Posted by Riccardo (195.103.80.225) on August 03, 2001 at 02:46:45:
I hope this list of prefixes and suffixes related to medical jargon may be useful.
(At least to create new words.... like I have a colpoxerisis and my husband got a gonadotropic polyuria caused by basicranial ostheoclasis that give him a penis myoedema.... in few words... my husband spend all the time to piss and I want some sex NOW!.....)
Prefix/
Suffix Meaning Example
a- Without, lack of Acentric (without a center)
ab- Away from, from Abterminal (away from the end)
-able Capable Viable (capable of living)
acou- Hearing Acoustics (science of sounds)
acro- Extremity, peak Acromegaly (large extremities)
acu- Needle Acupuncture (insertion of needles)
ad- To, toward, near to Adrenal (near the kidney)
adeno- Gland Adenoma (glandular tumor)
adipo- Fat Adipocyte (fat cell)
aero- Air, gas Aerobic (growing in presence of oxygen)
-agogue Leading, inducing Galactagogue (promoting the flow of milk)
-al Expressing relationship Neural (referring to nerves)
-algia Pain Gastralgia (stomach pain)
allotri- Strange, foreign Allotriuria (strange condition of the urine)
ambi- Both Ambilateral (affecting both sides)
amphi- Both Amphibious (on land and in water)
an- Without, lack of Anaerobic (without oxygen)
ana- Up, back, again Anatomy (a cutting up)
andro- Male Androcyte (male sex cell)
angio- Vessel Angiography (radiography of blood vessels)
ante- Before, forward Antecubital (before elbow)
anti- Against, reversed Antiperistalsis (reversed peristalsis)
apo- Separation, off Apocope (cutting off)
arthr- Joint Arthritis (inflammation of a joint)
-ary Associated with Urinary (associated with urine)
-ase Enzyme Amylase (catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch)
-asis Condition, state of Homeostasis (state of staying the same)
atelo- Incomplete Atelopodia (incomplete development of foot)
auto- Self Autolysis (self breakdown)
basi- Base or foundation Basicranial (base of skull)
bi- Twice, double Bilateral (both sides)
bio- Live Biology (study of living)
-blast- Bud, germ Fibroblast (fiber - producing cell)
brady- Slow Bradycardia (slow heart rate)
brevi- Short Brevicollis (shortness of the neck)
bucco- Cheek Buccally (toward the cheek)
-c Expressing relationship Cardiac (referring to heart)
carcin- Cancer Carcinogenic (causing cancer)
cardio- Heart Cardiopathy (heart disease)
cata- Down, lower Catabolism (breaking down)
cephal- Head Cephalic (toward the head)
-cele Hollow, cavity Blastocele (cavity inside a blastocyst)
celio- Abdomen Celioma (tumor of the abdomen)
cerebro- Brain Cerebrospinal (referring to brain and spinal cord)
chol- Bile Acholic (without bile)
cholecyst- Gallbladder Cholecystokinin (causes gallbladder contraction)
chondr- Cartilage Chondrocyte (cartilage cell)
chrono- Time Chronobiology (effect of time on living systems)
-cide Kill Bactericide (agent that kills bacteria)
circum- Around, about Circumduction (circular movement)
-clast- Smash, break Osteoclast (cell that breaks down bone)
co- With, together Coenzyme (molecule that functions with an enzyme)
colpo- Vagina Colpoxerosis (abnormal dryness of vagina)
com- With, together Commissure (coming together)
con- With, together Convergence (to incline together)
contra- Against, opposite Contralateral (opposite side)
copro- Feces Coprology (study of the feces)
crypto- Hidden Cryptorchidism (undescended or hidden testes)
cyano- Blue Cyanosis (bluish discoloration)
cysto- Bladder or sac Cystocele (hernia of a bladder)
-cyte- Cell Erythrocyte (red blood cell)
cyto- Cell Cytoskeleton (supportive fibers inside a cell)
de- Away from Dehydrate (remove water)
demi- Half Demilune (halfmoon or crescent shaped)
derm- Skin Dermatology (study of the skin)
di- Two Diploid (two sets of chromosomes)
dia- Through, apart, across Diapedesis (ooze through)
dis- Reversal, apart from Dissect (cut apart)
-duct- Draw Abduct (lead away from)
-dynia Pain Mastodynia (breast pain)
dys- Difficult, bad Dysmentia (bad mind)
e- Out, away from Eviscerate (take out viscera)
ec- Out from Ectopic (out of place)
ecto- On outer side Ectoderm (outer skin)
-ectomy Cut out Appendectomy (cut out the appendix)
-edem- Swell Myoedema (swelling of a muscle)
em- In Empyema (pus in)
-emia Blood Anemia (deficiency of blood)
en- In Encephalon (in the brain)
endo- Within Endometrium (within the uterus)
entero- Intestine Enteritis (inflammation of the intestine)
epi- Upon, on Epidermis (on the skin)
erythro- Red Erythrocyte (red blood cell)
eu- Well, good Euphoria (well-being)
ex- Out, away from Exhalation (breathe out)
exo- Outside, on outer side Exogenous (originating outside)
extra- Outside Extracellular (outside the cell)
-facient Causing, making Abortifacient (causing abortion)
-ferent Carry Afferent (carrying into a location)
-ferous Producing, bearing Odoriferous (giving off an odor)
-form Expressing resemblance Fusiform (resembling a fusion)
galacto- Milk Galactophygous (arresting milk secretion)
gastro- Stomach Gastrodynia (stomach ache)
-gen Producing Cryogen (producing cold)
-genesis Produce, origin Pathogenesis (origin of disease)
gloss- Tongue Hypoglossal (under the tongue)
glyco- Sugar, sweet Glycolysis (breakdown of sugar)
-gram A drawing Myogram (drawing of a muscle contraction)
-graph Instrument that records Myograph (instrument measuring muscle contraction)
helio- Sun Heliosis (sunstroke)
hem- Blood Hemolysis (breakdown of blood)
hemi- Half Hemiplegia (paralysis of half of the body)
hepato- Liver Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
hetero- Different, other Heterozygous (different genes for a trait)
hexa- Six Hexamer (contains six monomers)
hist- Tissue Histology (study of tissues)
homeo- Same Homeostasis (state of staying the same)
hydro- Wet, water Hydrocephalus (fluid within the head)
hyper- Over, above, excessive Hypertrophy (overgrowth)
hypo- Under, below, deficient Hypotension (low blood pressure)
hyster- Uterus Hysterectomy (removal of uterus)
-ia Expressing condition Neuralgia (pain in nerve)
-iatr- Treat, cure Pediatrics (treatment of children)
-id Expressing condition Flaccid (state of being weak)
idio- Self-produced Idiopathic (self-originated, of unknown cause)
im- Not Impermeable (not permeable)
in- In, into Injection (forcing fluid into)
infra- Below Infraorbital (below the eye)
inter- Between Intercostal (between the ribs)
intra- Within Intraocular (within the eye)
ipsi- Same Ipsilateral (same side)
-ism Condition, state of Dimorphism (condition of two forms)
iso- Equal Isotonic (same tension)
-itis Inflammation Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
-ity Expressing condition Acidity (condition of acid)
juxta- Near or adjoining Juxtaspinal (close to spinal column)
kerato- Cornea or horny tissue Keratinization (formation of a hard tissue)
-kin- Move Kinesiology (study of movement)
lact- Milk Lactation (secretion of milk)
leuko- White Leukocyte (white blood cell)
-liga- Bind Ligament (structure that binds bone to bone)
lipo- Fat Lipolysis (breakdown of fats)
litho- Stone, calculus Lithogenic (promoting formation of calculi)
-logy Study Histology (study of tissue)
-lysis Breaking up, dissolving Glycolysis (breakdown of sugar)
macro- Large Macrophage (large phagocytic cell)
mal- Bad Malnutrition (bad nutrition)
-mania Madness Necromania (morbid attraction to dead bodies)
malaco- Soft Osteomalacia (soft bone)
mammo- Breast Mammogram (X-ray film of breasts)
mast- Breast Mastectomy (excision of the breast)
mega- Great Megacolon (large colon)
melano- Black Melanocyte (black pigment producing skin cell)
meso- Middle, mid Mesoderm (middle skin)
meta- Beyond, after, change Metastasis (beyond original position)
micro- Small Microorganism (small organism)
mito- Thread, filament Mitosis (threadlike chromosomes/cell division)
mono- One, single Monosaccharide (one sugar)
-morph- Form Morphology (study of form)
multi- Many, much Multinucleated (two or more nuclei)
myelo- Marrow, spinal cord Myeloid (derived from bone marrow)
myo- Muscle Myocardium (heart muscle)
narco- Numbness Narcotic (drug producing stupor or weakness)
necro- Death Necropsy (examination of dead body)
neo- New Neonatal (first four weeks of life)
nephro- Kidney Nephrectomy (removal of a kidney)
neuro- Nerve Neuritis (inflammation of a nerve)
oculo- Eye Oculomotor (movement of the eye)
odonto- Tooth or teeth Odontomy (cutting a tooth)
-oid Expressing resemblance Epidermoid (resembling epidermis)
oligo- Few, scanty, little Oliguria (little urine)
-oma Tumor Carcinoma (cancerous tumor)
omni- All Omnidirectional (involving all directions)
-op- See Myopia (nearsighted)
ophthalm- Eye Ophthalmology (study of the eye)
ortho- Straight, normal Orthodontics (straightening of teeth)
-ory Referring to Olfactory (relating to the sense of smell)
-ose Full of Adipose (full of fat)
-osis A condition of Osteoporosis (porous condition of bone)
osteo- Bone Osteocyte (bone cell)
oto- Ear Otolith (ear stone)
-ous Expressing material Serous (composed of serum)
pan- All Panphobia (fear of everything)
para- Beside, beyond, near to Paranasal (near the nose)
-pathy Disease Cardiopathy (disease of the heart)
pedo- Child Pedophilic (fond of children)
-penia Deficiency Thrombocytopenia (deficiency of thrombocytes)
penta- Five Pentamer (contains five monomers)
per- Through, excessive Permeate (pass through)
peri- Around Periosteum (around bone)
-phag- Eat Dysphagia (difficult eating or swallowing)
-phas- Speak, utter Aphasia (unable to speak)
-phil- Like, love Hydrophilic (water-loving)
phleb- Vein Phlebotomy (incision into a vein)
phlogo- Inflammation Phlogogenic (causing inflammation)
-phobia Fear Hydrophobia (fear of water)
phyto- Plant Phytoestrogens (estrogens from plant sources)
-plas- Form, grow Neoplasm (new growth)
-plegia Paralyze Paraplegia (paralysis of lower limbs)
pleo- More than one Pleomorphism (having more than one form)
-pne- Breathe Apnea (lack of breathing)
pneumo- Air, gas, or lungs Pneumothorax (air in the thorax)
pod- Foot Podiatry (treatment of foot disorders)
-poie- Make Hematopoiesis (make blood cells)
poly- Many, much Polycythemia (excess red blood cells)
post- After, behind Postpartum (after childbirth)
pre- Before, in front of Prenatal (before birth)
pro- Before, in front of Prosect (to cut before-for demonstration)
procto- Anus, rectum Proctoscope (instrument for examining the rectum)
pseudo- False Pseudostratified (falsely layered)
psycho- Mind, soul Psychosomatic (effect of the mind on the body)
pyo- Pus Pyoderma (pus in the skin)
quasi- Almost, resembling Quasidominance (mimicking dominant inheritance)
re- Back, again, contrary Reflect (bend back)
reno- Kidney Renocortical (cortex of kidney)
retro- Backward, located behind Retroperitoneal (behind the peritoneum)
rhino- Nose Rhinodynia (pain in nose)
-rrhagia Burst forth, pour Hemorrhage (bleed)
-rrhea Flow, discharge Rhinorrhea (nasal discharge)
sarco- Flesh or fleshy Sarcoma (connective tissue tumor)
sclero- Hard Arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
-scope Examine Endoscope (instrument)
semi- Half Semilunar (shaped like half a moon)
somato- Body Somatotropin (hormone causing body growth)
-stasis Stop, stand still Hemostasis (stop bleeding)
-stat Inhibit Bacteriostat (inhibiting growth of bacteria)
steno- Narrow Stenosis (narrow canal)
-stomy Make artificial opening Tracheostomy (make an opening into the trachea)
sub- Under Subcutaneous (under skin)
super- Above, upper, excessive Supercilia (upper brows)
supra- Above, upon Suprarenal (above kidney)
sym- Together, with Symphysis (growing together)
syn- Together, with Synapsis (joining together)
tachy- Fast, swift Tachycardia (rapid heart rate)
tetra- Four Tetracetate (four acetic acid molecules)
therm- Heat Thermometer (device for measuring heat)
toco- Labor Tocophobia (dread of childbirth)
-tomy Cut, incise Phlebotomy (incision of a vein)
tox- Poison Antitoxin (substance effective against poison)
trans- Across, through, beyond Transection (cut across)
tri- Three Triceps (three-headed muscle)
-troph- Nourish Hypertrophy (enlargement or overnourishment)
-tropic Changing, influencing Gonadotropic (influencing the gonads)
ultra- Excess, beyond Ultraviolet (beyond violet end of spectrum)
uni- One Unilateral (one side)
-uria Urine Polyuria (excess urine)
vaso- Vessel Vasoactive (affecting caliber of blood vessels)
vene- Vein Venesection (phlebotomy)
viscer- Internal organ Visceromotor (movement of internal organs)
vivi- Alive Vivisection (surgery on living animals)
xeno- Foreign Xenograft (graft of tissue to another species)
zoo- Animal Zoogenous (acquired from animals)