Medical Terminology: Prefixes and Suffixes

Questions and Answers

What does the prefix 'a-' or 'an-' mean?

no, not, without (correct)

gland

study of

tail

What does the root 'aden/o' refer to?

cell

tail

head

gland (correct)

What does 'dip/o' mean?

fat

What does 'anter/o' signify?

front or before Signup and view all the answers

What does 'caud/o' refer to?

tail or lower part of the body Signup and view all the answers

What does 'cephal/o' mean?

head Signup and view all the answers

What does 'cyt/o' or '-cyte' represent?

cell Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dem/i' or 'dem/o' mean?

population Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dors/i' or 'dors/o' refer to?

the back Signup and view all the answers

What does 'en-', 'end-', or 'endo-' signify?

within, inside Signup and view all the answers

What does 'epi-' mean?

on Signup and view all the answers

What does 'eti/o' pertain to?

the study of the cause of diseases Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ex-', 'exo-' mean?

out of, outside, away Signup and view all the answers

What does the root 'gen/o' indicate?

to become, produce Signup and view all the answers

What does 'histi/o' or 'hist/o' refer to?

tissue Signup and view all the answers

What does 'iatr/o' mean?

medicine, physician Signup and view all the answers

What does 'macro-' signify?

large, abnormal size of length Signup and view all the answers

What does 'medi/o' mean?

middle Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mega-' signify?

large Signup and view all the answers

What does 'micro-' or 'micr/o' mean?

small Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mid-' signify?

near the middle Signup and view all the answers

What does 'nosocomi/o' refer to?

hospital Signup and view all the answers

What does '-ology' or '-ologist' mean?

study or science of Signup and view all the answers

What does 'pan-' mean?

all Signup and view all the answers

What does 'path/o' or '-pathy' signify?

disease, suffering Signup and view all the answers

What does 'physi/o' or 'physic/o' refer to?

physical, function Signup and view all the answers

What does 'plas/i', 'plas/o', or '-plasia' mean?

development, formation Signup and view all the answers

What does 'poster/o' indicate?

behind or toward the back Signup and view all the answers

What does 'proxim/o' mean?

near Signup and view all the answers

What does 'retro-' signify?

behind, backward Signup and view all the answers

What does '-stasis' or '-static' mean?

control, maintenance of a constant level Signup and view all the answers

What does 'thorac/o' refer to?

chest cavity Signup and view all the answers

What does 'trans-' mean?

across, through Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ventr/o' refer to?

belly side of the body Signup and view all the answers

What does '-verse' or '-version' mean?

to turn Signup and view all the answers

What does 'abdominal cavity' mean?

the body cavity that contains the major organs of digestion Signup and view all the answers

What does 'abdominopelvic cavity' refer to?

consists of the abdominal and pelvic cavities Signup and view all the answers

What is 'adenectomy'?

the surgical removal of a gland Signup and view all the answers

What does 'adenocarcinoma' signify?

a malignant tumor that originates in a glandular tissue Signup and view all the answers

What is 'adenoma'?

a benign tumor that arises in or resembles glandular tissue Signup and view all the answers

What does 'adenomalacia' mean?

abnormal softening of a gland Signup and view all the answers

What is 'adenosclerosis'?

abnormal hardening of a gland Signup and view all the answers

What does 'adenosis' refer to?

disease or abnormal development of a gland Signup and view all the answers

What does 'anaplasia' mean?

a change in the structure of cells and in their orientation to each other Signup and view all the answers

What is 'anatomic position'?

position of the body, standing erect, facing forward, with arms down at the sides Signup and view all the answers

What does 'anatomy' mean?

the study of the structures of the body Signup and view all the answers

What does 'anomaly' mean?

a deviation from what is regarded as normal Signup and view all the answers

What does 'anterior' signify?

situated in front Signup and view all the answers

What does 'aplasia' mean?

the defective development of congenital absence of an organ or tissue Signup and view all the answers

What does 'atresia' mean?

congenital absence of a normal body opening or the failure of a structure to be tubular Signup and view all the answers

What does 'atrophy' signify?

weakness or wearing away of body tissues Signup and view all the answers

What is 'blood borne transmission'?

blood or body fluid from an infected person enters another person's body via needle-sticks, human bites, cuts, abrasions, or through mucous membrane Signup and view all the answers

What does 'caudal' mean?

toward the lower part of the body Signup and view all the answers

What does 'cephalic' refer to?

toward the head Signup and view all the answers

What are 'chromosomes'?

a genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell Signup and view all the answers

What are 'communicable diseases'?

any disease transmitted from one person to another directly or by indirect contact with contaminated objects Signup and view all the answers

What are 'congenital disorders'?

an abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'connective tissue'?

physical or functional supporting tissue of the body with varied functions Signup and view all the answers

What is 'cystic fibrosis'?

a life-threatening genetic disorder in which the lungs and pancreas are clogged with large quantities of abnormally thick mucus Signup and view all the answers

What is 'cytology'?

the study of the anatomy, physiology, pathology, and chemistry of the cell Signup and view all the answers

What is 'deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)'?

genetic material present in all cells Signup and view all the answers

What are 'developmental disorders'?

group of psychiatric conditions originating in childhood, causing impairment in different areas Signup and view all the answers

What does 'distal' mean?

situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dorsal' signify?

back of the body or organ Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dysplasia' mean?

abnormal developmental or growth of cells, tissues or organs Signup and view all the answers

What does 'endemic' refer to?

referring to the ongoing presence of a disease, such as the common cold, within a population, group or area Signup and view all the answers

What does 'endocrine gland' signify?

glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream Signup and view all the answers

What does 'endothelium' refer to?

specialized epithelial tissue that lines the blood and lymph vessels, body cavities, glands and internal organs Signup and view all the answers

What does 'epidemic' mean?

a sudden and widespread outbreak of a disease within a specific population group or area Signup and view all the answers

What is an 'epidemiologist'?

specialist in the study of outbreaks of disease within a population group Signup and view all the answers

What does 'epigastric region' mean?

the region located above the stomach Signup and view all the answers

What does 'epithelial tissue' signify?

forms a protective covering for all of the internal and external surfaces of the body Signup and view all the answers

What does 'etiology' mean?

the study of the causes of diseases Signup and view all the answers

What does 'exocrine gland' refer to?

glands that secrete chemical substances into ducts leading either to other organs or out of the body Signup and view all the answers

What is 'fetal alcohol syndrome'?

birth defects that result from a woman's use of alcohol during pregnancy Signup and view all the answers

What does 'fomite' mean?

nonliving object or substance capable of carrying infectious organisms Signup and view all the answers

What are 'functional disorders'?

produces symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'gene'?

unit of heredity that is transferred from parent to offspring Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'genetic disorder'?

a pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'genetic mutation'?

permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene Signup and view all the answers

What does 'genome' mean?

the complete set of genetic information of an organism Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'geriatrician'?

a physician who specializes in the care of older people Signup and view all the answers

What is 'hemophilia'?

a group of hereditary bleeding disorders in which a blood-clotting factor is missing Signup and view all the answers

What is 'histology'?

the microscopic study of the structure, composition, and function of tissues Signup and view all the answers

What does 'homeostasis' refer to?

the process through which the body maintains a constant internal environment Signup and view all the answers

What is 'Huntington disease'?

inherited condition in which nerve cells in the brain break down over time Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hyperplasia' mean?

abnormal condition of excessive formation of an organ or tissue because of an abnormal increase in the number of cells Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hypertrophy' signify?

excessive development in size of body part or organ Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hypogastric region' mean?

the region of the abdomen that is located below the stomach Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hypoplasia' mean?

the incomplete development of an organ or tissue usually due to a deficiency in the number of cells Signup and view all the answers

What is 'iatrogenic illness'?

unfavorable response due to a prescribed medication Signup and view all the answers

What does 'idiopathic disorder' mean?

pertaining to disease peculiar to the individual Signup and view all the answers

What are 'infectious diseases'?

illness caused by living pathogenic organisms such as bacteria and viruses Signup and view all the answers

What does 'inguinal' refer to?

relating to the groin or lower portion of the abdomen Signup and view all the answers

What does 'lateral' mean?

toward the side Signup and view all the answers

What does 'left lower quadrant' refer to?

area left of the midline and below the umbilicus in the abdomen Signup and view all the answers

What does 'medial' mean?

the direction toward or nearer the midline Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mesentery' refer to?

the fused double layer of the parietal peritoneum that attaches parts of the intestine to the interior abdominal wall Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'midsagittal plane'?

the vertical plane that divides the body, from top to bottom, into equal left and right halves Signup and view all the answers

What is 'muscular dystrophy'?

a group of more than 30 genetic diseases that are characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement, without affecting the nervous system Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Prefixes and Root Words

a-, an-: Denotes absence or lack (no, not, without).
aden/o: Refers to a gland.
dip/o: Indicates fat.
anter/o: Relates to the front or anterior position.
caud/o: Pertains to the tail or lower region of the body.
cephal/o: Associated with the head.
cyt/o, -cyte: Refers to a cell.
dem/i, dem/o: Relates to population.
dors/i, dors/o: Indicates the back side of the body.
en-, end-, endo-: Refers to being within or inside.

Suffixes and Conditions

epi-: Indicates upon or on.
eti/o: Pertains to the study of disease origins.
ex-, exo-: Denotes external or outward.
gen/o: Refers to production or formation.
histi/o, hist/o: Relates to tissue.
iatr/o: Pertains to medicine or a physician.
macro-: Indicates large or abnormal size.
medi/o: Relates to the middle.
mega-: Refers to large or oversized.
micro-, micr/o: Pertains to small size.

Body Terminology

mid-: Near the middle.
nosocomi/o: Refers to a hospital.
-ology, -ologist: Indicates the study or science of a specific subject.
pan-: Denotes all or entire.
path/o, -pathy: Relates to disease or suffering.
physi/o, physic/o: Refers to physical or functional aspects.
plas/i, plas/o, -plasia: Involves development or formation.

Anatomical Terms and Conditions

poster/o: Refers to behind or back side.
proxim/o: Denotes a position near.
retro-: Indicates a backward or behind position.
-stasis, -static: Relates to maintenance of a constant condition.
thorac/o: Pertains to the chest cavity.
trans-: Indicates across or through.
ventr/o: Refers to the belly side of the body.

Medical Conditions and Terms

abdominal cavity: Contains major digestive organs.
abdominopelvic cavity: Comprised of both abdominal and pelvic areas.
adenectomy: Surgical removal of a gland.
adenocarcinoma: Malignant tumor from glandular tissue.
adenoma: Benign tumor resembling glandular tissue.
atrophy: Weakening or reduction of body tissues.
communicable diseases: Illnesses transmitted between individuals directly or indirectly.

Genetic and Developmental Disorders

congenital disorders: Abnormalities present at birth.
cystic fibrosis: Genetic disorder causing thick mucus buildup in lungs and pancreas.
gene: The hereditary unit passed from parent to offspring.
genetic mutation: Permanent DNA changes in a gene.
Huntington disease: Inherited brain cell degeneration condition.

Specialized Tissue and Studies

cytology: Study of cellular structure and function.
histology: Microscopic study of tissue structure and function.
endocrine gland: Secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream.
exocrine gland: Secretes substances into ducts leading to organs or out of the body.

Anatomical Planes and Regions

midsagittal plane: Divides the body into equal left and right halves.
epigastric region: Area located above the stomach.
hypogastric region: Area located below the stomach.
left lower quadrant: Section of the abdomen to the left and below the navel.

Transmission and Disorders

infection transmission: Involves blood or body fluids entering another body.
iatrogenic illness: Negative reaction to prescribed medication.
idiopathic disorder: Disease without a known cause.

Additional Medical Terms

muscular dystrophy: Genetic diseases leading to muscle weakness and degeneration.
homeostasis: Body’s process to maintain a stable internal environment.

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Description

Test your knowledge of medical terminology with this quiz focused on prefixes and suffixes commonly used in the field. Understand how different roots and affixes alter meaning, specifically in relation to anatomy and disease. Perfect for students and professionals alike!