MEDICAL REPORT WRITING AND

TRANSCRIPTION 1

WEEK 5-6

PREFIXES

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:

1. Identify and memorize common prefixes in medical terminologies.

2. Identify common medical terminology using the list of common
prefixes.
3. Create different medical terminologies using the prefixes and the
common root words.

Digital Communication and Technological College Inc.

Medical Report Writing and Transcription 1
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 1
 List of Common Prefixes

A Medical Transcriptionist should memorize or, at least, be familiarized with the

following terms;

Prefixes Meaning
acro – top; summit, pedestal extremities as arms or legs
aer/aero – air
alb – white
amphi – about; on both sides; both
ampho – both
ana – up; back; again; backward
anti – against
ape – upon or on top of
apo – off
arachne – spider
auto – self
bio – life
brachy – short
centi – under the part as in centimeter
chemo – chemical
cho/chon – with
cyto – cell
desmo – fiber or band
dextro – to the right
dys – inability; lack of
echo – sound
eco – environment
electro – using electricity
entero – the intestine; the gut
ergo – work
eu – goodly or well; also normal
ferro – iron
fore – in front of; ahead of
gastric – the stomach
geno – genes; genetics
gyn/ gyneco/
woman; womanlike; womanly
gyneco/ gyno –
helic /helicon – spyro
hetero – different
hex/hexo – six
histo – tissue
homo – same
hydro – water; fluid
hyp/hypno – sleep
iatro – referring to a physician or to medicine
ichthy – fish or fishlike

Digital Communication and Technological College Inc.

Medical Report Writing and Transcription 1
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 2
infra – under; below
ipsi – the same
iso - equal or like
juxta – near; nearby; close
karyo – nucleus
kerato – may refer to the cornea/ keratitis or to had horny tissue/ keratosis
keto – ketone
kilo – thousand ; a kilogram is 1,000 grams
lact – milk; lactose
later – side
lati – with
leuc/leuco – literally white; refers to white blood cells
lip/lipo – fat
litho – stone
langio – length
lys/lyso – destroy; break apart
macro – large or long
mal – bad or badly
mega – great or huge; abnormally large
meta – after
milli – thousandths (there are 1,000 milligrams in a gram
neo – new; young; recent
nulla – none
oligo – just a few; scanty
omni – all
ompho – the umbilicus or navel
onycho – having to do with the nails
ortho – straight or e.g orthodontics (straightening of the teeth)
oto – ear
pachy – elephant-like
pan – ball
para – reside; near; resembling; beyond; apart from; abnormal
patho – suffering or disease
per – through
phago – devouring
phlebo – vein
photo – light
pys/pysio – function
phyto – plant
pneumo – pneumo – breathing; the lungs; pneumonia or air
pseudo – false
quasi – seemingly
re – again
schizo - split; divided
sclero - hard or referring to the sclera of the eye
sub – underneath
sin – together
tachy – speed; too fast
tetra – four
thrombi/thrombo – referring to a cloth within a blood vessel or the heart
tox – poisonus
ultra – beyond; in access
xanth – yellow
xen/xeno – foreign
xera/xero – dry
zoo – animal
zygo – egg

Prefixes of Position
Prefixes Meaning
ante –; pre –; pro – before; in front of; preceding; on behalf of; in place of; the same as;
initiating
epi – on; upon; at; by; near; over; on top of; toward; against; among
hypo –; infra –; sub – under; below; deficient; incomplete
inter – between
medi –; meso – middle
post – after
retro – backward, behind

Prefixes of Number
Prefixes Meaning
bi –; di – two or double
diplo – double
hemi -; semi – half
hyper – above; excessive
macro – large or long
micro – small or short
mono –; uni – one or single
multi –; poly – several; many
primi – first
quad -; quadri –; four or fourfold
quadra –
tri – three

Prefixes of Direction
Prefixes Meaning
ab – from; away; away from
ad – to or toward
circum –; peri – around; surrounding
ec –; ex – out
dia –; trans – over; across; beyond; through; thoughout; completely
ect/ecto –; ex/exo –;
outer; outside; out of; outer; away from; outside of; beyond
extra –
en/end/endo –; intra – inside; within
super –; supra – above; before ; upper; excessive

Prefixes of Negation (opposite)

Prefixes Meaning
a/an - without or absence of
im –; in – no, not, not into
contra – against; opposite
de – down or lack of; without
dis – absence, separation
non –; un – not

Examples:
Prefixes Medical Term Meaning
amphi – amphibious living on both land and water
ampho – amphogenic producing offspring of both sexes
ana – anatomy a cutting up
anagenesis reproduction of the tissue
excessive serum in cellular tissues of
anasarca
body
ante – antecubital before elbow
anteflexion forward bending
anti – antiperistalsis reversed peristalsis
antisepsis against infection
apo – (away) aponeurosis away from the tendon
apochromatic abnormal color
bi – biarticulate double joint
bifocal To foci (focal)
bifurcation two branches
cata –
catabolism breaking down
(down, complete)
catalepsia complete seizure
catarrh flowing down
circum – circumflex winding about
circumference surrounding
circumarticular around joint
con – (with, together) conductor leading together
concrescence growing together
concentric having a common center
contra – contralateral opposite side
contraception prevention of conception
contraindicated not indicated
de – dehydrate remove water from
dedentition removal of teeth
decompensation failure of compensation
di – diplopia double vision
dichromatic two colors
dia – (through,
diaphragm wall across
across)
diagnosis complete knowledge
dis – disinfection apart from infection
disparity apart from equality
dissect cut apart
dys – dyspepsia bad digestion
dyspnea difficult breathing
dystopia disordered position
e – ; ex – enucleate remove from
eviscerate take out viscera or bowels
exostosis outgrowth of bone
ec – ectopic out of place
eccentric away from center
ecto – ectoderm outer skin
ectoretina outer layer of retina
em – ; en – empyema pus in
encephalon in the head
endo – endocardium within heart
endometrium within uterus
epi – epidural upon dura
epidermis on skin
exo – exogenous produce outside
exocolitis inflammation of outer coat of colon
extra – extracellular outside cell
extrapleural outside pleura
hemi – hemiplegia partial paralysis
hemianesthesia loss of feeling on one side of body
hyper hyperemia excessive blood
hypertrophy overgrowth
hyperplasia excessive formation
hypo – hypotension low blood pressure
hypothyroidism deficiency or underfunction of thyroid
im – ; in – immersion act of dipping in
infiltration act of filtering in
injection act of forcing liquid into
immature not mature
involuntary not voluntary
inability not able
infra – infraorbital below eye
infraclavicular below clavicle or collarbone
inter – intercostal between ribs
intervene come between
intra – / intro – intracerebral within cerebrum
intraocular within eyes
intraventricular within ventricles
introversion turning inward
 introduce lead into
meta – metamorphosis change of form
metastasis change beyond original position
metacarpal beyond wrist
para – paracardiac beside the heart
paraurethral near the urethra
per – permeate pass through
perforate bore through
peri – periosteum around bone
periatrial around atrium
peribronchial around bronchus
post – postoperative after operation
postpartum after childbirth
postocular behind eye
pre – premaxillary in front of maxilla
preoral in front of mouth
pro – prognosis foreknowledge
prophase appear before
re – reflex bend back
revert turn again to
regurgitation backward flowing, contrary to normal
retro – retrocervical located behind cervix
retrograde going backward
retrolingual behind tongue
semi – semicartilaginous half cartilage
semiconscious half conscious
sub – subcutaneous under skin
subarachnoid under arachnoid
super – supercilia upper brows
supernumerary excessive number
supermedial above medial
supra – suprarenal above kidney
suprasternal above sternum
sym – ; syn – symphysis growing together
synapsis joining together
trans – transection cut across
transmit send beyond
ultra – ultraviolet beyond violet end of spectrum
ultraligation ligation of vessel beyond point of origin
 Week 5-6
Activity Sheet #3
PREFIXES

Student’s Name: Date:

Teacher:
Grade & Track:

I. Identify the prefixes described on each number. Encircle the letter of your best answer.

1. middle A. medi- B. epi- C. retro- D. ante-

2. backward A. medi- B. epi- C. retro- D. ante-
3. half A. bi- B. tri- C. quad- D. multi-
4. several A. bi- B. tri- C. quad- D. multi-
5. to or toward A. ad- B. super- C. trans- D. exo-
6. inside/within A. ad- B. super- C. trans- D. exo-
7. against A. im- B. contra- C. non- D. de-
8. lack of A. im- B. contra- C. non- D. de-
9. light A. patho- B. photo- C. pseudo- D. quasi-
10. false A. patho- B. photo- C. pseudo- D. quasi-

II. Identify the meaning of the prefixes present in each item. Write your answer on the
space provided on each number.
11. gyn = 21. brachy =

12. kerato = 22. gastric =

13. sin = 23. ichthy =

14. zygo = 24. keto =

15. thrombo = 25. schizo =

16. onycho = 26. lyso =

17. leuco = 27. xera =

18. juxta = 28. phlebo =

19. hydro = 29. electro =

20. amphi = 30. ferro =

III. Identify the proper prefix that suits the root words below and the terminology it creates.
Write your answers on the space provided.

Prefixes Words Medical Terms

31. bios 41.

32. hydrate 42.

33. phragm 43.

34. cilia 44.

35. centric 45.

36. ception 46.

37. genesis 47.

38. pepsia 48.

39. anesthesia 49.

40. morphosis 50.

 STUDENT’S SELF-IDENTIFIED LEARNING OUTCOME

Things that I learned in the module and I am sure that I understand:

Things that need clarification:

 MEDICAL REPORT WRITING AND
TRANSCRIPTION 1

WEEK 7-8

SUFFIXES

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:

4. Identify and memorize common suffixes in medical terminologies.

5. Identify common medical terminology using the list of common
suffixes.
6. Create different medical terminologies using the common suffixes
combining with common prefixes and root words.
Suffixes
Suffixes come at the end of the medical word to modify the meaning and to explain
the state of the root word. In medical terminology, a suffix usually indicate

 a procedure
 condition
 disease
 part of speech

List of Common Suffixes

A Medical Transcriptionist should memorize or, at least, be familiarized with the

following terms;

Suffixes Meaning
– ac/al/ary pertaining to
– arga excessive pain
– apheresis removal
– ase enzyme
– asthenia weakness
– astresia closure
– biopsy to view or examine a sample of tissue
– cela/cele/hermania protision
– centises surgical puncture to aspirate fluid
– cidal killing
– calsia/clasis/clastic break
– clysis irrigating or washing
– coccus speherical;used in description of bacteria (pl.chlorurescocci)
– crin separate
– crit to separate
– cyto cell
– droms running
– ectopia displacement
– emesis vomiting
– emia/enia state of the blood
– er one who
– esis condition
– genesis origin or cause
– genic producing; causing
– graphy the process or recording
– ia condition
– iatry treatment of
– ic pertaining to
– ician one who treats or maintains; physician (one who treat the body)
– il/ile pertaining to
– ism state of
– lepsy seizure
– lyte subjected to decomposition; electrolyte a solution that decompose
 to ions ten conducts electricity
– lytic refers to lysis; hemolytic (the breakdown of red blood cells)
– mania madness; obsessive desire
– meter measuring device
– metri measurement
– morph form of shape
– motor referring to motion
– myopia nearsightedness
– ness the state of
– ologist one who studies
– ology the study of
– oma tumor or swelling
– opia vision condition; myopia (nearsightedness)
– opsy to view or examine; biopsy (to examine a sample of tissue)
– oraxia rapid flow of blood)
– orraphy suturing; repairing
– orrhea flow; excessive discharge
– ostomy creation of an artificial opening
– otomy incision
– ous pertaining to
– oxa oxygen
– paresis slight paralysis
– pepsia digestion
– pexy surgical fixation; suspension
– phila love
– phonia sound; voice
– phoria feeling
– physics growth
– plasia formation; development or growth
– plasm a growth ,substance or formation
–plasty surgical repair
– pnea breathing
– poiesis formation; development or growth
– plasm a growth, substance or formation
– plegia paralysis
– pnea breathing
– poiesis formation
– porosis full of passages; osteoporosis (passages on the bones)
– prandial meal
– praxia in front of; before
– ptosis sagging ;dropping extrusion; prolapse
– ptysis spitting
– scopic /scopy visual examination
– sepsis infection
– spasm sudden involuntary muscle containing
– stalsis contraction
– stasis contol; stop stenosis
– stenosis constriction; narrowing
– toxin poison
– ule small
– uria relating to urine

Surgical Procedure Suffixes

A. Incision

Suffixes Meaning Examples

appendectomy
– ectomy surgical removal, excision
hemorrhoidectomy
– centesis surgical puncture amniocentesis
– stomy forming an opening bronchostomy
– tome instrument to cut osteotome
– tomy to cut into gastrotomy

B. Plastic Operations

Suffixes Meaning Examples

arthrodesis – surgical fixation
– desis binding, stabilization
at a joint
splenorrhaphy – surgical repair
– rrhaphy suture
of the spleen
splenopexy – surgical fixation
– pexy fixation, suspension
of a mobile spleen
rhinoplasty – a plastic surgical
– plasty plastic repair, formation
operation on the nose

C. Refracturing, loosening, crushing

Suffixes Meaning Examples

– clasis to break down, refracture osteoclasis
enterolysis – the operative
division of adhesions between
loops of intestine or between
loosen, free from adhesions,
– lysis the intestine and abdomonal
destruction
wall;
litholysis – destruction of
stones (dissolution
neurotripsy – surgical crushing
– tripsy to crush
of a nerve, lithotripsy

Diagnostic and Symptomatic Suffixes

Suffixes Meaning Examples

myalgia
– algia pain dorsalgia
gastralgia
 nephrocele
– cele hernia, swelling cystocele
rectocele
splenodynia
– dyina pain
otodynia
– ectasis dilatation, expansion bronchiectasis
– emia blood condition leukemia
pathogen – any disease-
– gen beginning, origin
producing microorganism
– gram a writing, record cardiogram
– graph to write, record cardiograph – an instrument
nephrolithiasis – a condition
– iasis condition, formation of, presence of marked by the presence of
renal calculi (stones)
– sis state of, condition prognosis (foreknowledge)
– itis inflammation nephritis
– logy study of biology
– malacia softening osteomalacia
acromegaly – enlargement of
– megaly enlargement
the extemities
rheumatoid – risembling
– oid resemble
rheumatism
– osis abnormal condition neurosis – mental disorder
adenopathy – enlargement of
– pathy disease
the glands
erythropenia – deficiency in the
– penia decrease, deficiency
number of erythrocytes
– phagia eating polyphagia – excessive eating
paraplegia – paralysis of the
– plegia paralysis, stroke legs, para means to, at, or from
the side of
– phobia morbid fear claustrophobia
– rrhea discharge, flow diarrhea
– sclerosis hardening arteriosclerosis
– scope instrument to visually examine gastroscope
gastroscopy – inspection of the
– scopy examination, view
interior of the stomach

Suffixes: Adjective Endings

Medical terminology adjectives are based on the same root words as nouns and can
take one several endings.

1. – al is a very common suffix in medical terminology. Adjectives corresponding to nouns

that end with – um or – ium usually end with – al and so do many nouns that end with –a.

Noun Meaning Adjective Examples

myocardium heart muscle myocardial myocardial infarction
 endometrium lining of uterus endometrial endometrial biopsy
last part of large
rectum rectal rectal thermometer
intestine
part of the small
ileum ileal ileal valve
intestine

2. – ic is another common ending and is found in adjectives that correspond to nouns that
end with any of the following suffixes.

Suffix Meaning Adjective Examples

– itis inflammation – itic arthritic joints
– pathy disease – pathic neuropathic symptoms
– plegia paralysis – plegic paraplegic
– pnea breath – pneic tachypneic
– rrhea flow – rrheic anenorrheic
– rrhagia fast flow – rrhagic hemorrhagic fever
– scopy visual examination – scopic endoscopic examination
– sclerosis hardening – scletotic scletotic lesion
– stasis control / stop – static oncostatic
growth /
– trophy – trophic athropic
nourishment

3. Many root words and organ names take – ic, or – al adjective endings as well.

Root words Organ / Body part Adjective Examples

cephal head cephalic cephalic artery
cyst bladder / sac cystic cystic fibrosis
enter intestine enteric mesenteric arteriography
hepat liver hepatic hepatic duct
pneumon lung pneumonic pneumonic plague
spleen spleen splenic splenic enlargement
ped foot pedal pedal edema
digit finger digital digital examination
derm skin dermal transdermal system
neur nerve neural neural tube

Note: ‘dermal’ means of the ‘skin’, but some adjective containing the root ‘– derm’ end in ‘–
ic’, as hypodermic, which means ‘under the skin.’

4. There are several other adjective endings such as:

Noun ending Example Adjective

– cle/cule clavicle clavicular
– ula scapula scapular
– ynx larynx laryngeal
– illa axilla axillary
streptococcus (berry shaped
– coccus coccal
bacteria)
 – cyte (cell) leukocyte
– ole (small) arteriole
– ule (little) venule
– ia (abnormal
pneumonia – inflammation of the
condition, an pneumonic
lungs
unhealthy state)

Other adjective endings that mean PERTAINING TO are:

– ac cardiac
– al carpal
– ary hereditary
– ical physiological
– ous serous
– tic mycotic
– ic splenic
 Week 7-8
Activity Sheet #4
SUFFIXES

Student’s Name: Date:

Teacher:
Grade & Track:

I. Identify the suffixes described on each number. Encircle the letter of your best answer.

1. surgical puncture A. -ectomy B. -stomy C. -centesis D. -tomy

2. to cut into A. -ectomy B. -stomy C. -centesis D. -tomy
3. plastic repair A. -desis B. -rrhaphy C. -pexy D. -plasty
4. suture A. -desis B. -rrhaphy C. -pexy D. -plasty
5. destruction A. -clasys B. -lysis C. -tripsy D. -ily
6. pain A. - malacia B. -phobia C. -ectatis D. -algia
7. morbid fear A. - malacia B. -phobia C. -ectatis D. -algia
8. softening A. - malacia B. -phobia C. -ectatis D. -algia
9. discharge A. -sis B. -itis C. -rrhea D. -penia
10. inflammation A. -sis B. -itis C. -rrhea D. -penia

II. Identify the meaning of the suffixes present in each item. Write your answer on the space
provided on each number.
11. spasm = 21. pnea =

12. lytic = 22. mania =

13. ology = 23. toxin =

14. sepsis = 24. oxa =

15. arga = 25. biopsy =

16. coccus = 26. lepsy =

17. iatry = 27. metri =

18. emesis = 28. ile =

19. uria = 29. orraphy =

20. ician = 30. clysis =

III. Identify the proper suffix that suits the root words below and the terminology it creates.
Write your answers on the space provided.

Words Suffix Medical Terms

hemorroid 31. 41.
spleno 32. 42.
myo 33. 43.
acro 34. 44.
gastro 35. 45.
claustro 36. 46.
nephro 37. 47.
dorsal 38. 48.
entero 39. 49.
cardio 40. 50.

IV. Identify the proper word endings for each words below and write the terminology created
in each item. Write your answers on the space provided.
51. rectum + =
52. hepat + =
53. neuro + =
54. digit + =
55. hemo + =
56. clavicle + =
57. streptococcus + =
58. larynx + =
59. axilla + =
60. scapulla + =
 STUDENT’S SELF-IDENTIFIED LEARNING OUTCOME

Things that I learned in the module and I am sure that I understand:

Things that need clarification: