Medical Terms Flashcards

Medical Terminology: Key Roots and Definitions

• Kerat- (o): Pertains to the cornea of the eye, a crucial structure for vision.
• -kinesis, -kinetic: Relates to motion, fundamental in fields such as physiology and biomechanics.
• Labi- (a, o): Refers to the lip, significant in both anatomy and speech pathology.
• Lacrima-: Indicates tears, often discussed in contexts of emotion and eye health.
• Lact- (o): Associated with milk, important in nutrition and lactation studies.
• Lapar- (o): Denotes the abdomen or abdominal wall, relevant in surgical and anatomical contexts.
• Laryng- (o): Refers to the larynx, or voice box, essential for vocalization and respiratory health.
• Latero- (al): Means side, commonly used in anatomical orientation.
• -lepsy: Indicates seizure or convulsion, crucial in discussions of neurology and epilepsy disorders.
• Leuco-, Leuko-: Signifies white, often used in hematology (e.g., leukocytes).
• Lingu- (a, o): Refers to the tongue, key in anatomy, nutrition, and speech.
• Lip- (o): Related to fat or lipids, critical in metabolic studies and nutritional science.
• Lith- (o): Refers to stone or calculus, often in urology and gastrointestinal studies.
• -logy: Indicates study of or science of, applicable in diverse scientific disciplines (e.g., biology, geology).
• Lymph- (o): Pertains to lymph tissue, significant in immunology and the lymphatic system.
• -lys (is, o): Relates to destruction or dissolving, important in cellular biology.
• Macro-: Signifies large, often used to describe scale in various scientific contexts (e.g., macromolecules).
• Mal-: Denotes bad, abnormal, or disordered, commonly used in medical diagnostics.
• Malac- (ia): Refers to softening of tissue, relevant in pathology.
• Mamm- (o): Pertains to the breast and mammary glands, significant in both anatomy and reproductive health.
• -mania: Indicates insanity or mental disorder, relevant in psychology and psychiatry.
• Mast- (o): Refers specifically to the breast, important in breast health assessments.
• Med- (i, io): Indicates middle or midline, relevant in anatomical terminology.
• -megaly, mega-: Signifies large or enlarged, commonly used in medical conditions (e.g., cardiomegaly).
• Melan- (o): Refers to black, often discussed in contexts of pigmentation and pathology.
• Mening- (o): Refers to the membranes covering the brain, significant in neurology.
• Meno-: Pertains to monthly cycles or menstruation, key in gynecology.
• Mes- (o): Means middle or midline, relevant in anatomy and developmental biology.
• -meter: Denotes a measuring instrument, used in various scientific fields.
• -metry: Refers to measurement, often paired with different prefixes to indicate specific measurements.
• Micro-: Signifies small, frequently used in microbiology and anatomy.
• Mono-: Indicates one or single, important in genetics and biological classifications.
• -mortem: Refers to death, often used in pathological studies (e.g., post-mortem).
• Muc- (o, us): Refers to mucus or secretion from mucous membranes, important in respiratory and digestive health.
• Multi-: Signifies many, much, or a large amount, applicable in statistics and medicine.
• My- (o): Pertains to muscle tissue, essential in anatomy and physiology.
• Myc- (o): Indicates fungus, relevant in medical mycology and infectious diseases.
• Myel- (o): Refers to bone marrow or spinal cord, significant in hematology and neurology.
• Myring- (o): Relates to the eardrum or tympanic membrane, key in otology and auditory health.

Test your knowledge of medical terminology with these flashcards focusing on key prefixes and their meanings. This quiz includes terms related to the eye, motion, and anatomy, enhancing your understanding of medical vocabulary.