Medical Terminology: Prefixes 'anti-' and 'bili-'

anti-

• Means against, opposing, counteracting, inhibiting, preventing, suppressing, neutralizing, destroying or relieving.
• Commonly used in medical terms with the broad meaning of "against."
• Example: antigen (anti/gen) stimulates the production of an "opposing" substance (antibody).
• Example: antibody (anti/body) prevents, relieves, or destroys the effect of infections or poisonous substances.
• Example: antacid (ant/acid) counteracts or neutralizes acidity.
• Example: antiemetic (anti/emet/ic) prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting.*
• Example: anticoagulant (anti/coagulant) suppresses or opposes blood coagulation.

bili-

• Indicates bile or gall, which is thick, sticky yellow or greenish fluid from the liver.
• Bile flows into the intestines and mixes with gastric fluids to digest fats.
• Gallbladder, bile cyst, and cholecyst are names for the sac storing bile.
• Example: biliary (bili/ary) pertains to bile, bile ducts, and gallbladder.
• Example: biliary canal (bili/ary) is a tube where bile passes from the liver.
• Example: biliary tract (bili/ary) is the region that secretes and transmits bile.
• Example: biliousness (bili/ous/ness) is a discomfort from excess bile, causing constipation, headache, and indigestion.

сес-

• Refers to a blind passage.
• A blind passage has only one outlet, preventing flow all the way through.
• Most frequently applied to denote the cecum
• The cecum (cec/um) is a large pouch at the start of the large intestine with one opening, where appendix hangs from.
• Example: cecotomy (cec/otomy) means cutting it.
• Example: cecectomy (cec/ectomy) means partially cutting it out.
• Example: cecostomy (cec/ostomy) means providing it with an artificial opening.
• Example: cecorrhaphy (cec/o/rrhaphy) means suturing it.
• Example: cecopexy (cec/o/pexy) means fixing it, typically to the abdominal wall.
• Cecoptosis (cec/o/ptosis) is the falling or downward displacement of the cecum.
• Cecitis (cec/itis) is inflammation of the cecum.
• Cecorrhexis (cec/o/rrhexis) is the rupturing of the cecum, potentially leading to a hernia (cec/o/cele).
• Cecal (cec/al) means pertaining to the cecum.

-centesis

• Denotes puncture or surgical incision for drainage.
• Example: arthrocentesis (arthr/o/centesis) refers to surgical puncture of a joint.
• Example: cardicentesis (cardi/centesis) refers to surgical puncture or incision into the heart.
• Example: pericardicentesis (peri/cardi/centesis) refers to surgical puncture around the heart.

hallux

• Medical term for the great toe or big toe.
• It is also called the first digit of the foot.
• Fingers and toes are digits, numbered from the great toe (foot) and thumb (hand).

lacrim-

• Relates to tear/tears of the eye.
• Example: lacrimal (lacrim/al) means pertaining to tears or situated near the organs that produce tears.
• Example: lacrimal glands (lacrim/al) are the glands that secrete tears.
• Example: lacrimal ducts (lacrim/al) are canals conveying tears from the lacrimal glands to the eye's corner
• Example: lacrimotomy (lacrim/otomy) means incision of the lacrimal duct.

lact-

• Refers to milk or the fluid secretion of the breast for infants.
• Example: lacteal (lact/e/al) means pertaining to milk.
• Example: lactation (lact/ation) describes the secretion of milk or suckling by infants.
• Example: lactogenic (lact/o/gen/ic) means stimulating the production of milk.
• Lactigenous (lact/i/gen/ous) means producing or secreting milk.
• Superlactation (super/lact/ation) is secretion of milk in greater than normal amount or for a longer than usual period.

macul-

• Means spot (or stain), blotch, spotty or blotchy discoloration, especially of the skin
• Example: macula (macul/a) is a spot or blotch
• Macule (macul/e) is a macula
• Maculation (macul/ation) is the condition of being spotted; the formation of spots or macules.

mening-

• Membrane/membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
• Example: meningeal (mening/e/al) means pertaining to the meninges.
• Example: meninges (mening/es) is the membranous sheath for the brain and spinal cord.
• Example: meningoencephal- (mening/o/encephal-) denotes meninges and the brain.
• Example: meningitis (mening/itis) is inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
• Example: cerebral meningitis (cerebr/al mening/itis) is inflammation of the meninges of the brain.

myco-

• Fungus or relating to a fungal infection.
• These are a kind of plant that can form a pathogen.
• Example: mycete (myc/ete) is a fungus.
• Example: mycosis, -mycosis (myc/osis)is a condition/disease caused by a fungus.
• Example: mycetoma, -mycetoma (myc/et/oma) is a tumor containing fungus cells.
• Example: dermatomycosis (dermat/o/myc/osis) is a fungal infection of the skin, like athlete's foot or ringworm.
• Example: acromycosis (acr/o/myc/osis) is a fungal infection of the extremities (limbs).

myel-

• Marrow/ spinal cord, or the soft inner part of a bone
• Cablelike tissue enclosed in the canal of the spine.
• Example: meningomyel- (mening/o/myel-) is the form for the spinal cord.
• Example: osteomyel- (oste/o/myel-) relates to bone marrow.
• Example: osteomyelitis (oste/o/myel/itis) is inflammation of the bone marrow.
• Example: encephalomyel- (en/cephal/o/myel-) form for the brain & spinal cord.
• Example: encephalomyelopathy (en/cephal/o/myel/o/path/y) is any disease of the brain and spinal cord.
• Example: myeloencephalitis (myel/o/en/cephal/itis) means inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

onco-

• Signifies mass, tumor, or swelling.
• Example: oncology (onco/logy) is the study of tumors.
• Example: oncolysis (onco/lysis) is the destruction of tumors and tumor cells.
• Example: oncogenesis (onco/gen/esis) is the production or causation of tumors.
• -oncus (-onc/us)designates a swelling or tumor
• Example: arthroncus (arthr/onc/us) is a swelling of a joint.
• Example: blepharoncus (blephar/onc/us) is a tumor on the eyelid.
• Example: cheiloncus (cheil/onc/us) is a tumor of the lip.
• Example: glossoncus (gloss/onc/us) is a swelling of the tongue.
• Example: mastoncus (mast/onc/us) is a tumor of the breast.

onych-

• Means nail, claw, fingernail, or toenail.
• Example: onychectomy (onych/ectomy) refers to the surgical removal of nail, or nail bed
• Example: onychogenic (onych/gen/ic) means forming/producing nail substance
• Example: onychia (onych/ia) is inflammation of the nail bed, also called onychitis, resulting in nail loss.
• -onychium, -onychia (-onych/ium, -onych/ia) suffixes indicate nail conditions.
• Example: eponychium (ep/onych/ium) is the cuticle.
• Example: leukonychia (leuk/onych/ia) describes whitish spots or discoloration of the nails.

or-

• Refers to mouth, the body structure containing the tongue and teeth.
• It is seen in oral.
• Example: orad (or/ad) means toward the mouth.
• Example: circumoral (circum/or/al) is the area around the mouth.

oto-

• Refers to the ear.
• Used for conditions affecting the ear and as a landmark for other body parts.
• Example: parotid (par/ot/id) is situated near the ear.
• Example: epiotic (epi/ot/ic) is situated on or above the ear.
• Example: entotic or endotic (ent/ot/ic or end/ot/ic) is situated in or arising in the ear.

ovar-

• Refers to egg (female reproductive cell) / the paired female reproductive organ that produces eggs and female sex hormones
• The root ov- means egg
• Example: ovum (ov/um) denotes the female reproductive cell which begins the process of reproduction through fertilization.
• Example: ova (ov/a) is eggs, the plural of ovum
• ovary (ov/ar/y) is the sexual gland in the female in which the ova are formed
• Example: ovariogenic (ovari/o/gen/ic) means produced in or arising in the ovary.
• Example: ovariocentesis (ovari/o/centesis) means surgical puncture of an ovary.

-pexy

• Indicates suspension, fixation, or surgical fastening.
• Used to restore an organ to its proper place when displaced.
• Nephropexy (nephr/o/pexy) is surgical fixation of the kidney.
• Gastropexy (gastr/o/pexy) is surgical fixation of the stomach.
• Hysteropexy (hyster/o/pexy) is surgical fixation of the womb.

pyle-, pyloro-

• Implies gate, opening, or passage.
• Root pyle- relates to the portal vein which carries blood from digestive organs and spleen to the liver
• Example: pylic (pyl/ic) means pertaining to the portal vein.
• Example: pylethrombosis (pyle/thromb/osis) is clotting in the portal vein.
• Root pylor- is used for relationships to the pylorus, which is where the stomach opens into the intestines
• Example: pyloric (pylor/ic) means pertaining to the pylorus.
• Example: gastropylor- (gastr/o/pylor) form for the stomach and the pylorus
• Example: gastropyloric (gastr/0/pylor/ic) means pertaining to the stomach and the pylorus
• Example: gastropylorectomy (gastr/o/pylor/ectomy) means excision of the pyloric portion of the stomach

sphenic

• Meaning a wedge or wedge-shaped.
• Example: sphenoid (sphen/oid) described a wedge-like shape.
• The sphenoid bone (sphen/oid)is a wedge-shaped bone at the cranium base.
• Sphenocephaly (sphen/o/cephal/y) is abnormality with a wedge-shaped head.

spiro-

• Indicates a coil, winding or twisting.
• Example: spiroid (spir/oid) resembles a spiral or coil.
• Spiradeno- (spir/aden/o) denotes a sweat gland, because of its spiral shape.

squam-

• Refers to a scale or platelike structure.
• Example: squama (squam/a) means a scale or platelike structure.
• Example: squamous, squamosa (squam/ous, squam/osa) is scaly or platelike.
• Example: squamate (squam/ate) means scaly or resembling scales.
• An example is the rough skin resulting from sunburn is squama.

sub-

• Means under, beneath, below, or less than.
• Example: subdermal (sub/derm/al) means situated under the skin.
• Example: subnormal (sub/norm/al) is below or less than normal.
• Example: sublingual (sub/lingu/al) is located beneath the tongue.
• Example: subinflammation (sub/inflammation) is a slight inflammation.
• Example: submania (sub/man/ia) is mania of moderate type.

thorac-

• Relates to the chest.
• The chest is supported by the rib cage.
• Example: thorax is the medical name for the chest.
• Example: thoracic (thorac/ic) means pertaining to the chest.
• Example: thoracogastr- (thorac/o/gastr-) relates to the stomach and chest.
• Example: thoracicoabdominal (thorac/ic/o/abdomin/al) pertains to the chest and abdomen.
• Example: suprathoracic (supra/thorac/ic) is situated above the thorax.
• Example: hemothorax (hem/o/thorax) is blood in the lung cavity.

vesic-

• Means bladder or urinary bladder.
• Example: vesica (vesic/a) is a general term for a bladder
• Example: vesical (vesic/al) is pertaining to (principally) the urinary bladder
• Example: vesico- (vesic/o) from relating to a bladder or the urinary bladder
• Example: vesicle-medical name for a small bladder, sac or blister containing liquid
• Example: vesicula (vesic/ul/a) is a general term used in anatomical nomenclature for a vesicle
• Example: vesicular (vesic/ul/ar) is formed or constructed like a small sac or bladder

viscero-

• Refers to organ/ an internal organ or the internal organs of the body
• Viscera are located in trunks large cavity, which includes the heart, liver and intestines.
• Example: visceral (viscer/al) means pertaining to internal organ.
• Example: viscera (viscer/a) is a term for internal organs collectively.
• Example: viscerad (viscer/ad) means toward the viscera.
• Example: visceroptosis (viscer/o/ptosis) refers to the dropping of the viscera.

This lesson covers the prefixes 'anti-' meaning against, and 'bili-' indicating bile or gall. Examples of medical terms using these prefixes are provided, such as antigen, antibody, antacid, antiemetic, anticoagulant, and biliary.