APP05 medical prefixes.

qxd 8/13/05 12:49 PM Page APP 11

MEDICAL PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND COMBINING FORMS

a- not, without, less aut- self, same co- with, together, in dir- separation, taking apart,
ab- from, away from, off auto- self, same association, very, complete reversal, not, un-
abs- from, away from, off bacteri- bacteria col- with, together, in dis- separation, taking apart,
acantho- thorn bacterio- bacteria association, very, complete reversal, not, un-
acou- hearing balano- penis colp- vagina duo- two
acro- extremity bi- twice, double colpo- vagina duodeno- duodenum
acu- hearing bio- life com- with, together, in -dynia pain
ad- increase, adherence, blasto- budding by cells or association, very, complete dynamo- force, energy
motion toward, very tissue con- with, together, in dys- bad, difficult
-ad toward, in the direction of, blephar- eyelid association, very, complete ect- outer, on the outside
-ward blepharo- eyelid conio- dust -ectasia dilatation, stretching
adeno- gland brachi- arm cor- with, together, in -ectasis dilatation, stretching
adip- fat brachio- arm association, very, complete ecto- outer, on the outside
adipo- fat brachy- short coreo- pupil -ectomy excision
-agogue, -agogue promoter, bronch- bronchus cost- rib -emphraxis obstruction
stimulator bronchi- bronchus costo- rib encephal- brain
aidoio- genitals broncho- bronchus crani- cranium encephalo- brain
-al pertaining to carcin- cancer cranio- cranium end- within, inner
alb- white carcino- cancer -crine secretion endo- within, inner
albo- white cardi- 1 heart, 2 esophageal cry- cold enter- intestine
alge- pain opening of stomach cryo- cold entero- intestine
algesi- pain cardio- 1 heart, 2 esophageal crypt- hidden ent- inner, within
algio- pain opening of stomach crypto- hidden ento- inner, within
carpo- wrist
algo- pain culdo- cul-de-sac epi- upon, following,
cata- down
allo- other, different cyan- 1 blue, 2 cyanide subsequent to
caud- tail, lower part of body
ambi- around, on (both) sides, cyano- 1 blue, 2 cyanide ergo- work
caudo- tail, lower part of body
on all sides, both cycl- 1 circle, cycle, 2 ciliary erythr- red, redness
-cele hernia, swelling
ambly- dull celio- abdomen body erythro- red, redness
amblyo- dull -centesis surgical puncture cyst- 1 bladder, 2 cyst, eso- inward
amyl- starch, polysaccharide centi- one hundredth (1022) 3 cystic duct esthesio- sensation, perception
amylo- starch, polysaccharide cephal- the head cysti- 1 bladder, 2 cyst, eu- good, well
an- not, without, -less cephalo- the head 3 cystic duct ex- out of, from, away from
ana- up, toward, apart cervic- 1 neck, 2 uterine cysto- 1 bladder, 2 cyst, exo- exterior, external,
andro- male cervix 3 cystic duct outward
angi- vessel cervico- 1 neck, 2 uterine cyt- cell extra- outside of, without
angio- vessel cervix -cyte cell ferri- ferric ion (Fe3+)
ankylo- crooked cheil- lip cyto- cell ferro- 1 metallic iron, 2
ante- before cheilo- lip dacry- tears ferrous ion (Fe2+)
anthraco- coal, carbon cheir- hand dacryo- tears fibr- fiber
anti- 1 against, opposing, 2 cheiro- hand dactyl- finger, toe fibro- fiber
curative, 3 antibody chem- 1 chemistry, 2 drug dactylo- finger, toe -form in the form or shape of
apo- separated from, derived chemo- 1 chemistry, 2 drug de- away from, cessation galact- milk
from chir- hand deca- ten galacto- milk
aque- water chiro- hand deci- one tenth (1021) gastr- 1 stomach, 2 belly
aqueo- water chlor- 1 green, 2 chlorine deka- ten gastro- 1 stomach, 2 belly
-ar pertaining to chloro- 1 green, 2 chlorine dent- tooth -gen 1 producing, coming to
-arche beginning chol- bile denti- tooth be, 2 precursor
arteri- artery chondrio- 1 cartilage, 2 derm- skin gen- 1 producing, coming to
arterio- artery granular, 3 gritty derma- skin be, 2 precursor
arthr- joint, articulation chondro- 1 cartilage, 2 dermat- skin giga- one billion (109)
arthro- joint, articulation granular, 3 gritty dermato- skin gingiv- gums
-ary pertaining to chrom- color dermo- skin gingivo- gums
-ase an enzyme chromat- color -desis binding gloss- tongue
-ate a salt or ester of an -ic chromo- color dextr- right, toward or on the glosso- tongue
acid chron- time right side gluco- glucose
athero- pasty, fatty chrono- time dextro- right, toward or on the glyco- sugars
atto- one quintillionth (10218) -cidal killing, destroying right side gnath- jaw
audi- hearing -cide killing, destroying di- separation, taking apart, gnatho- jaw
audio- hearing cis- on this side, on the near reversal, not, un- gon- seed, semen
aur- ear side dif- separation, taking apart, gonio- angle
auri- ear -clast breaker reversal, not, un- gono- seed, semen
auro- ear -clysis washing dipso- thirst -gram a recording

APP 11
APP05 medical prefixes.qxd 8/13/05 12:49 PM Page APP 12

APP 12 MEDICAL PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND COMBINING FORMS

granul- granular, granule kali- potassium ment- chin onych- fingernail, toenail
granulo- granular, granule karyo- nucleus mento- chin onycho- fingernail, toenail
-graph recording instrument kerat- cornea -mer member of a series oo- egg, ovary
gyn- woman kerato- cornea mes- 1 middle, mean, oophor- ovary
gyne- woman kilo- one thousand (103) intermediate, 2 attaching oophoro- ovary
gyneco- woman kin- movement membrane ophthalm- eye
gyno- woman kine- movement meso- 1 middle, mean, ophthalmo- eye
hecto- one hundred (1010) kinesi- motion intermediate, 2 attaching -opia vision
hem- blood kinesio- motion membrane -opsia vision
hema- blood kineso- motion meta- 1 after, behind, 2 joint or- mouth
hemat- blood kino- movement action, sharing orchi- testis
hemato- blood labio- lip -meter measurement, orchido- testis
hemi- one half lacrim- tears measuring device orchio- testis
hemo- blood lacrimo- tears metr- uterus ori- mouth
hepat- liver lact- milk metro- uterus oro- mouth
hepatico- liver lacti- milk micr- small, microscopic -ose sugar
hepato- liver lacto- milk micro- 1 small, microscopic, -oses plural of -osis
hept- seven laparo- abdomen, abdominal 2 one-millionth (1026) -osis process, condition, state
hepta- seven wall milli- one-thousandth (1023) ossi- bone
hidr- sweat laryng- larynx mon- single osseo- bony
hidro- sweat laryngo- larynx mono- single ost- bone
hist- tissue lateri- lateral, to one side, side morph- form, shape, structure oste- bone
histio- tissue latero- lateral, to one side, side morpho- form, shape, osteo- bone
histo- tissue -lepsis seizure structure ovari- ovary
homeo- same, constant -lepsy seizure my- muscle ovario- ovary
hydr- water, hydrogen lepto- light, slender, thin, frail myo- muscle ovi- egg
hydro- water, hydrogen leuk- white myel- 1 bone marrow, ovo- egg
hyper- excessive, above leuko- white 2 spinal cord oxa- oxygen
normal linguo- tongue myelo- 1 bone marrow, oxo- oxygen
hypo- beneath, diminution, lip- fat, lipid 2 spinal cord oxy- 1 sharp, acid, 2 acute,
deficiency, the lowest lipo- fat, lipid myring- tympanic membrane shrill, quick, 3 oxygen
hyster- 1 uterus, hysteria, lith- stone, calculus, myringo- tympanic membrane pachy- thick
2 late, following calcification myx- mucus pan- all, entire
hystero- 1 uterus, hysteria, litho- stone, calculus, myxo- mucus pant- all, entire
2 late, following calcification nano- 1 dwarf, 2 one billionth panto- all, entire
-ia a condition -log speech, words (1029) para- 1 abnormal,
-iasis condition, state log- speech, words nas- nose 2 involvement of two like
-ic pertaining to logo- speech, words naso- nose parts
-ics organized knowledge, -logy 1 study of; 2 collecting natr- sodium pari- equal
practice, treatment lymph- lymph natri- sodium path- disease
ileo- ileum lympho- lymph necr- death, necrosis patho- disease
ilio- ilium lys- lysis, dissolution necro- death, necrosis -pathy disease
in- 1 in, 2 not lyso- lysis, dissolution neo- new ped- 1 child, 2 foot
-in chemical suffix macr- large, long nephr- kidney pedi- 1 child, 2 foot
-ine chemical suffix macro- large, long nephro- kidney pedo- 1 child, 2 foot
infra- below mal- bad, deficient neur- nerve, nervous system -penia deficiency
inguino- groin -malacia softening neuri- nerve, nervous system penta- five
inter- between, among mamm- breast neuro- nerve, nervous system per- through, thoroughly,
intra- within mamma- breast norm- normal intensely
intro- within mammo- breast normo- normal peri- around, about
irid- iris mast- breast octo- eight -pexy fixation, usually
irido- iris masto- breast oculo- eye, ocular surgical
ischi- ischium meg- large, oversize odont- tooth phaco- lens
ischio- ischium mega- 1 large, oversize, 2 one odonto- tooth -phage eating, devouring
-ism 1 condition, disease, million (106) odyn- pain -phagia eating, devouring
2 practice, doctrine megal- large odyno- pain phago- eating, devouring
-ismus spasm, contraction megalo- large -oid resemblance to -phagy eating, devouring
iso- 1 equal, like, 2 isomer, -megaly, enlargement olig- few, little phako- lens
3 sameness melan- black oligo- few, little phanero- visible, evident
-ite the nature of, resembling melano- black -oma tumor, neoplasm pharmaco- drugs, medicine
-ites -y, -like men- menstruation -omata plural of -oma pharyng- pharynx
-itides plural of -itis mening- meninges oncho- onco- pharyngo- pharynx
-itis inflammation meningo- meninges onco- tumor, bulk, volume phil- 1 attraction, 2 chemical
kal- potassium meno- menstruation -one ketone (CO group) affinity
APP05 medical prefixes.qxd 8/13/05
-philia 1 attraction,
2 chemical affinity
philo- 1 attraction, 2 chemical
affinity
phleb- vein
phlebo- vein
-phobia fear
phon- sound, speech
phono- sound, speech
phor- carrying, bearing
phoro- carrying, bearing
phos- light
phot- light
photo- light
phren- 1 diaphragm, 2 mind, 3
phrenic
phreni- 1 diaphragm, 2 mind,
3 phrenic
-phrenia of mind
phrenico- 1 diaphragm,
2 mind, 3 phrenic
phreno- 1 diaphragm, 2 mind,
3 phrenic
-phylaxis protection
phyll- leaf
phyllo- leaf
physi- 1 physical, 2 natural
physio- 1 physical, 2 natural
physo- 1 swelling, inflation,
2 air, gas
phyt- plants
phyto- plants
pico- one trillionth (10212)
plan- flat
plani- flat
plano- flat
-plasia formation
plasma- plasma
plasmat- plasma
plasmato- plasma
plasmo- plasma
platy- wide, flat
-plegia paralysis
pleo- more
plesio- near, similar
pleur- rib, side, pleura
pleura- rib, side, pleura
pleuro- rib, side, pleura
pluri- several, more
-pnea breath, respiration
pneo- breath, respiration
pneum- 1 air, gas, 2 lung,
3 breathing
pneuma- 1 air, gas, 2 lung,
3 breathing
pneumat- 1 air, gas, 2 lung,
3 breathing
pneumato- 1 air, gas, 2 lung, 3
breathing
pod- foot, foot-shaped
-pod foot, foot-shaped
podo- foot, foot-shaped
12:49 PM Page APP 13
MEDICAL PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND COMBINING FORMS
-poiesis production
poikilo- irregular, variable
polio- gray
poly- 1 multiplicity,
2 polymer
post- after, behind, posterior
pre- anterior, before
presby- old
pro- 1 before, forward,
2 precursor
proct- anus, rectum
procto- anus, rectum
prot- first
proto- first
pseud- false
pseudo- false
psych- mind
psyche- mind
psycho- mind
-ptosis sagging, falling
pyel- (renal) pelvis
pyelo- (renal) pelvis
pykn- dense, compact
pykno- dense, compact
pyo- suppuration, pus
pyreto- fever
pyro- fire, heat, fever
quadr- four
quadri- four
rachi- spinal column
rachio- spinal column
radio- 1 radiation, x-ray,
2 radius
re- again, backward
rect- rectum, straight
recto- rectum, straight
ren- kidney
reno- kidney
retro- backward, behind
rhin- nose
rhino- nose
-rrhagia discharge
-rrhaphy surgical suturing
-rrhea flow
-rrhexis rupture
salping- tube
salpingo- tube
sarco- flesh, muscle
schisto- split, cleft
schiz- split, cleft, division
schizo- split, cleft, division
scler- hardness (induration),
sclerosis, ocular sclera
sclero- hardness (induration),
sclerosis, ocular sclera
scolio- crooked
-scope instrument for viewing
-scopy viewing
scot- shadow, darkness
scoto- shadow, darkness
semi- one-half, partly
sept- 1 seven, 2 septum,
3 sepsis, infection
APP 13
septi- seven tendin- tendon
septo- 1 seven, 2 septum, teno- tendon
3 sepsis, infection tenont- tendon
sial- saliva, salivary gland tenonto- tendon
sialo- saliva, salivary gland tera- one quadrillion (1015)
sider- iron tetra- four
sidero- iron thel- nipple
sigmoid- 1 S-shaped, thelo- nipple
2 sigmoid colon therm- heat
sigmoido- 1 S-shaped, thermo- heat
2 sigmoid colon thorac- chest, thorax
sin- sinus thoracico- chest, thorax
sino- sinus thoraco- chest, thorax
sinu- sinus thromb- blood clot
sito- food, grain thrombo- blood clot
somat- body, bodily thyr- thyroid gland
somato- body, bodily thyro- the thyroid gland
somatico- body, bodily toco- childbirth
somno- sleep -tome 1 cutting instrument,
son- 1 sound, 2 ultrasound 2 segment, section
sono- 1 sound, 2 ultrasound -tomy cutting operation
spasmo- spasm tono- tone, tension, pressure
spermato- semen, top- place, topical
spermatozoa topo- place, topical
spermo- semen, spermatozoa tox- toxin, poison
sperma- semen, spermatozoa toxi- toxin, poison
sphygmo- pulse toxico- toxin, poison
spir- breathing toxo- toxin, poison
spiro- breathing trache- trachea
splanchn- viscera tracheo- trachea
splanchni- viscera trans- across, through, beyond
splanchno- viscera tri- three
splen- spleen trich- hair
spleno- spleen trichi- hair
staphyl- grape, bunch of -trichia hair
grapes, staphylococci tricho- hair
staphylo- grape, bunch of tris- three
grapes, staphylococci -trophic food, nutrition
-stasis stopping tropho- food, nutrition
-stat arresting change or -trophy food, nutrition
movement -tropia turning
steno- narrowness, -tropic turning toward, affinity
constriction ultra- beyond
stereo- solid uni- one, single
stheno- strength, force, power uri- uric acid
stom- mouth -uria urine, urination
stoma- mouth uric- uric acid
stomat- mouth urico- uric acid
stomato- mouth uro- 1 urine, 2 urinary tract
sub- beneath, less than vas- duct, blood vessel
normal, inferior vasculo- blood vessel
super- in excess, above, vaso- duct, blood vessel
superior, in the upper part vesic- urinary bladder, vesicle
supra- above vesico- urinary bladder,
sy- together vesicle
syl- together xanth- yellow, yellowish
sym- together xantho- yellow, yellowish
syn- together xero- dry
sys- together zo- 1 animal, 2 life
tachy- rapid zoo- 1 animal, 2 life
tel- distant zym- fermentation, enzymes
tele- distant zymo- fermentation, enzymes
ten- tendon