Human Anatomy & Physiology: Latin and Greek Word-Part List (prefixes, suffixes, roots)
Students of any biology course should learn to recognize the meaning of word parts as they often give clues to the meaning of a scientific term, function, or process.
Science terminology is predominately based in the Latin and Greek languages.
The following list of prefixes, suffixes, and roots will be used in this and most Biology (bio = life, logy = study of) courses.
To help with pronunciation, word parts need to be linked together. The linkage for many word parts is “o”. For example, linking the root “cardi” with the suffix “-pathy”
would make the word difficult to pronounce; therefore an “o” is used to link the root with the suffix. The completed word is written “cardiopathy” and pronounced kar-de-
op-ah-the (heart disease).
Accurate spelling of each work is also important. Changing one letter may change the word part and its meaning. Examples include: “ileum” is a part of the small
intestine & “ilium” is a bone in the hips, “ped” refers to the foot & “pedia” refers to children, “ab” means away & “ad” means toward. Finding a word in a dictionary,
glossary, or index requires a knowledge of spelling – at least the beginning of a word. For example, pneumonia and psychology have a silent “p”.
By the end of this course you should be able to: (1) Understand the importance of medical terminology and how it can be incorporated into the study of the human body,
(2) Differentiate between a prefix, suffix, word root, and a compound term, (3) Link word parts to form medical terms, (4) Differentiate between singular and plural endings
of medical terms, (5) Dissect (cut) compound medical terms into parts to analyze their meaning, and (6) Recognize and pronounce commonly used prefixes, suffixes,
and root words used in medical terminology. The last page of this “Word Part” packet has a list of singular and plurals word forms.
Word Part #1
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
a-, an, non
Without, Not
Apnea, Anuria, Nonstriated
Not breathing, Without urine, Muscle not striated
ab-, ef-
Away
Abductor muscle, Efferent Neuron
Muscle pulling away from midline (deltoid), Carrying info away from brain
ad-, af-
Toward
Afferent neuron, Adductor muscle
Carry info toward brain, Muscle pulling toward midline (groin)
adi-, lip(o)-
Fat
Adipose, Liposuction
Fat tissue, Removing (by suction) fat from the body
-alg
Pain
Neuralgia, Fibromyalgia
Nerve pain, Muscle pain
ana-
Up
Anabolic reaction
Building up molecules (bonding amino acids together to make proteins)
ang(i)-
Vessel
Angiogenesis, Vasodialator
Making of a new blood vessel, Medicines that widen a vessel
ante-, pre-, pro-
Before
Prenatal, Antebrachial, Promonocyte
Before birth, Before the upper arm, Before the monocyte is mature
anti-, contra-
Against, Resisting
Antibody, Contraception
Resisting a foreign body (pathogen), Against conception (egg + sperm)
aqua(e)-, hydr
Water
Aqueous, hydrocephalus
Water solution, Water (cerebral spinal fluid – CSF) on the brain
arthr(o), artic-
Joint
Arthritis, Articulation
Joint inflammation, Joint (where two bones meet)
-ase
Enzyme
Maltase, Lipase
Enzyme breaking down maltose, Enzyme breaking down lipids/fats
audi-
Hear
Auditory nerve
Nerve connecting the ear to the brain
aut(o)-
Self
Autoimmunity
Self-immunity (when a persons antibodies attack its own cells/tissues)
bi-, di-, diplo-
Two
Bicuspid, Diencephalon, Diplococcus
2 pointed (tooth or heart valve), 2 parts within the brain, 2 round bacteria
brachy-, brev(i)-
Short
Brachydactyly, Fibularis brevis
Short digits (toes or fingers), Short muscle in the lower leg
brady-
Slow
Bradycardia
Slower than normal heart rate
bronch-
Airway
Bronchitis
Airway (bronchus – tube entering lungs) inflammation
card-
Heart
Cardiology
Study of the heart
cat-
Down
Catabolic reaction
Breaking down molecules (protein bonds being broken to form amino acids)
Word Quiz #2
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
cent-
100, 100th
Century, Centigram
100 years, 1/100
th
of a gram
-centesis
Puncture
Amniocentesis
Puncture to aspirate (remove) amniotic fluid from amniotic sac
cephal-, -ceps
Head
Hydrocephalus, Biceps femoris
Water in brain (in the head), 2-headed (2 tendons) muscle by femur
chol-, cystic
Gallbladder
Cholecystokinin, Cystic duct
Hormone causing gallbladder contraction, Tube (for bile) from gallbladder
chondr-
Cartilage
Chrondrocyte
Cartilage cell
-cide
Kill
Spermacide
Sperm killer
circ-, peri-
Around
Circumcision, Periodontal
Cut around (ex. male foreskin), Around the teeth
-clast
Break, Destroy
Osteoclast
Bone breaker (cells that destroy cells, thus shaping a bone)
co-, con-, sym-, syn-, sys-
Together, With
Congenital, Synthesis, System
Born with, Put together, Organs working together
coel-, sinu-
Cavity, Space
Coelom, Frontal sinus
Body cavity, Space in the frontal bone
Word Part #3
Word Part
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
corp-, soma-
Corpus luteum, Somatic cell
Yellow body (former follicle in ovary), Body cell (all non-sex cells)
-crine
Endocrine gland
Glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
cut, derm
Subcutaneous, Dermatitis
Below the skin, Skin inflammation
cyan-
Cyanosis
Condition causing skin to turn blue (due to low oxygen levels)
-cyte
Leukocyte
White blood cell
dactyl, digit
Syndactyly
Fingers or Toes that are together (webbed)
dec(k)
Decade, Dekagram, Deciliter
10 years, 10 grams, 1/10
th
of a liter
dent, dont
Dentalgia, Orthodontist
Tooth pain, Doctor that straightens teeth
dia-, per-, trans-
Diarrhea, Permaeable, Transcutaneous
Flow through (intestines), Across a membrane, Across skin
dys-, mal-
Dyspnea, Malnutrition, Malabsorption
Difficult breathing, Bad nutrition/diet, Poor nutrient absorption
Word Part #4
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
-ectomy, -tom, -sect
Cut, Cut out
Appendectomy, Lobotomy, Dissect
Cut out appendix, Cut out cerebral (brain) lobe, Cut in two
ectop-
Displaced
Ectopic pregnancy
Displaced pregnancy (embryo implant outside uterus – usually oviduct)
edem-
Swelling
Lymphedema
Swelling of tissues due to the accumulation of lymph
-emesis
Vomiting
Hyperemesis
Excessive vomiting
-emia
Blood condition
Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar
en, endo-, intra-
Inside, Within
Endosteum, Intraocular
Cavity/space inside a bone, Inside the orbit or eye socket
epi-
Upon, Over, Above
Epidermis, Epididymis
Layer of skin over the dermis, Coiled tubes above the testes
equi-, homo-, iso-
Same, Equal, Balanced
Homeostasis, Isotonic
Constant internal balance (of body functions), Equal solute (ICF & ECF)
erythr-
Red
Erythrocyte
Red blood cell
-esthe
Sensation
Anesthesia
With sensation or feeling
Word Part #5
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
ex-, ecto-
Outside
Extracelluar fluid
Solute/fluid located outside of cells
fasci-
Bundle
Muscle or nerve fascicle
A bundle or grouping of muscle or nerve cells
foram-
Opening
Infraorbital foramen
An opening in the bone below the eye for nerves & vessels to pass
gastr-
Stomach
Gastric bypass surgery
Surgery for obese patients to dramatically reduce stomach size
-gen, poie-, blast
Create, Form
Oogenesis, Hemopoiesis, Osteoblast
Create an egg, Form new blood cells, Make new bone cells
ger (o, i) -
Aging, Old
Gerontology, Geriatrics
Study of aging, Branch of medicine dealing with older patients
glom-
Ball
Glomerulus
A ball of capillaries in the kidney where metabolic waste is filtered
gloss/tt, lingu
Tongue
Hypoglossal, Sublingual
Cranial nerve connected under the tongue, Salivary gland under tongue
gluc-, gly, -ose
Sugar
Glucose, Glycogen
Monosaccharide of carbohydrates (sugars), Big molecule made of glucose
gyn
Woman
Gynecologist
Doctor specializing in the treatment of females & their repro system
Word Part #6
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
-gram
Something written
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Print out of the electrical activity of the heart
-graph
Writing apparatus
Electrocardiograph
Apparatus/machine used to make an electrocardiogram
-graphy
Use of writing apparatus
Electrocardiography
The use of the electrocardiograph
hem-
Blood
Hemothorax
Blood that has leaked into the chest cavity
hemi-, semi-
Half
Cerebral hemisphere
One half of the brain (left or right cerebral hemisphere)
hepat-
Liver
Hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver (usually caused by viral infection)
hex-
Six
Hexose
A sugar containing 6 carbons (glucose = C
6
H
12
O
6
)
hist-
Tissue
Histology
Study of tissues
hyper-
Over, Excessive
Hypertonic, Hyperesthesia
Greater solute concentration, Excessive/over sensitivity
hypo-, infra-, infer-,sub-
Under, Below, Less
Hypotonic, Infraorbital, Inferior, submandibular
Lesser solute concentration, below eye, under the jaw
Word Part #7
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
hyster-, metr-
Uterus
Hysterectomy, Endometrium
Cutting out of uterus, Inner lining of uterus (lost each month in females)
-iasis, -osis
Condition of
Cholelithiasis, Nephrosis
Having gallstones, Kidney disorder
-itis
Inflammation of
Appendicitis
Inflammation (swelling, redness, warmth, & pain) of the appendix
inter-
Between
Interstitial Fluid
An extracellular fluid found between cells
kilo-, milli-
1000, 1000
th
Kilogram, Milligram
1000 grams, 1000
th
of a gram
kin-
To move, Divide
Kinesiology, Cytokinesis
Study of body movement (mechanics of muscles), Cell Division
lact-
Milk
Lactose
Milk sugar
lapar-
Abdomen
Laparscopy
Abdomen viewed (small holes in abdomen replace large surgical incisions)
leuk(c)-
White
Leucopoeisis
The making of white blood cells (wbc’s)
lig-
Connect, Bind
Ligaments, Ligase
Connective tissue joining bone to bone, Enzyme that forms bonds
Word Part #8
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
-logy, -ist, -ician
Study of, Specialist
Cardiology, Pharmacist, Dietician
Study of heart, Drug/medicinal specialist, Nutrition specialist
lys, lyze
Break apart, Dissolve
Hydrolysis, Lysosome
Breaking down macromolecules, Organelle that digests/dissolves
macr-, mega, magn-
Large
Macrophage, Magnum foramen
Big WBC that eats/digests, Large opening in skull for spinal cord
mamm-, mass-, pect-
Breast, Chest
Mammary, Massectomy, Pectoralis
Breast tissue, Breast removal, Chest muscle
-mania
Obsession, Compulsion
Kleptomania
Compulsion to steal
med-, meso-, meta-
Middle
Mediastinum, Mesoderm, Metaphase
Middle space of chest cavity, Middle germ layer, Chromosomes in middle
-megaly
Enlargement
Splenomegaly
Enlargement of the spleen (usually due to infection)
melano-
Black
Melanocyte
Black pigmented cells of the skin
mens-
Month
Menstrual cycle
The ≈28 day cycle involving the endometrium of the uterus
-metric, -meter
Measurement, Length
Isometric, Spirometer
Using skeletal muscle w/o movement, Breathing/air measurement
Word Part #9
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
micro-, -ole, -ule
Small
Microscope, Arteriole, Venule
Apparatus used to view small objects, Small artery, Small vein
mnem-
Memory
Amnesia
Loss of memory
mono-, uni-
One
Monozygotic, Unicellular
Twins coming from the same zygote (identical), 1-celled organism
morph, -plasty
Shape
Morphology, Rhinoplasty
Differentiating/distinguishing by shape, Nose shaping (surgical repair)
mort, necr-
Death
Post mortem, Necrotic tissue
After death, dead tissue
multi-, poly-
Many
Multinucleate, Polysaccharide
Many nuclei (ex. Skeletal muscle), Many monosaccharides
mut-
Change
Mutation
Any change in the sequence of DNA
myo-
Muscle
Myopathy, Myofibril
Muscle disease, Skeletal muscle cell
nas-, rhin
Nose
Nasal septum, Rhinovirus
Division/wall in the nasal cavity, Virus frequently infecting the nose
nat-
Birth
Prenatal
Before birth
Word Part #10
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
neo-
New
Neonatal
Newborn
nephr-, ren
Kidney
Nephrosclerosis, Renal vein
Hardening of the kidney, Vessel carrying blood away from kidney
o(o), ovi
Egg
Oophorectomy, Oviduct
Removal of ovary (egg maker), Tube transporting egg to uterus
oct
Eight
Octet rule
Atoms’ desire to fill its outer shell with 8 electrons (allows bonding)
ocu, ophth, opt, orbit
Eye
Orbicularis occuli, Ophthalmologist
Muscle around eye (allows winking), Eye doctor
-oid
Resembling, Shape of
Sigmoid colon
S-shaped (end of colon, connects to rectum)
olig-
Little, Few
Oliguria
Very little urine produced
-oma, onco
Tumor
Melanoma, Oncologist
Tumor in the melanocytes of the skin, Tumor specialist
-opia
Vision
Hyperopia
Farsightedness (can see distance well, vision is blurry up close)
or(a)
Mouth
Orbicularis oris
Muscle around the mouth (allows puckering)
Word Part #11
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
-scopy
To view, See
Arthroscopic surgery
Inserting a camera into a joint to aid in surgery
ost-
Bone
Osteoblast, Osteomyelitis
Maker of new bone cells, Bone infection
-ostomy
Make an opening
Tracheostomy
Make an opening in the trachea/windpipe – due to blocked pharynx/throat)
ot
Ear
Otoscope
Instrument used to view the ear
palp, tact
Touch, Feel
Palpate, Tactile
Feeling for physical abnormalities (bumps, hardness, swelling, etc.)
para
Beside
Parathyroid glands
Small glands imbedded into the sides of the thyroid gland (in neck)
path
Disease
Pathogenic bacteria
Disease causing bacteria (tetanus, E. coli, streptococcus, etc.)
ped, pod
Foot, Feet
Pedal, Podiatrist
Involving the foot, Foot specialist
pent
Five
Pentose
5 carbon sugar (deoxyribose, ribose)
phago
Eat, Feed
Phagocyte
Eating cell (ex. – WBC’s engulfing bacteria & dead cells)
Word Part #12
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
pharm
Drug
Psychopharmic
Drugs that affect the mind
-phasia
Speech
Dysphagia
Difficulty speaking
phleb
Vein
Phlebotomist
One who specializes in drawing blood
photo, lumen
Light
Photoreceptor, Gastric lumen
Light sensitive cells of the eye, Space where digested food travels
phobia, phobe
Fear
Hydrophobia
Fear of water (HAPoexaminophobe – One who fears HAP tests)
phys
Function
Physiology
Study of how something functions
-plasia
Growth, Formation
Hyperplasia
Excessive growth (tumor)
plegia
Paralysis
Quadriplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs
pnea, spir
Breathing
Apnea ,Inspire
Moments of breathing cessation (usually during sleep), Breathing in
pneum, pulmon
Lungs, Air
Pneumothorax, Pulmonary embolus
Air seeping into chest cavity, A blood clot stuck in the lungs
Word Part #13
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
post
After
Post natal
After birth
prim
First
Primary bronchus
First branching of the airway beyond the trachea
proct
Rectum, Anus
Proctoscope, Proctologist
Apparatus used to view the rectum, Colon-Rectum-Anus specialist
pseudo
False
Pseudounipolar neuron
Neuron common in the eye
psych, phren, -noia
Mind
Psychosis, Scizzophrenia
General term for conditions affecting the brain, Split mind
quad, tetra
Four
Quadriceps, Tetralogy of Fallot
The 4 large muscles (of the ventral thigh), 4 conditions of “blue babies”
re-, retro
Back, Again, Past
Reinfect, Retrograde amnesia
To become infected again, Inability to remember events of the recent past
-rrhea
Flow, Discharge
Diarrhea, Otorrhea
Flow through (feces through intestines), Ear discharge
schlero
Hard (ening)
Arteriosclerosis, Scleroderma
Hardening of the arteries, Hardening of the skin (and other tissues)
sept, tox
Poison, Contaminate
Antiseptic, Cytotoxin
Against poison (germ killer – lysol), Cell poison
Word Part #14
Word Part
Meaning
Example(s)
Meaning of Example(s)
sten
Narrowing
Pyloric stenosis
Narrowing of the distal stomach where it feeds into the small intestinge
strat
Layer
Stratified squamous epithelia
Many layers of flat cells (the skin is an example)
super, supra
Above, Over
Superier vena cava, Supraorbital
Veins bringing blood from above the heart, Over the eye
tachy
Fast
Tachycardia
Faster than normal heart rate
-tension
Pressure
Hypertension
High blood pressure (pressure exerted on artery walls)
therm
Heat
Thermoreceptor
Nerve receptors that detect changes in temperature
thromb
Clot
Thrombocyte
Clotting cell (also called a platelet)
-tonic
Strength
Isotonic
Equal concentration of solute between ICF and ECF
tri-, tert-
Three, Third
Triglyceride, Tertiary bronchus
Lipid containing a glycerol & 3 fatty acids, 3
rd
division off trachea (airway)
zyg
Union
Zygote
Union of egg and sperm
☺ The following information will be helpful to you but will not be on any of the weekly word part quizzes.
Singular Plural
-us (thrombus, nucleus) -i (thrombi, nuclei)
-a (ampulla) -ae (ampullae)
-ix, -ex (appendix, cortex) -ices (appendices, cortices)
-ax (thorax) -aces (thoraces)
-ur (femur) -ora (femora)
-on (mitochondrion), -um (flagellum) -a (mitochondria, flagella)
-en (lumen, foramen) -ena or –ina (lumena, foramina)
-is (neurosis) -es (neuroses)