Prepared By. Dr.SHAJIN S.

PUNNILAM
Anatomy Trainer, Transorze solutions
Trivandrum Branch
To understand the meaning of each
medical term is divided in to 4
components.
 WORD ROOT
 COMBAINING VOVEL
 SUFFIX
 PREFIX
 It is the main or core part of medical term. It
usually shows an organ, body structure and
body function.

Eg. Cardi – heart

Hepat – liver
Hemat - Blood
 Commonly used vovels are “ I,O,E ”.
The vovels combines or joins the wordroot with
the remaining part of medical term.
word root + combaining vovel =combaining
form.
Eg. Cardi +o = cardio ( it denotes cardi/o) -
heart
Hepat =o = Hepato ( hepat/o) - liver
 Word ending

Eg. Cardiology = cardio + logy

Logy is the word ending meaning STUDY

Cardiology means Study of Heart.
Hepatitis: Hepato +itis
Itis means inflammatiom: Signs: Redness,
Swelling,Pain and Local rise of temparature.
 Suffix denotes
- algia: pain
-centesis: surgical aspiration
- logy: study
- rhaphy: suture
 Word beginning
 It may or may not be a medical term.
 It denotes number, negation, color, etc.
 Eg: A or An: lack of / without
 Bi: two
 tri: three
 endo: inside / exo: outside
 Anti: against
 Abdomin/o: abdomen / belly
- centesis: surgical aspiration of fluid from an
organ or body cavity, by making a surgical
puncture in the wall, inserting a needle which
is connected to a holo tube or catheter which
is then placed in to an air tight bottle.
- Abdominocentesis: surgical aspiration of fluid
from the abdominal cavity.
- Abdominocentesis is also called paracentesis
Aden/o: Gland
Inflammation of gland: Adenitis
-oma: tumor
Tumor of gland: Adenoma
-Ectomy: Removal
Removal of gland: Adenectomy

Adip/o/Ather/o/Lip/o/steat/o: Fat
Fatty tumor: Lipoma
-rrhea: Discharge or Flow
Steatorrhea: it is an abnormal condition in which
fat is discharged through stool.
 -sclerosis: hard and thick
 Atherosclerosis: if fat get deposited in the inner wall of the
artery, the wall get hard and thickened.this is known as
atherosclerosis.
Fat is deposited in the form of layers or patches known as
atherosclerotic plaques.when more and more fat get deposited
the lumen or space with in the artery becomes narrowed and
finallyblood flow is blocked. So the organ or tissue supplied by
the artery gets lack of blood supply or ischemia, without blood
supply the organ or tissue will not get oxygen or nutrients. So
this will lead to infarction or necrosis or tissue death.
The myocardium is supplied by coronary artery and its
branches.if atherosclerosis occurs in the coronary artery, it will
lead to myocardial ischemia and finally myocardial infarction.this
is known as MI or Heart attack.
Adren/o: Adrenal gland
-pathy: disaese/disorder
-osis: disease/disorder
adrenalectomy: removal of adrenal gland

Alveol/o: alveolus: air sac in the lungs.

Alveolitis: inflammation of alveoli.

Amni/o: Amnion: inner fetal membrane

Amniocentesis: surgical aspiration of amniotic fluid.

Andr/o: Male
-arche: onset/beginning
-pause: stoppage
Androarche: beginning of sexual function of male.
Andropause: stoppage of sexual function of male.
Men/o: menses
Menorrhea: discharge of menses
Amenorrhea: lack of menses
Dysmenorrhea:difficult menstruation
Menarche: beginning of first menses in a female.
 Menopause: stoppage of menses
Puberty: achievement of sexual development or maturity.

Angi/o: Artery, vessel

-graphy:recording or x-ray examination
-gram: the record obtained from graphy
-graph: instrument used for graphy
Angiography: x-ray examination of artery.
-plasty: surgical repair
Angioplasty: surgical repair of artery.

Ankyl/o: stiff

Anthrac/o: coal/carbon
pneum/o: air/lung
Coni/o: dust
Osis: disease or disorder
Pneumoconiosis: disease caused due to inhalation of dust particle.
Anthracosis: or black lung disease
Lung disease due to inhalation of coal or carbon
Silicosis: or glass cutters disease/grinders disease.
Lung ds due to inhalation of silica particles.
Asbestosis: lung ds due to inhalation of asbestos particles.

Aort/o: Aorta
-stenosis: narrowing
Aortic stenosis: narrowing of aorta

Arteri/o: artery
Arteriosclerosis: hardening and thickening of the inner wall of the
artery due to deposition of fat or calcium.
-rrhexis: rupture
Arteriorrhexis: rupture of artery – causes heamorrhage or bleeding.
Arthr/o: joint
Arthritis: inflammation of joint
Arthrocentesis: surgical aspiration of fluid from
joint.
Arthroplasty: surgical repair of joint
Arthroscopy: visual examination of joint.
Arthralgia/Arthrodynia: pain in joints

Atri/o: atrium ( chamber of heart )

-opsy: visual examination/visualization
Biopsy: visual examination of living tissue under
microscope
Autopsy: post mortem examination.
 Balan/o: Glans penis
Sensitivetip of penis
Balanitis: inflammation of glans penis

Blephar/o/palpebr/o: eyelid
Blepharitis: inflammation of eyelid
-ptosis: drooping/hanging down/downward displacement
Blepharoptosis: drooping of eyelids
Blepharoplasty: surgical repair of eyelid

Brachi/o: Arm
Brachial artery: artery supply to the arm

Bronch/o/Bronchi/o: Bronchus
Muscular tubes carrying air to the lungs.
Bronchitis: inflammatio of bronchi
Calcane/o: calcaneum/heel bone/hind foot bone
Calcaneal spur: painful beningn growth from calcaneum.

Carp/o: carpal bones( 8 short bones in the wrist )

Cephal/o: head
Cephalgia: headache
Normocephaly: normal head
Microcephaly: small head

Cerebro: cerebrum

Cervic/o: neck or cervix

Chondr/o: cartillage
Cost/o: rib
Costochondro: costal cartillage/rib cartilage
-malacia: softening
Chondromalacia: softening of cartillage
Costochondritis: inflammation of rib cartilage

Col/o/colon/o: colon/large intestine

Colitis: inflammation of colon
Colectomy: removal of colon
Colonoscopy: visual examination of colon
-stomy: mouth like opening
Anastomosis: inter connection or bypassing b/w 2 organs or
vessel

Colp/o/vagin/o: vagina/birth canal

Vaginitis: inflammation of vagina

Corne/o/ kerat/o: cornea

It is a transparent membrane surrounding the eye ball.
 Keratitis:inflammation of cornea
 Keratoplasty:surgical repair of cornea
Corneal ulcer: ulcer of cornea.
KERATIN: A hard protein present in horns, nail plates, hair fiber
and present in epidermis.
Keratosis: Abnormal thickening and hardening of skin.

Crani/o: Cranium ( skull )

-tomy: cutting in/incision
-tom: instrument used for tomy
Craniotomy: making an incision or cut into theskull using
craniotom.

Crin/o: to secrete
Glands divided in to two: endocrine gland and exocrine gland.
Endocrine gland: they are ductless gland,they leave their secretions
known as hormones directly in to the blood.
Eg: thyroid gland, adrenal gland
Exocrine glands: they leave their secretions usually outside
the duct.
Eg: tear gland, salivary gland,sweat gland,mammary gland.
Pancreas: Both endocrine and exocrine gland.
Endocrine part is made up of group of cell known as ilets of
langerhans.it consist of alpha cells secreting glucagon,beta
cell- insulin and gamma – stomatostatin.

Crypt/o: Hidden

Orch/o/Orchi/o/Orchid/o: testes

A pair of male gonads or sex glands situated outside the

body in a membraneous sac known as scrotum.
Orchitis: inflammation of testes
Anorchism: absence of testes
Orchiectomy: removal of testes ( castration)
Cryptorchism or Undescented testes: Testes developed
in the abdominal cavity and later desend in to the
scrotum.but in cryptorchism they remain hidden in the
abdominal cavity without descending into the scrotum.
Treatment:Orchiopexy
- pexy: surgical fixation

Cutane/o/derm/o/dermat/o: skin
Pruritus means itching

Cyst/o: cyst / urinary bladder

Cystitis: inflammation of bladder
Cystectomy : removal of urinary bladder

PCOD: Polycystic ovarian disease

PCOS: Polycystic ovarian syndrome ( stein levanthal
syndrome )
Dacry/o/lacym/o: Tear
Dacyoadeno: tear gland
Lacymation: discharge of tears

Dactyl/o: digits ( finger & toes )

Polydactyli: presence of excess finger
Syndactyli: combined finger or webbed finger

Dent/o: Teeth
Peridontal tissue: tissue surrounding the tooth
Dental caries: tooth decay

Dipl/o: double
-opia: vision
Diplopia: double vision

Duoden/o: duodenum ( 1st & shortest part of small intestine)

Duodenoscopy: visual examination of duodenum
Electr/o:Electricity or electrical activity
ECG: electrocardiogram ( indian )
EKG: electrokardiogram ( american )
Cautery or cauterization: destruction of abnormal
tissue/growth by burning.
Electocauterization: destruction of abnormal
tissue/ growth by the help of electricity.
Cry/o: Freezing
Cryocauterization: destruction of tissues by
freezing using liquid nitrogen.

Episi/o/ vulv/o: Vulva or external genital organ of

female.
Vulvitis: inflammation of vulva
Perine/o: perineum
Area of lower pelvic floor b/w scrotum & anus in males,
vagina & anus in females.
During labor/delivary/parturition/confinement, after the
expulsion of the head of the baby, the broad shoulder and
body will come out rapidly.
It may cause damage to the urinary bladder of mother. To
avoid these linear/longitudinal tear are given in the
perineum from posterior or back border of the vagina. This
will make vaginal orifice wide, known as episiotomy.
After the completion of labor perineorhaphy is done.
-rhapy: surgical suturing

Erythr/o:Red
Erythroplakia: presence of red patches in the mouth.
-poiesis: Formation/production
Erythropoiesis: production of RBCs
Esophag/o: Esophagus or food pipe
Esophagitis: inflammation of esophagus

Femer/o: Femur or Thigh bone

Fibul/o/perone/o: Fibula bone
Fibular fracture/peroneal fracture

Galact/o/Lact/o: milk
Lactogenesis: production of milk
Lactation: discharge of milk
Galactorrhea: Abnormally excess discharge of milk.

Gingiv/o: Gums
Gingivitis: inflammation of gums

Gnath/o: Jaw/chin
Gnathoplasty: surgical repair of chin
Gnos/o: Knowledge
Diagnosis: complete or thorough knowledge of
disease.
Prognosis: prediction or fortelling the outcome of
disease

Glomerul/o: Glomerulus
Glomeruli are ball or network of capillaries seen in
the cortex or outer part of kidneys.

Gonad/o: Gonads/sex glands. Ie, testes in males&

ovaries in females.

Gyna/e: Female
Gynaecomastia: Enlargement of breast in males.
Hem/o/Hemat/o: Blood
Hematoma: collection or accumulation of blood in
a organ or in a body cavity or under the skin.
Hemostasis: stagnation( stoppage )
Hematology: study of blood

Hidr/o: Sweat ( perspiration )

Diaphoresis: excessive sweating
Unhidrosis: absence of sweating

Humer/o: Humerus/ upper arm bone

Hydr/o: water/fluid
Hydrotherapy: treatment using water
Hydrocephalus: enlargement of head due to
excess collection of water.
Hydrocele: Bulging or herniation of scrotum
due to accumulation of fluid.

Icthy/o:Dry/scaly
Icthyosis: abnormal condition in which skin
becomes dry and scaly.

ile/o: ileum ( terminal and longest part of small

intestine.

ili/o: ilium ( upper part of hip bone )

Immun/o: Immunity – safety mechanism of the
body.
Autoimmune disease: Abnormal type of immunity
in which body produce antibodies against its own
tissues or organs. These antibodies will destroy the
organs.
Eg. SLE( systemic lupus erythematosus),
Rheumatoid arthritis.

Irid/o: iris ( Colored part of eye around pupil )

Inflammation of iris: iritis
Removal of iris: iridectomy

Ischi/o: ischium ( Posterior and inferior part of hip

bone)
Labi/o: Labium( lip like structure) ie, labium majora and
labium minora. – which are lip like structure around the
vagina.

Cheil/o: lip

Lapar/o: Abdomen
Laproscopy: visual examination of abdomen through
laproscope.

Laryng/o: Larynx or voice box

Leiomy/o: smooth muscle

-myo: muscle
Rhabdomy/o: skeletal muscle
Pain in muscle: Myalgia
Lingu/o:/gloss/o: Tongue
Inflammation of tongue: glossitis
Removal of tongue:glossectomy

Lob/o: Lobe
Limbig:Abnormal type of gait
(Gait: mode of walking )

Lumb/o: Back/lumbar region/loin

-ectasis: Dilation/Dilatation
Lump/o: mass

Mamm/o/Matst/o: Breast
Inflammation of breast: mastitis
Pain in breast: mastalgia

Megal/o/Megally: Enlargement
Organomegally: enlargement of organ
Megalomania: usually seen in schizophrenia or psycosis. In
this person things is superior to others.

Meningi/o: meninges
3 membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Outer
mater: Dura mater, middle: Arachanoid mater and inner: Pia
mater.

Inflammation of meninges: meningitis

Metacarp/o: metacarpal bones. – 5 short bones in the
palm of hand.

Metr/o/Hyster/o: uterus

Myc/o/Fung/o: fungus
Fungemia: presence of fungus in blood
Mycosis: fungal disease
Dermatomycosis: fungal disease of skin

Onych/o/Ung/o: Nail
Onychomycosis: fungal disease of nail

Pil/o/trich/o: Hair
Tricology: study of hair
Myringi/o/Tympan/o: Eardrum
Myel/o: Bone marrow/Spinal cord
Myelopoeisis: formation of bone marrow
Myeloid leukemia: Blood cancer derived from bone
marrow.
- Oid: Resembling/Similar to
Derived from
Meningiocele: Bulging out or herniation of
meninges through a defect in the vertebral column
or back bone.
Eg: spina bifida
Myelomeningiocele: Spinal cord along with
meninges will bulge out through the defect in the
vertebral column.
Nas/o/Rhin/o: nose
Inflammation of nose: Rhinitis
Discharge from nose: Rhinorrhea
Rhinoplasty: surgival repair of nose

Nat/o:/Nat/i: Birth
Neonate: newborn child
Narc/o: sleep
Somn/o: sleep
Insomnia: lack of sleep or sleeplessness
Somnabulism: Sleep walking

Necr/o: Necrosis/tissue death

Nephr/o/Ren/o: kidney
Nephroptosis: Downward displacement of kidney
Nephropexy: Surgical fixation of kidney
Neur/o: Nerve
Polyneuritis: inflammation of many nerves.
Neuralgia: nerve pain
Causalgia: Burning pain. ( caus/o: burning )

Noct/o/Nyct/o: Night
Noctophobia: fear of night

Occul/o/ophthalm/o: eyes
EOM: extra occular muscle
IOM: intra occular lens
Adnexa: associated structure or accessory structure
Occular adnexa: associated structure of eye ball, like
eye lids, eye lashes, lacrymal apparatus and extra
occular muscle.
Orth/o: Striaghten/Erect/Upright
-pnea: Breathing
Orthopnea: abnormal condition in which person
suffer from difficult in breathing or dyspnea in the
lying down or recumbant position, but can breath
only in the erect position by placing pillows behind
the back. it is seen in CHF ( congestive heart failure
).

Oste/o: Bone
Osteomalacia: Softening of bone

Ot/o: Ear
Inflammation of ear: otitis
Pain in ear: otalgia
Discharge from ear: ottorrhea.
Otopyorrhea: Pus discharge from ear.
Or/o/Bucc/o/Stomat/o: Mouth

Ox/o: oxygen
Hypoxemia: Decreased oxygen in blood
Capn/o: Carbon di oxide

Ovari.o/Oophor/o: Ovary
Oophritis: inflammation of ovary
Oophrectomy: surgical removal of ovary
Pancreat/o: Pancreas

Parathyroid/o: parathyroid gland ( 4 small gland

situated near the thyroid gland.)

Patell/o: Patella or knee cap

Pector/o: chest

Ped/o/Pod/o: Foot
Podiatry: Speciality of medicine deal with treatment of
foot problems.
Pedal edema: Swelling of foot

Pelv/i: Pelvis/Pelvic cavity. ( it is the lower most cavity

of abdomen enclosed with in pelvic girdle formed of
hip bones. ( Girdle: Bracket like )
Phagi/o: Eat/swallow/engulf
-phagia: swallowing
Dysphagia: difficult in swallowing

Phalang/o: digits

Pharyng/o: Pharynx
Inflammation of pharynx: pharyingitis

Phleb/o/Ven/o/Ven/i: Vein
Inflammation of vein: phlebitis

Phren/o: Diaphragm ( partition between thoracic

cavity and abdominal cavity )
Phrenic nerve: Nerve supply to the diaphragm

Pleur/o: Pleura – Double layered membrane surrounding

each lung

Presby/o: Senility or old age

Prebyopia: senile blindness
Presbycusis: Senile deafness

Proct/o/Rect/o: Rectum

Prostat/o: prostate ( a gland seen around the base of male

urethra)

Pub/o: Pubis
Pubic symphysis: joint between
2 pubic bones
Pyel/o: Pelvis of kidney

Rachi/o: Spine
Radicul/o: nerve root

Sacr/o: Sacrum bone – Flat bone

At the lower part of back.

Salping/o: Fallopian tube

Scler/o: Sclera – White of eye

Sail/o: Saliva
Sailolith: Salivary stone
Ptyalism: excessive saliva
Sigmoid/o: Sigmoid colon – S shaped part of LI

Spermat/o: sperm

Spin/o: Spine

Splen/o: Spleen

Squam/o: Scaly ( squamous epithelium:

epithelium made of scale like cells )

Stern/o: Sternum or breast bone

Tend/o/Ten/o/Tendin/o: Tendon
Tendon is the tapering end of a muscle which
connect muscle to a bone.
( Ligament: connect
Bone to bone )
Thalam/o: Thalamus
Relay center of brain
Thel/o: nipple
Thorac/o: chest or thorax
Thromb/o: clot
Thym/o: Thymus gland
Thyr/o: Thyroid gland
Tibi/o: Tibia bone
Ton/o: pressure/tension
Umbilic/o/Omphal/o: Umbilicus/Naval
Ompalocele: Umbilical hernia

Ur/o: Urine
-Uria: in urine or condition of urine
Polyuria: excess urine
Anuria: absence of urine
Hematuria: bloody urine
Olguria: scanty urine

Ureter/o: Ureter - 2 muscular tube carrying urine

from kidney to the bladder.

Urethr/o: Urethra – Membraneous tube carrying

urine from the bladder to the outside.
Vas/o: vas deferens/vessel
A long tube carrying sperm to the male
urethra.
Vasectomy: male sterilization technique.vas
deferns is cut and cut end are ligated and tied
off.

Xer/o: Dry
Xerostomia: dryness of mouth
Xeropthalmia : dryness of eyes