Transcript File
Simply Put: Words
Prefixes
Prefix
Root Word
Combining vowel
Combining form
Suffix
Many if not most of these terms usually have Latin
or Greek origins.
The Latin form is used to describe or modify
something, as in an adjective
Ren/o means kidney and is used in the terms renal
disease and renal tubule.
The Greek form is used to describe a
pathological finding.
Nephr/o means kidney and is used in the terms
nephritis and nephropathy.
DIRECTIONAL PREFIXES
CONTRASTING PREFIXES
Epi Extra-
upper, above
outside
Hyper-
above,increase
more than normal
Hypo-
below, under,
decreased
Infra-
below, beneath
Inter Intra Meta Per Sub-
between
within
beyond
through
below, under,
decreased
Super-
above, increased, more
than normal
Supra-
above, increased more
than normal
across
Trans Ultra-
above, increased, more
than normal
ULTRA- SUPRASUPER- HYPER-
EPI-
INTER-
INTRA-
TRANS-
INFRA-
SUBHYPO-
EXTRA-
Transcontinental
Extraterristrial
Intercellular
Epicenter
Hypothermia
Hyperactive
Infrastructure
Subzero
Trans | continental
Extra | terrestrial
Inter | cellular
Epi | center
Hypo | thermia
Hyper | active
Infra | structure
sub | zero
Translocate
Hypothyroid
Hyperthyroid
Supranatural
Intranasal
Superimposed
Perennial
trans | locate
hypo | thyroid
hyper | thyroid
supra | natural
intra | nasal
super | imposed
per | ennial
(through the years-year
after year)
HYPO HYPER-
INFRA SUB HYPO-
Ab Ad Dys-
away from
toward
ab|duction
ad|duction
Eu-
difficult, painful, bad
good, easy, normal
dys|phagia
eu|thyroid
Endo-
within or inside
endo|parasite
Ex-
Exo Ecto-
without, out of, outside, away from
Poly Oligo-
Pre-
many, excessive
scant, very little
poly|uria
olig|uria
Post-
before
around
after
pre|operative
peri|operative
post|operative
Anti-
against
anti|emetic (vomiting)
A-
without, no
a|traumatic
An-
without, no
an|uria
Peri-
Brady Tachy-
slow
fast
Mal-
bad
Leuk-
white
Bi-
twice, two, double
Di-
http://www.globalrph.com/medterm6b.htm
My favorite go to website for medical prefixes, roots,
suffixes
A root is a word part that gives the essential meaning
of the word
Root words may need a combing vowel, usually an “o”
which usually makes the word easier to pronounce
“i” and “e’ may also be used
The root word plus the combining vowel makes up the
combining form
Often written (and pronounced)
Ren/o
Gastr/o
Cardi/o
Rule 1:
When the suffix or next word part begins with a
consonant use a combining vowel
Arthr/o and –scope = Arthroscope
Rule 2:
Don’t need a combining vowel if the suffix starts with a
vowel
Gastr/o and –itis = gastritis
Rule 3:
A combining vowel is used when two or more root words
are joined together
Gastr/o and enter/o and –it is = gastroenteritis
Gastroenterits
Nasolabial
Colorectal
Most medical root words or combining forms usually
describe a part of the body
Py/o Pneum/o-
Derm/o Aden/o Bucc/o
Cyt/o
pus
lungs, air
skin
gland
cheek
cell
Cyst/o Nephr/o Ren/o-
bladder
kidney
kidney
My/o Arthr/o Chondr/o Axill/o Oste/o Cost/o
muscle
joint
cartilage
armpit
bone
ribs
Cephal/o Encephal/o Cervic/o
Crani/o Pod/o-
head
brain
neck
skull
foot
Thorac/o Cardi/o Ven/o Arteri/o
Hem/a-
chest
heart
vein
artery
blood
Opth/o Ot/o Rhin/o Nas/o-
eye
ear
nose
nose
Gastr/o Lapar/o
Enter/o Col/o Hep/a Pancreat/o
Splen/o-
stomach
abdominal wall
intestine (small intestine)
colon (large intestine)
liver
pancreas
spleen
Neur/o Myel/o-
nerve
spinal cord
Or/o
Stomat/o
Gloss/o
Labi/o
mouth
mouth
tongue
lips
Xanth/o
Zo/o
Xanthinuria - ?
yellow
animal life
Anatomy
study of body structure
Physiology
study of body function
Pathology
study of the nature, causes, and development of
abnormal conditions
Etiology
study of disease
The suffix -logy means the study of.
-plasia describes formation, development, and
growth of tissue and cell numbers.
-trophy describes formation, development, and
increased size of tissue and cells.
Neoplasia = any abnormal growth of tissue in which
multiplication of cells is uncontrolled, more rapid than
normal, and progressive
Tumor: a distinct mass of tissue formed
from a neoplasm (-oma means tumor
or neoplasm)
benign: not recurring
malignant: tending to spread and become life-
threatening
Prefixes used to describe tissue growth:
a- = without
hypo- = less than normal
hyper- = more than normal
dys- = bad
ana- = without
neo- = new
Anaplasa: change in the structure of cells and
their orientation to each other
Aplasa: lack of development of an organ or
tissue or cell
Dysplasia: abnormal growth or development of
an organ or tissue or cell
Hyperplasia: abnormal increase in the number
of normal cells in normal arrangement in an
organ or tissue or cell
Hypoplasia: incomplete or less than normal
development of an organ or tissue or cell
Atrophy: decrease in size or complete wasting of an
organ or tissue or cell
Dystrophy: defective growth in the size of an organ or
tissue or cell
Hypertrophy: increase in size of an organ or tissue or
cell
• Aden/o means gland.
– Exocrine glands secrete material into ducts.
• Exo- means out; crine means to secrete.
– Endocrine glands secrete chemicals into the bloodstream for
transportation to organs and other structures throughout the
body.
• Endo- means within; crine means to secrete.
An organ is a part of the body that performs a special
function or functions.
Each organ has its own combining form or forms.
See Table 2–2.
These combining forms usually have Latin or Greek
origins.
1.
The prefix___________means below.
The prefix _________________means across.
a)
b)
c)
d)
SupraSuperInterSub-
a)
b)
c)
d)
MetaInfraTrans
Ultra-
2. The prefix ___________means beyond.
The prefix________________means between.
a)
b)
c)
d)
HypoHyperMetaPer-
a)
b)
c)
d)
InfraIntraInterEpi-
The prefix _________means many.
oligan-
polyeu-
The prefix ___________means outside, while the
prefix ___________means inside.
pre-, postendo-, exohyper-, hypointer-, intra-
Which prefix means around?
epiperi-
suprameta-
Which prefix means very little or scant?
antioligo-
perian-
Anuria
Polyuria
Oliguria
What is the prefix in each word above and what does
each word mean?
True or False?
Cardio- means bladder
Rhin0- means muscle
Arthro- means joint
Hepa-means liver
Hema-means kidney
Nephro- means liver
Osteo- means bone
Hepatic Lipidosis is a fatty ____________.
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the _____________.
Nephrotoxixity is a poisonous effect on the _________.