Glossary of Word Parts

Home , Cheek, Endothelium, Epithelium, Feces, Nail (anatomy), Rib

Word Part Type Meaning Word Part Type Meaning a- prefi x without, absence -asia suffi x condition of, of, not process of, ab- prefi x away state of abdomin(o)- combining form belly or astr(o)- combining form star abdomen -ate suffi x having, resembling -ac suffi x pertaining to atel(o)- combining form incomplete acanth(o)- combining form “thorn” atri(o)- combining form atrium acar(o)- combining form mite atto- prefi x one quintillionth acoust(o)- combining form sound audi(o)- combining form hearing -ad suffi x toward aur(o)- combining form ear ad- prefi x toward auto- prefi x self aden(o)- combining form gland axi(o)- combining form axis adip(o)- combining form fat azot- root nitrogen adren(o)- combining form adrenal bacteri(o)- combining form bacteria af- prefi x toward baso- prefi x blue agon(o)- combining form to compete, bi- prefi x two competitor bili(o)- combining form bile -al suffi x pertaining to bio- root life -algia suffi x pain -blast suffi x bud, germinal, alg(o)- combining form pain “seed” alges(o)- combining form pain blephar(o)- combining form eyelid aliment(o)- combining form food bol(o)- combining form to throw alveol(o)- combining form alveolus brachi(o)- combining form arm amyl(o)- combining form starch brachy- prefi x short an- prefi x without or not brady- prefi x slow an(o)- combining form anus bronch(o)- combining form bronchus ana- prefi x up, back, again bucc(o)- combining form cheek ang(o)- combining form vessel -cal suffi x pertaining to angi(o)- combining form vessel calc(o)- combining form calcium anis(o)- prefi x unequal canth(o)- combining form angle -ant suffi x one that capn(o)- combining form carbon dioxide ant- prefi x against carcin(o)- combining form cancer ante- prefi x before cardi(o)- combining form heart anter(o)- combining form front or before carp(o)- combining form carpus anti- prefi x against cata- prefi x down, under, aort(o)- combining form aorta against -ar suffi x pertaining to caud(o)- combining form tail arct(o)- combining form constriction cec(o)- combining form cecum arter(o)- combining form artery -cele suffi x protrusion, herniation arthr(o)- combining form joint cellul(o)- combining form cell -ary suffi x pertaining to -centesis suffi x to puncture -ase suffi x enzyme centi- prefi x one hundredth

Word Part Type Meaning Word Part Type Meaning centr(o)- combining form center or central deka- prefi x ten cephal(o)- combining form head dendr(o)- combining form tree, dendrite cerebell(o)- combining form cerebellum dent(o)- combining form teeth cerebr(o)- combining form cerebrum derm(o)- combining form skin cerumin(o)- combining form wax dermat(o)- combining form skin cervic(o)- combining form neck di- prefi x two chez(o)- root feces, defecation dia- prefi x through chole(o)- combining form bile diastol(o)- combining form expansion cholin(o)- combining form acetylcholine dips(o)- combining form thirst chondr(o)- combining form cartilage distichi(o)- combining form double line chrom(o)- combining form color dolich(o)- combining form long chromat(o)- combining form color dont(o)- combining form tooth cid(o)- combining form to kill dors(o)- combining form the back circum- prefi x around duoden(o)- combining form duodenum -clast suffi x to break dur(o)- combining form dura mater -cle suffi x small, diminutive dynam(o)- combining form power co- prefi x together or with dys- prefi x diffi cult or bad coagul(o)- combining form clotting ec- prefi x out coccyg(o)- combining form tail echin(o)- combining form “hedgehog” cochle(o)- combining form cochlea echo- root echo (a returned col(o)- combining form colon sound; i.e., ultrasound) colon(o)- combining form colon -ectasis suffi x expansion or column(o)- combining form column dilation conjunctiv(o)- combining form conjunctiva ecto- prefi x outer, outside contra- prefi x against or opposed, -ectomy suffi x to cut out opposite ef- prefi x away copr(o)- combining form feces electr(o)- combining form electricity cor(o)- combining form pupil -elle suffi x a small corne(o)- combining form cornea -em root blood cornu(o)- combining form horn em- prefi x in, into cortic(o)- combining form cortex emet(o)-/ combining form vomiting cost(o)- combining form rib emes(o)- cox(o)- combining form hip -emia suffi x a blood condition crani(o)- combining form head en- prefi x in, into crin(o)- combining form to secrete encephal(o)- combining form brain crypt(o)- combining form hidden endo- prefi x within cub(o)- combining form cube endotheli(o)- combining form endothelium -cule suffi x small, diminutive -ent suffi x one that cyan(o)- combining form blue enter(o)- combining form intestine -cyesis root pregnancy eosin(o)- combining form red cyst(o)- combining form bladder epi- prefi x upon cyt(o)- combining form cell episi- root vulva -cyte suffi x a cell epitheli(o)- combining form epithelium dactyl(o)- combining form fi ngers/toes -er suffi x one that de- prefi x reverse, remove erg(o)- combining form to work deca- prefi x ten erythemat(o)- combining form red, redness deci- prefi x one tenth erythr(o)- combining form red dect(o)- combining form to bite -esis suffi x condition of, degluti(o)- combining form swallowing process of, state of

Word Part Type Meaning Word Part Type Meaning esophag(o)- combining form esophagus hypo- prefi x below, under, esthes(o)- combining form sensation defi cient estr(o)- combining form estrus hyster(o)- combining form uterus ethm(o)- combining formsieve -i suffi x indicates plural of the root ex- prefi x out -ia suffi x condition of, exo- prefi x out, outside process of, extra- prefi x outside state of femor(o)- combining form femur -iasis suffi x condition of, femto- prefi x one quadrillionth process of, state of fi br(o)- combining form fi ber iatr(o)- combining form “physician” fi brin(o)- combining form fi ber or fi brin -ic suffi x pertaining to fi bul(o)- combining form fi bula -ical suffi x pertaining to gastr(o)- combining form stomach icter(o)- combining form icterus, jaundice gen(o)- combining form to produce -ile suffi x capable, able -genesis suffi x production of ile(o)- combining form ileum gesta- root to bear ili(o)- combining form ilium giga- prefi x billion im- prefi x in, into gingiv(o)- combining form gingiva (“gums”) immun(o)- combining form exempt (immunity) gli(o)- combining form glue -in suffi x one that, presence glomerul(o)- combining form glomerulus of (“a,” “an”) n. gloss(o)- combining form tongue in- prefi x in, into gluc(o)- combining form glucose, sugar infarc(o)- combining form to stuff in glyc(o)- combining form glucose, sugar ino- root fi ber gnath(o)- combining form jaw inter- prefi x between gonad(o)- combining form “seed,” gonads intra- prefi x within -grade suffi x to step -ion suffi x act of, state of, -gram suffi x a recording process of granul(o)- combining form granule ipsi- prefi x same -graph suffi x to record, irid(o)- combining form iris recording of isch(o)- combining form to suppress -graphy suffi x to record, -ism suffi x condition of, recording of process of, haustra- root pouch or sac state of hecto- prefi x hundred is(o)- combining form equal helmin(o)- combining form worm -ist suffi x one who or one hem(o)- combining form blood that, specialist hemat(o)- combining form blood -itis suffi x infl ammation of hemi- prefi x half -ity suffi x a state of hepat(o)- combining form liver -ive suffi x pertaining to heter(o)- combining form other -ize suffi x to cause to be (v.) hist(o)- combining form tissue jejun(o)- combining form jejunum home(o)- combining form like, resembling, kary(o)- combining form nucleus sameness, kerat(o)- combining form “horn” or cornea unchanging (ophthalmology) humer(o)- combining form humerus kilo- prefi x thousand humor(o)- combining form liquid kine(o)- combining form to move hydr(o)- combining form water -kinesis suffi x movement hyper- prefi x excessive, above labi(o)- combining form lips normal

Word Part Type Meaning Word Part Type Meaning lacrim(o)- combining form tears muc(o)- combining form mucus lact(o)- combining form milk multi- prefi x many lamin(o)- combining form lamina muscul(o)- combining form muscle lapar(o)- combining form fl ank, abdomen muta- root change laryng(o)- combining form larynx my(o)- combining form muscle later(o)- combining form side myc(o)- combining form fungus leuk(o)- combining form white myel(o)- combining form marrow lingu(o)- combining form tongue (hematology), spinal cord lip(o)- combining form fat (neurology) lith(o)- combining form stone nano- prefi x one billionth lob(o)- combining form lobe nas(o)- combining form nose log(o)- combining form to study or natri(o)- combining form sodium knowledge necr(o)- combining form death -logy suffi x study of neo- prefi x new lumb(o)- combining form lumbus or lumbar nephr(o)- combining form kidney lymph(o)- combining form lymph neur(o)- combining form nerve lys(o)- combining form destruction, dissolution, neutr(o)- combining form neutral, neutrophil dissolving noci- root injury, to injure -lysis suffi x destruction of noct(o)- combining form night -lytic suffi x pertaining to nom(o)- combining form law, control destruction or nos(o)- combining form disease breakage nucle(o)- combining form nucleus [Gr. “nut”] macro- prefi x large ocul(o)- combining form eye mal- prefi x bad odont(o)- combining form tooth, teeth malac(o)- combining form softening -oid suffi x resembling mast(o)- combining form breast -ole suffi x a small medi(o)- combining form middle olfact(o)- combining form smell medull(o)- combining form marrow olig(o)- prefi x small mega- prefi x large -olus suffi x a small -megaly suffi x enlargement of -oma suffi x tumor or “a melan(o)- combining form black swelling” melen(o)- combining form black oment(o)- combining form omentum mening(o)- combining form meninges -on suffi x pertaining to (adj.), -mere suffi x a part one that (n.) mes(o)- combining form middle onych(o)- combining form nail meta- prefi x after, beyond, ophthalm(o)- combining form eye changed opt(o)- combining form vision metr(o)- combining form measure or -or suffi x pertaining to (adj.), gait or uterus one that (n.) (reproduction) or(o)- combining form mouth -metry suffi x to measure orchi(o)- combining form testicle micro- prefi x small orchid(o)- combining form testicle micro- prefi x one millionth orex(o)- combining form appetite milli- prefi x one thousandth organ(o)- combining form organ mimet(o)- combining form mimic orth(o)- combining form straight mit(o)- combining form thread -ory suffi x pertaining to mono- prefi x one os root bone morph(o)- combining form form

Word Part Type Meaning Word Part Type Meaning -osis suffi x condition of, physi(o)- combining form nature process of, -physis root growth state of phyt(o)- combining form plant or fungus osse(o)- combining form bone pico- prefi x one trillionth oste(o)- combining form bone pil(o)- combining form hair ot(o)- combining form ear pin(o)- combining form to drink -ous suffi x pertaining to plant(o)- combining form sole (sole of ovari(o)- combining form ovary hindfeet of ox(o)- combining form oxygen domestic animals) oxy- prefi x quick plantar(o)- combining form sole (sole of palat(o)- combining form palate hindfeet of domestic animals) palm(o)- combining form palm (sole of forefeet plas(o)- combining form formation of domestic -plasia suffi x formation, growth animals) plasm(o)- combining form matter palmar(o)- combining form palm (sole of -plasty suffi x to form forefeet (reconstructive, of domestic “plastic” surgery) animals) -plegia suffi x paralysis palpebr(o)- combining form eyelid pleur(o)- combining form pleura pan- prefi x all -pnea root breathing pancreat(o)- combining form pancreas pneum(o)- combining form air papill(o)- combining form nipple pneumon(o)- combining form lung para- prefi x near or beyond pod(o)- combining form foot -paresis suffi x weakness poie(o)- combining form to make or to parturi(o)- combining form birth produce path(o)- combining form disease -poiesis suffi x producing, -pathy suffi x a disease of production of -penia suffi x defi ciency of poikil(o)- combining form varied or irregular per- prefi x through pol(o)- combining form pole peri- prefi x around poli(o)- combining form gray peritone(o)- combining form peritoneum pollak- prefi x frequent -pexy suffi x fi xation (i.e., poly- prefi x many or much surgically; post- prefi x after or behind to suture/tack down) poster(o)- combining form after or behind -phage suffi x eating, an eater prandi(o)- combining form meal phag(o)- combining form to eat pre- prefi x before -phagy suffi x eating pro- prefi x before phalang(o)- combining form phalanx proct(o)- combining form rectum pharm- combining form drug prote(o)- combining form protein aceut(o)- prurit(o)- combining form itch pharmac(o)- combining form medicine, drug pseudo- prefi x false pharyng(o)- combining form throat -ptysis suffi x to cough phil(o)- combining form to love, attraction, pulm(o)- combining form lung affi nity for pulmon(o)- combining form lung phleb(o)- combining form vein py(o)- combining form pus phob(o)- combining form fear, aversion, pyel(o)- combining form pelvis intolerance pylor(o)- combining form pylorus phot(o)- combining form light pyr(o)- combining form fi re, fever phren(o)- combining form diaphragm quadri- prefi x four

Word Part Type Meaning Word Part Type Meaning radi(o)- combining form radius or radiation -stasis suffi x a standing still, radicul(o)- combining form root to stop re- prefi x again -static suffi x pertaining to standing still, rect(o)- combining form rectum inhibition ren(o)- combining form kidney steat(o)- combining form fat reticul(o)- combining form net sten(o)- combining form narrow retin(o)- combining form retina stern(o)- combining form sternum retr(o)- combining form backward sthen(o)- combining form strength rhin(o)- combining form nose stomat(o)- combining form mouth rib(o)- combining form RNA -stomy suffi x to create a “mouth” rostr(o)- combining form nose (opening) -rrhage suffi x excessive fl ow, or to sub- prefi x below, under burst forth/escape sym- prefi x together or with -rrhaphy suffi x to suture syn- prefi x together or with -rrhea suffi x excessive fl ow, synap(o)- combining form synapse discharge (connection) rubr(o)- root red systol(o)- combining form contraction sacchar(o)- combining form sugar tachy- prefi x fast sacr(o)- combining form sacrum tars(o)- combining form tarsus scapul(o)- combining form scapula tax(o)- combining form order -schisis suffi x to cleave, a cleft telo- prefi x end schist(o)- combining form split tend(o)- combining form tendon schiz(o)- combining form split ten(o)- combining form tendon scler(o)- combining form sclera, hard tens(o)- combining form pressure, tension scop(o)- combining form to view tera- prefi x trillion -scope suffi x an instrument for terat(o)- combining form monster viewing tetra- prefi x four -scopy suffi x to view, viewing therm(o)- combining form heat, temperature seb(o)- combining form sebum thor(o)- combining form chest semi- prefi x partial thora- root chest sep- root sepsis, decay thorac(o)- combining form chest sial(o)- combining form saliva thromb(o)- combining form clot -sis suffi x condition of, process of, thym(o)- combining form thymus state of thyr(o)- combining form thyroid skelet(o)- combining form skeleton tibi(o)- combining form tibia som(o)- combining form body -tic suffi x pertaining to somat(o)- combining form body -tion suffi x act of, state of, -some suffi x a body process of -spasm suffi x contraction toc(o)- combining form birth spermat(o)- combining form sperm -tome suffi x an instrument for cutting spher(o)- combining form ball -tomy suffi x to cut sphygm(o)- combining form pulse tono- root pressure, tension spin(o)- combining form spine tonsill(o)- combining form tonsil spirat(o)- combining form breathing tors(o)- combining form twist splen(o)- combining form spleen tox(o)- combining form poison, toxin spondyl(o)- combining form vertebra -toxicity suffi x a poisonous state squam(o)- combining form scales trache(o)- combining form trachea -stalsis combining form contraction trans- prefi x across or through

Word Part Type Meaning Word Part Type Meaning tri- prefi x three uve(o)- combining form uvea trich(o)- combining form hair vacu(o)- combining form empty or emptiness trop(o)- combining form infl uence, to turn vas(o)- combining form vessel -trophy suffi x development vascul(o)- combining form vessel tuber- root bump, lump ven(o)- combining form vein tubul(o)- combining form tube, tubule ventr(o)- combining form belly tuss(o)- combining form cough ventricul(o)- combining form ventricle tympan(o)- combining form drum vermin(o)- combining form worm -ule suffi x a small vertebr(o)- combining form vertebra uln(o)- combining form ulna vestibul(o)- combining form vestibule -um suffi x presence of (“a,” viru- root virus “an”) n. viscer(o)- combining form organs or viscera uni- prefi x one vol(o)- combining form volume ur(o)- combining form urine volv(o)- combining form twist urethr(o)- combining form urethra -y suffi x a state, process, urin(o)- combining form urine or condition -us suffi x presence of (“a,” zoo- root animal “an”) n.