Medical Word Elements Chapter 4

Medical Word Elements

• cyt/o: Refers to a cell; example: cytologist is a specialist in the study of cells.

• hist/o: Pertains to tissue; example: histology is the study of tissues.

• kary/o: Denotes nucleus; example: karyolysis indicates the destruction of the nucleus, leading to cell death.

• nucle/o: Related to the nucleus; example: nuclear means pertaining to the nucleus.

• anter/o: Indicates anterior or front; example: anterior refers to the front part of the body.

• caud/o: Signifies tail; caudad means toward the tail, opposite of cranial.

• cephal/o: Relates to the head; cephalad means toward the head.

• dist/o: Means far or farthest; distal describes a point farthest from the center of the body, such as fingers being distal to the wrist.

• dors/o: Refers to the back of the body; dorsal pertains to the back side.

• infer/o: Indicates lower or below; inferior means pertaining to a lower structure or surface.

• later/o: Relates to the side; lateral refers to something pertaining to the side of the body.

• medi/o: Signifies middle; medial means toward the middle of the body.

• poster/o: Refers to the back of the body; posterior pertains to something at the back.

• proxim/o: Indicates near or nearest; proximal refers to the point closest to the center of the body.

• ventr/o: Denotes belly or front side; ventral pertains to the belly side of the body.

• abdomin/o: Relates to the abdomen; abdominal pertains to the area of the abdomen.

• cervic/o: Refers to the neck; cervical pertains to the neck or cervix of the uterus.

• crani/o: Signifies cranium or skull; cranial means pertaining to the skull.

• gastr/o: Relates to the stomach; hypogastric refers to the area below the stomach.

• ili/o: Pertains to the ilium, a part of the hip bone; iliac means related to the ilium.

• inguin/o: Refers to the groin; inguinal pertains to the groin area.

• lumb/o: Relates to the lower back; lumbar pertains to the loins.

• pelv/i: Pertains to the pelvis; pelvimeter refers to an instrument used to measure the pelvis.

• pelv/o: Signifies relating to the pelvis; pelvic pertains to the anatomical region of the pelvis.

• spin/o: Refers to the spine; spinal pertains to the spine structure.

• thorac/o: Denotes chest; thoracic refers to the area of the chest.

• umbilic/o: Relates to the umbilicus or navel; umbilical pertains to this area.

• albin/o: Refers to white; albinism is a condition characterized by a lack of pigmentation.

• leuk/o: Pertains to white; leukocyte means a white blood cell.

• chlor/o: Signifies green; chloropia refers to a disorder where objects appear green.

• chrom/o: Relates to color; heterochromia refers to having different colors in the eyes.

• cirrh/o: Denotes yellow; cirrhosis indicates a condition causing abnormal yellowing of the skin and eyes.

• jaund/o: Refers to yellow; jaundice results from an obstruction in bile passageways.

• xanth/o: Indicates an abnormal condition of yellow; xanthosis is often associated with tumors.

• cyan/o: Pertains to blue; cyanotic means having a bluish tint, commonly due to oxygen deficiency.

• erythr/o: Relates to red; erythrocyte refers to a red blood cell.

• melan/o: Signifies black; melanoma is a type of malignancy arising from melanocytes.

• poli/o: Relates to gray; poliomyelitis refers to inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord.

• acr/o: Refers to extremity; acrocyanosis is a condition where extremities appear blue.

• eti/o: Pertains to cause; etiology is the study of the causes of diseases.

• idi/o: Indicates unknown; idiopathic pertains to diseases without a known cause.

• morph/o: Refers to form or shape; morphology is the study of the forms and structures.

• path/o: Denotes disease; pathologist specializes in the study of diseases.

• radi/o: Relates to radiation or x-rays; radiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases through imaging.

• somat/o: Refers to body; somatic means pertaining to the body.

• son/o: Indicates sound; sonography is the process of recording sound waves for imaging.

• tom/o: Related to cutting; tomography involves creating images in slices to visualize structures.

• viscer/o: Denotes internal organs; visceral refers to the organs within the cavities.

• xer/o: Relates to dryness; xerosis describes abnormal dryness of the skin and membranes.

• -genesis: Indicates forming or producing; pathogenesis refers to the origin of disease.

• -gnosis: Relates to knowing; prognosis predicts the course of a disease.

• -gram: Means record or writing; arteriogram is a record of an artery.

• -graph: Refers to an instrument for recording; radiograph is an instrument that records x-rays.

• -graphy: Pertains to the process of recording; arthrography records images of joints.

• -logist: Signifies a specialist; dermatologist specializes in skin health.

• -logy: Relates to the study of; hematology is the study of blood.

• -meter: Indicates an instrument for measuring; thermometer measures heat.

• -metry: Refers to the act of measuring; ventriculometry measures the brain's ventricles.

• -pathy: Relates to disease; gastropathy describes diseases of the stomach.

• ab-: Denotes away from; abduction is moving away from the midline of the body.

• ad-: Means toward; adduction is moving toward the midline of the body.

• hetero-: Signifies different; heteromorphic indicates different forms.

• homeo-: Refers to same or alike; homeoplasia refers to the formation of the same type of tissue.

• infra-: Denotes below or under; infracostal refers to the area beneath the ribs.

• peri-: Indicates around; periumbilical means around the umbilicus.

• super-: Refers to upper or above; superior pertains to the upper area.

• trans-: Denotes across or through; transabdominal means across or through the abdomen.

• ultra-: Signifies beyond; ultrasonic refers to sound frequencies beyond human hearing.