PREFIXES AND BODY SYSTEMS II

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM

PREFIX MEANING
TERMINOLOGY MEANING
Arthr/o Joint
Chonrd/o Cartilage Arthroscopy Visual examination of joint
Cost/o Rib Costocondritis Inflammation of the rib and its
Crani/o Skull cartilage
Ligament/o Ligament Craniotomy Incision of the skull
My/o; myos/o; Muscle Myositis Inflammation of a muscle
muscul/o Osteomyelitis Inflammation of bone and bone
Myel/o Bone marrow marrow
Oste/o Bone Spondylosis Abnormal condition of the
Pelv/o Pelvis, hipbone vertebrae
Spondyl, verter/o Vertebra Ankylosing Spondylitis Inflammation of the vertebrae
Ten/o; tendin;o Tendon with stiffening of spinal joints so
that movement becomes painful
Osteoporosis Weak and brittle bones
Arthritis Inflammation of joints
Arthroplasty Repair of joints
Laminectomy Surgical removal of the posterior
portion of the vertebra

NERVOUS SYSTEM

PREFIX MEANING TERMINOLOGY MEANING

Cerebell/o Cerebellum Cerebellar Pertaining to cerebellum
Cerebr/o Cerebrum Cerebral Pertaining to cerebrum
Encephal/o Brain Encephalitis Inflammation of the brain
Medull/o Medulla oblongata Medullary Pertaining to the medulla oblongata
Myel/o Spinal cord Myelography Radiographic examination of the
Neur/o Nerve spinal cord
Neuritis Inflammation of a nerve

PREFIX MEANING
Alveol/o Alveolus, air sac
Bronch/o Bronchial tube
Bronchi/o Bronchiole
Cyan/o Blue
Epiglott/o Epiglottis
Laryng/o Larynx
(Mastering Fundamentals of Nursing Concepts and Clinical Application 3rd edition by Josie Udan)
Nas/o; Rhin/o
//cfap007lechandout Nose
Pharyng/o Pharynx
Phren/o Diaphragm
Pneumon/o; pulmon/o Lung
Trache/o Trachea
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

TERMINOLOGY MEANING
Alveolar Pertaining to alveolus
Bronchoscopy Visual examination of bronchial tube
Bronchiolitis Inflammation of the bronchioles
SKIN AND SENSE ORGANS Cyanosis Bluish discoloration of the skin due
to inadequate oxygenation
PREFIX MEANING Epiglottitis Inflammation of the epiglottis
Laryngeal Pertaining to larynx
Aur/o, ot/o Ear Nasal Pertaining to nose
Rhinorrhea Discharge from the nose
Cutane/o, Skin
derm/o, Pharyngitis Inflammation of the pharynx
dermat/o Phrenic Pertaining to diaphragm
Myring/o, Eardrum Pneumonectomy Removal of a lung
tympan/o Pulmonary Pertaining to lung
Ocul/o, Eye Tracheostomy Opening of the trachea to the
ophthalm/o outside of the body and insertion of
Phak/o Lens of eye a tube to create an airway
Retin/o Retina
Asphyxia Extreme decrease in the amount of
oxygen in the body with increase of
carbon dioxide
Atelectasis Collapse of the lung

TERMINOLOGY MEANING
Aural discharge Pertaining to ear discharge
Otitis Inflammation of the ear
Subcutaneous Lower layer of the skin composed of
fatty tissue
Epidermis Outer layer of the skin
Dermatology Study of the skin and its disease
Myringotomy Incision of the eardrum
Tympanoplasty Surgical repair of the eardrum
Ocular Pertaining to the eye
Ophthalmoscopy Visual examination of the eye
Aphakia Absence of the lens of the eye
Retinopathy
(Mastering Fundamentals of Nursing Concepts and Clinical Application 3rd edition by Josie Udan)
Disease of the retina
//cfap007lechandout Alopecia Hair loss, baldness
Cataract Opacity of the lens of the eye
Conjunctivitis Inflammation of the conjunctiva
Tinnitus Ringing of the ears
Otoscopy Visual examination of the ears
URINARY SYSTEM
TERMINOLOGY MEANING
PREFIX MEANING
Cyst/o; vesic/o Urinary bladder Cystoscopy Visual examination of the urinary
Nephr/o; ren/o Kidney bladder
Pyel/o Renal pelvis Vesical Pertaining to urinary bladder
Ureter/o Ureter Nephritis Inflammation of the kidney
Urethr/o Urethra Renal Pertaining tokidney
Pyelogram x-ray of the renal pelvis
Ureterectomy Removal of the ureter
Urethritis Inflammation of the urethra
Nephrolithiasis Presence of stones in the kidney

(Mastering Fundamentals of Nursing Concepts and Clinical Application 3rd edition by Josie Udan)
//cfap007lechandout