Medical Terminology Prefixes and Suffixes

Medical Terminology

• Prefixes:

  • a-, an-: without or absence
  • dys-: difficult, painful, or abnormal
  • endo-: within
  • epi-: on, upon, or over
  • hyper-: above or excessive
  • hypo-: below, deficient, under
  • intra-: within
  • meta-: beyond
  • neo-: new
  • per-: through
  • proxim-: near (point of attachment)
  • sub-: below or under

• Suffixes:

  • -al, -ior: pertaining to
  • -ary: pertaining to
  • -centesis: surgical puncture to remove fluid
  • -ectomy: surgical removal or excision
  • -emia: blood condition
  • -eal: pertaining to
  • -genic: producing or causing
  • -gram: record, radiographic image
  • -graphy: process of recording or radiographic image
  • -iasis: condition
  • -itis: inflammation
  • -logist: specialist (physician) who studies and treats
  • -logy: the study of
  • -meter: instrument used to measure
  • -oid: resembling
  • -oma: tumor
  • -osis: abnormal condition
  • -pexy: surgical fixation or suspension
  • -plasty: surgical repair
  • -pnea: breathing
  • -rrhagia: rapid flow of blood
  • -rrhea: flow or discharge
  • -scope: instrument used for visual examination
  • -scopic: pertaining to visual examination
  • -scopy: visual examination
  • -stomy: artificial opening
  • -tomy: incision into
  • -tripsy: surgical crushing
  • -a, -e, -y: no meaning

Body Parts and Regions

• Anatomic Position: face forward, feet front, palms forward
• Anterior: front
• Posterior: back or behind
• Anteroposterior: front to back
• Cephalic: pertaining to the head
• Caudal: tail (downward)
• Distal: away from point of attachment
• Inferior: below
• Lateral: side
• Medial: middle
• Proximal: near point of attachment
• Superior: above
• Ventral: pertaining to the belly (front)
• Dorsal: pertaining to the back

Diagnostic and Treatment Terms

• Biopsy (Bx): removal of living tissue for microscopic examination
• Chemotherapy (chemo): cancer treatment using pharmaceuticals
• Diagnosis (Dx): identification of a disease
• Inflammation: protective response of body tissue with redness, swelling, heat, and pain
• Maligant: tending to become progressively worse, possibly resulting in death
• METS: metastasis (spread of cancer)
• Prognosis (Px): prediction of disease outcome
• Radiation Therapy (XRT): cancer treatment with radioactive substances
• Remission: lessening or absence of disease signs

Body Systems

• Cardiovascular: heart and blood vessels
• Gastrointestinal: stomach, intestines, etc.
• Musculoskeletal: muscles and bones
• Nervous: brain, spinal cord, and nerves
• Respiratory: lungs, trachea, etc.
• Urinary: kidneys, bladder, ureters, etc.

Other Important Terminology

• Abscess: Localized collection of pus
• CA: Cancer
• CT scan: Computerized images of the body (Computed Tomography)
• COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• CXR: Chest X-Ray
• Edema: Puffy swelling due to fluid accumulation
• Influenza (Flu): Highly contagious respiratory infection
• Laceration: Torn, ragged-edged wound
• Lesion: Visible tissue change from injury or disease
• Pressure Ulcer (Bedsore): Eroded skin sore from prolonged pressure
• Shingles (Herpes Zoster): Painful, inflamed blisters following nerve routes
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (sqCCA): Malignant growth from scale-like epithelial tissue
• Staphylococcus (Staph): Bacteria in grape-like clusters that cause infections
• Streptococcus (Strep): Bacteria in twisted chains that cause infections
• Tuberculosis (TB): Infectious disease affecting the lungs (etc.)
• URI: Upper Respiratory Infection

Cell Types

• Cyt: cell
• Epitheli: epithelium
• Hist: tissue
• Lip: fat
• My: muscle
• ** Neur:** nerves
• Path: disease
• Plasm: growth
• Sarc: flesh or connective tissue
• Viscer: internal organs

General Medical Roots

• Note the importance of prefixes, suffixes
• -ad, -ic, --ior: used to describe location or status

Body Part Roots

• acr: extremities (arms and legs)
• arthr: joint
• bronch: bronchus
• capn: carbon dioxide
• card: heart
• cephalo: head
• cutane: skin
• derm: skin
• dermat: skin
• hem: blood
• hemat: blood
• laryng: larynx
• lith: stone or calculus
• muc: mucus
• myc: fungus
• nas: nose
• nephr: kidney
• neur: nerve
• noct: night
• onych: nail
• ox: oxygen
• path: disease
• pharyng: pharynx
• pneum/pneumon: lung or air
• poly: many
• pulmon: lung
• py: pus
• rhin: nose
• ren: kidney
• trache: trachea
• ur/urin: urination, urine or urinary tract
• ven: vein
• viscer: internal organs

Diagnostic Imaging

• Chest Radiograph (CXR): Radiographic image of the chest
• Chest Computed Tomography (CT scan): Computerized images of the chest

Diagnostic Tests and Procedures

• Urinalysis (UA): Laboratory tests on urine
• Urinary Catheterization: Inserting a catheter into the bladder