Medical Terminology Module 1 Section 2

Word Parts and Their Meanings

• -stasis, -static: Refers to control or maintenance of a constant level in the body.
• -verse, -version: Indicates the action of turning.
• a-, an-: Prefix meaning no, not, or without, used to denote absence.
• aden/o: Prefix denoting a gland within the body.
• adip/o: Relates to fat; often used in reference to adipose tissue.
• anter/o: Refers to the front part of the body.
• caud/o: Signifies the tail or the lower part of the body.
• cephal/o: Pertains to the head region.
• cyt/o, -cyte: Refers to a cell; fundamental unit of life.
• demi/i, dem/o: Relates to people; often associated with demographics.
• dors/o, dors/l: Indicates the back of the body.
• en-, end-, endo-: Refers to being in, within, or inside.
• epi-: Signifies something above, upon, or on top of another structure.
• eti/o: Denotes cause; often used in medical contexts to refer to the origin of a condition.
• ex-, exo-: Indicates out or away from a structure.
• gen/o: Relates to producing or forming; often used in genetics.
• histi/o, hist/o: Refers to tissue, which is a group of cells.
• iatr/o: Pertains to physicians or treatment; often found in terms related to medical care.
• idi/o: Refers to something peculiar to an individual or a specific organ; distinct.
• macro-: Indicates something large, of abnormal size or length.
• medi/o: Relates to the middle of a structure.
• mega-: Indicates large or great in size.
• micro-, micr/o: Signifies small; often used in microscopy or describing small organisms.
• mid-: Pertains to the middle section of an organ or structure.
• nosocomi/o: Relates to hospitals; often used in terms associated with hospital settings.
• pan-: Signifies all, entire, or every part of something.
• path/o, -pathy: Relates to disease, suffering, emotion, or feeling; foundational for pathology.
• physi/o, physic/o: Pertains to nature or physical properties of the body.
• plas/i, plas/o, -plasia: Indicates development, growth, or formation of cells or tissues.
• poster/o: Refers to the back or rear side of the body.
• proxim/o: Signifies closeness or nearness to a point of reference, typically in anatomy.
• retro-: Refers to something being behind or backward.
• trans-: Indicates movement across or through a structure.
• ventr/o: Refers to the belly side or anterior part of the body.