonic

ex: hypertonic

strength

hypertonic = increased strength

-tresia

ex: atresia

hole

atresia = failure to make an opening or connection

*a- means "without or absence"

-trophy

ex: atrophy

nourish, grow

atrophy = wasting

*a- means "without or absence"

-uria

ex: anuria

relating to urine

anuria = no urine

*an- means "without"