Medical Terminology Root Words Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does the root word 'phago/o' mean?

blood

joint

eating or swallowing (correct)

cutting instrument

Which of the following best defines '-tome'?

knowledge

an instrument used to cut (correct)

instrument to measure

hernia

The root '-triptor' refers to which of the following?

condition of blood

to examine

thing that crushes (correct)

organ

What does 'arthr/o' represent?

joint Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'hem/o'?

blood Signup and view all the answers

The root word 'lapar/o' means?

abdomen Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix '-ole' refer to?

small thing Signup and view all the answers

Define the suffix '-ule'.

small thing Signup and view all the answers

The suffix '-um' can be defined as?

period of time or structure Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of '-ac'?

pertaining to Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix '-algia' signify?

condition of pain Signup and view all the answers

The root '-logy' is defined as?

study of Signup and view all the answers

What does 'nosocomio/o' mean?

hospital Signup and view all the answers

The suffix '-scope' means?

instrument used to examine Signup and view all the answers

What does '-emia' refer to?

condition of blood Signup and view all the answers

The root '-itis' signifies what?

infection of Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the term '-oma'?

mass or tumor Signup and view all the answers

The suffix '-osis' is defined as?

condition or process Signup and view all the answers

What does '-pathy' refer to?

disease or suffering Signup and view all the answers

What does '-ptosis' indicate?

state of dropping or falling Signup and view all the answers

The root 'enter/o' means?

intestine Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix '-rrhea' signify?

discharge or flow Signup and view all the answers

What does 'chondr/o' refer to?

cartilage Signup and view all the answers

The term 'palliat/o' is defined as?

reduce severity Signup and view all the answers

What does 'sten/o' mean?

constriction or narrowness Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'gnos/o'?

knowledge Signup and view all the answers

The root 'auscult/o' refers to?

listening Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'a-' mean?

without or away from Signup and view all the answers

What does 'an-' represent?

not or without Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the prefix 'ante-'?

before or forward Signup and view all the answers

The prefix 'anti-' refers to?

against Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dys-' mean?

difficult or abnormal Signup and view all the answers

What does 'endo-' signify?

within Signup and view all the answers

The prefix 'epi-' means?

above or upon Signup and view all the answers

Define 'hyper-' in medical terminology.

much or more than normal Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hypo-' mean?

less than normal or deficient Signup and view all the answers

The prefix 'inter-' signifies?

between Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the prefix 'intra-'?

inside or within Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ne/o' refer to?

new Signup and view all the answers

The prefix 'par-' means?

beside Signup and view all the answers

What does 'para-' signify?

abnormal or apart from Signup and view all the answers

The prefix 'per-' means?

throughout Signup and view all the answers

What does 'peri-' refer to?

around Signup and view all the answers

In medical terms, 'poly-' means?

many or much Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'post-' signify?

after or behind Signup and view all the answers

The prefix 'pre-' means?

before or in front of Signup and view all the answers

What does 'sub-' refer to?

below or underneath Signup and view all the answers

Define the prefix 'trans-'.

across or through Signup and view all the answers

What does '-graphy' mean?

process of recording Signup and view all the answers

The term '-metry' signifies?

process of measuring Signup and view all the answers

What does '-opsy' refer to?

process of looking Signup and view all the answers

What does '-scopy' indicate?

process of using an instrument to view Signup and view all the answers

What does '-ectomy' mean?

surgical removal Signup and view all the answers

The suffix '-plasty' signifies?

surgical modification or reshaping Signup and view all the answers

What does '-rrhaphy' refer to?

process of stitching Signup and view all the answers

Define '-stomy' in medical terminology.

surgical created opening Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hepat/o' refer to?

liver Signup and view all the answers

The term '-tripsy' is defined as?

process of crushing Signup and view all the answers

What does '-graph' mean?

instrument used to record Signup and view all the answers

The suffix '-meter' refers to?

instrument used to measure Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Medical Root Words and Their Definitions

phago/o: Refers to the act of eating or swallowing.
-tome: An instrument used to make cuts or distinct edges in medical procedures.
-triptor: A tool or agent that crushes, often used in various medical contexts.
arthr/o: Denotes a joint, integral in defining conditions related to joint health.
hem/o: A prefix that relates specifically to blood.
lapar/o: Refers to the abdomen, commonly used in surgical terms.
-ole and -ule: Suffixes both indicating a small thing or diminutive form.
-um: Pertains to a period of time or a structural aspect in medical terminology.
-ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -eal, -ic, -ous: Suffixes indicating "pertaining to," commonly used in medical terms.
-tomy: Describes the process of cutting or making an incision.
-algia: Indicates a condition of pain, frequently used to name specific painful conditions.
-logy: Signifies the study of a particular subject within medicine.
nosocomio/o: Refers to hospitals, essential in healthcare terminology.
-scope: An instrument utilized for examination within the body.
-cele: Refers to a hernia, important in abdominal terminology and diagnoses.
-emia: Indicates a condition concerning blood or a substance present in blood.
-ia: Describes a condition, state, or thing within a medical context.
-itis: Indicates an infection or inflammation of a specified area.
-malacia: Refers to a condition characterized by softening of tissues.
-megaly: Signifies an enlargement, often related to organs.
-oma: Refers to a mass or tumor, crucial for oncology-related terms.
-osis: Describes a condition or process, often indicating disease states.
-pathy: Indicates a disease or suffering condition, broadly applicable in pathology.
-ptosis: Refers to a state of dropping or falling, significant in anatomical contexts.
-rrhage: Signifies excessive flow or discharge, frequently used in hematology.
enter/o: Pertains specifically to the intestine, relevant in gastrointestinal terms.
-rrhea: Indicates discharge or flow, often used in relation to bodily fluids.
chondr/o: Refers to cartilage, important in musculoskeletal terminology.
palliat/o: Means to reduce severity, often used in palliative care contexts.
sten/o: Indicates constriction or narrowing, often used in vascular terminology.
gnos/o: Refers to knowledge, which is essential in diagnoses and assessments.
auscult/o: Means listening, especially in the context of examining heart or lung sounds.

Prefixes and Their Meanings

a-: Indicates moving away from or a lack of.
an-: Denotes negation or absence.
ante-: Refers to before or forward in time or position.
anti-: Signifies opposition or against.
dys-: Describes something abnormal, difficult, or painful.
endo-: Refers to the innermost or within.
epi-: Indicates something situated above or upon.
hyper-: Describes excessive or more than normal.
hypo-: Indicates below or deficient in quantity or quality.
inter-: Means between, often used for anatomical relationships.
intra-: Refers to within, important in identifying internal structures.
ne/o: Denotes new, often in relation to newly formed tissues.
par-: Means beside or alongside.
para-: Indicates an abnormal or apart condition, often referring to paired structures.
per-: Refers to through or throughout, frequently in descriptions of processes.
peri-: Indicates around, outlining important anatomical regions.
poly-: Refers to many or much, often used in descriptions of conditions affecting multiple parts.
post-: Denotes after or behind in both time and anatomical relations.
pre-: Refers to before or in front of, crucial for procedural timelines.
sub-: Indicates below, underneath, or less than, widely used in anatomical terms.
trans-: Refers to across or through, often in relation to surgical procedures.

-graphy: Refers to the process of recording certain medical data.
-metry: Indicates the process of measurement of various bodily parameters.
-opsy: Refers to the process of viewing, critical in diagnostic procedures.
-scopy: Indicates the use of instruments for examination of internal structures.
-ectomy: Refers to surgical removal, a common term in surgical contexts.
-plasty: Describes the process of reshaping a structure surgically.
-rraphy: Refers to a procedure involving stitches, significant in surgical repair.
-stomy: Indicates a surgically created opening, important in various surgeries.
hepat/o: Pertains to the liver, a vital organ in metabolic processes.
-tripsy: Describes direct crushing of stones or tissues, used in urology and other branches.
-graph: Refers to instruments used to record data.
-meter: Indicates an instrument utilized for measurement in medical assessments.

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Description

Test your knowledge of medical terminology with these flashcards focused on root words. Each card presents a root word along with its definition, providing a useful tool for studying healthcare vocabulary. Perfect for students in medical courses or healthcare professionals looking to refresh their knowledge.