1、List of medical roots,suffixes and prefixesThis is a list of roots,suffixes,and prefixes used in medical terminology,their meanings,and theiretymologies.Most of them are combining forms in New Latin and hence international scientificvocabulary.There are a few general rules about how they combine.Fir
2、st,prefixes and suffixes,most ofwhich are derived from ancient Greek or classical Latin,have a droppable-o-.As a general rule,this-o-almost always acts as a joint-stem to connect two consonantal roots(e.g.arthr-+-o-+-logy=arthrology),but generally,the-o-is dropped when connecting to a vowel-stem(e.g
3、.arthr-+-itis=arthritis,instead ofarthr-o-itis).Second,medical roots generally go together according to language,i.e.,Greek prefixes occurwith Greek suffixes and Latin prefixes with Latin suffixes.Although international scientific vocabulary isnot stringent about segregating combining forms of diffe
4、rent languages,it is advisable when coining newwords not to mix different lingual roots.The following is an alphabetical list of medical prefixes and suffixes,along with their meanings,origins,and English examples.Prefixes and suffixesAAffixMeaningOrigin language and etymologyExample(s)a-,an-not,wit
5、hout(alphaprivative)Greek-/-(a-/an-),not,withoutanalgesic,apathyab-from;away fromLatinabductionabdomin-of or relating to theabdomenLatin abdmen,abdomen,fat aroundthe bellyabdomen,abdominal-acpertaining to;one afflictedwithGreek-(-aks)cardiac,hydrophobiacacanth-thorn or spineGreek (kantha),thornacant
6、hion,acanthocyte,acanthoma,acanthulusacou-1of or relating to hearingGreek (akoein),(akoustiks),of or for hearingacoumeter,acoustician,hyperacusisacr-extremity,topmostGreek (kron),highest orfarthest pointacrocrany,acromegaly,acroosteolysis,acroposthia-acusishearingGreek (akoustiks),of orfor hearingpa
7、racusis-adtoward,in the direction ofLatin ad,toward,todorsad,ventradad-at,increase,on,towardLatin ad-,toadduction,additionaden-of or relating to a glandGreek,-,(adn,adn-),anacorn;a glandadenocarcinoma,adenology,adenotome,adenotyphusadip-of or relating to fat or fattytissueLatin adeps,adip-,fatadipoc
8、yteadren-of or relating to theadrenal glandsLatin ad+rns,kidneysadrenal artery-aemia,ema,hemat(BrE)blood conditionGreek (anaima),withoutbloodanaemiaaer(o)-air,gasGreek,(ar,aros)aerosinusitis,aerodynamicsaesthesi-(BrE)sensationGreek (asthsis)anaesthesia-alpertaining toLatin-alisabdominal,femoralalb-d
9、enoting a white or palecolorLatin albus,whitealbino,tunica albicaalge(si)-painGreek (lgos)analgesic-algia,alg(i)o-painGreekmyalgiaall-denoting something asdifferent,or as an additionGreek (llos),another,otheralloantigen,allopathyambi-denoting something aspositioned on both sides;describing both of t
10、woLatin ambi-,ambo,both,on bothsidesambidextrousamnio-Pertaining to themembranous fetal sac(amnion)Greek (mnion)amniocentesisamph(i)-,on both sidesGreek (amph)amphicrania,amphismela,amphomycinamylo-starchy,carbohydrate-Latin amylum(starch)amylase,amylophagiarelatedan-not,without(alphaprivative)Greek
11、analgesiaana-back,again,upGreek-(ana-)anaplasiaan-anusLatinanalandr-pertaining to a manGreek,-(anr,andr-),maleandroid,andrology,androgenangi-blood vesselGreek (angeon)angiogram,angioplastyaniso-describing something asunequalGreek (nsos),unequalanisocytosis,anisotropicankyl-,ancyl-denoting something
12、ascrooked or bentGreek (anklos),crooked,curvedankylosisante-describing something aspositioned in front ofanother thingLatin nt,before,in front ofantepartumanthropo-humanGreek (nthrpos),humananthropologyanti-describing something asagainst or opposed toanotherGreek (anti),againstantibody,antipsychotic
13、apo-away,separated from,derived fromGreek (ap)apoptosisarchi-first,primitiveGreek-(arkhi-)archinephronarsen(o)-of or pertaining to a male;masculineGreek (arseniks)arsenoblastarteri(o)-of or pertaining to anarteryGreek (artra),a wind-pipe,artery(used distinctly versus a vein)arteriole,arteryarthr-of
14、or pertaining to thejoints,limbsGreek (rthron),a joint,limbarthritisarticul-jointLatin articulusArticulation-arypertaining toLatin-ariusbiliary tract,coronary-aseenzymefrom Greek (-(dia-,part,apart)+(stsis,stand),divisionLactase-astheniaweaknessGreek (asthneia)Myasthenia gravisatel(o)-imperfect or i
15、ncompletedevelopmentGreek (atels),without end,incompleteatelocardiaather-fatty deposit,soft gruel-like deposit(athr)Atherosclerosis-ationprocessLatinmedication,civilizationatri-an atrium(esp.heartatrium)Latinatrioventricularaur-of or pertaining to the earLatin auris,the earAuralaut-selfGreek,-(auts,
16、auto-)Autoimmune,autograph,autobiography,automobile,automaticaux(o)-increase;growthGreek,(auxn,ax)Auxocardia:enlargementof the heart,auxologyaxill-of or pertaining to thearmpit(uncommon as aprefix)Latin axilla,armpitAxillaazo(to)-nitrogenous compoundFrench azote,nitrogen;from Greek(ztiks)-(a-,no,without)+(z,life),mephiticairazothermia:raisedtemperature due tonitrogenous substances inbloodAffixMeaningOrigin language and etymologyExample(s)bacillusrod-shapedLatin baculus,stickBacillus anthracisbac
