Untitled Quiz

Medical Word Roots and Suffixes

• bacteri/o: Refers to bacteria, fundamental microscopic organisms crucial in various processes including fermentation and infection.
• bi/o: Represents life, a central concept in biology and medicine that pertains to living organisms.
• carcin/o: Indicates cancer, a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.
• corpor/o: Stands for body, used in terms relating to anatomy and physiology.
• cyst/o: Refers to bladder or pouch, particularly in medical contexts involving the urinary system.
• glomerul/o: Pertains to glomerulus, a network of tiny blood vessels in the kidneys crucial for filtering blood.
• glycos/o: Represents sugar, commonly associated with metabolic processes and diabetes management.
• hem/o & hemat/o: Both terms refer to blood, essential for transporting oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.
• hydr/o: Indicates water, vital for all biological processes and cellular functions.
• iatr/o: Refers to medicine or treatment, often used in medical terminology related to healing.
• idi/o: Represents distinctive, often used to describe unique identifiers or characteristics.
• keton/o: Refers to ketones, which are produced during fat metabolism and are significant in diabetes management.
• lith/o: Indicates stone, often connected to conditions like kidney stones.
• meat/o: Pertains to meatus, typically referring to an opening or passage in anatomy.
• necr/o: Refers to death, often used in the context of necrosis or tissue death.
• nephr/o & ren/o: Both terms refer to the kidney, instrumental in filtering waste from blood and regulating fluid balance.
• noct/i: Relates to night, commonly used in terms describing nighttime conditions or behaviors.
• olig/o: Means scanty, often used to describe insufficient quantities in medical diagnostics.
• peritone/o: Refers to the peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdominal cavity.
• protein/o: Indicates protein, essential macromolecules for the structure, function, and regulation of cells.
• py/o: Represents pus, a sign of infection or inflammation.
• pyel/o: Refers to the renal pelvis, the area where urine collects before it moves to the ureter.
• tox/o: Pertains to poison, often relevant in toxicology and understanding toxins in medicine.
• ur/o & urin/o: Both indicate urine, the liquid waste product of the body.
• ureter/o: Refers to the ureter, the tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
• urethr/o: Indicates urethra, the channel through which urine exits the body.
• ven/o: Refers to vein, the blood vessel carrying blood towards the heart.
• -algia: A suffix denoting pain, important in the diagnosis of various conditions.
• -eal: Pertaining to, often attached to root words to indicate relationships.
• -ectasis: Refers to dilation, commonly associated with conditions like bronchiectasis.
• -emia: Indicates a blood condition, used in terms like anemia or hyperlipidemia.
• -genic: Means producing or originating from, often used in conditions caused by specific factors.
• -graphy: Represents the process of recording, relevant in imaging techniques.
• -lith: Indicates stone, similar to lith/o, relevant in conditions involving calcifications.
• -lithiasis: Pertains to the condition of stones, frequently used in urology.
• -lysis: Means to destroy, used in terms involving the breakdown of substances.
• -megaly: Refers to enlargement, seen in conditions like cardiomegaly.
• -osis: Denotes an abnormal condition, often used to describe disorders or diseases.
• -ous: Pertaining to, usually used as a suffix to describe characteristics.
• -pexy: Indicates surgical fixation, used in various surgical procedures.
• -ptosis: Refers to drooping, often used in context with organ displacement.
• -rrhagia: Means abnormal flow, particularly in reference to bleeding conditions.
• -sclerosis: Refers to hardening, often associated with vascular conditions.
• -stenosis: Indicates narrowing, commonly found in cardiovascular terminology.
• -tripsy: Relates to surgical crushing, often used in procedures to eliminate stones.
• -uria: Indicates a urine condition, frequently seen in urinary diagnostics.
• dys-e: Refers to painful or difficult conditions, used in terms describing dysfunction.
• extra-: Means outside of, often indicating external factors or processes.
• intra-: Refers to within, commonly used in medical contexts describing internal processes.
• poly-: Indicates many, relevant in terms like polyuria (excessive urination).
• retro-: Means backward, often used to describe movements or conditions in the body.
• abdomin/o: Pertains to the abdomen, crucial in discussions about digestive health.
• amni/o: Refers to amnion, the membrane enclosing a fetus during pregnancy.
• carcin/o: Indicates cancer, significant in oncology and related medical fields.
• cervic/o: Refers to cervix, the lower part of the uterus significant in gynecological health.
• chori/o: Pertains to chorion, a fetal membrane important in reproductive biology.
• colp/o: Indicates vagina, crucial in discussions around female reproductive health.
• culd/o: Refers to cul-de-sac, pertinent in gynecological examinations and surgeries.
• dilat/o: Means to widen, often referring to procedures that expand passages.
• embry/o: Pertains to embryo, relevant in developmental biology.
• episi/o: Refers to vulva, significant in discussions of female anatomy.
• fet/o: Relates to fetus, crucial in prenatal development.
• fibr/o: Indicates fibers, important in connective tissue discussions.
• gynec/o: Refers to female, often used in women’s health contexts.
• hymen/o: Pertains to hymen, often discussed in sexual health.
• hyster/o: Indicates uterus, central in reproductive health.
• lact/o: Refers to milk, pertinent in lactation and nutrition studies.
• lapar/o: Pertains to abdomen, often used in surgical contexts.
• later/o: Means side, significant in anatomical studies and descriptions.
• leuk/o: Refers to white, often used in terms relating to blood cell counts or conditions like leukemia.
• mamm/o & mast/o: Both terms refer to the breast, crucial in studies of breast health and diseases.
• men/o: Pertains to menstruation, significant in reproductive health discussions.
• metr/o: Indicates uterus, relevant in gynecological examinations.
• nat/o: Refers to birth, important in obstetrics and delivery.
• oophor/o & ovari/o: Both pertain to ovaries, crucial in discussions of female reproductive health.
• pareun/o: Refers to sexual intercourse, relevant in sexual health contexts.
• pelv/o: Indicates pelvis, significant in anatomical and obstetric studies.
• perine/o: Pertains to perineum, often involved in childbirth discussions.
• radic/o: Refers to root, relevant in anatomical structures.
• rect/o: Indicates rectum, essential in digestive health discussions.
• salping/o: Pertains to uterine tube, crucial in reproduction.
• son/o: Refers to sound, often used in medical imaging like ultrasound.
• uter/o: Indicates uterus, significant in reproductive anatomy.
• vagin/o: Pertains to vagina, essential in women's health discussions.
• vulv/o: Refers to vulva, significant in reproductive health contexts.
• -cele: Represents protrusion, often used in descriptions of hernias.
• -centesis: Means puncture to withdraw fluid, commonly used in various diagnostic procedures.
• -cyesis: Refers to pregnancy, significant in obstetrics.
• -emesis: Indicates vomiting, often seen in digestive disorders.
• -gravida: Refers to pregnant women, important in obstetric terminology.
• -ia: Denotes a condition, often used in medical diagnoses.
• -iasis: Refers to an abnormal condition, often used to describe infections or diseases.
• -ine: Pertains to, commonly used as an adjective in medical terms.
• -lytic: Indicates destruction, often seen in pharmacology regarding medications that break down substances.