Medical Terminology - Macro-ment/o Terms

Prefixes and Suffixes in Medical Terminology

• macro-: Indicates something large in size. Commonly used in various medical terms to denote large structures or conditions.
• mal-: Denotes a negative or harmful aspect. Often appears in terms related to diseases or disorders.
• -malacia: Refers to the softening of tissue, indicating a pathological change in consistency.

Body Part Roots

• malleol/o: Refers specifically to the malleolus, which are the bony prominences on either side of the ankle.
• mamm/o: Pertains to the breast, often used in discussions of breast health or conditions.
• mandibul/o: Refers to the lower jaw known as the mandible, significant in dental and jaw-related medical terms.

Conditions and Actions

• -mania: Indicates an obsessive preoccupation, often relating to mental health conditions.
• -masesis: Connected to mastication, which is the process of chewing food, important for digestion.

Additional Body Part References

• mast/o: Another term referring to the breast, emphasizing its significance in medical vocabulary related to breast diseases.
• mastoid/o: Relates to the mastoid process, a bony area located behind the ear, important in ear-related medical terms.
• maxill/o: Refers to the maxilla, which is the upper jaw; significant in dental and facial surgeries.
• meat/o: Indicates a meatus or opening, commonly found in anatomy sections describing canals or passageways.

Healing and Structure Terms

• medic/o: Involves concepts of healing or medical treatment, foundational in terms related to health care and medicine.
• mediastin/o: Pertains to the mediastinum, the central compartment in the thoracic cavity that houses vital structures like the heart.
• medi/o: Denotes the middle; often used in discussions about anatomical locations.
• medull/o: Refers to the medulla, which can mean the inner section of an organ or soft, marrow-like tissue.

Size and Color Terms

• mega-: Indicates something large or oversized, often used in terms to describe enlarged organs or conditions.
• -megaly: Refers to enlargement, a key suffix in conditions where body parts are larger than normal.
• melan/o: Denotes the color black, often associated with pigmentation disorders.
• mel/o: Refers to limbs, crucial in discussions regarding extremities or physical health.

Menstrual and Neurological Terms

• men/o: Pertains to menses or menstruation, relevant in topics concerning women's health.
• mening/o: Relates to the meninges, the protective layers covering the brain and spinal cord, important in neurology.
• meningi/o: Also refers to the meninges, emphasizing its dual references in medical terminology.

Cognitive and Facial Terms

• ment/o: Refers to the mind or chin, significant in various psychological and anatomical contexts.