Guide to Common Medical Terminology
There are some helpful techniques you can use to increase your understanding of medical
terminology. Most medical terms contain at least one root, and they may also contain one or
more prefixes or suffixes. This handout will describe how word parts create meaning to provide
a strategy for decoding medical terminology and unfamiliar words in the English language.
Word Parts
If all three word parts are present in medical terminology, they will be in the order of prefix
root word suffix. Look at the following example to understand the function of each word
part:
anti-bacteri-al
The prefix, or the letter or
group of letters before the The root word, or The suffix, or the letter or
root word, is anti-, which the word part that group of letters after the
means “against” or provides the basic root word, is -al, which
“opposed to.” meaning of the means “pertaining to.”
word, is bacteri,
which means
“bacteria.”
As you can see, even if you have never heard of the word “antibacterial,” the word parts
provide clues that it is something that protects against bacteria. Therefore, it can be helpful to
take into consideration the meaning of word parts, in addition to the context of the sentence or
paragraph that the word is in, to decipher an unfamiliar word’s meaning. Also, keep in mind
that while many medical terms contain all three word parts, others will contain varying
combinations such as root/suffix, prefix/root, prefix/suffix, etc. Some words will even contain
two roots, such as osteoarthritis (osteo = bone, arthr = joint). Now let’s look at some of the
most common roots, prefixes, and suffixes used in the different body systems.
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 1 December 2020
The Body’s Organization
The body is organized by cells, tissues, organs, and systems.
Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning
anter/o front, anterior epi- upon
cerv/o neck hypo- below or deficient
chondr/o cartilage infra- below
cyt/o cell leio- smooth
dors/o back trans- across
gastr/o stomach
inguin/o groin Word Part: Suffix Meaning
my/o muscle -algia pain
myel/o spinal cord -cyte cell
neur/o nerve, neuron -edema watery fluid in tissues
poster/o posterior, back -ic pertaining to
proxim/o near -ium structure or tissue
sarc flesh -oid resemblance to
super/o superior -oma tumor
Note: There are additional roots, prefixes, and suffixes that are not included within the tables
throughout this handout; however, the examples will demonstrate how the word parts can be
analyzed to determine the meaning of a word.
Example Terms:
epi (upon) + gastr (stomach) + ic (pertaining to)
epigastric =
area just above the stomach
hypo (below) + gastr (stomach) + ic (pertaining to)
hypogastric =
pertaining to below the stomach
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 2 December 2020
The Integumentary System
This system, which protects the body from various kinds of damage, includes the skin, hair,
nails, and sebaceous and sudoriferous glands.
Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning
albin/o white an- without
cirrh/o, jaund/o, yellow anti- against
xanth/o
cutane/o skin de- removal
cyan/o blue epi- upon
cyt/o cell hyper- above normal
derm/o/at/ato skin para- alongside of or abnormal
erythr/o red sub- below or under
fero to carry
ichthy/o dry, scaly (fishlike) Word Part: Suffix Meaning
kerat/o hornlike -cyte cell
melan/o black -derma skin
myc/o fungus -ia condition
onych/o nail -ism condition
pil/o hair -logist practitioner
scler/o hardening -logy study
seb/o sebum (oil; fat) -malacia softening
sudor/i/ sweat -oma tumor
xer/o dry -osis abnormal condition
Example Term:
sclero (hardening) + derma (skin)
scleroderma =
chronic hardening and thickening of the skin
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 3 December 2020
The Skeletal System
The skeleton, which includes all the bones and joints, is the basic structure of our body.
Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning
ankyl/o stiff, fused, closed amphi- both sides
arthr/o joint syn- joined together
brachi/o arm zygo- joined (yoked) together
cervic/o neck
cheir/o hand Word Part: Suffix Meaning
chondr/o cartilage -algia pain
cost/o rib -gram written record of
dactyl/o finger, toe -itis inflammation
lumb/o lower back -kinesia movement
myel/o bone marrow -malacia softening
orth/o correct, straight -osis condition
os/te/o bone -plasty surgical repair
ped/o foot, child -porosis porous
scoli/o twisted -scopy to visually examine
thorac/o thorax, chest -sis condition
Example Terms:
osteo (bone) + arthr (joint) + itis (inflammation)
osteoarthritis =
degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone
scolio (twisted) + sis (condition)
scoliosis =
lateral curvature of he spine
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 4 December 2020
The Muscular System
This system, which is responsible for movement, posture, and control of certain circulatory
functions, is made up of skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles.
Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning
cardi/o heart a- deficient
fasci/o fibrous membrane epi- around
fibr/o fiber hemi- half
kinesi/o movement para- beside, beyond, near
muscul/o muscle quadri- four
my/o muscle
orth/o straight Word Part: Suffix Meaning
oste/o bone -algia pain
pedics child -dynia pain
scler/o hard -oma tumor
sthen/o strength -osis abnormal condition
tend/o, tendin/o tendon -paresis partial paralysis
ton/o tone -plegia paralysis
Example Terms:
fibro (fiber) + my (muscle) + algia (pain)
fibromyalgia =
a disorder that causes widespread pain and tenderness to touch
hemi (half) + plegia (paralysis)
hemiplegia =
paralysis of one side of the body
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 5 December 2020
The Nervous System
This system, which is made up of the central and peripheral nervous system, coordinates the
body’s involuntary and voluntary actions.
Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning
cephal/o head an- without
cerebell/o the cerebellum di- two
cerebr/o the cerebrum; the brain hemi- half
cortic/o outer layer or covering myel/o- bone marrow; spinal
cord
encephal/o brain
esthesi/o sensation Word Part: Suffix Meaning
gli/o glue -ia condition of
hydr/o water -itis inflammation
iatr/o physician; to treat -mnesia memory
meningi/o a membrane -oid like
ment/o referring to the mind -paresis weakness, loss of
movement
schiz/o to split -phasia speech
psych/o referring to the mind -plegia paralysis
Example Terms:
an (without) + esthesi (sensation) + ia (condition of)
anesthesia =
a condition of absence of sensation
encephal (brain) + itis (inflammation)
encephalitis =
inflammation of the brain
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 6 December 2020
The Endocrine System
This system, which consists of glands that produce hormones, works with the nervous system
to maintain the body’s homeostasis.
Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning
acr/o extremities anti- against or opposed to
aden/o gland epi- upon
adren/o, adrenal/o adrenal glands hypo- below or deficient
calc/i calcium para- alongside of or
abnormal
crin/o to separate or secrete
endocrin/o endocrine Word Part: Suffix Meaning
gluc/o, glyc/o/s sugar, glucose, -itis inflammation
glycogen
hypophys/o pituitary gland -megaly enlargement
pancreat/o pancreas -oma tumor
parathyr/o, parathyroid gland -tropin nourishment;
parathyroid/o stimulation
thyr/o, thyroid/o thyroid gland -uria urine
Example Terms:
glycos (sugar) + uria (urine)
glycosuria =
sugar in the urine
thyroid (thyroid gland) + itis (inflammation)
thyroiditis =
inflammation of the thyroid gland
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 7 December 2020
The Cardiovascular System
This system, which carries oxygen and nutrients through the blood, includes the heart, blood,
and blood vessels.
Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning
angi/o vessel bi- two
arteri/o artery brady- slow
ather/o fatty endo- inner, inside
atri/o atrium epi- upon
cardi/o heart hypo- below or deficient
coron/o crown; encircling peri- around, surrounding
hem/o, hemat/o blood tachy- fast
isch restricted, narrowed tri- three
my/o muscle
ox/o oxygen Word Part: Suffix Meaning
phleb/o vein -ectasis dilation
thromb/o clot -emia blood condition
varic/o dilated -ia condition
vas/o vessel -pathy disease
ven/o vein -stenosis a narrowing
Example Terms:
brady (slow) + cardi (heart) + ia (condition)
bradycardia =
abnormally slow heartbeat
hypo (below or deficient) + ox (oxygen) + emia (blood condition)
hypoxemia =
low level of oxygen in blood
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 8 December 2020
The Lymphatic System and Immunity
The lymphatic system is responsible for protecting the body from infection, maintaining a
balance of fluids, and absorbing fats. It also consists of organs, tissues, and vessels.
Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning
aden/o gland anti- against or opposed to
hem/o blood auto- self
immun/o immune system mono- single
leuk/o white macro- large
lymphaden/o lymph nodes micro- small
lymphangi/o lymph vessels
lymph/o, lymphat/o lymph or lymphatic Word Part: Suffix Meaning
system
path/o disease -edema swelling
phag/o ingest or engulf -itis inflammation
splen/o spleen -megaly enlargement
thym/o thymus -osis condition of
tonsill/o lymph node, usually -pathy disease
palatine tonsil
Example Terms:
lymph (lymph or lymphatic system) + edema (swelling)
lymphedema =
lymph tissue swelling
tonsill (tonsils) + itis (inflammation)
tonsillitis =
inflammation of a tonsil
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 9 December 2020
The Respiratory System
This system, which supplies oxygen to the cells and removes carbon dioxide, consists of the
nose, pharynx, larynx, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, and lungs.
Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning
bronch/o, bronchi/o bronchus a- without
laryng/o larynx brady- slow
nas/o, rhin/o nose bronch/o-, bronch/i- bronchus
or/o mouth, opening dys- difficult
ox/o oxygen hypo- below or deficient
phren/o diaphragm super-, supra- above or excessive
pleur/o pleura
pneum/o, pneumon/o air, lung Word Part: Suffix Meaning
pulmon/o lung -ia condition of
sinus/o sinus cavity -oxia oxygen
thorac/o, thorac/i, thorax, chest -phonia voice
thoracic/o
trache/o trachea -pnea breathing
Example Terms:
a (without) + pnea (breathing)
apnea =
absence of breathing
hypo (below or deficient) + ox (oxygen) + ia (condition of)
hypoxia =
low level of oxygen in tissue
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 10 December 2020
The Digestive System
This system, which allows the body to absorb nutrients from food and fluids, consists of the
tract from the oral cavity to the anus.
Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning
bucc/o cheek anti- against
cheil/o lip dys- difficulty
cholecyst/o gallbladder hyper- excessive
dent/i, dent/o teeth
enter/o intestine Word Part: Suffix Meaning
gastr/o stomach -cele hernia
gingiv/o gums -emesis vomit
gloss/o tongue -ia condition of
hepat/o liver -lith stone
phag/o eating, swallowing -pepsia digestion
proct/o anus and rectum -phagia eat or swallow
sial/o salivary glands -scope device for visual
examination
stomat/o mouth -scopy visual examination
Example Terms:
dys (difficulty) + phag (eating, swallowing) + ia (condition of)
dysphagia =
excessive vomiting
hyper (excessive) + emesis (vomit)
hyperemesis =
excessive vomiting
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 11 December 2020
The Urinary System
This system, which removes wastes and toxins from the body, consists of the kidneys, ureters,
urinary bladder, and urethra.
Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning
cyst/o bladder an- without
glomerul/o glomerulus dys- difficult
lith/o stone peri- around
nephr/o, ren/o kidney poly- much, many
noct/o night retro- backward, behind
olig/o little, few
py/o pus Word Part: Suffix Meaning
pyel/o pelvis -algia pain
ur/o, urin/o urine -ectomy removal
ureter/o ureter -ia condition
urethr/o urethra -lith stone
-megaly enlargement
Example Terms:
dys (difficult) + ur (urine) + ia (condition)
dysuria =
difficult or painful urination
nephr (kidney) + ectomy (removal)
nephrectomy =
surgical removal of a kidney
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 12 December 2020
The Reproductive System
This system, which allows us to perpetuate life, includes the reproductive organs.
Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning
balan/o glans penis a- without
cervic/o cervix dys- painful, difficult
circum/o around hydro- water
colp/o, vagin/o vagina neo- new
gonad/o gonads, sex glands pre-, pro- before
gynec/o woman, female re- again
lact/o milk
mast/o, mamm/o breast Word Part: Suffix Meaning
men/o menstruation -cele hernia
nat/o birth -ectomy excision
oophor/o, oo ovary, egg -genesis production
ovari/o ovary -osis process
prostat/o prostate gland -pathy disease
salping/o tube, fallopian tube -plasty surgical repair
uter/o, hyster/o, uterus -rrhea flowing, discharge
metr/o
vas/o vessel, vas deferens -sterone steroid hormone
Example Terms:
dys (painful) + meno (menstruation) + rrhea (discharge)
dysmenorrhea =
painful menstruation
hyster (uterus) + ectomy (excision)
hysterectomy =
removal of the uterus
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 13 December 2020
Sense of Sight and Hearing
Certain root words are associated with the organs that process sight and sound.
Sense of Sight Word Part: Prefix Meaning
Word Part: Root Meaning a- without
blephar/o eyelid auri- ear
dacry/o tears, lacrima extra- outside
dipl/o two, double hyper- above normal
ocul/o eye presby- old
opt/o light, eye, vision sensor- sensory
retin/o retina
Word Part: Suffix Meaning
Sense of Hearing -cele hernia
Word Part: Root Meaning -ectomy excision or removal
acous/o, acus/o, acoust/o hearing -itis inflammation
audi/o sound -lith stone
aur/o ear -opia eye, vision
auricul/o ear -plegia paralysis
ot/o ear -ptosis falling or downward
displacement
tympan/o eardrum -rrhea discharge
Example Terms:
dipl (double) + opia (vision)
diplopia =
double vision
retin (retina) + itis (inflammation)
retinitis =
inflammation of the retina
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 14 December 2020
Additional Resources
To provide you with additional practice to learn medical terminology, the Academic Center for
Excellence suggests using the following resources:
• Nursing Root Words Flashcards
https://www.studystack.com/flashcard-689838
This site can help you learn nursing terminology root words using a variety of methods
including flashcards, matching games, hangman, crossword puzzles, and quizzes.
• Pronunciation Guide for Medical Terminology
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/pronunciations
Students can click on selected medical terminology to hear the correct pronunciation.
• The PenguinProf Medical Terminology Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fiEszFPRE8
This video simplifies breaking down medical terminology by prefixes, roots, and suffixes
and provides visual aids, along with the explanations.
• OchsNurse Medical Terminology Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul2lRQGuhwc
In this video, you will learn how to break down common medical terminology with
simple, straightforward explanations.
• The Language of Medicine by Davi-Ellen Chabner and Evolve Study Resources
https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323370813?role=student
This book includes colorful illustrations, practical exercises, pronunciation guides, and
content reviews. The chapters are organized by body systems, and words are broken
down into simple explanations by prefixes, roots, and suffixes. The Evolve Study
Resource that accompanies the book can be used online to do interactive activities,
games, quizzes, and flash cards.
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 15 December 2020
• Medical Terminology: A Short Course by Davi-Ellen Chabner and Evolve Study
Resource
https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323444927?role=student
In this book, you will be guided through the process of learning the most common
prefixes, roots, and suffixes by labeling diagrams, practicing pronunciation, and
completing reviews. Case studies demonstrate how the medical terms are used in
practice. There is also an English to Spanish glossary to help Spanish-speaking students
translate common medical terms. This book provides access to the Evolve website,
which includes word games, learning exercises, audio pronunciations, animations, an
anatomy coloring book, and electronic flash cards.
Charts adapted from Collins, C. E. (2014) A short course in medical terminology (3rd ed.).
Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology
The Academic Center for Excellence 16 December 2020
