Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots Flashcards
-able
capable of
-ac
pertaining to
-acious
characterized by
-acusis
hearing
-ago
condition
-agogue
producer, leader
-agra
severe pain
-aise
comfort
-al
pertaining to
-algesia
pain sensitivity
-algia
pain
-an
characteristic of
-ancy
state of
-apheresis
separation, removal
-ar
pertaining to
-aria
connected with
-ary
pertaining to
-ase
enzyme
-assay
analyzing
-asthenia
weakness
-atresia
closure, occlusiong
-basia
walking
-blast
forming cell
-boulia
will
-bulia
will
-calculia
calculating
-calculus
stones
-capnia
carbon dioxide
-cataphasia
affirmation
-cathisia
sitting
-cele
herniation
-centesis
surgical puncture
-ceps
head
-chalasia
relaxation
-chezia, -chesia
defecation
-chroia
skin coloration
-cide
killing
-clasis, -clasia
breaking
-clast
destroying cell
-clonus
violent action
-clysis
irrigation, washing
-coccus
berry-shaped bacterium
-coimesis
sleeping
-coma
deep sleep
-crasia
mixture, temperament
-crit
separate
-cusis
hearing
-cyesis
pregnancy
-cytic
pertaining to cells
-cytosis
condition of cells
-dema
swelling (fluid)
-desis
surgical binding, union
-didymus
conjoined twin
-dilation
widening, stretching
-dote
what is given
-drome
running
-duct
opening
-dural
pertaining to the dura mater
-dynia
pain
-eal
pertaining to
-ectasis, -ectasia
dilation, expansion
-ectomy
surgical removal
-ectopy
displacement
-edema
swelling
-emesis
vomiting
-emia
blood condition
-emphraxis
stoppage, obstruction
-esis
condition
-esthesia
feeling
-eurysm
widening
-facient
to cause, to make happen
-ferent
carrying
-ferous
producing
-fic
making, producing
-fication
process of producing
-fida
split
-form
shape
-fuge
separating, expelling
-fusion
pour
-gen
producing
-gene
production, origin
-genesis
production
-genic
producing
-genous
producing
-geusia
taste
-globin
protein
-gnosia
knowledge
-gog, -gogue
make flow
-grade
step
-gram
written record
-graph
instrument for recording
-graphy
process of recording
-gravida
pregnant woman
-hexia
disease
-ia
abnormal condition
-ial
pertaining to
-ian
specialist
-iasis
condition
-iatrist
specialist
-ician
specialist
-iferous
bearing, producing
-ific
producing
-igo
attack, condition
-ile
capable of
-ine
pertaining to
-ion
action, process
-ior
pertaining to
-ism
condition
-ismus
spasm
-ist
specialist
-itis
inflammation
-ium
structure
-ive
tends to
-ize
to make, to treat
-kathisia
sitting
-kinesia, -kinesis
movement
-kinetic
movement
-labile
unstable, perishable
-lalie
speech, babble
-lapse
to slide, sag
-legia
reading
-lemma
confining membrane
-lepsy
seizure
-lexia
speech, word
-lipsis
omission, failure
-listhesis
slipping
-logist
specialist
-logue
word, speech, thought
-logy
study of
-lucent
light-admitting
-lysis
dissolution, breakdown
-lyst
agent that causes destruction
-malacia
softening
-mania
madness, obsession
-masesis
mastication (chewing)
-megaly
enlargement
-meter
instrument for measuring
-metrist
one who measures
-metry
process of measuring
-mimesis
imitation
-mission
to send
-mnesia
memory
-motor
movement
-necrosis
tissue death
-noia
mind, will
-oid
resembling
-ole
small
-ologist
one who studies
-ology
study of
-oma
tumor
-one
hormone
-opaque
obscure
-opia, -opsia
vision
-opsy
to view
-orexia
appetite
-ory
pertaining to
-ose
suffix denoting carbohydrate
-osis
condition
-osmia
smell, odor
-ostomy
surgical opening
-ostosis
condition of bone
-otia
ear condition
-otomy
surgical incision
-oxia
oxygen condition
-pagus
conjoined twins
-para
to give birth
-para, -parous
to bear, bring forth
-paresi
partial paralysis
-paresis
partial paralysis
-pareunia
sexual intercourse
-parous
having one or more children
-partum
childbirth
-pause
cessation
-pella
pelvis
-penia
deficiency
-pepsia
digestion
-petal
moving toward
-pexy
fixation
-phage
cell that eats
-phagia
eating
-phasia
speech
-pheresis
removal
-phil, -philia
attraction, affinity for
-phobia, phob/o
fear
-phore
bearer, processor
-phoresis
bearing, transmission
-phoria
feeling
-phthisis
wasting away
-phylactic
protective
-phylaxis
protection
-phyma
tumor
-physis
growth
-plasia
growth
-plasm
formation, growth
-plastic
pertaining to formation
-plasty
surgical repair
-plegia
paralysis
-ploid, -ploidy
number of chromosome sets
-pnea
breathing
-poiesis
formation
-pore, por/o
opening, passageway
-porosis
porous
-posia
drinking
-prandial
meal
-praxia
action, activity
-privia
loss, deprivation
-pterygium
abnormality of the conjunctiva
-ptosis
prolapse, drooping
-ptysis
spitting
-puncture
puncture
-receptor, -ceptor
receiver
-rrhagia, -rrhage
excessive flow, discharge
-rrhaphy
suture
-rrhea
flow, discharge
-rrhexis
rupture
-salpinx
fallopian tube
-sarcoma
cancer of connective tissue
-scelia
leg
-schisis
split, cleft
-sclerosis
hardening
-scopy
visual examination
-sect
cut
-sepsis
putrefying (decaying with odor)
-sis
condition
-sol
solution
-some
body
-somnia
sleep
-spasm
sudden involuntary contraction
-spasm, spasm/o
involuntary contraction
-sphyxia
pulse
-stabile
stable, fixed
-stalsis
contraction
-stasis
standing still
-stat
device for keeping something stationary
-stenosis
narrowed
-sthenia
strength
-stichia
rows
-stomy
surgical opening
-stroma
supporting tissue of an organ
-surgery
operative procedure
-syndesis
surgical fixation of vertebrae
-taxia
arrangement
-tension
stretching
-therapy
treatment
-thorax
chest, pleural cavity
-thymia
mind, emotions
-tic
pertaining to
-tocia
childbirth, labor
-tome
instrument for cutting
-tomy
surgical incision
-tresia
opening, perforation
-tripsy
crushing
-trite
instrument for crushing
-trophy
growth, nourishment
-tropia
to turn
-tropin
to stimulate
-tumescence
swelling
-type
class
-ule
small
-um
noun ending
-uresis
urination
-uria
urine condition
-us
noun ending
-verse, -version
to turn
-volemia
blood volume
a-, an-
without, not
ab-
away from
abdomin/o
abdomen
ablat/o
to take away
abort/o
miscarriage
abrad/o, abras/o
to scrape
abrupt/o
broken away from
abs-
away from
abscess/o
pus collection, going away
absorpt/o
suck up, suck in
acanth/o
spiky, thorny
acar/o
mites
acetabul/o
acetabulum (hip socket)
acid/o
acid, sour
acne/o
point, peak
acous/o
hearing
acoust/o
hearing, sound
acquir/o
obtain
acr/o
extremities
acromi/o
acromion (process of scapula)
actin/o
ray, radiation
acu-
needle
acu/o, acut/o
sharp, severe
acuit/o
sharp
acust/o
hearing
ad-
towards
aden/o
gland
adenoid/o
adenoids
adhes/o
stick to
adip/o
fat
adnex/o
bound to
adren/o
adrenal glands
aer/o
air, gas
aesthet/o
sensation
af-
towards
affect/o
influence
agglutin/o
clumping
aggress/o
attack
agit/o
rapidity, restlessness
agor/a
marketplace
alb/o, albin/o
white
albumin/o
albumin
algesi/o, algi/o
pain
align/o
straighten
aliment/o
food, nutrition
allo-
different
alopec/o
baldness
alveol/o
alveolus
ambi-
around, on both sides
ambly/o
dim, dull
ambul/o
to walk
ametr/o
out of proportion
ammon/o
ammonium
amni/o
amnion
amphi-
around, on both sides
amput/o
to cut off
amyl/o
starch
an/o
anus
ana-
back, up, against
andr/o
male
aneurysm/o
aneurysm
angi/o
vessel
angin/o
angina, choking, strangling
angusti-
narrow
anis/o
unequal
ankyl/o
bent, crooked, stiff
anomal/o
irregular
ante-
before
anter/o
front
anthrac/o
coal dust, carbuncle, carbon
anthrop/o
human, male
anti-
against
antr/o
antrum
anxi/o
anxiety
aort/o
aorta
ap-
towards
aphth/o
ulcer
apic/o
apex
aplast/o
defective development
apo-
away, separation
aponeur/o
aponeurosis, flat sheet of connective tissue
apoplect/o
stroke (apoplexy)
aque/o
water
arachn/o
spider
arc/o
bow, arch
arch/i, arch/e, -arche
first
areat/o
occuring in patches
areol/o
little open space
arrect/o
upright, raised
arsen/o
masculine, male
arteri/o
artery
arteriol/o
arteriole
arthr/o
joint
articul/o
joint
as-
towards
asbest/o
asbestos
aspir/o, aspirat/o
inhaling, removal
asthen/o
weakness
asthmat/o
gasping, choking
astr/o
star
at-
towards
atel/o
incomplete, imperfect
ather/o
fatty plaque
athet/o
uncontrolled
atmo-
steam, vapor
atop/o
out of place
atreto-
closed
atri/o
atrium
attenuat/o
weakened, diluted
atto-
one quintillionth (10^-18)
audi/o
sound, hearing
aur/o
ear
auricul/o
ear
auscult/o, auscultat/o
listening
auto-
self
aux/o
growth
axi/o
axis
axill/o
armpit
azot/o
nitrogen, urea
bacill/o
rod-shaped bacterium
bacteri/o
bacteria
balan/o
glans penis
balne/o
bath
bar/o
pressure
bary-
heavy, hard, dull
bartholin/o
Bartholin’s gland
bas/o
foundation, base
bas/o
base (not acidic)
bathy-, batho-
deep, depth
bi-
two
bibli/o
book
bifid/o
split, bifurcated
bifurcat/o
forked, divided, two branches
bil/i
bile
bilirubin/o
bilirubin (yellow product of heme catabolism)
bin
two
bio-, bi/o
life
blast/o, -blast
embryonic cell, forming cell
blenn/o
mucus
blephar/o
eyelid
borborygm/o
rumbling sound
brachi/o
arm
brachy-
short
brady-
slow
brev/o
short
brom/o
bromine compound, odor
bronch/o
bronchus
bronchiol/o
bronchiole
brux/o
grind
bucc/o
cheek
burs/o
bursa (fluid filled sac)
byssin/o
cotton dust
cac/o
bad, ill
cal-
stone, pebble, calcium
cadaver/o
corpse
calc/o
calcium
calc/o
calcium
calcane/o
heel
calcul/o
calculating
cali/o
calyx (cup-like area or structure)
call/i
hardened, thickened
callos/o
hardened, thickened
calor/i
heat
campt/o
bent
canalicul/o
little canal
canth/o
corner of the eye
capill/o
hair
capit/o
head
capn/o
carbon dioxide
caps/o
container, capsule
capsul/o
container, capsule
carb/o
carbon
carbuncl/o
carbuncle
carcin/o
cancer
cardi/o
heart
cari/o
caries (decaying and crumbling)
carot/o
numbness, stupor, sleep
carp/o
wrist
cartilag/o
cartilage
caruncul/o
bit of flesh
cata-
down, under
catabol/o
breaking down
cathar/o, cathart/o
purging, cleansing
cathet/o
send down, insert
caud/o
tail
caus/o
burn
cauter/o
burn
cav/o
hollow, cavity
cavern/o
containing hollow space
cavit/o
hollow, cavity
cec/o
cecum
celer-
fast
celi/o
abdomen
cement/o
cementum
centi-
1/100 (10^-2)
centr/o
center
cephal/o
head
cera-
wax
cerat/o
horn
cerebell/o
cerebellum
cerebr/o
cerebrum
cerumin/o
earwax
cervic/o
cervix, neck of uterus, neck
cheil/o, chil/o
lip
cheir/o
hand
chem/o
chemical
chir/o
hand
chlor/o
green
chlorhydr/o
hydrochloric acid
chol/e
bile, gall
cholangi/o
bile vessel
cholecyst/o
gallbladder
choledoch/o
common bile duct
cholesterol/o
cholesterol
chondr/o
cartilage
chord/o
spinal cord
chore/o
dance
chori/o
chorion (outer fetal membrane)
choroid/o
choroid (layer of eye)
chrom/o
color
chron/o
time
chrys/o
gold
chyl/o
chyle (milky body fluid)
chym/o
to pour, juice
cib/o
meal
cicatric/o
scar
cili/o
cilia, eyelashes
cine-
movement
circ/I
ring, circle
circulat/o
to circulate
circum-
around
circumcis/o
cutting around
circumscrib/o
confined
cirrh/o
orange-yellow
cis/o
to cut
claudicat/o
limping
claustr/o
barrier
clav/i
key
clavicul/o
clavicle
cleid/o
clavicle
climacter/o
crisis, ladder rung
clin/o
sloping, bent
clitor/o
clitoris
clus/o
close
co-
together
coagul/o
coagulation, clotting
coarct/o
narrow
cocc/o
spherical bacteria
coccyg/o
coccyx (tailbone)
cochle/o
cochlea
coel-
cavity
coher/o
cling together
coit/o
coming together
col/o
colon
coll/a
glue
colla-
glue
colon/o
colon
colp/o
vagina
column/o
pillar
com-
together
comat/o
deep sleep
comminut/o
break into pieces
communic/o
share, make common
compatibil/o
sympathize with
con-
together
concav/o
hollow
concentr/o
condense, intensify
concept/o
become pregnant
conch/o
shell
concuss/o
shake violently
condyl/o
condyle (round prominence at end of bones)
confus/o
confusion
coni/o
dust
conjunctiv/o
conjunctiva
consci/o
awareness, aware
consolid/o
become solid
constipat/o
pressed together
constrict/o
narrowing, binding
contact/o
touched, infected
contagi/o
infection, touching
contaminat/o
pollute, contaminate
contine/o
restrain, hold back
continent/o
restrain
contra-
against
contracept/o
prevention of conception
contus/o
bruise
convalesc/o
recover
convex/o
arched, vaulted
copi/o
plentiful
copulat/o
coming together
cor/o
pupil
cordi/o
heart
core/o
pupil
cori/o
leather, skin
corne/o
cornea
cornu-
horn
coron/o
heart
corpor/o
body
corpuscul/o
little body
cort-
covering
cortic/o
cortex
cost/o
ribs
cox/o
hip
crani/o
skull
crassi-
thick
creatin/o
creatine
crepit/o
crackling
cric/o
ring
crin/o
secrete
cris/o
turning point
crista-
ridge
critic/o
crisis, dangerous
cry/o
cold
crypt/o
hidden
crystall/o
crystal, transparent
cubit/o
elbow, forearm
cuboid/o
square-like
culd/o
cul-de-sac
cult/o
cultivate
cune/o
wedge-shaped
cupr/o
copper
cusp/i
flap
cutane/o
skin
cyan/o
blue
cycl/o
circular, ciliary bodies
cypho-
bent
cyst/o
bladder, cyst
cyt/o, -cyte
cell
dacry/o
tear
dacryocyst/o
lacrimal (tear) sac
dactyl/o
digit (finger or toe)
de-
down, from
deaphor/o
sweat
debrid/e
open a wound
deca-
10 (10^1)
deci-
1/10 (10^-1)
decidu/o
shedding, falling off
decubit/o
lying down
defec/o
free from waste, defecate
defer/o
carrying down or out
deglutit/o
swallow
dehisce/o
burst open, split
deliri/o
mind wandering
delt/o
triangular
delus/o
mock, cheat, delude
dem/o
people
demi-
half
dendr/o
tree
dent/o
tooth
depilate/o
hair removal
depress/o
lower
derm/o
skin
dermat/o
skin
desicc/o
dry
desm/o
ligament
deteriorat/o
worsening, gradual impairment
deuter/o
secondary, second
dextr/o
right
di-
two
dia-
through
diaphor/o
sweat
diaphragmat/o
diaphragm
diastole/o
standing apart, expansion
didym/o
testis, twin
dif-
to carry apart
diffus/o
spread out
digest/o
divide, distribute
digit/o
finger, toe
dilat/o
enlarge, expand
dilut/o
dissolve, separate
diphther/o
membrane
dipl/o
double
dips/o
thirst
dis-
apart, separate
disk/o
disk
dislocat/o
displacement
dissect/o
cut apart
disseminat/o
widely scattered
dist/o
distant
distend/o
stretch apart
diur/o
increasing urine output
divert/o
turning aside
dolich/o
long
dolor/o
pain
domin/o
controlling, ruling
don/o
give
dors/o
back
drom/o
running
duct/o
to lead, tube
duoden/o
duodenum (first part of small intestine)
dynam/o
power, strength
dys-
bad, painful
e-
out of, from
ec-
outside
ecchym/o
bruise
echin/o
spiny, prickly
echo-
reverberating sound
eclamps/o
shining forth
eco-
environment
ecto-
outside
ectr/o
congenital absence
eczemat/o
eruption
edemat/o
swelling
edentul/o
without teeth
effect/o
activate, bring a response
effus/o
pouring out
ejaculat/o
throw out
ele/o
oil
electr/o
electricity
electr/o
electricity
eliminat/o
expel from the body
em-
in
emaciat/o
wasted by disease
embol/o
embolus
embry/o
embryo
emet/o
vomit
emmetr/o
correct measure, proportioned
emolli/o
to soften
en-
within
encephal/o
brain
endo-
within
endocrin/o
internal secretion
enem/o
end in, inject
enter/o
small intestine
eosin/o
rosy, dawn
epi-
above, upon, over
epidemi/o
epidemic, among the people
epididym/o
epididymis
epiglott/o
epiglottus
epipl/o
omentum
episi/o
vulva
epitheli/o
epithelium (outer layer of skin)
equi-
equal
equin/o
horse
erect/o
upright
erethism/o
irritation
erg/o
work
erot/o
sexual love
eruct/o
belch forth
erupt/o
break out
erythem/o
flushed, redness
erythr/o
red
es-
out of, away from
eschar/o
scab
eso-
within
esophag/o
esophagus
esthesi/o, -esthesia
sensation, feeling
esthet/o
sense of feeling
estr/o
female
ethm/o
sieve
eti/o
cause