Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 1 December 2020
Guide to Common Medical Terminology
There are some helpful techniques you can use to increase your understanding of medical
terminology. Most medical terms contain at least one root, and they may also contain one or
more prefixes or suffixes. This handout will describe how word parts create meaning to provide
a strategy for decoding medical terminology and unfamiliar words in the English language.
Word Parts
If all three word parts are present in medical terminology, they will be in the order of prefix
root word suffix. Look at the following example to understand the function of each word
part:
anti-bacteri-al
As you can see, even if you have never heard of the word “antibacterial,” the word parts
provide clues that it is something that protects against bacteria. Therefore, it can be helpful to
take into consideration the meaning of word parts, in addition to the context of the sentence or
paragraph that the word is in, to decipher an unfamiliar word’s meaning. Also, keep in mind
that while many medical terms contain all three word parts, others will contain varying
combinations such as root/suffix, prefix/root, prefix/suffix, etc. Some words will even contain
two roots, such as osteoarthritis (osteo = bone, arthr = joint). Now let’s look at some of the
most common roots, prefixes, and suffixes used in the different body systems.
The prefix, or the letter or
group of letters before the
root word, is anti-, which
means “against” or
“opposed to.”
The root word, or
the word part that
provides the basic
meaning of the
word, is bacteri,
which means
“bacteria.”
The suffix, or the letter or
group of letters after the
root word, is -al, which
means “pertaining to.”
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
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The Body’s Organization
The body is organized by cells, tissues, organs, and systems.
Word Part: Root
Meaning
Word Part: Prefix
anter/o
front, anterior
epi-
cerv/o
neck
hypo-
chondr/o
cartilage
infra-
cyt/o
cell
leio-
dors/o
back
trans-
gastr/o
stomach
inguin/o
groin
Word Part: Suffix
my/o
muscle
-algia
myel/o
spinal cord
-cyte
neur/o
nerve, neuron
-edema
poster/o
posterior, back
-ic
proxim/o
near
-ium
sarc
flesh
-oid
super/o
superior
-oma
Note: There are additional roots, prefixes, and suffixes that are not included within the tables
throughout this handout; however, the examples will demonstrate how the word parts can be
analyzed to determine the meaning of a word.
Example Terms:
epigastric =
epi
(
upon
)
+ gastr
(
stomach
)
+ ic
(
pertaining to
)
area just above the stomach
hypogastric =
hypo
(
below
)
+ gastr
(
stomach
)
+ ic
(
pertaining to
)
pertaining to below the stomach
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 3 December 2020
The Integumentary System
This system, which protects the body from various kinds of damage, includes the skin, hair,
nails, and sebaceous and sudoriferous glands.
Word Part: Root
Meaning
Word Part: Prefix
Meaning
albin/o
white
an-
without
cirrh/o, jaund/o,
xanth/o
yellow
anti-
against
cutane/o
skin
de-
removal
cyan/o
blue
epi-
upon
cyt/o
cell
hyper-
above normal
derm/o/at/ato
skin
para-
alongside of or abnormal
erythr/o
red
sub-
below or under
fero
to carry
ichthy/o
dry, scaly (fishlike)
Word Part: Suffix
Meaning
kerat/o
hornlike
-cyte
cell
melan/o
black
-derma
skin
myc/o
fungus
-ia
condition
onych/o
nail
-ism
condition
pil/o
hair
-logist
practitioner
scler/o
hardening
-logy
study
seb/o
sebum (oil; fat)
-malacia
softening
sudor/i/
sweat
-oma
tumor
xer/o
dry
-osis
abnormal condition
Example Term:
scleroderma =
sclero
(
hardening
)
+ derma
(
skin
)
chronic hardening and thickening of the skin
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 4 December 2020
The Skeletal System
The skeleton, which includes all the bones and joints, is the basic structure of our body.
Word Part: Root
Meaning
Word Part: Prefix
Meaning
ankyl/o
stiff, fused, closed
amphi-
both sides
arthr/o
joint
syn-
joined together
brachi/o
arm
zygo-
joined (yoked) together
cervic/o
neck
cheir/o
hand
Word Part: Suffix
Meaning
chondr/o
cartilage
-algia
pain
cost/o
rib
-gram
written record of
dactyl/o
finger, toe
-itis
inflammation
lumb/o
lower back
-kinesia
movement
myel/o
bone marrow
-malacia
softening
orth/o
correct, straight
-osis
condition
os/te/o
bone
-plasty
surgical repair
ped/o
foot, child
-porosis
porous
scoli/o
twisted
-scopy
to visually examine
thorac/o
thorax, chest
-sis
condition
Example Terms:
osteoarthritis =
osteo
(
bone
)
+ arthr
(
joint
)
+ itis (inflammation)
degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone
scoliosis =
scolio (twisted) + sis (condition)
lateral curvature of he spine
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 5 December 2020
The Muscular System
This system, which is responsible for movement, posture, and control of certain circulatory
functions, is made up of skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles.
Word Part: Root
Meaning
Word Part: Prefix
Meaning
cardi/o
heart
a-
deficient
fasci/o
fibrous membrane
epi-
around
fibr/o
fiber
hemi-
half
kinesi/o
movement
para-
beside, beyond, near
muscul/o
muscle
quadri-
four
my/o
muscle
orth/o
straight
Word Part: Suffix
Meaning
oste/o
bone
-algia
pain
pedics
child
-dynia
pain
scler/o
hard
-oma
tumor
sthen/o
strength
-osis
abnormal condition
tend/o, tendin/o
tendon
-paresis
partial paralysis
ton/o
tone
-plegia
paralysis
Example Terms:
fibromyalgia =
fibro
(
fiber
)
+ my
(
muscle
)
+ algia (pain)
a disorder that causes widespread pain and tenderness to touch
hemiplegia =
hemi
(
half
)
+ plegia (paralysis)
paralysis of one side of the body
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 6 December 2020
The Nervous System
This system, which is made up of the central and peripheral nervous system, coordinates the
body’s involuntary and voluntary actions.
Word Part: Root
Meaning
Word Part: Prefix
Meaning
cephal/o
head
an-
without
cerebell/o
the cerebellum
di-
two
cerebr/o
the cerebrum; the brain
hemi-
half
cortic/o
outer layer or covering
myel/o-
bone marrow; spinal
cord
encephal/o
brain
esthesi/o
sensation
Word Part: Suffix
Meaning
gli/o
glue
-ia
condition of
hydr/o
water
-itis
inflammation
iatr/o
physician; to treat
-mnesia
memory
meningi/o
a membrane
-oid
like
ment/o
referring to the mind
-paresis
weakness, loss of
movement
schiz/o
to split
-phasia
speech
psych/o
referring to the mind
-plegia
paralysis
Example Terms:
anesthesia =
an
(
without
)
+ esthesi
(
sensation
)
+ ia (condition of)
a condition of absence of sensation
encephalitis =
encephal
(
brain
)
+ itis
(
inflammation
)
inflammation of the brain
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 7 December 2020
The Endocrine System
This system, which consists of glands that produce hormones, works with the nervous system
to maintain the body’s homeostasis.
Word Part: Root
Meaning
Word Part: Prefix
Meaning
acr/o
extremities
anti-
against or opposed to
aden/o
gland
epi-
upon
adren/o, adrenal/o
adrenal glands
hypo-
below or deficient
calc/i
calcium
para-
alongside of or
abnormal
crin/o
to separate or secrete
endocrin/o
endocrine
Word Part: Suffix
Meaning
gluc/o, glyc/o/s
sugar, glucose,
glycogen
-itis
inflammation
hypophys/o
pituitary gland
-megaly
enlargement
pancreat/o
pancreas
-oma
tumor
parathyr/o,
parathyroid/o
parathyroid gland
-tropin
nourishment;
stimulation
thyr/o, thyroid/o
thyroid gland
-uria
urine
Example Terms:
glycosuria =
glycos
(
sugar
)
+ uria (urine)
sugar in the urine
thyroiditis =
thyroid
(
thyroid gland
)
+ itis (inflammation)
inflammation of the thyroid gland
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 8 December 2020
The Cardiovascular System
This system, which carries oxygen and nutrients through the blood, includes the heart, blood,
and blood vessels.
Word Part: Root
Meaning
Word Part: Prefix
Meaning
angi/o
vessel
bi-
two
arteri/o
artery
brady-
slow
ather/o
fatty
endo-
inner, inside
atri/o
atrium
epi-
upon
cardi/o
heart
hypo-
below or deficient
coron/o
crown; encircling
peri-
around, surrounding
hem/o, hemat/o
blood
tachy-
fast
isch
restricted, narrowed
tri-
three
my/o
muscle
ox/o
oxygen
Word Part: Suffix
Meaning
phleb/o
vein
-ectasis
dilation
thromb/o
clot
-emia
blood condition
varic/o
dilated
-ia
condition
vas/o
vessel
-pathy
disease
ven/o
vein
-stenosis
a narrowing
Example Terms:
bradycardia =
brady
(
slow
)
+ cardi
(
heart
)
+ ia (condition)
abnormally slow heartbeat
hypoxemia =
hypo
(
below or deficient
)
+ ox
(
oxygen
)
+ emia (blood condition)
low level of oxygen in blood
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 9 December 2020
The Lymphatic System and Immunity
The lymphatic system is responsible for protecting the body from infection, maintaining a
balance of fluids, and absorbing fats. It also consists of organs, tissues, and vessels.
Word Part: Root
Meaning
Word Part: Prefix
aden/o
gland
anti-
hem/o
blood
auto-
immun/o
immune system
mono-
leuk/o
white
macro-
lymphaden/o
lymph nodes
micro-
lymphangi/o
lymph vessels
lymph/o, lymphat/o
lymph or lymphatic
system
Word Part: Suffix
path/o
disease
-edema
phag/o
ingest or engulf
-itis
splen/o
spleen
-megaly
thym/o
thymus
-osis
tonsill/o
lymph node, usually
palatine tonsil
-pathy
Example Terms:
lymphedema =
lymph
(
lymph or lymphatic system
)
+ edema (swelling)
lymph tissue swelling
tonsillitis =
tonsill
(
tonsils
)
+ itis
(
inflammation
)
inflammation of a tonsil
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 10 December 2020
The Respiratory System
This system, which supplies oxygen to the cells and removes carbon dioxide, consists of the
nose, pharynx, larynx, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, and lungs.
Example Terms:
apnea =
a
(
without
)
+ pnea
(
breathing
)
absence of breathing
hypoxia =
hypo
(
below or deficient
)
+ ox
(
oxygen
)
+ ia (condition of)
low level of oxygen in tissue
Word Part: Root
Meaning
Word Part: Prefix
Meaning
bronch/o, bronchi/o
bronchus
a-
without
laryng/o
larynx
brady-
slow
nas/o, rhin/o
nose
bronch/o-, bronch/i-
bronchus
or/o
mouth, opening
dys-
difficult
ox/o
oxygen
hypo-
below or deficient
phren/o
diaphragm
super-, supra-
above or excessive
pleur/o
pleura
pneum/o, pneumon/o
air, lung
Word Part: Suffix
Meaning
pulmon/o
lung
-ia
condition of
sinus/o
sinus cavity
-oxia
oxygen
thorac/o, thorac/i,
thoracic/o
thorax, chest
-phonia
voice
trache/o
trachea
-pnea
breathing
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 11 December 2020
The Digestive System
This system, which allows the body to absorb nutrients from food and fluids, consists of the
tract from the oral cavity to the anus.
Word Part: Root
Meaning
Word Part: Prefix
bucc/o
cheek
anti-
cheil/o
lip
dys-
cholecyst/o
gallbladder
hyper-
dent/i, dent/o
teeth
enter/o
intestine
Word Part: Suffix
gastr/o
stomach
-cele
gingiv/o
gums
-emesis
gloss/o
tongue
-ia
hepat/o
liver
-lith
phag/o
eating, swallowing
-pepsia
proct/o
anus and rectum
-phagia
sial/o
salivary glands
-scope
examination
stomat/o
mouth
-scopy
Example Terms:
dysphagia =
dys
(
difficulty
)
+ phag
(
eating, swallowing
)
+ ia (condition of)
excessive vomiting
hyperemesis =
hyper
(
excessive
)
+ emesis (vomit)
excessive vomiting
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 12 December 2020
The Urinary System
This system, which removes wastes and toxins from the body, consists of the kidneys, ureters,
urinary bladder, and urethra.
Word Part: Root
Meaning
Word Part: Prefix
Meaning
cyst/o
bladder
an-
without
glomerul/o
glomerulus
dys-
difficult
lith/o
stone
peri-
around
nephr/o, ren/o
kidney
poly-
much, many
noct/o
night
retro-
backward, behind
olig/o
little, few
py/o
pus
Word Part: Suffix
Meaning
pyel/o
pelvis
-algia
pain
ur/o, urin/o
urine
-ectomy
removal
ureter/o
ureter
-ia
condition
urethr/o
urethra
-lith
stone
-megaly
enlargement
Example Terms:
dysuria =
dys
(
difficult
)
+ ur
(
urine
)
+ ia (condition)
difficult or painful urination
nephrectomy =
nephr
(
kidney
)
+ ectomy (removal)
surgical removal of a kidney
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 13 December 2020
The Reproductive System
This system, which allows us to perpetuate life, includes the reproductive organs.
Word Part: Root
Meaning
Word Part: Prefix
Meaning
balan/o
glans penis
a-
without
cervic/o
cervix
dys-
painful, difficult
circum/o
around
hydro-
water
colp/o, vagin/o
vagina
neo-
new
gonad/o
gonads, sex glands
pre-, pro-
before
gynec/o
woman, female
re-
again
lact/o
milk
mast/o, mamm/o
breast
Word Part: Suffix
Meaning
men/o
menstruation
-cele
hernia
nat/o
birth
-ectomy
excision
oophor/o, oo
ovary, egg
-genesis
production
ovari/o
ovary
-osis
process
prostat/o
prostate gland
-pathy
disease
salping/o
tube, fallopian tube
-plasty
surgical repair
uter/o, hyster/o,
metr/o
uterus
-rrhea
flowing, discharge
vas/o
vessel, vas deferens
-sterone
steroid hormone
Example Terms:
dysmenorrhea =
dys
(
painful
)
+ meno
(
menstruation
)
+ rrhea (discharge)
painful menstruation
hysterectomy =
hyster
(
uterus
)
+ ectomy (excision)
removal of the uterus
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 14 December 2020
Sense of Sight and Hearing
Certain root words are associated with the organs that process sight and sound.
Sense of Sight
Word Part: Prefix
Word Part: Root
Meaning
a-
blephar/o
eyelid
auri-
dacry/o
tears, lacrima
extra-
dipl/o
two, double
hyper-
ocul/o
eye
presby-
opt/o
light, eye, vision
sensor-
retin/o
retina
Word Part: Suffix
Sense of Hearing
-cele
Word Part: Root
Meaning
-ectomy
acous/o, acus/o, acoust/o
hearing
-itis
audi/o
sound
-lith
aur/o
ear
-opia
auricul/o
ear
-plegia
ot/o
ear
-ptosis
displacement
tympan/o
eardrum
-rrhea
Example Terms:
diplopia =
dipl
(
double
)
+ opia (vision)
double vision
retinitis =
retin (retina) + itis (inflammation)
inflammation of the retina
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 15 December 2020
Additional Resources
To provide you with additional practice to learn medical terminology, the Academic Center for
Excellence suggests using the following resources:
• Nursing Root Words Flashcards
https://www.studystack.com/flashcard-689838
This site can help you learn nursing terminology root words using a variety of methods
including flashcards, matching games, hangman, crossword puzzles, and quizzes.
• Pronunciation Guide for Medical Terminology
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/pronunciations
Students can click on selected medical terminology to hear the correct pronunciation.
• The PenguinProf Medical Terminology Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fiEszFPRE8
This video simplifies breaking down medical terminology by prefixes, roots, and suffixes
and provides visual aids, along with the explanations.
• OchsNurse Medical Terminology Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul2lRQGuhwc
In this video, you will learn how to break down common medical terminology with
simple, straightforward explanations.
• The Language of Medicine by Davi-Ellen Chabner and Evolve Study Resources
https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323370813?role=student
This book includes colorful illustrations, practical exercises, pronunciation guides, and
content reviews. The chapters are organized by body systems, and words are broken
down into simple explanations by prefixes, roots, and suffixes. The Evolve Study
Resource that accompanies the book can be used online to do interactive activities,
games, quizzes, and flash cards.
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 16 December 2020
• Medical Terminology: A Short Course by Davi-Ellen Chabner and Evolve Study
Resource
https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323444927?role=student
In this book, you will be guided through the process of learning the most common
prefixes, roots, and suffixes by labeling diagrams, practicing pronunciation, and
completing reviews. Case studies demonstrate how the medical terms are used in
practice. There is also an English to Spanish glossary to help Spanish-speaking students
translate common medical terms. This book provides access to the Evolve website,
which includes word games, learning exercises, audio pronunciations, animations, an
anatomy coloring book, and electronic flash cards.
Charts adapted from Collins, C. E. (2014) A short course in medical terminology (3rd ed.).
Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.