Medical Terminology

1. Suffixes and Prefixes

SUFFIXES
A suffix is a word ending that modifies a root which may indicate that the word is a noun or an
adjective.

Suffixes that mean condition of

Suffix Example Meaning

-ia insomnia Inability to sleep
anesthesia Loss of sensation
phobia Abnormal fear
-ism alcoholism Chronic dependence on or addiction to alcohol
egotism Exaggerated self-importance
embolism Blockage of a vessel
-sis neurosis Psychological disorder
(-osis, -esis, psychosis Mental disorder
-asis, iasis) cirrhosis Liver degeneration
-y atony Lack of muscle tone
tetany Sustained muscle contraction
dysentery Intestinal disorder

Suffixes that mean pertaining to, characterized by, resembling adjective endings

Suffix Example Definition

-ac cardiac Pertaining to the heart
-al skeletal Pertaining to the skeleton
-ar muscular Pertaining to muscle
-ary urinary Pertaining to urine
-ic pelvic Pertaining to the pelvis
-ical surgical Pertaining to surgery
-ile febrile Pertaining to fever
-ous venous Pertaining to a vein
-form epileptiform Like or resembling epilepsy
-oid mucoid Like or resembling mucus
(nouns) -sis changes into -tic (to form the adjective): neurosis neurotic, diuresis - diuretic

Suffixes pertaining to specialties and specialists

Suffix Meaning Example Definition

-logy Study of physiology Study of function in a living organism
-ist Specialist in a field dentist Specialist in the study and treatment of
of study the teeth and mouth
-ian,-ician Specialist in a field Physician Practitioner of medicine
of study
-iatrics,-iatry Field of medicine psychiatry Study and treatment of mental illness
-iatrist Specialist in a field podiatrist Specialist in the study and treatment of
of study the foot

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 Exercises
1. Identify the suffix that means pertaining to(resembling) in each of the following words:
primary cellular virile physiologic
topical biologic rheumatoid exploratory
focal dystrophy fibrous muciform
lymphoid cutaneous cuboid nuclear
salivary bacterial metric thermal
anatomical cellular lymphoid basic

2. Identify the suffix that means condition ofin each of the following words:
analgesia parasitism stenosis dystrophy
thrombosis anemia acidosis

3. Write a word for a specialist in each of the following fields:

biology obstetrics pediatrics
allergy psychiatry dermatology
technology anatomy gynecology
pharmacy radiology orthodontics

PREFIXES

Prefixes pertaining to numbers

Prefix Meaning Example Definition

Prim/i- first primigravida Woman pregnant for the first time
Mon/o- one monoclonal Pertaining to a cell colony arising from a single cell
Uni- one unicellular Pertaining to an organism composed of a single cell
Bi- Two, twice Bicuspid Having two points
Di- Two, twice diplegia Paralysis (-plegia) affecting both sides of the body
Diplo- double diplopia Double vision(-opia)
Hemi- Half, one side hemithorax One side of the chest (thorax)
Semi- Half, partial semilunar Resembling a half-moon
Tri- three triad Group of three
Quadr/i- four quadrant One fourth of an area
Multi- many multiple Consisting of many parts
Poly- Many much polymorphic Having many shapes (morph/o)

Exercises
1. Define the following words:
primary multicellular
trisect unilateral
polymorphous hemithorax bipolar

2. Fill in the blanks:

1. Monarthritis is arthritis affecting joint (s).
2. A tricuspid tooth has points
3. Unilateral means affecting side
4. A quadruplet is one of offspring produced in a single birth.
5. A biped is an animal with feet.
3. Give a prefix similar in meaning to each of the following:
bi- hemi- multi-

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 Prefixes pertaining to color

Prefix Meaning Example Definition

Cyan/o- Blue cyanosis Bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of
oxigen
Erythr/o- Red erythrocyte Red blood cell
Leuk/o- White, colorless leukoplakia White patches in the mouth
Melano/o- Black, dark melanin The dark pigment that colors the hair and skin
Xanth/o- yellow xanthoma Yellow raised area of the skin

Negative prefixes

Prefix Meaning Example Definition

A-, An- Not, without, lack of, absence amorphous Without form
Anti- against antidote Means for counteracting a poison
Contra- against contralateral Pertaining to the opposite side
De- Down, without, removal, loss detoxify To remove a poison
Dis- Absence, removal, separation disinfect To remove infectious organisms
from
In-, im- Not (in- before b, m, p) incontinence Lack of control over excretion
Un- Not unconscious Not responsive

Exercises
1. Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words:
e.g. inadequate in- (prefix) = not (meaning)
amnesia contraception antibody
disease antiserum decongestant
contraindication
2. Write the negative(opposite) of each of the following words. There may be more than one answer
for each.
coordinated ability mature
septic adequate
humidify fertility active
congestant permeable sufficient
responsive compatible

Prefixes pertaining to direction

Prefix Meaning Example Definition

Ab- away from abduct To move away from the midline
Ad- Toward, near adhesion An attachment of parts
Dia- through dialysis Separation by passage through a membrane
Per- through percutaneous Through the skin
Trans- Through, across, transfusion Introduction of blood or blood components into
beyond the bloodstream

Exercises
1. Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words
absorb transmit
perforate adhesive diarrhea
transcortical adduct

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 Prefixes pertaining to degree

Prefix Meaning Example Definition

Hyper- Over, excess, abnormally hypertension High blood pressure
high, increased
Hypo- Under, below, abnormally hypoventilation Low amount of air entering the
low, decreased lungs
Olig/o- Few, scanty, deficiency of oligospermia Low number of sperm in the semen
Pan- all panplegia Total paralysis (-plegia)
Super- Above, excess superinfection Second infection

Prefixes pertaining to size and comparison

Prefix Meaning Example Definition

Eu- True, good, easy, normal euthanasia Easy or painless death
Hetero- Other, different, unequal heterosexual Pertaining to the opposite sex
Homo-/ho Same, unchanging homothermic Maintaining a constant body
meo temperature, warm blooded
Iso- Equal, same isograft Graft between two genetically
identical individuals
Macro- Large, abnormally large macroscopic Visible with the naked eye
Mega-/me Large, abnormally large megabladder Permanent enlargement of the
galo- bladder
Micro- small microsurgery Surgery of extremely small
structures under the microscope
Neo- new neonate Newborn infant
Normo- normal normovolemia Normal blood volume
Ortho- Straight, correct, upright Orthosis Appliance used to correct or
prevent deformities
Pseudo- false pseudoparalysis False paralysis
Re- Again, back reflux Backward or return flow

Exercises
1. Match the following terms with their definition:
leukocyte, hypersensitivity, erythroderma, recuperate, pandemic,
xanthoderma, hypotension, pseudoreaction, oligomenorrhea, orthodontic, melanoma,
supermotility, cyanotic, normothermic
a. dark growth on the skin b. white blood cell c. yellow coloration on the skin
d. redness of the skin e. pertaining to bluish discoloration f. low blood pressure
g. scanty menstrual flow h. excess movement i. excessive responsiveness
j. disease affecting an entire population k. false response l. pertaining to normal body
temperature m. pertaining to straight teeth n. recover from illness

Prefixes pertaining to time and/or position

Prefix Meaning Example Definition

Ante- before antenatal Before birth
Per- Before, in front of predisposing Leading toward a condition such as
a disease
Pro- before, in front of prophylaxis Prevention of disease
Post- After, behind postoperative After a surgical operation

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Oprit aici de facut ex. student
Exercises
1. Match the following terms with their definition :
ectocardia (d), postnasal (c), syndrome (f), endonasal (a), telencephalon (b), hyposecretion (e)

a. within the nose b. endbrain c. behind the nose

d. displacement of the heart from its normal position e. underproduction of a substance
f. group of symptoms occurring together

2. Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words

6. premenstrual (pre-/ before, in front of);

7. post-traumatic (post-/ after, behind)

8. progenitor (pro-/ before, in front of)

9. antedate (ante-/ before)

KEY
6.
7. 8.
9.

Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words:

Prefix Meaning
6. protrude
7. antecedent
8. premenstrual
9. extra
10. mesoderm
11.

Prefixes pertaining to position

Prefix Meaning Example Definition

Dextr/o- right dextrocardia Location of the heart in the right side of the
chest
Sinistr/o- left sinistrad Toward the left
Ecto- out,outside ectopic Outside the normal position
Ex/o- away from, outside excise To cut out
Endo- in, within endoscope Device for viewing the insite of a cavity or
organ
Mes/-o middle mesencephalon Midbrain
Syn, together synapse Junction between two nerve cell
sym-
Tel/e-, end telangion Terminal blood vessel
tel/o-

Exercises

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1. Write the opposite of each of the following words.
exotoxin (endotoxin), macroscopic (microscopic), homograft (heterograft), hypoactive
(hyperactive), preoperative (postoperative), antepartum (postpartum), preadolescent
(postadolescent), sinistromanual (= left handed) (dextromanual), exogenous (= outside the
organism) (endogenous), organization (disorganization), adduct (abduct),

2. Match the following terms with their definition:

pandemic (d), hypertension (e), neonate (g), oligodontia (b), superficial (a), heterothermic (i),
melanoma (c), panplegia (j), xanthocyte (f), percutaneous (h), mesencephalon (k).

a. located at the surface (above other structures) b. less than the normal number of teeth
c. dark tumor d. disease affecting an entire population e. high blood pressure
f. cell with yellow color g. a newborn h. through the skin
i. having varying body temperature j. total paralysis k. midbrain

de la Mirel
Write the suffix in each of the following words that means study of, medical specialty, or
specialist in a field of study:

1. dentist (one who treats the teeth and mouth) -ist

2. neurology (the study of the nervous system)
3. pediatrics (treatment of children)
4. technologist (specialist in a technical field)
5. psychiatry (study and treatment of mental disorders)

KEY:
1. -ist
2. -logy
3. -iatrics
4. -ist
5. -iatry

Write a word for a specialist in each of the following fields:

6. anatomy (study of body structure)
7. pediatrics (care and treatment of children)
8. radiology (use of radiation in diagnosis and treatment)
9. orthodontics (correction of the teeth)

KEY:
6. anatomist
7. pediatrician
8. radiologist
9. orthodontist

Identify the suffix that means condition of in each of the following words:
1. egotism
2. anemia
3. stenosis

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4. dystrophy
5. acidosis
6. anesthesia

KEY:
1. -ism
2. -ia
3. -sis
4. -y
5. -sis
6. -ia

Give the suffix in the following words that means specialty or specialist:
7. psychiatry
8. orthopedist
9. obstetrics
10. urology

KEY:
7. -iatry
8. -ist
9. -ics
10. -logy

Give the name of the specialist in each of the following fields:

11. pediatrics
12. dermatology
13. pharmacy
14. gynecology

KEY :
11. pediatrician
12. dermatologist
13. pharmacist
14. gynecologist

Identify the adjective suffix in each of the following words that means pertaining to or
resembling:

15. physiologic
16. local
17. cutaneous
18. lymphoid
19. cellular
20. basic
21. salivary
22. oral
23. rheumatoid
24. virile

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25. anatomical
26. circular
27. exploratory

KEY:
15. -ic
16. -al
17. -ous
18. -oid
19. -ar
20. -ic
21. -ary
22. -al
23. -oid
24. -ile
25. -ical
26. -ar
27. -ory

Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words:

1. amorphous (without form) (root morph/o) a- not, without, lack of, absence
2. antibody
3. amnesia
4. disintegrate
5. contralateral
6. incontinent
7. dehumidify
8. noncontributory

KEY
1. a-; not, without, lack of, absence
2. anti-; against, opposite
3. a-; not, without (root mnem/o means memory)
4. dis-; absence, removal, separation
5. contra-; against
6. in-; not
7. de-; down, without, removal, loss
8. non-; not

Add a prefix to form the negative of each of the following words:

9. coordinated uncoordinated
10. adequate
11. infect
12. permeable (capable of being penetrated)
13. congestant
14. compatible

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KEY
9. uncoordinated
10. inadequate
11. disinfect
12. impermeable
13. decongestant
14. incompatible

Match the following terms and write the appropriate letter to the left of each number:

1. pandemic
a. located at the surface (above other structures)
2. hyposecretion
b. less than the normal number of teeth
3. hypertension
c. underproduction of a substance
4. oligodontia
d. disease affecting an entire population
5. superficial
e. high blood pressure

KEY
1. d
2. c
3. e
4. b
5. a

Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words:

6. equidistant (equi-; equal, same)

7. orthopedics
8. recuperate
9. euthyroidism
10. neocortex
11. megacolon
12. isometric

KEY
6.
7. ortho-; straight, correct, upright
8. re-; again, back
9. eu-; true, good, easy, normal
10. neo-; new
11. mega-; large, abnormally large
12. iso-; equal, same

Write the opposite of each of the following words:

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13. heterogeneous (composed of different materials) / . homogeneous
14. macroscopic (visible with the naked eye) / microscopic

Match the following terms and write the appropriate letter to the left of each number:

1. postnasal
a. throwing or extending forward
2. antecedent
b. occurring before the proper time
3. projection
c. behind the nose
4. premature
d. before birth
5. prenatal
e. occurring before another event

KEY
1. c
2. e
3. a
4. b
5. d

Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words:

6. premenstrual
7. post-traumatic
8. progenitor
9. antedate

KEY
6. pre-; before, in front of
7. post-; after, behind
8. pro-; before, in front of
9. ante-; before

Match the following terms and write the appropriate letter to the left of each number:

1. endonasal
a. placement of the heart outside its normal position
2. syndrome
b. middle layer of the developing embryo
3. mesoderm
c. the last stage of cell division
4. ectocardia
d. within the nose
5. Telophase
e. group of symptoms occurring together

KEY
1. d
2. e

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3. b
4. a
5. c

Match the following terms and write the appropriate letter to the left of each number:

1. primary
a. one half or one side of the chest
2. trisect
b. having many forms
3. unilateral
c. to cut into three parts
4. polymorphous
d. pertaining to one side
5. hemithorax
e. first
6. neonate
a. cell with yellow color
7. melanoma
b. through the skin
8. xanthocyte
c. dark tumor
9. percutaneous
d. a newborn
10. leukoderma
e. loss of color in the skin
11. heterothermic
a. endbrain
12. mesencephalon
b. having varying body temperature
13. panplegia
c. total paralysis
14. telencephalon
d. correcting or preventing deformities
15. orthopedic
e. midbrain

KEY
1. e
2. c
3. d
4. b
5. a
6. d
7. c
8. a
9. b
10. e
11. b
12. e
13. c

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14. a
15. d

Match each of the following prefixes with its meaning:

16. oligo-
a. equal, same
17. pseudo-
b. right
18. eu-
c. few, scanty
19. iso-
d. good, true, easy
20. dextro-
e. false

KEY
16. c
17. e
18. d
19. a
20. b

Identify and define the prefix in each of the following words:

29. nonexistent
30. transmit
31. equivalent
32. react
33. exhale
34. absent
35. contraindication
36. detoxify
37. predict
38. perforate
39. adduct
40. dialyze
41. antiserum
42. microsurgery
43. disease
44. ectoparasite
45. symbiotic
46. prognosis
47. inadequate

KEY
29. non-; not
30. trans-; through, across, beyond
31. equi-; equal, same
32. re-; again, back

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33. ex-; away from, outside
34. ab-; away from
35. contra-; against, opposite
36. de-; down, without
37. pre-; before, in front of
38. per-; through
39. ad-; toward, near
40. dia-; through
41. anti-; against
42. micro-; small
43. dis-; absence, removal, separation
44. ecto-; out, outside
45. sym-; together
46. pro-; before, in front of
47. in-; not

Opposites. Write a word that means the opposite of each of the following:

48. responsive
49. mature
50. active
51. sufficient
52. exotoxin
53. macroscopic
54. homograft
55. hypoactive
56. preoperative

KEY
48. unresponsive
49. immature
50. inactive
51. insufficient
52. endotoxin
53. microscopic
54. heterograft
55. hyperactive
56. postoperative

Synonyms. Write a word that means the same as each of the following:

57. supersensitivity
58. megalocyte (extremely large red blood cell)
59. antenatal
60. equilateral (having equal sides)

KEY
57. hypersensitivity
58. macrocyte

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59. prenatal
60. isolateral

Identify and define the prefixes in the following words:

5. displace and dislocate

6. replacement, recovery, and rehabilitation
7. avascular
8. anesthesia and analgesic
9. orthopedic
10. externally
11. bipolar
12. unremarkable

KEY
5. dis-; absence, removal, separation
6. re-; again, back
7. a-; not, without
8. an-; not, without
9. ortho-; straight, correct, upright
10. ex-; away from, outside
11. bi-; two, twice
12. un-; not

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