LIST OF MEDICAL ROOTS

Medical Terminology contains roots based both in Latin and Ancient Greek. This is a 'List of Medical Roots' containing prefixes and suffixes used in medicine, their meanings, and their etymology. A few rules should be noted when using medical roots. Firstly, prefixes and suffixes, primarily in Greek -- but also in Latin, have a droppable '-o-'. As a general rule, this '-o-' almost always acts as a joint-stem to connect two consonantal roots, e.g. 'arthr-' + '-o-' + 'logy' = 'arthrology'. But generally, the '-o-' is dropped when connecting to a vowel-stem, e.g. 'arthr-' + 'itis' = 'arthritis', instead of arthr-o-itis. Secondly, Medical roots generally go together according to language: Greek prefixes go with Greek suffixes and Latin Prefixes with Latin Suffixes. Although it is technically considered acceptable to create hybrid words, it is strongly preferred not to mix different lingual roots.
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Contents

Medical Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefixes

Suffixes

English Meanings

Roots of the Body

Roots of Bodily Concepts

Roots of Body Parts & Components

Roots of Color

Roots of Description

Roots of Position

Roots of Quantity

Medical Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefixes

The following is a list of medical prefixes alphabetical by their English prefix, along with their meaning, the orgin of the prefix , their root classification, and an English example.

Prefix	Prefix Meaning	Origin Language and Etymology	Root Type	Example(s)
'a-, an-'	Denotes an absence of	< Ancient Greek 'α-/αν-' (a-/an-), without, not	Quantity	Apathy
'abdomin(o)-'	Of or relating to the Abdomen	< Latin ('abdōmen'), abdomen, fat around the belly	External Body	Abdomen
'aden(o)-, aden(i)-'	Of or relating to a gland	< Ancient Greek 'αδην, αδέν-' (adēn, aden-), an acorn; a gland	Internal Body	Adenology
'adip-'	Of or relating to fat or fatty tissue	< Latin ('adeps', 'adip-'), fat	Internal Body	Adipocyte
'alb-'	Denoting a white or pale color	< Latin ('albus'), white	Color (Description)	Albino
'allo-'	Denoting something as different, or as an addition	< Ancient Greek 'αλλος' (allos), another, other	Quantity; Description	Alloantigen, allopathy
'ankyl(o)-', 'ancyl(o)-'	Denoting something as crooked or bent	< Ancient Greek 'ανκύλος' (ankýlos), crooked, curved	Description	Ankylosis
'ambi-'	Denoting something as positioned on both sides; Describing both of two	< Latin ('ambi-, ambo'), both, on both sides	Position	Ambidextrous
'aniso-'	Describing something as unequal	< Ancient Greek 'ανῑσος' (anīsos), unequal	Quantity	Anisotropic
'ante-'	Describing something as positioned in front of another thing	< Latin ('āntē'), before, in front of	Position	antepartum
'anti-'	Describing something as 'against' another	< Ancient Greek 'αντι' (anti), against	Description	Antibody, antipsychotic
'arteri(o)-'	Of or pertaining to an artery	< Ancient Greek 'αρτηρία' (artēría), a wind-pipe, artery (used distinctly versus a vein)	Internal Body	Artery, Arteriology
'arthr(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the joints, limbs	< Ancient Greek 'αρθρος' (arthros), a joint, limb	Internal Body	Arthritis
'aur-'	Of or pertaining to the ear	< Latin ('auris'), the ear	External Body	Aural
'axill-'	Of or pertaining to the armpit [uncommon as a prefix]	< Latin ('axilla'), armpit	External Body	Axilla
'blephar(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the eyelid	< Ancient Greek 'βλέφαρον' (blépharon), eyelid	External Body	Blepharoplast
'brachi(o)-'	Of or relating to the arm	< Latin ('brachium') < Ancient Greek 'βραχίων' (brachiōn), arm	External Body	Brachium
'brachy-'	Indicating something as 'short' or less commonly 'little'	< Ancient Greek 'βραχυς' (brachys), short; little, shallow	Description	brachycephalic
'brady-'	Indicating something as 'slow'	< Ancient Greek 'βραδυς' (bradys), slow	Description	Bradycardia
'bucc(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the cheek	< Latin ('bucca'), cheek	External Body	Buccolabial
'capill-'	Of or pertaining to hair	< Latin ('capillus'), hair	External Body	Capillus
'capit-'	Pertaining to the head (as a whole)	< Latin ('caput, capit-'), the head	External Body	Capitation
'cardi(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the heart	< Ancient Greek 'καρδία' (kardía), heart	Internal Body	Cardiology
'carp(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the wrist.	< Latin ('carpus') < Ancient Greek 'καρπός' (karpós), wrist; [NOTE: This root need not be confused with the mirror root 'carp(o)-' meaning fruit.	External Body	Carpopedal
'cephal(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the head (as a whole)	< Ancient Greek 'κέφαλή' (képhalē), the head	External Body	Cephalalgy
'cerat(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the cornu; a horn	< Ancient Greek 'κέρας, κερατ-' (kéras, kerat-), a horn	Internal Body	Ceratioid
'cerebell(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the cerebellum	< Latin ('cerebellum'), little brain	Internal Body	Cerebellum
'cerebr(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the brain	< Latin ('cerebrum'), brain	Internal Body	Cerebrology
'cervic-'	Of or pertaining to the neck, the cervix	< Latin ('cervix, cervīc-'), neck, cervix	External Body	Cervicodorsal
'chir(o)-, cheir(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the hand	< Ancient Greek 'χείρ, χειρο-' (cheir, cheiro-), hand	External Body	Chiropractor
'chlor(o)-'	Denoting a green color	< Ancient Greek 'χλορος' (chloros), green, yellow-green	Color (Description)	Chlorophyll
'chol(e)-'	Of or pertaining to bile	< Ancient Greek 'χολή' (cholē), bile	Body Fluid/Substance	Cholaemia
'cholecyst(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the gallbladder	< Ancient Greek 'χοληκύστις' (cholēkýstis), gallbladder < 'χολη' (cholē), bile, gall + 'κύστις' (kýstis), bladder	Internal Body	Cholecystectomy
'cili-'	Of or pertaining to the cilia, the eyelashes; eyelids	< Latin ('cilium'), eyelash; eyelid	External Body	Ciliary
'circum-'	Denoting something as 'around' another	< Latin ('circum'), around	Position	Circumcision
'colp(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the vagina	< Ancient Greek 'κόλπος' (kólpos), bosom, womb; hollow, depth	External Body	Colposcopy
'cor-, core-, coro-'	Of or pertaining to eye's pupil	< Ancient Greek 'κόρη' (kórē), girl, doll; pupil of the eye	External Body	Corectomy
'cordi-'	Of or pertaining to the heart ''[Uncommon as a prefix]''	< Latin ('cor, cordi-'), heart	Internal Body	Cardiology
'cornu-'	Applied to processes and parts of the body describing them likened or similar to horns	< Latin ('cornū'), horn	Description; External/Internal Body	Cardiology
'cost(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the ribs	< Latin ('costa'), rib	Internal Body	Costochondral
'crani(o)-'	Belonging or relating to the cranium	< Latin ('cranium') < Ancient Greek 'κρᾱνίον' (krānion), the cranium, skull, bones enclosing the brain	Internal Body	Craniology
'cox-'	Of or relating to the hip, haunch, or hip-joint	< Latin ('coxa'), hip	External Body	Coxopodite
'cyan(o)-'	Denotes a blue color	< Ancient Greek 'κύανος, κυάνεος' (kýanos, kyáneos), blue	Color (Description)	Cyanopsia
'cyph(o)-'	Denotes something as bent ''[uncommon as a prefix]''	< Ancient Greek 'κυφός' (kȳphós), bent, hunchback	Description	Cyphosis
'cyst(o)-, cyst(i)-'	Of or pertaining to the urinary bladder	< Ancient Greek 'κύστις' (kýstis), bladder; cyst	Internal Body	Cystotomy
'dactyl(o)-'	Of or pertaining to a finger, toe	< Ancient Greek 'δάκτυλος' (dáktylos), finger, toe	External Body	Dactylology
'dent-'	Of or pertaining to teeth	< Latin ('dens'), tooth	External Body	Dentist
'dermat-, derm-'	Of or pertaining to the skin	< Ancient Greek 'δέρμα, δέρματ-' (dérma, démat-), skin, human skin	External Body	Dermatology
'dia-'	''[same as Greek meaning]''	< Ancient Greek 'διά' (diá), through, during, across	Position	Diacetyl
'digit-'	Of or pertaining to the finger ''[rare as a root]''	< Latin ('digitus'), finger, toe	External Body	Digit
'dors(o)-, dors(i)-'	Of or pertaining to the back	< Latin ('dorsum'), back	External Body	Dorsocephalad
'encephal(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the brain	< Ancient Greek 'ενκέφαλος' (enképhalos), the brain	Internal Body	Encephalogram
'endo-'	Denotes something as 'inside' or 'within'	< Ancient Greek 'ενδο-' (endo-), inside, internal	Position	Endocrinology
'enter(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the intestine	< Ancient Greek 'έντερον' (énteron), intestine	Internal Body	Enterology
'epi-'	''[Same as Greek meaning]''	< Ancient Greek 'επι-' (epi-), before, upon, on, outside, outside of	Position	Epidermis
'episi(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the pubic region, the loins	< Ancient Greek 'επίσιον-' (epísion), the pubic area, loins; vulva	External Anatomy	Episiorrhaphy
'erythr(o)-'	Denotes a red color	< Ancient Greek 'ερυθρος' (erythros), red	Color (Description)	Erythrocyte
'exo-'	Denotes something as 'outside' another	< Ancient Greek 'εξο-' (exo-), outside of, external	Position	Exoskeleton
'faci(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the face	< Latin ('faciēs'), the face, countenance	External Body	Facioplegic
'front-'	Of or pertaining to the forehead	< Latin ('frōns, front-'), the forehead	External Body	Frontonasal
'gastr(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the stomach	< Ancient Greek 'γαστήρ' (gastēr), stomach, belly	External Body	Gasteral
'genu-'	Of or pertaining to the knee	< Latin ('genū'), knee	External Body	Genuflex
'gingiv-'	Of or pertaining to the gums	< Latin ('gingīva'), gum	External Body	Gingivitis
'glauc(o)-'	Denoting a grey, bluish-grey color	< Ancient Greek 'γλαυκός' (glaúkos), grey, bluish-grey	Color (Description)	Glaucoma
'gloss(o)-, glott(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the tongue	< Ancient Greek 'γλῶσσα, γλῶττα' (glōssa, glōtta), tongue	Internal Body	Glossology
'gnath(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the jaw	< Ancient Greek 'γνάθος' (gnáthos), jaw	Internal Body	Gnathonic
'halluc-'	Of or pertaining to the thumb, the big toe	Corrupted word formation < Classical Latin ('hallex, hallicis'), thumb, big toe	External Body	Hallucinosis
'hemat-, haemato- (haem-, hem-)'	Of or pertaining to blood	< Latin ('hæma') < Ancient Greek 'αίμα, αίματ-' (haima, haimat-), blood	Body Fluid/Substance	Hematology, older form Haematology
'hepat- (hepatic-)'	Of or pertaining to the liver	< Ancient Greek 'ηπαρ, ηπατο-' (hēpar, hēpato-), the liver	Internal Body	Hepatology
'hetero-'	Denotes something as 'the other' (of two), as an addition, or different	< Ancient Greek 'έτερος' (héteros), the other (of two), another; different	Description	Heterogeneous
'homo-'	Denotes something as 'the same' as another, alike, or common	< Ancient Greek 'ομο-' (homo-), the same; alike; common	Description	Homosexuality
'humer(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the shoulder (or [rarely] the upper arm)	Incorrect Etymology < Latin ('umerus'), shoulder	External Body	Humerus
'hyper-'	Denotes something as 'extreme' or 'beyond normal'	< Ancient Greek 'υπερ' (hyper), over, above; beyond, to the extreme	Quantity	Hypertension
'hyp(o)-'	Denotes something as 'below normal'	< Ancient Greek 'υπ(ο)-' (hypo-), below, under	Quantity	Hypodermic,
'hyster-'	Of or pertaining to the womb, the uterus	< Ancient Greek 'υστέρα' (hystéra), womb	Internal Body	Hysterectomy
'iatr(o)-'	Of or pertaining to medicine, or a physican ''[uncommon as a prefix; common as as suffix, see -iatry]''	< Ancient Greek 'ιᾱτρός' (iātrós), healer, physician	Descriptian	Iatrochemistry
'ischio-'	Of or pertaining to the ischium, the hip-joint	< Ancient Greek 'ισχιόν' (ischión), hip-joint, ischium	Internal Body	Ischiorrhogic
'iso-'	Denoting something as being 'equal'	< Ancient Greek 'ίσος' (ísos), equal	Quantity	Isotonic
'labi(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the lip	< Latin ('labium'), lip	External Body	Labiodental
'lapar(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the abdomen-wall, flank	< Ancient Greek 'λαπάρᾱ' (lapárā), flank	Internal Body	Laparotomy
'laryng(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the larynx, the lower throat cavity where the voice box is, 'not to be confused with the pharynx.'	< Ancient Greek 'λάρυγξ, λαρυγγ-' (lárynx, laryng-), throat, gullet	Internal Body	Larynx
'leuc-, leuk-'	Denoting a white color	< Ancient Greek 'λευκος' (leukos), white, bright	Color (Description)	Leukocyte
'lingu(a)-'	Of or pertaining to the tongue; language (in non-medical senses)	< Latin ('lingua'), tongue	External Body	Linguistics
'mamm(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the breast	< Latin ('mamma'), breast; udder	External Body	Mammogram
'manu-'	Of or pertaining to the hand	< Latin ('manus'), hand	External Body	Manufacture
'mast(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the breast	< Ancient Greek 'μαστός' (mastós), breast, women's breast; man's peck	External Body	Mastectomy
'melan(o)-'	Denoting a black color	< Ancient Greek 'μελας, μελανο-' (melas, melano-), black; dark	Color (Description)	Melanin
'metr(o)-'	Pertaining to conditions or instruments of the uterus	< Ancient Greek 'μήτρᾱ' (mētrā), womb, uterus	Internal Body	Metrorrhagia
'micro-'	denoting something as small, or relating to smallness	< Ancient Greek 'μικρος' (mikros), small	Description	Microscope
'my(o)-'	Of or relating to muscle	< Ancient Greek 'μυς, μυ-' (mys, my-), muscle; mouse; mussel	Internal Body	Myoblastoma
'myel(o)-'	Of or relating to bone marrow	< Ancient Greek 'μυελον' (myelon), marrow; bone-marrow	Body Substance	Myeloblast
'nas(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the nose	< Latin ('nāsum'), nose	External Body	nasal
'nephr(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the kidney	< Ancient Greek 'νεφρός' (nephrós), kidney	Internal Body	Nephrology
'nerv-'	Of or pertaining to nerves and the nervous system ''[Uncommon as a root: neuro- mostly always used]''	< Latin ('nervus'), tendon; nerve; Cognate with the Greek 'νευρον' (neuron) (see below)	Internal Body	Nerve
'neur(o)-'	Of or pertaining to nerves and the nervous system	< Ancient Greek 'νευρον' (neuron), tendon, sinew; nerve	Internal Body	Neurology
'ocul-'	Of or pertaining to the eye	< Latin ('oculus'), the eye	External Body	Oculist
'odont(o)-'	Of or pertaining to teeth	< Ancient Greek 'οδούς, οδοντ-' (odoús, odont-), tooth	External Body	orthodontist
'oligo-'	Denoting something as 'having little, having few'	< Ancient Greek 'ολιγος' (oligos), few	Quantity	Oligotrophy
'om(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the shoulder	< Ancient Greek 'ωμος' (ōmos), shoulder	External Body	Omoplate
'omphal(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the navel, the umbilicus	< Ancient Greek 'ομφαλός' (omphalós), navel, belly-button	External Body	Omphalotomy
'onych(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the nail (of a finger or toe)	< Ancient Greek < 'όνυξ, όνυχο-' (ónyx, ónycho-), nail; claw; talon	External Body	Onychophagy
'oo-'	Of or pertaining to the an egg, a woman's egg, the ovum	< Ancient Greek 'ωόν, ωο-' (ōón, ōo-), egg, ovum	Body Fluid/Substance	Oogenesis
'oophor(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the woman's ovary	< Ancient Greek 'ωφόρον' (ōphóron), ovary, egg-bearing	Internal Body	Oophorectomy
'ophthalm(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the eye	< Ancient Greek 'οφθαλμός' (ophthalmós), the eye	External Body	Ophthalmology
'optic(o)-'	Of or relating to chemical properties of the eye	< Middle French ('optique') < Greek 'οπτικός' (optikós); Cognate with Latin '''oculus''', relating to the eye	External Body	Opticochemical
'or(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the mouth	< Latin ('ōs, or-'), mouth	Internal Body	Oral
'orth(o)-'	Denoting something as straight or correct	< Ancient Greek 'ορθος' (orthos), straight, correct, normal	Description	Orthodontist
'ot(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the ear	< Ancient Greek 'ους, ωτ-' (ous, ōt-), the ear	External Body	Otopathy
'ovari(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the ovaries	< Latin ('ōvarium'), ovary	Internal Body	Ovariectomy
'ovo-, ovi-, ov-'	Of or pertaining to the eggs, the ovum	< Latin ('ōvum'), egg, ovum	Body Fluid/Substance	Ovogenesis
'palpebr-'	Of or pertaining to the eyelid ''[uncommon as a root]''	< Latin ('palpebra'), eyelid	External Body	Palpebra
'pan-'	Denoting something as 'complete' or containing 'everything'	< Ancient Greek 'πας, παν-' (pas, pan-), all, every	Quantity	panophobia, panopticon
'papill-'	Of or pertaining to the nipple (of the chest/breast)	< Latin ('papilla'), nipple; dimunitive of papula (see below)	External Body	Papillitis
'papul(o)-'	Indicates papulosity, a small elevation or swelling in the skin, a pimple, swelling	< Latin ('papula'), pimple, pustle; a small elevation or swelling in the skin	External Body	Papulation
'ped-, -ped-, -pes '	Of or pertaining to the foot; -footed	< Latin ('pēs, pēd-'), foot	External Body	Pedoscope
'peri-'	Denoting something with a position 'surrounding' or 'around' another	< Ancient Greek 'περι-' (peri-), around	Position	Periodontal
'pharyng(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the pharynx, the upper throat cavity,' not to be confused with the larynx.'	< Ancient Greek 'φάρυγξ, φάρυγγ-' (phárynx, pháryng-), throat, windpipe; chasm	Internal Body	Pharyngitis, Pharyngoscopy
'phleb(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the (blood) veins, a vein	< Ancient Greek 'φλεψ, φλεβ-' (phleps, phlebo-), blood-vessel, vein	Body Fluid/Substance	Phlebography, Phlebotomy
'phos-'	Of or pertaining to light or its chemical properties, now historic and used rarely. See the common root 'phot(o)-' below.	< Ancient Greek 'φλως, φλωτ-' (phōs, phōt-), light	Body Sense/Effect	Phosphene
'phot(o)-'	Of or pertaining to light	< Ancient Greek 'φλως, φλωτ-' (phōs, phōt-), light	Bodily Sense/Effect	Photopathy
'pleur(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the ribs	< Latin ('pleura') < Ancient Greek 'πλευρόν' (pleurón), rib, side of the body	Internal Body	Pleurogenous
'pneum(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the lungs	< Ancient Greek 'πνευμων, πνευμον-' (pneumōn, pneumon-), lung < 'πνευμα' (pneuma), wind, spirit	Internal Body	Pneumonocyte, Pneumonia
'pod-, -pod-, -pus '	Of or pertaining to the foot, -footed	< Ancient Greek 'πούς, ποδ-' (poús, pod-), foot	External Body	Podiatry
'polio-'	Denoting a grey color	< Ancient Greek 'πολιός' (poliós), grey	Color (Description)	Poliomyelitis
'poly-'	Denotes a 'plurality' of something	< Ancient Greek 'πολυς' (polys), much, many	Quantity	Polymyositis
'porphyr(o)-'	Denotes a purple color	< Ancient Greek 'πορπύρα' (porphýra), purple	Color (Description)	Porphyroblast
'post-'	Denotes something as 'after' or 'behind' another	< Latin ('post'), after, behind	Position	Postoperation, Postmortem
'prim-'	Denotes something as 'first' or 'most-important'	< Latin ('prīmus'), first, most important	Description	Primary
'pre-'	Denotes something as 'before' another (in [physical] position or time)	< Medieval Latin ('pre-') < (Classical) Latin ('præ'), before, in front of	Position; Description	Prematurity
'pro-'	Denotes something as 'before' another (in [physical] position or time)	< Ancient Greek 'προ' (pro), before, in front of	Position; Description	Procephalic
'prot(o)-'	Denotes something as 'first' or 'most-important'	< Ancient Greek 'πρωτος' (prōtos), first; principle, most important	Position; Description	Protoneuron
'psych-'	Of or pertaining to the mind	< Ancient Greek 'ψυχή' (psyché), breath, life, soul	Internal Body	Psychology, Psychiatry
'pulmon-, pulmo-'	Of or relating to the lungs.	< Latin ('pulmo, pulmōn-', ''usually used in plural''), a lung	Internal Body	Pulmonary
'ren-'	Of or pertaining to the kidney	< Latin ('rēnes'), kidney	Internal Body	Renal
'rhin(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the nose	< Ancient Greek 'ρῑς, ρῑνο-' (rhīs, rhīno-), nose	External Body	Rhinoceros
'rhod(o)-'	Denoting a rose-red color	< Ancient Greek 'ρόδον' (rhódon), rose	Color (Description)	Rhodophyte
'rubr(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the red nucleus of the brain	< Latin ('ruber'), red	Internal Body; Color (Description)	Rubrospinal
'sangui-, sanguine-'	Of or pertaining to blood	< Latin ('sanguis, sanguin-'), blood	Body Fluid/Substance	Sanguine
'sarping(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the fallopian tubes	< Ancient Greek σάρπιγξ, σαρπιγγ-, (sárpinx, sarpingo-) trumpet [''literally'']	Internal Body	Sarpingectomy
'schiz-'	Denoting something 'split' or 'double-sided'	< Ancient Greek; Irregular formation of the verb 'σχιζειν' (schizein), to cut, split	Description	Schizophrenia
'sinus-'	Of or pertaining to the sinus	< Latin ('sinus'), a curve, bend, bay	Internal Body	Sinusitis
'spondyl(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the spine, the vertebra	< Greek 'σπόνδθλος' / 'σφόνδθλος', (spóndylos / sphóndylos), the spine	Internal Body	Spondylitis
'squamos(o)-'	Denoting something as 'full of scales' or 'scaly'	< Latin ('sqāmōsus'), full of scales; scaly	Description	Squama
'sten(o)-'	Denoting something as 'narrow in shape' or pertaining to narrow-ness	< Ancient Greek 'στενος' (stenos), narrow; short	Description	Stenography
'steth(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the upper chest, chest, the area above the breast and under the neck	< Ancient Greek 'στηθος' (stēthos), chest, cuirass	External Body	Stethoscope
'stomat(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the mouth	< Ancient Greek 'στόμα, στοματ-' (stóma, stomat-), mouth	Internal Body	Stomatogastric
'syn-'	Indicates similarity, likeness, or being together; Assimilates before some consonants: before ''l'' to 'syl-', ''s'' to 'sys-', before a labial to 'sym-'.	< Ancient Greek 'συν-' (syn), with, together	Description	Synalgia, Syllable, Syssarcosis
'tachy-'	Denoting something as fast, irregularly fast	< Ancient Greek 'ταχυς' (tachys), fast, quickly	Description	Tachycardia
'thele-'	Of or pertaining to a woman's teat, nipple ''[uncommon as a prefix]''	< Ancient Greek 'θηλή' (thēlē), a teat, nipple	External Body	Thelephoroid
'thely-'	Denoting something as 'relating to a woman, feminine'	< Ancient Greek 'θηλυς' (thēlys), female, feminine	Description	Thelygenous
'thorac(i)-'	Of or pertaining to the upper chest, chest; the area above the breast and under the neck	< Latin ('thōrāx') < Ancient Greek 'θώραξ' (thōrax), chest, cuirass	External Body	Thorax
'thromb(o)-'	Of or relating to a blood clot, clotting of blood	< Ancient Greek 'θρόμβος' (thrómbos), lump, piece, clot of blood	Internal Body	Thrombus, Thrombocytopenia
'trachel(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the neck	< Ancient Greek 'τράχηλος' (tráchēlos), neck	External Body	Trachelotomy
'trans-'	Denoting something as moving or situated 'across' or 'through'	< Latin ('trāns'), across, through	Description; Position	Transfusion
'trich(o)-'	Of or pertaining to hair	< Ancient Greek 'τρίξ, τριχ(ο)-' (tríx, trich(o)-), hair	External Body	Trichotomy
'umbilic-'	Of or pertaining to the navel, the umbilicus	< Latin ('umbilīcus'), navel, belly-button	External Body	Umbilical
'ungui-'	Of or pertaining to the nail, a claw	< Latin ('unguis'), nail, claw	External Body	Unguiform, Ungual
'ur(o)-'	Of or pertaining to urine, the urinary system; (specifically) pertaining to the physiological chemistry of urine	< Ancient Greek 'ουρον' (ouron), urine	Body Fluid/Substance	Urology
'urin-'	Of or pertaining to urine, the urinary system	< Latin ('ūrīna'), urine < Ancient Greek 'ουρον' (ouron), see above.	Body Fluid/Substance	Uriniferous
'uter(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the uterus or womb	< Latin ('uterus'), womb, uterus	Internal Body	Uterus
'vagin-'	Of or pertaining to the vagina	< Latin ('vāgīna'), sheath, scabbard	External Body	Vagina
'ven-'	Of or pertaining to the (blood) veins, a vein ''[used in terms pertaining to the vascular system ]''	< Latin ('vēna'), blood-vessel, vein	Body Fluid/Substance	Vein, Venospasm
'ventr(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the belly; the stomach cavities	< Latin ('venter'), the belly, the stomach; the womb	Internal Body	Ventrodorsal
'vesic(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the bladder	< Latin ('vēsīca'), bladder; blister	Internal Body	Vesica
'viscer(o)-'	Of or pertaining to the internal organs, the viscera	< Latin ('viscera'), internal organs; plural of ('viscerum'), internal organ	Internal Body	Viscera
'xanth(o)-'	Denoting a yellow color, an abnormally yellow color	< Ancient Greek 'ξανθός' (xanthós), yellow	Color (Description)	Xanthopathy

Suffixes

The following is a list of medical suffixes alphabetical by their English Suffix, along with their word origin, their root classification, and an English example.

Suffix	Suffix Meaning	Origin Language and Etymology	Example(s)
'-ectomy'	Denotes a surgical operation or removal of a body part	< Ancient Greek 'εκτομή' (ectomē), excision	Mastectomy
'-form, -iform'	Used to form adjectives indicating 'having the form of'	< Latin ('forma'), form, shape	Cuneiform
'-gen'	(1) Denotes the sense 'born in, from' (2) Denotes the sense 'of a certain kind'	< Ancient Greek '-γενής' (-genēs) < 'γεν-νάειν' (gen-náein), to be born	(1) Endogen; (2) Heterogenous
'-graph'	Denotes a written, drawn, or graphic interpretation	Ancient Greek '-γραφία' (-graphía), written, drawn, graphic interpretation	Cardiograph
'-iatry'	Denotes a field in medicine of a certain body component	< Ancient Greek 'ιᾱτρός' (iātrós), healer, physician	Podiatry, Psychiatry
'-logy'	Denotes the academic study or practice of a certain field	< Ancient Greek 'λογoς' (logos) study	hematology, urology
	'-logist': Denotes someone who studies a certain field: _____-ology	< Ancient Greek 'λογιστης' (logistēs), studier, practitioner	Oncologist, pathologist
'-pathy'	Denotes (with a negative sense) a disease, or disorder	< Ancient Greek 'παθος' (pathos), suffering, accident	sociopathy, neuropathy
'-pepsia'	Denotes something relating to digestion, or the digestive tract.	< Ancient Greek 'πεπτός' (peptós) cooked, digested < 'πέσσω' (péssō) I boil, cook; digest	Dyspepsia
'-phagia'	Forms terms denoting conditions relating to eating or ingestion	< Ancient Greek 'φαγἰα' (phagía) eating < 'φαγειν' (phagein) to eat	Sarcophagia
	'-phagy': Forms nouns that denotes 'feeding on' the first element or part of the word	< Ancient Greek 'φαγια' (phagia) eating ''See Above''	Anthropophagy
	'-phagist': Forms nouns that denote a person who 'feeds on' the first element or part of the word	< Ancient Greek 'φαγιστης' (phagistēs) eater; ''See Above''	Lotophagis

English Meanings

This section contains lists of different root classification (e.g. body components, quantity, description, etc.). Each list is alphabetized by English meanings, with the corresponding Greek and Latin roots given.

Roots of the Body

Roots of Bodily Concepts

Bodily Concept	Greek Root	Latin Root	Other Root
'Digestion'	-pepsia	-	-
'Disease'	-pathy	-	-
'Eating'	-phagia	-	-

Roots of Body Parts & Components

[Internal Anatomy, External Anatomy, Body Fluids, Body Substances]

Body Part/Component	Greek Root	Latin Root	Other Root
'abdomen'	lapar(o)-	abodomin-	-
'arm'	brachi(o)-	-	-
'armpit'	-	axill-	-
'artery'	arteri(o)-	-	-
'big toe'	-	halluc-	-
'bladder'	cyst(o)-	vesic(o)-	-
'blood'	hemat-, haemat- (haem-, hem-)	sangui-, sanguine-	-
'blood clot'	thromb(o)-	-	-
'body'	somat-, som-	corpor-	-
'bone marrow, marrow'	myel(o)-	medull-	-
'brain'	encephal(o)-	cerebr(o)-	-
'breast'	mast(o)-	mamm(o)-	-
'chest'	steth(o)-	thorac(i)-, thorac(o)-	-
'cheek'	-	bucc-	-
'ear'	ot(o)-	aur-	-
'eye'	ophthalm(o)-	ocul(o)-	optic(o) ''[French]''
'eyelid'	blephar(o)-	cili-; palpebr-	-
'face'	-	faci(o)-	-
'fat, fatty tissue'	-	adip-	-
'finger'	dactyl(o)-	digit-	-
'forehead'	-	front(o)-	-
'gallbladder'	cholecyst(o)-	-	-
'gland'	aden(o)-	-	-
'gums'	-	gingiv-	-
'hair'	trich(o)-	capill-	-
'hand'	cheir(o)-, chir(o)-	manu-	-
'head'	cephal(o)-	capit(o)-	-
'heart'	cardi(o)-	cordi-	-
'hip, hip-joint'	-	cox-	-
'horn'	cerat(o)-	cornu-	-
'intestine'	enter(o)-	-	-
'jaw'	gnath(o)-	-	-
'kidney'	nephr(o)-	ren-	-
'knee'	-	genu-	-
'lip'	cheil(o)-, chil(o)-	labi(o)-	-
'liver'	hepat- (hepatic-)	-	-
'loins, pubic region'	episi(o)-	-	-
'lungs'	pneumon-	pulmon(i)- (pulmo-)	-
'marrow, bone marrow'	myel(o)-	medull-	-
'mind'	psych-	-	-
'mouth'	stomat(o)-	or-	-
'muscle'	my(o)-	-	-
'nail'	onych(o)-	ungui-	-
'navel'	omphal(o)-	umbilic-	-
'neck'	trachel(o)-	cervic-	-
'nerve; the nervous system'	neur(o)-	nerv-	-
'nipple, teat'	thele-	papill-	-
'nose'	rhin(o)-	nas-	-
'pupil (of the eye)'	cor-, core-, coro-	-	-
'rib'	pleur(o)-	cost(o)-	-
'shoulder'	om(o)-	humer(o)-	-
'sinus'	-	sinus-	-
'skin'	dermat- (derm-)	cut-, cuticul-	-
'skull'	crani(o)-	-	-
'stomach'	gastr(o)-	ventr(o)-	-
'throat (upper throat cavity)'	pharyng(o)-	-	-
'throat (lower throat cavity/voice box])'	laryng(o)-	-	-
'thumb'	-	halluc-	-
'tooth'	odont(o)-	dent-	-
'tongue'	gloss-, glott-	lingu(a)-	-
'toe'	dactyl(o)-	digit-	-
'tumour'	cel-	-	-
'urine, urinary System'	ur(o)-	urin(o)-	-
'vein, the veins'	phleb(o)-	ven-	-
'vulva'	episi(o)-	vulv-	-
'wrist'		carp(o)-	-

Roots of Color

Color	Greek Root in English	Latin Root in English	Other Root
'black'	melano-	-	-
'blue'	cyano-	-	-
'gray, grey'	polio-	-	-
'green'	chlor-	-	-
'purple'	porphyr(o)-	purpur-, purpureo-	-
'red'	erythr(o)-, rhod(o)-	rub-, rubr-	-
'red-yellow'	cirrh(o)-	-	-
'white'	leuc-, leuk-	alb-	-
'yellow'	xanth(o)-	-	jaun - ''[French]''

Roots of Description

[Size, Shape, Strength, Etc.]

Description	Greek Root in English	Latin Root in English	Other Root
'bad, incorrect'	cac(o)-, dys-	mal-	-
'bent, crooked'	ankyl(o)-	-	-
'big'	macr(o)-; mega-	magn-, magni-; magnus	-
'biggest'	-	maxim-; maximus, maximum	-
'broad, wide'	eury-	-	-
'cold'	cry(o)-	-	-
'dead'	necr(o)-	-	-
'equal'	iso-	-	-
'false'	pseudo-	-	-
'female, feminine'	thely-	-	-
'flat'	platy-	-	-
'good, well'	eu-	-	-
'great'	macr(o)-; mega-	magn-, magni-; magnus	-
'hard'	sclero-	-	-
'heavy'	-	grav-, gravis	-
'hollow'	coel(o)-	cav-	-
'huge'	megalo-	-	-
'incorrect, bad'	dys-, caco-	-	-
'large; extremely large'	macr(o)-; mega-	magn-, magni-; magnus	-
'largest'	-	maxim-; maximus, maximum	-
'long'	-	long-	-
'narrow'	sten(o)-	-	-
'new'	neo-	-	-
'normal, correct; straight'	ortho-	-	-
'old'	paleo-	-	-
'sharp'	oxy-	-	-
'short'	brachy-	-	-
'small'	micro-	parvi- (rare)	-
'smallest'	-	minim-, minimus	-
'slow'	brady-	-	-
'soft'	malac(o)-	-	-
'straight; normal, correct'	ortho-	-	-
'thick'	pachy-	-	-
'varied, various'	poikilo-	-	-
'well, good'	eu-	-	-
'wide, broad'	eury-	-	-

Roots of Position

Description	Greek Root in English	Latin Root in English	Other Root
'around'	peri-	circum-	-
'left'	-	sinistr-	-
'middle'	mes(o)-	medi-	-
'right'	dexi(o)-	dextr(o)-	-
'surrounding'	peri-	circum-	-

Roots of Quantity

[Amount, Quantity]

Description	Greek Root in English	Latin Root in English	Other Root
'double, twice'	diplo-	-	-
'equal'	iso-	-	-
'few'	oligo-	-	-
'many, much'	poly-	multi-	-