Medical Terminology Flashcards (pod-)

Prefixes and Suffixes in Medical Terminology

• pod-: Refers specifically to the foot, used in terms related to podiatry.
• poly-: Indicates many or much, often seen in conditions like polyuria (excessive urination).
• post-: Means after or behind, commonly used in terms such as post-operative (after surgery).
• pre-: Denotes before or in front of, as in prenatal (before birth).
• pro-: Suggests in front of or forward, used in terms like progesterone (a hormone).
• proct-: Relates to the rectum or anus, used in proctology.
• pseudo-: Signifies false, appearing genuine but not.
• psych-: Pertains to the mind, foundational in psychology and psychiatry.
• -ptosis: Refers to drooping down or sagging, often used in conditions like blepharoptosis (drooping eyelid).
• pulmon-: Indicates the lungs, relevant in pulmonology.
• py-: Refers to pus, found in terms like pyorrhea (pus discharge).
• pyel-: Relates to the renal pelvis of the kidney, as in pyelonephritis.
• pyr-: Indicates heat or fever, foundational in terms like pyrexia (fever).
• quad-: Means four, often used in quadriceps (four-headed muscle).
• radi-: Relates to radiographs or radiation, crucial in medical imaging.
• rect-: Pertains to the rectum, used in various diagnostic contexts.
• ren-: Refers to the kidneys, as in renal failure.
• retro-: Indicates backward or behind, relevant in terms like retroperitoneal (behind the peritoneum).
• rhin-: Pertains to the nose, commonly seen in rhinoplasty.
• -rraphy: Means suture or sewing up, like in herniorrhaphy (suture of a hernia).
• -rrhagia: Refers to sudden or excessive flow, often seen in terms like menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding).
• -rrhea: Indicates flow or discharge, used in diarrhea (discharge of liquid feces).
• -rrhexis: Refers to rupture or bursting, important in medical emergencies.
• salping-: Relates to tubes, especially the fallopian tube in gynecology.
• sanguin-: Indicates blood, relevant in terms like sanguinous (bloody).
• sarc-: Pertains to malignant connective tissue.
• -sarcoma: Refers to tumor or cancer, specifically sarcoma types of tumors.
• scler-: Indicates hardening, often in relation to tissues as in atherosclerosis.
• -sclerosis: Refers to dryness or hardness, seen in conditions like multiple sclerosis.
• -scope: Denotes an examining instrument, used widely in diagnostics.
• -scopy: Refers to observation using an instrument, as in endoscopy.
• -sect: Means to cut, foundational in surgical terminology.
• semi-: Indicates half or part, used in terms like semicircular.
• sep-: Pertains to poison, rot, or infection.
• sinistr-: Refers to the left side, relevant in anatomical directions.
• soma-: Relates to the body, as in somatic.
• son-: Indicates sound, used in sonography (ultrasound imaging).
• -spasm: Refers to involuntary contraction, seen in muscle spasms.
• sperm-: Relates to spermatozoa, essential in reproductive terminology.
• splen-: Pertains to the spleen, used in various hematological contexts.
• -stasis: Indicates stoppage or maintaining a constant level, important in understanding blood flow.
• steno-: Refers to contracted or narrow, often seen in stenosis (narrowing of a passage).
• stern-: Relates to the sternum or breast bone.
• stoma-: Refers to the mouth or opening.
• -stomy: Denotes an artificial opening, such as in colostomy.
• sub-: Indicates less, under, or below, used in subcutaneous (beneath the skin).
• sup-: Means above, upon, or higher in position.
• sym-, syn-: Suggests joined, fused, or together, as in synapse (junction between two neurons).