Medical Prefixes and Suffixes

Medical Terminology

• Prefixes:
  • a- means without or not
  • ab- means from or away from
  • an- means without or not
  • ana- means against, up, or back
  • anti- means against
  • auto- means self or own
  • bi- means two
  • cata- means down
  • contra- means against or opposite
  • de- means cessation
  • di- means double
  • dia- means through or across
  • dys- means bad, painful, or difficult
  • e- means out or out from
  • ec- means out or out from
  • ecto- means outside or outward
  • ef- means away from
  • en- means in or within
  • end- means in or within
  • endo- means in or within
  • epi- means above or upon
  • eso- means inward

Body Parts

• abdomin/o refers to the abdomen
• acous/o refers to hearing
• aden/o refers to glands
• adren/o refers to adrenal glands
• aort/o refers to the aorta
• append/o refers to the appendix
• arteri/o refers to arteries
• arthr/o refers to joints
• atr/i refers to the atrium
• audi/o refers to hearing
• aur/o refers to the ear
• ax/o refers to the axis or axon
• bas/o refers to the base (alkaline, opposite of acid)
• balan/o refers to the glans penis
• brachi/o refers to the arm
• bucc/o refers to the cheek
• calc/o refers to calcium
• calcane/o refers to the calcaneum (heel bone)
• cardi/o refers to the heart
• carp/o refers to the carpus (wrist bones)
• caud/o refers to the tail
• cauter/o refers to heat or burn
• cec/o refers to the cecum
• cephal/o refers to the head
• chalic/o refers to limestone
• cheil/o refers to the lip
• chol/e refers to bile or gall
• chondr/o refers to cartilage
• chor/i refers to the chorion
• chrom/o refers to color
• circ/o refers to the circle
• clavicul/o refers to the clavicle (collar bone)
• cochle/o refers to the cochlea
• col/o refers to the colon
• colp/o refers to the vagina
• condyl/o refers to the condyle
• coni/o refers to dust
• conjunctiv/o refers to the conjunctiva
• cor/o refers to the pupil
• core/o refers to the pupil
• corne/o refers to the cornea
• coron/o refers to the heart
• corpor/o refers to the body
• cortic/o refers to the cortex
• cost/o refers to the ribs
• crani/o refers to the cranium (skull)
• crin/o refers to secrete
• cry/o refers to cold
• crypt/o refers to hidden
• culd/o refers to the cul-de-sac
• cutane/o refers to the skin
• cyan/o refers to blue
• cycl/o refers to the ciliary body of the eye; circular; cycle
• cyst/o refers to the bladder
• cyt/o refers to the cell

Conditions and Procedures

• -algia refers to pain
• -algia refers to pain
• -asthenia refers to weakness or debility
• -ate refers to having the form of or possessing
• -ation refers to a process
• -blast refers to an embryonic cell
• -cephalic refers to the head
• -cele refers to a hernia or swelling
• -centesis refers to surgical puncture
• -clasia refers to breaking or surgical fracture
• -clasis refers to breaking or surgical fracture
• -clast refers to breaking or surgical fracture
• -cision refers to a cutting
• -clysis refers to irrigation or washing
• -continence refers to holding back
• -cusis refers to hearing
• -dipsia refers to thirst
• -dynia refers to pain
• -ectasis refers to dilation or expansion
• -ectomy refers to excision or removal
• -edema refers to swelling
• -emia refers to a blood condition
• -emesis refers to vomiting
• -esis refers to a condition
• -esthesia refers to feeling