MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Dr. Zaman
 MEDICAL ROOTS
Root Meaning Example
chol(e)- bile cholecystitis (inflammation
of the gallbladder)
chondr(o)- cartilage chondritis (inflammation of
cartilage)
col(i)(o)- colon colitis (inflammation of the
colon)
cost(o)- rib costochondral (relating to a
rib and its cartilage)
cut- skin cutaneous (relating to skin)
cyan(o)- blue cyanotic (blue colored)
cyst(i)(o)- bladder cystitis (inflammation of the
urinary bladder)
 MEDICAL ROOTS
Root Meaning Example
cyt(o)- cell cytology (study of cells)
derm- or -derm skin dermatitis (skin
inflammation)
dors(i)(o)- back dorsiflexion (upward
bending of hand or foot)
enter(o)- intestine enterobacter (A bacterium
causing intestinal infection)
erythr(o)- red erythrocytes (red blood
cells)
fasci- bundle fasciae (bundles of muscle
fibers)
febri- fever febrile (feverish)
 MEDICAL ROOTS
Root Meaning Example
galact(o)- milk galactose (sugar obtained
from milk)
gastro- stomach gastritis (inflammation of
the stomach)
gloss(o)- tongue glossitis (inflammation of
the tongue)
glyc(o)- or gluc(o)- sweet glycogen, glucogen (forms
of sugar)
gyn(o)- woman, particularly female gynecology (study of
reproductive women’s reproductive
organs organs)
heme(a)(o)- blood hematology (study of blood)
hepat(o)- liver hepatitis (inflammation of
the liver)
SUFFIXES
Suffix Meaning Example
-algia Pain neuralgia (nerve pain)
-ectomy Surgical removal splenectomy (removal of the
spleen)

-itis Inflammation colitis (inflammation of the colon)

-lysis Breakdown fibrinolysis (breakdown of a clot)

-oma tumor blastoma (cancer composed of
embryonic cells)

-osis Condition fibrosis (formation of fibrous

tissue)

-phob(ia) Abnormal fear agoraphobia (fear of closed

spaces)
GUESS THE MEANINGS

 Otalgia  Cholecystectomy
 Cephalgia  Lobectomy
 Arthralgia  Splenectomy
 Appendectomy  Hydrophobia
 Arthritis  Phonophobia
 Hepatitis  Photophobia
 Enteritis  Lymphoma
 Phlebitis  Melanoma
 Arteritis  Fibroma
 SUFFIXES
Suffix Meaning Example

-plasia Growth hypoplasia (incomplete

development)
-plasty Surgical repair angioplasty (surgical repair of
blood vessels)
-plegia Paralysis paraplegia (paralysis of lower
body)
-pnea Breathing apnea (absence of breathing)

-poesis Production hematopoiesis (production of

blood cells)
-praxia Movement apraxia (inability to perform
purposeful movement)
-rrhea Fluid discharge diarrhea (frequent soft or liquid
bowel movements)
GUESS THE MEANINGS

 Metaplasia  Hemiplegia
 Hyperplasia  Quadriplegia
 Aplasia  Dyspnea
 Dysplasia  Tachypnea
 Arthroplasty  Bradypnea
 Blepharoplasty  Erythropoesis
 Chondroplasty  Otorrhea
 Cranioplasty  Agalactorrhea
 Ophthalmoplegia  Rhinorrhea
SUFFIXES
Suffix Meaning Example

-scope Observe endoscope (tool for observing

the interior of body
organs)
-stomy Opening colostomy (portion of the colon
is opened and brought
through the abdominal wall)
-taxis Movement ataxia (uncoordinated
movements)
-tomy Incision thoracotomy (surgical opening of
the chest wall)
-tripsy Crushing lithotripsy (crushing stones in the
bladder, kidney,
gallbladder, or other organs)
-trophy Growth (in size) hypertrophy (overgrowth)

-emia In the blood Leukemia ( excessive WBCs in

the blood)
GUESS THE MEANINGS

 Otoscope  Anatomy
 Gastrotomy
 Ophthalmoscope
 Osteotomy
 Arthroscopy
 Atrophy
 Gastrostomy
 Dystrophy
 Tracheostomy
 Hyponatremia
 Colostomy
 Hypercalcemia
 Nephrostomy
 Anemia
 Epistaxis  Methemoglobinemia
ACTIVITY
Column A Column B
1. Super A. Rapid
2. Tachy B. Stone
3. Thrombo C. Above
4. Thermo D. Large
5. Poly E. Heat
6. Post F. After
7. Oxy G. Clot
8. Mono H. Oxygen
9. Lith I. One
10. Mega J. Many
ASSIGNMENT

 Please make a table of any 10 prefixes, 10 medical roots and 10 suffixes, its
meaning and at least two examples of each.
 Both handwritten and electronically typed assignments are acceptable.
 Please submit your assignments to your class monitor by Wednesday 12 th January.

 Thanks for your attention