LEARN MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Everybody should know the basic functioning of Human Body and its main parts in order to express and
explain their ailment to the Doctor and at the same time one should be able to understand the diagnosis
expressed by the Doctor in the medical terminology. For easy recognition of the Compounded Words
used in the Medical Terminology for naming the disease, Suffixes are added to Prefixes. For this
hereunder giving you a few such prefixes for your ready reference and understanding.

Prefix - Meaning

1. Adeno - Glandular

2. An - Not

3. Anti - Against

4. Aorto - Aorta

5. Artho - joint

6. Bleph - Eyelid

7. Broncho - Bronchi

8. Cardio - Heart

9. Cephal - Head

10. Cerebro - Brain

11. Cervico - Cervix

12. Cholecysto - Gall Bladder

13. Coli - Bowel

14. Colpo - Vagina

15. Entero - Intestine

16. Gastro - Stomach

17. Glosso - Tongue

18. Haema - Blood

19. Hepa - Liver

20. Hystero - Uterus

21. Laryngo - Larynx

22. Leuco - White

23. Metro - Uterus

24. Myelo - Spinal cord

25. Myo - Muscle

26. Nephro - Kidney

27. Neuro - Nerve

28. Odonto - Tooth

29. Orchido - Testis

30. Osteo - Bone

31. Oto - Ear

32. Pharyngo - Pharynx

33. Pio - Pus

34. Pneumo - Lung

35. Ren - Kidney

36. Rhin - Nose

37. Spleno - Spleen

38. Thyro - Thyroid Gland

39. Urethro - Urethra

40. Vesico – Bladder

Here are the suffixes used in Medical terminology. Check out!

Suffix - Meaning

1. -aemia : Blood

2. -algia : Pain

3. -derm : skin

4. -dynia : pain

5. -ectomy : removal
6. -Itis : inflammation

7. -lithiasis : Presence of Stone

8. -malacia : softening

9. -oma : tumour

10. -opia : eye

11. -osis : Condition,excess

12. -otomy : incision of

13. -phobia : fear

14. -plasty : surgery

15. -plegia : peralysis

16. -ptosis : falling

17. -rhoea : excessive discharge

18. -rhage : to burst forth

19. -rhythmia : rhythm.

20. -stasis : stoppage of movement

21. -sthenia : weakness

22. -stomy : outlet

23. -tomy : removal

24. -trophy : nourishment

25. -uria : urine

Compounded Words - Meaning

1. Anaemia - Deficiency of haemoglobin in the blood

2. Analgesic - Medicine which alleviates pain

3. Arthralgia - Pain in a joint

4. Cephalalgia - Headache

5. Nephralgia - Pain in the kidney

6. Neuralgia - Nerve pain

7. Myalgia - Muscle pain

8. Otalgia - Ear ache

9. Gastralgia - Pain in the stomach

10. Pyoderma - Skin infection with pus formation

11. Leucoderma -Defective skin pigmentaion

12. Hysterodynia - Pain in the uterus

13. Hysterectomy - Excision of the uterus

14. Nephrectomy - Excision of a kidney

15. Adenectomy - Excision of a gland

16. Cholecystectomy - Excision of gall bladder

17. Thyroidectomy - Excision of thyroid gland

18. Arthritis - Inflammation of a joint

19. Bronchitis - Inflammation of the bronchi

20. Carditis - Inflammation of the heart

21. Cervicitis - Inflammation of the cervix

22. Colitis - Inflammation of the colon

23. Colpitis - Inflammation of the vagina

24. Cystitis - Inflammation of the urinary bladder

25. Enteritis - Inflammation of the intestines

26. Gastritis - Inflammation of the stomach

27. Glossitis - Inflammation of the tongue

28. Hepatitis - Inflammation of the liver

29. Laryngitis - Inflammation of the larynx

30. Metritis - Inflammation of the uterus

31. Myelitis - Inflammation of the spinal cord

32. Nephritis - Inflammation of the kidney

33. Pharyngitis - Inflammation of the pharynx

34. Blepharitis -Inflammation of the eyelids

35. Cholelithiasis - Stone in the gall bladder

36. Nephrolithiasis - Stone in the kidney

37. Osteomalacia - Softening of bones through deficiency of calcium or D vitamin

38. Adenoma -Benign tumour of glandular tissue

39. Myoma - Tumour of muscle

40. Diplopia - Double vision

41. Thrombosis - Formation of a blood clot

42. Pyloromyotomy - Incision of pyloric sphincter muscle

43. Hedrophobia - Fear of water(Rabies in humans)

44. Neuroplasty- Surgical repair of nerves

45. Pyloraplasty -Incision of plastic pylorus to widen passage

46. Hemiplegia - Paralysis of one side of the body

47. Nephroptosis - Downward displacement of the kidney

48. Amenorrhoea - Absence of menstrual discharge

49. Dysmenorrhoea - Painful menstruation

50. Leucorrhoea - Whitish vaginal discharge

51. Menorrhoea - Menstrual bleeding

52. Haemorrhage- Escape of blood from a vessel

53. Arrhythmia -Any deviation of normal rhythm of heart

54. Cholestasis - Diminution in the flow of bile

55. Haemostatis - Arrest of bleeding

56. Neurasthenia - Nervous debility

57. Cystostomy - Surgical opening made into the bladder

58. Cystotomy - Incision into the urinary bladder

59. Hypertrophy - Increase in the size of tissues

60. Haematuria - Blood in the urine

61. Glycosuria - Presence of sugar in the urine

62. Albuminuria - Presence of albumin in the urine