55 essential medical prefixes, roots and suffixes with meanings and example terms: drill flashcards and a quiz. Free in your browser, no sign-up.
Subject: biology
What is the primary reason for using a combining vowel in medical terminology?
Answer: To make the term easier to pronounce.
The combining vowel, almost always 'o', is added to a root to form a combining form, specifically to make the pronunciation of the full medical term possible.
When decoding an unfamiliar medical term like 'bradycardia', what is the most effective first step?
Answer: Start by identifying the suffix to understand the condition or procedure.
The recommended method for decoding an unfamiliar medical term is to read it from the suffix backward. This helps establish the core meaning (condition, procedure, or state) first.
A patient undergoes a surgical procedure described as a 'tracheostomy'. Based on the surgical suffixes, what action was performed?
Answer: A new, permanent opening was created in the trachea.
The suffix -ostomy means creating a new opening, usually a permanent or long-term connection. In contrast, -otomy means cutting into (incision) and -ectomy means surgical removal.
Why is it critical for medical professionals to distinguish carefully between terms like 'hyperglycemia' and 'hypoglycemia'?
Answer: They indicate opposite conditions requiring different treatments.
Hyper- means above normal, and hypo- means below normal. Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) are opposite conditions that require entirely different and often opposing treatments, making accurate distinction crucial for patient safety.
A patient's lab results show 'glycosuria'. What does this finding specifically indicate, and why is it distinct from 'hyperglycemia'?
Answer: Glucose appearing in the urine; it's distinct from excess glucose in the blood.
The suffix -uria means in the urine, so glycosuria means glucose in the urine. The suffix -emia means in the blood, so hyperglycemia means excess glucose in the blood. These are distinct locations for the substance, even though hyperglycemia can lead to glycosuria.
What is the meaning of the prefix 'brady-'?
Answer: Slow
The prefix 'brady-' means slow, as seen in 'bradycardia' (slow heart rate).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'tachy-'?
Answer: Fast
The prefix 'tachy-' means fast, as in 'tachycardia' (fast heart rate).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'hyper-'?
Answer: Above normal, excessive
The prefix 'hyper-' means above normal or excessive, as in 'hyperglycemia' (high blood sugar).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'hypo-'?
Answer: Below normal, deficient
The prefix 'hypo-' means below normal or deficient, as in 'hypotension' (low blood pressure).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'a-', 'an-'?
Answer: Without, absence of
The prefixes 'a-' or 'an-' mean without or absence of, as in 'apnea' (absence of breathing).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'dys-'?
Answer: Difficult, painful, abnormal
The prefix 'dys-' means difficult, painful, or abnormal, as in 'dysphagia' (difficulty swallowing).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'peri-'?
Answer: Around, surrounding
The prefix 'peri-' means around or surrounding, as in 'pericardium' (sac around the heart).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'endo-'?
Answer: Within, inner
The prefix 'endo-' means within or inner, as in 'endoscopy' (looking inside the body).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'epi-'?
Answer: Upon, above
The prefix 'epi-' means upon or above, as in 'epidermis' (outer layer upon the skin).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'sub-'?
Answer: Under, below
The prefix 'sub-' means under or below, as in 'subcutaneous' (under the skin).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'inter-'?
Answer: Between
The prefix 'inter-' means between, as in 'intercostal' (between the ribs).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'intra-'?
Answer: Within, inside
The prefix 'intra-' means within or inside, as in 'intravenous' (within a vein).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'poly-'?
Answer: Many, much
The prefix 'poly-' means many or much, as in 'polyuria' (excessive urination).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'hemi-'?
Answer: Half
The prefix 'hemi-' means half, as in 'hemiplegia' (paralysis of one side).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'bi-'?
Answer: Two, both
The prefix 'bi-' means two or both, as in 'bilateral' (on both sides).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'pre-'?
Answer: Before
The prefix 'pre-' means before, as in 'prenatal' (before birth).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'post-'?
Answer: After
The prefix 'post-' means after, as in 'postoperative' (after surgery).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'anti-'?
Answer: Against
The prefix 'anti-' means against, as in 'antibiotic' (against microbial life).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'neo-'?
Answer: New
The prefix 'neo-' means new, as in 'neonatal' (newborn period).
What is the meaning of the prefix 'micro-'?
Answer: Small
The prefix 'micro-' means small, as in 'microcephaly' (abnormally small head).
What is the meaning of the root 'cardi/o'?
Answer: Heart
The root 'cardi/o' means heart, as in 'cardiology' (study of the heart).
What is the meaning of the root 'neur/o'?
Answer: Nerve
The root 'neur/o' means nerve, as in 'neuropathy' (disease of the nerves).
What is the meaning of the root 'hepat/o'?
Answer: Liver
The root 'hepat/o' means liver, as in 'hepatitis' (inflammation of the liver).
What is the meaning of the root 'nephr/o'?
Answer: Kidney
The root 'nephr/o' means kidney, as in 'nephrectomy' (removal of a kidney).
What is the meaning of the root 'dermat/o'?
Answer: Skin
The root 'dermat/o' means skin, as in 'dermatitis' (inflammation of the skin).
What is the meaning of the root 'oste/o'?
Answer: Bone
The root 'oste/o' means bone, as in 'osteoporosis' (porous, weakened bone).
What is the meaning of the root 'my/o'?
Answer: Muscle
The root 'my/o' means muscle, as in 'myalgia' (muscle pain).
What is the meaning of the root 'gastr/o'?
Answer: Stomach
The root 'gastr/o' means stomach, as in 'gastritis' (inflammation of the stomach).
What is the meaning of the root 'pulmon/o'?
Answer: Lung
The root 'pulmon/o' means lung, as in 'pulmonology' (study of the lungs).
What is the meaning of the root 'pneum/o'?
Answer: Lung, air
The root 'pneum/o' means lung or air, as in 'pneumonia' (infection of the lung).
What is the meaning of the root 'hemat/o'?
Answer: Blood
The root 'hemat/o' means blood, as in 'hematology' (study of the blood).
What is the meaning of the root 'enter/o'?
Answer: Intestine
The root 'enter/o' means intestine, as in 'gastroenteritis' (inflammation of stomach and intestine).
What is the meaning of the root 'arthr/o'?
Answer: Joint
The root 'arthr/o' means joint, as in 'arthritis' (inflammation of a joint).
What is the meaning of the root 'encephal/o'?
Answer: Brain
The root 'encephal/o' means brain, as in 'encephalitis' (inflammation of the brain).
What is the meaning of the root 'rhin/o'?
Answer: Nose
The root 'rhin/o' means nose, as in 'rhinoplasty' (surgical repair of the nose).
What is the meaning of the root 'ot/o'?
Answer: Ear
The root 'ot/o' means ear, as in 'otitis' (inflammation of the ear).
What is the meaning of the root 'ophthalm/o'?
Answer: Eye
The root 'ophthalm/o' means eye, as in 'ophthalmology' (study of the eye).
What is the meaning of the root 'phleb/o'?
Answer: Vein
The root 'phleb/o' means vein, as in 'phlebitis' (inflammation of a vein).
What is the meaning of the root 'angi/o'?
Answer: Vessel
The root 'angi/o' means vessel, as in 'angiography' (imaging of blood vessels).
What is the meaning of the root 'splen/o'?
Answer: Spleen
The root 'splen/o' means spleen, as in 'splenomegaly' (enlarged spleen).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-itis'?
Answer: Inflammation
The suffix '-itis' means inflammation, as in 'appendicitis' (inflamed appendix).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-ectomy'?
Answer: Surgical removal
The suffix '-ectomy' means surgical removal, as in 'appendectomy' (removal of the appendix).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-otomy'?
Answer: Cutting into, incision
The suffix '-otomy' means cutting into or incision, as in 'craniotomy' (incision into the skull).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-ostomy'?
Answer: Creating a surgical opening
The suffix '-ostomy' means creating a surgical opening, as in 'colostomy' (opening from the colon).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-pathy'?
Answer: Disease
The suffix '-pathy' means disease, as in 'neuropathy' (nerve disease).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-algia'?
Answer: Pain
The suffix '-algia' means pain, as in 'neuralgia' (nerve pain).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-emia'?
Answer: Blood condition
The suffix '-emia' means blood condition, as in 'anemia' (lack of red blood cells).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-megaly'?
Answer: Enlargement
The suffix '-megaly' means enlargement, as in 'hepatomegaly' (enlarged liver).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-scopy'?
Answer: Visual examination
The suffix '-scopy' means visual examination, as in 'colonoscopy' (viewing the colon).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-plasty'?
Answer: Surgical repair
The suffix '-plasty' means surgical repair, as in 'angioplasty' (repair of a vessel).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-logy'?
Answer: Study of
The suffix '-logy' means study of, as in 'cardiology' (study of the heart).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-gram'?
Answer: Record, image
The suffix '-gram' means record or image, as in 'electrocardiogram' (record of heart activity).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-uria'?
Answer: Urine condition
The suffix '-uria' means urine condition, as in 'hematuria' (blood in the urine).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-pnea'?
Answer: Breathing
The suffix '-pnea' means breathing, as in 'dyspnea' (difficult breathing).
What is the meaning of the suffix '-osis'?
Answer: Abnormal condition
The suffix '-osis' means abnormal condition, as in 'fibrosis' (abnormal fibrous tissue).
An optional {0} in front of a medical term modifies location, number, speed, or degree.
Answer: Prefix
A prefix is an optional part of a medical term that comes before the root and modifies its meaning regarding location, number, speed, or degree.
The {0} of a medical term names a body part or substance.
Answer: root
The root carries the core meaning of a medical term, most often referring to a body part or substance.
A {0} at the end of a medical term names a condition, procedure, or state.
Answer: suffix
A suffix is the ending part of a medical term that usually indicates a disease, symptom, procedure, or finding.
The root plus a combining vowel, almost always 'o', is known as its {0}.
Answer: combining form
The combining form is the root combined with a combining vowel, typically 'o', to facilitate pronunciation.
The {0} exists to make pronunciation possible in medical terms.
Answer: combining vowel
A combining vowel, usually 'o', is added to a root to make the term easier to pronounce, especially before a suffix starting with a consonant.
The surgical suffix {0} means cutting into, where an incision is made but nothing is removed.
Answer: -otomy
The suffix -otomy indicates an incision or cutting into an organ or structure, without necessarily removing anything.
The surgical suffix {0} means cutting out, where a structure is removed entirely.
Answer: -ectomy
The suffix -ectomy refers to the surgical removal or excision of a structure or organ.
The surgical suffix {0} means creating a new opening, often a permanent connection.
Answer: -ostomy
The suffix -ostomy indicates the creation of a new, usually permanent, surgical opening or connection.
The prefix {0} means above normal or excessive, as seen in hyperglycemia.
Answer: hyper-
The prefix hyper- indicates a condition that is above normal or excessive.
The prefix {0} means below normal or deficient, as seen in hypotension.
Answer: hypo-
The prefix hypo- indicates a condition that is below normal or deficient.
The suffix {0} means 'blood condition', as in anemia.
Answer: -emia
The suffix -emia specifically refers to a condition related to the blood.
The suffix {0} means 'urine condition', as in hematuria.
Answer: -uria
The suffix -uria specifically refers to a condition related to the urine.
loading your study session...