ana-, an-
[prefix] up, upward, again
dis-, dif-, di-
[prefix] apart, away from, separation, lack of
enanti-
[prefix] opposite
ex-, ef-, e-
[prefix] out, outside, from
exo-, ex-
[prefix] outside, outer, external
in-, il-, im-, ir-
[prefix] not
juxta-
[prefix] close to
pre-, prae-
[prefix] in front of, before
pro-
[prefix] in front of, forward
se-
[prefix] away, aside
ultra-
[prefix] beyond
-able, -abil-
[suffix] able to be
-ac
[suffix] pertaining to
-ance, -ancy
[suffix] state of
-ature
[suffix] system composed of
-culus
[suffix] small
-ent
[suffix] pertaining to
-er
[suffix] person who (does…), thing that (does…)
-fic
[suffix] causing, making
-ician
[suffix] specialist
-ics, -tics
[suffix] art of, science of, study of
-id
[suffix] pertaining to, having
-ine
[suffix] pertaining to
-ism
[suffix] condition of
-ist
[suffix] person who (does…), specialist
-ization
[suffix] process of making
-ory
[suffix] having the function of
aud-, audi-, audit-
[base] to hear, hearing
acou-, acous-
[base] hearing, sound
son-
[base] sound
aur-
[base] ear
auricul-
[base] auricle, outer ear
ot-
[base] ear
penn-, pinn-
[base] feather, wing, pinna, auricle (the outer ear)
chondr
[base] granule, cartilage
helic-
[base] spiral, helix
foss-
[base] ditch, trench, to dig; fossa
scaph-
[base] boat shaped
tuber-
[base] swelling, nodule
tubercul-
[base] tubercle, small swelling or nodule
conch-
[base] sea shell, spiral shell
conch-
[base] concha
turbin-
[base] cone shaped, spiraled
mast-
[base] breast
mastoid-
[base] mastoid process
ced-, cess-
[base] to go, to be in motion
styl-
[base] column, pillar; styloid process
styl-, styloid-
[base] styloid process
me-
[base] to go, to pass, to travel
meat-
[base] opening, passageway, meatus
tympan-
[base] drum, stretched membrane; tympanic membrane, tympanic cavity
myring-
[base] tympanic membrane
oss-, osse-
[base] bone
labyrinth-
[base] labyrinth, maze; inner ear
vestibul-
[base] vestibule, entrance
cochle-
[base] snail-shell, spiral shell; cochlea
canal-
[base] channel
canalicul-
[base] canaliculus, small channel
ampull-
[base] flask, bottle; ampulla
alg-
[base] pain
alges-
[base] pain sensation
agr-
[base] pain, painful seizure
odyn-
[base] pain
dol-, dolor-
[base] pain
nos-
[base] disease, sickness
morb-
[base] disease
path-
[base] disease, suffering, feeling
aesthe-, esthe-
[base] to feel, sensation, feeling
therap-
[base] to provide treatment, treatment
therapeut-
[base] treatment
iatr-
[base] physician, medical treatment
-agra
[compound suffix] pain, painful seizure
-algesia
[compound suffix] sensation of pain
-algia
[compound suffix] painful condition
-acousia
[compound suffix] condition of hearing
-esthesia
[compound suffix] condition of sensation
-genesis
[compound suffix] production
-genic
[compound suffix] producing, produced
-genous
[compound suffix] producing, produced
-iatrics, -iatry
[compound suffix] medical treatment
-nosia
[compound suffix] disease
-odynia
[compound suffix] painful condition
-pathia, -pathy
[compound suffix] disease, treatment of disease
-therapia, -therapy
[compound suffix] treatment
mal-
[prefix] bad, inadequate
-ant
[suffix] pertaining to
-or
[suffix] person who (does…), thing that (does…)
-plasm
[suffix] formed substance, growth
-tome
[suffix] instrument used to cut
olfact-
[base] smell, sense of smell
osm-
[base] smell, sense of smell
osphres-, osphresi-
[base] smell, sense of smell
odor-
[base] odor, smell
nas-
[base] nose
rhin-, -rrhin-
[base] nose
nar-
[base] nostril
al-
[base] wing
sept-
[base] 1) dividing wall; 2) seven; 3) septum
muc-
[base] mucus
mucos-
[base] mucosa, mucous membrane
blenn-
[base] mucus
myx-
[base] mucus
phlegm-
[base] phlegm, inflammation
sin-
[base] curve, cavity; sinus
sin-, sinus-
[base] sinus
plas-, plast-
[base] to form, to mold
cente-
[base] to puncture
tom-
[base] to cut, to slice, to section
ectom-
[base] to cut out, to cut away
stom-, stomat-
[base] mouth, opening
stom-
[base] mouth, opening; stoma
clei-
[base] to close
cleist-
[base] closed
clas-
[base] to break, fragment
de-
[base] to bind
pex-
[base] to fasten, to fix
ly-
[base] to loosen, dissolving
cly-
[base] to wash
trib-, trips-
[base] to rub, to crush
-centesis
[compound suffix] surgical puncturing, puncturing
-clasia, -clasis
[compound suffix] surgical fracture, breaking, rupture
-cleisis
[compound suffix] surgical closure, closure
-clysis
[compound suffix] therapeutic infusion of liquid, irrigation
-desis
[compound suffix] surgical fusion, binding
-dialysis
[compound suffix] surgical dissolving, surgical separation, filtration
-ectomy
[compound suffix] surgical removal, removal
-lysis
[compound suffix] surgical dissolving, surgical separation, loosening
-pexis, -pexy
[compound suffix] surgical fastening, fixing
-plasia, -plasty
[compound suffix] surgical reshaping, formation
-stomy
[compound suffix] making a surgical opening, making an opening
-tripsy
[compound suffix] surgical crushing, crushing
-tomy
[compound suffix] surgical cutting, cutting
-osmia
[compound suffix] condition of sense of smell
raph-, -rraph-
[base] to stitch, to suture
rhe-, -rrh-
[base] to flow
-rrhage
[compound suffix] excessive flow, excessive discharge
-rrhagia
[compound suffix] excessive flow, excessive discharge
-rrhaphy
[compound suffix] surgical suture
-rrhea
[compound suffix] flow, discharge
-rrhexis
[compound suffix] rupture
ab-, a-
[prefix] away from
ad-, ac-, af-, etc. (can be shortened/assimilated)
[prefix] toward, near
retro-
[prefix] behind, backward
-culum
[suffix] small
-tion
[suffix] act of, process of
-ulum
[suffix] small
-ulus
[suffix] small
-uncle
[suffix] small
or-, os-
[base] mouth, opening
geus-
[base] to taste, sense of taste
gust-
[base] to taste
gloss-, glott-
[base] tongue, language
glott-
[base] tone, language; glottis
lingu-
[base] tongue, language
papill-
[base] nipple, papilla
fren-
[base] bridle, rein; frenum
car-, carn-
[base] flesh, meat
bucc-
[base] cheek
labi-, labr-
[base] lip
cheil-
[base] lip
staphyl-
[base] graph, bunch of grapes; uvula
palat-
[base] roof of the mouth, palate
uran-
[base] roof of the mouth, palate
gnath-
[base] jaw
maxill-
[base] upper jaw bone, maxilla
mandibul-
[base] lower jaw bone, mandible
condyl-
[base] knuckle, knob; condyle
ram-
[base] branch; ramus
gingiv-
[base] gum
dent-
[base] tooth
odont-
[base] tooth
saliv-
[base] spit, saliva
sial-
[base] spit, saliva, salivary gland
pty-
[base] spit, saliva
ptyal-
[base] saliva, salivary gland
-culus, -cula, -culum
[suffix] small
-ellus, -ella, -ellum
[suffix] small
-illus, -illa, -illum
[suffix] small
-ulus, -ula, -ulum
[suffix] small
-cle
[suffix] small
-idium
[suffix] small
-il
[suffix] small
-ium
[suffix] small
-ole
[suffix] small
-ule
[suffix] small
-uncle
[suffix] small
-unculus
[suffix] small
mult-
[base] many, much
poly-
[base] many, much
hemi-
[base] half
semi-
[base] half, partly
olig-
[base] few, scanty
plur-
[base] many, more
pleo-, pleio-
[base] more, excessive, multiple
pan-, pant-
[base] all, entire
macr-
[base] large, long
magn-
[base] large, great
micr-
[base] small
mega-, megal-
[base] large
mega-
[base] large; great
pen-
[base] deficiency, decrease
-geusia
[compound suffix] condition of sense of taste
-megaly
[compound suffix] enlargement
-penia
[compound suffix] deficiency
-schesis
[compound suffix] fissure
hol-
[base] whole, entire
hom-, home-
[base] same, similar
is-
[base] equal, same
anis-
[base] unequal, different
all-
[base] other, different
heter-
[base] other, different
-acious
[suffix] tending to, inclined to
-ence
[suffix] state of
-ian
[suffix] pertaining to
cervic-
[base] neck
trachel-
[base] neck
coll-
[base] neck
cleid-
[base] key, hook; collar-bone
clav-
[base] key, clavicle, collar-bone
clavicul-
[base] clavicle, collar-bone
jugul-
[base] neck, throat
guttur-
[base] throat
pharyng-
[base] throat, pharynx
tonsill-
[base] tonsil
aden-
[base] gland
laryng-
[base] voice-box, larynx
glott-
[base] tongue, language: glottis, mouth of the windpipe
thyr-
[base] oblong shield; thyroid gland; thyroid cartilage
thyr-, thyroid-
[base] thyroid gland, thyroid cartilage
hy-
[base] greek letter upsilon; hyoid bone
phas-
[base] speech, to talk
phras-
[base] speech, to talk
phem-
[base] speech, to talk
lal-
[base] speech, to talk
loqu-
[base] speech, to talk
voc-
[base] speech, voice, to talk
phon-
[base] speech, voice, sound
log-
[base] speech, word
-logist
[compound suffix] one who studies
-logy
[compound suffix] study of
brady-
[base] slow
tachy-
[base] fast
copr-
[base] dung, filth, feces
cac-
[base] bad
ech-
[base] returned sound, repetition
mon-
[base] one, single
un-
[base] one, single
hapl-
[base] single
prot-
[base] first, original, primitive
prim-
[base] first
-gravida
[compound suffix] woman who is, or has been, pregnant
-para
[compound suffix] woman who has given birth
di-
[base] two, twice
dich-
[base] in two
bi
[base] two, twice, double; life, living
bin-
[base] double, pair
deut-, deuter-
[base] second
second-, secud-
[base] second, following
gemin-, gemell-
[base] twin, paired, born at the same time
tri-
[base] three
terti-
[base] third
tern-
[base] three each
tetr-
[base] four
quadr-
[base] four
quart-
[base] fourth
quatern-
[base] four each
pent-
[base] five
quinque-
[base] five
quint-
[base] fifth
quin-
[base] five each
hex-
[base] six
sex-
[base] six
sext-
[base] sixth
hept-
[base] seven
sept-
[base] dividing wall; seven
septim-
[base] seventh
oct-
[base] eight
octav-
[base] eighth
enne-
[base] nine
novem-
[base] nine
non-
[base] ninth
dec-
[base] ten, tenth
decem-
[base] ten
dec-, decim-
[base] tenth
-ated
[suffix] composed of, having
scapul-
[base] shoulder blade, scapula
brachi-
[base] arm
mel-
[base] limb
humer-
[base] upper arm bone, humerus
uln-
[base] ulna
radi-
[base] ray, spoke of a wheel, radius
cub-, cubit-, cumb-
[base] to lie down
cubit-
[base] 1) to lie down, 2) elbow, forearm
ancon-
[base] elbow
glen-
[base] 1) socket of a joint, 2) glenoid
corac-
[base] crow’s beak, coracoid process
acromi-
[base] acromion
capit-, cipit-
[base] head
delt-
[base] Greek letter delta
trapez-
[base] table
trapezi-
[base] trapezium
ost-, oste-
[base] bone
tend-, tens-, tent-
[base] to stretch
ten-, tend-, tendin-, tendon-, tenon-, tenont-
[base] tendon
lig-
[base] to bind, to tie
ligament-
[base] ligament
desm-
[base] band, ligament
syndesm-
[base] ligament
fasci-
[base] band, fascia
my-, mys-, myos-
[base] muscle
muscul-
[base] muscle
flect-, flex-
[base] to bend
agon-
[base] struggle, contest, action
duc-, duct-
[base] to lead, to draw
lamin-, lamell-
[base] thin plate, lamina
arthr-
[base] 1) joint; 2) speech
articul-
[base] 1) joint, 2) speech sound
crist-
[base] crest
phy-
[base] to growth
phys-
[base] 1) growth, nature; 2) breath, inflation, swollen
spin-
[base] thorn, spine
top-
[base] place, position
ta-
[base] to stretch
tas-
[base] stretching, tension
ede-, oede-
[base] to swell
eme-
[base] to vomit
phragm-
[base] to block, to obstruct
diaphragm-
[base] diaphragm
lep-, leps-
[base] taking hold, to seize
malac-
[base] soft
phthi-
[base] to waste away, to decay
phthis-
[base] wasting, decaying
pleg-
[base] blow, stroke
plex-, plec-
[base] blow, stroke, seizure
pto-
[base] falling
sta-
[base] to stand, standing
stas-
[base] standing
sthen-
[base] strength
-asthenia
[compound suffix] weakness
-ectasia, -ectasis
[compound suffix] expansion, widening, dilation
-ectopia, -ectopy
[compound suffix] displacement
-emesia, -emesis
[compound suffix] vomiting
-emphraxis
[compound suffix] obstruction
-lepsis, -lepsy
[compound suffix] seizure
-malacia
[compound suffix] softening
-(o)edema
[compound suffix] swelling
-phthisis
[compound suffix] wasting
-plegia
[compound suffix] paralysis
-plexia, -plexy
[compound suffix] seizure
-ptosia, -ptosis
[compound suffix] drooping, prolapse
-stasis, -stasis, -stasy
[compound suffix] stoppage, stagnation
-stenosis
[compound suffix] narrowing, contraction
what are 3 ways in which the spelling of the prefix might be altered?
1) elision - when the following base begins with a vowel or ‘h,’ the final vowel of the prefix is dropped. the prefix a- becomes an-
2) assimilation - when the following base begins with certain consonants and the prefix ends on a consonant, the final consonant of the prefix changes to something closer to the beginning consonant of the base
3) the prefix ec- becomes ex- if followed by vowels or the letter ‘h’
what are four examples of terms where the base precedes the suffix?
1) pupillatonia
2) pantaphobia
3) logamnesia
4) adenectopy