Greek and Latin Anatomy and Medical word parts and their meaning

Introduction

This article includes Greek and Latin words that are used frequently in medicine, science, and the English language.

For example. Here are some Latin words that are used to in making scientific names.

English word - Latin word

Red - rubes or scarlatinas
Yellow - flavus or citrinus
Green - viridian or chlorum
Blue - caeruleus
Pink - roseus
Large - magnis
Small - parvus
Hard - dura
Soft - mollis
Round - circum
Flat - planus
Beautiful - formosus
Waxy - cera
Sticky - viscosa

Greek words and word parts

Some Greek root words used in medical terminology:

Aden - gland Kranion - skull Pyon - pus
Aorta - aorta Larynx - voice box Pyr - fire, fever
Bronchos - windpipe, gullet Mania - madness, frenzy Sarx - flesh
Cheir - hand Nausea - seasickness Soma - body
Chole - bile Neuron - tendon, nerve Spasmos - spasm
Derma - skin Osteon - bone Splen - spleen
Gaster - belly Ophthalmos - eye Stoma - mouth
Haima - blood Pepsis - digestion Stomachos - stomach
Hepar - liver Pharmakon - drug Tracheia - windpipe
Hygieia - health Pharynx - throat Trauma - wound
Hymen - membrane Pleura -side, rib  
Kardia - heart Pneuma - air, breath  
Kephal - head Psyche - soul  

Greek Prefixes

a-, an- , privative or a negative conveying deficiency, lack or weakness of

  • a-pathy, lack of feeling
  • a-tom, indivisible
  • an-emia, lack of blood
  • an-esthesia, lack of sensation

amphi-, ampho- , on both sides, double

  • amphi-bious, living both on land and in water
  • amphi-theatre, a to see around
  • ampho-diplopia, double vision
  • ampho-phil, fond of both, a cell which stains with either acid or dyes

ana-, an- , up, upward, again

  • ana-lysis-dissolution, breaking up of chemical compounds
  • ana-mnesis, recollection, medical history
  • ana-tomy, cutting up, dissection
  • an-a-phylaxis-renewed loss of protection

anti-, against , opposed to, opposite of

  • anti-dote, against a given thing (poison)
  • anti-pyretic, against fever
  • anti-septic, against infection
  • ant-acid, against an acid, neutralize an acid

apo-off , away from

  • apo-physis, a growth away or projection from a bone
  • apo-plexy, a stroke away, a sudden stroke
  • apo-staxis, a trickling down, a slight hemorrhage
  • apo-thecary, a pharmacist

cata- down, downward

  • cata-menia, according to month, menses
  • cata-rrh, a flowing down, inflammation of the mucous membrane
  • cata-tonia, a downward tone, stupor
  • cat-hod, downward way, the return goal of an electron

dia- through, across, completely

  • dia-betes, a going through, syphon, syphon disease
  • dia-gnosis, knowing completely, determination of the nature of a disease
  • dia-rrhea, flowing through, fluid discharge
  • dia-thermy, heat going through, elevation of temperature by means of a current

dys- bad, difficult, defective

  • dys-entery, bad intestine
  • dys-pepsia, baddigestion
  • dys-pnea, difficult breathing
  • dys-trophy, bad nourishment

ec-, ex- out, out of, outward

  • ec-topic, out of place
  • ec-zema, a boiling out, an inflammation of the skin
  • ex-ophthalmos, eye bulging out
  • ex-ostosis, bone outside, a bony tumor

en-, em- in, within

  • en-cephalon, in the head, the brain
  • en-demic, in the people, present in a community
  • em-bolism, thrown in, a plugging of a vessel
  • em-bryo, grown in, fetus

hyper- over, above, excessive

  • hyper-emia, excessive blood
  • hyper-thyroidism, symptoms caused by excessive activity of the thyroid
  • hyper-tonic,excessive in tension
  • hyper-trophy, excessive nourishment, overgrowth

hypo- under, below, insufficient

  • hypo-chondriac-under the cartilage, an imaginary disease
  • hypo-dermic, under the skin
  • hypo-glyc-emia, low proportion of sugar in the blood
  • hypo-physis, a growth under the brain, pituitary body

meta- after, behind, beyond, change

  • meta-bolism, change in throwing, tissue change
  • meta-morphosis, change in form
  • meta-stasis, change in position
  • met-encephalon, after the brain, hindbrain

Par, para- near, alongside, apart from, abnormal

  • par-otid, beside the ear
  • para-noia, abnormal in mind
  • para-plegia, near stroke, paralysis of the extremities
  • par-esthesia, abnormal perception

peri- about, around, surrounding

  • peri-cardium, around the heart, membrane covering the heart
  • peri-osteum, around the bone, membrane covering the bone
  • peri-stalsis, contraction around, contraction of the intestines
  • peri-toneum- membrane) stretching around, lining of the abdominal cavity

poly- , many

pro- before, forward, in advance

  • pro-drome, running before, an early symptom
  • pro-geria, before old age, premature aging
  • pro-gnosis, knowing before, forecast
  • pro-phylaxis, advance protection

syn-, sym- with, together, union

  • syn-drome,running together, an aggregate of symptoms
  • sy-stole from syn-stole, contraction, the rhythmic contraction of the heart
  • sym-biosis, living together of two or more organisms
  • sym-ptom, a falling together, a sign

Greek Suffixes

-ia, -ie, denotes a pathological state or condition

  • agon -ia, state of contest, suffering
  • hyster -ia, a chronic neurosis formerly thought to be of uterine causation,
  • hystera , pertaining to the womb, the uterus
  • man -ia, state of madness
  • ophthalm -ia, condition of inflammation of the eye

-iasis , signifies a pathological state, condition, or its causation

  • lith -iasis, formation of calculi, lithos-stone
  • psor -iasis, a skin disease, psora-itch
  • trichin -iasis, a disease caused by trichinae infestation

-ikos, -icus, -ic , an adjectival termination

  • anesthet -ic, pertaining to anesthesia, a drug producing
    anesthesia
  • epilept -ic, pertaining to epilepsy
  • hect -ic, irregularly feverish
  • patholog -ic pertaining to pathology

-ismos, -ismus, -ism , denotes a condition

  • embol -ism, the plugging of an artery or vein
  • hypnot -ism, a condition of artificially induced sleep, hypnos- sleep
  • metabol -ism, tissue change
  • rheumat -ism, rheumatic fever, rheuma-flux

-istis, -is t, signifies an agent or doer of the action indicated by the root

  • anatom -ist, one who cuts up
  • anesthet -ist, one who takes away sensation
  • orthodont -ist, one who straightens teeth
  • urolog -ist, one who treats urological disorders

-itis , originally the adjectival ending -itis used with nosos-disease;
It is now used alone and has acquired the significance of inflammatory disease:

  • appendic -itis
  • arthrit -is
  • bronch -itis
  • ot -itis

These meaning inflammation of the root name

-ize, -izein , a verbal suffix indicating treatment by means of a special instrument or drug

  • an -esthet -ize, to take away sensation
  • catheter -ize, to use a catheter
  • hypnot -ize, to put to sleep

-ma, -ema, -oma , designates a concrete pathological condition

  • ec -zema, a boiling out, inflammation of the skin
  • ex-anth-ema, a skin flower, a skin eruption

-oma words are numerous and refer to swelling or tumor and considered equivalent to tumor

  • carcin -oma, a cancerous tumor, a malignant growth
  • granul -oma, a tumor of granulation tissue
  • neur -oma, a tumor formed of nerve cells
  • sarc -oma, a fleshy thing, a fleshy tumor

-oid ; originally -oeid, from eidos, form, appearance; denotes a resemblance to the object referenced in the main word

  • sphen -oid, sphen wedge shaped
  • typh -oid, like typhus fever
  • thyr -oid, the shield like gland, thyreos
  • xiph -oid, xiphos sword shaped

-sis, -osis,-iasis , abnormal condition or any physiological or pathological change, including secondary causes such as parasites...

  • trichin -osis or trichin-iasis
  • adip -osis, an excessive accumulation of fat
  • rhe -xis, from rheg-sis, a breaking, a rupture
  • sep -sis, a rotting, putrefaction
  • tubercul -osis, a pathogen invasion of tubercle bacilli

Chemical suffixes

-ase, asis , slime a colloid enzyme

  • amyl -ase, a starch splitting enzyme, amylon-starch
  • lip -ase, a fat splitting enzyme, lipos-fat

-ate , a salt base

  • phosph-ate, a salt of phosphoric acid
  • sulph-ate, a salt of sulphuric acid

-ide , a name for a binary compound with a non-metallic element

  • chlor -ide, a compound of chlorine with another element
  • sulph -ide, a compound of sulphur with a base

-in , a termination noting a glucoside

  • fibr-in, fibra-fiber
  • gelat-in, gelatum-congealed)
  • prote-in, protos-first

-ine , an ending used in the names of alkaloids

  • hero -ine, alkaloidal ester of morphine
  • morph -ine, alkaloid of opium

-ite , a suffix for a salt of an acid ending in -ous

  • phosph -ite, a salt of phosphorous acid
  • sulph -ite, a salt of sulphurous acid

Stems for compound words

anthrop-, anthropos , man

  • anthropo -genesis, origin of man
  • anthropo -metry, measurement of man

bio- , life

  • bio -logy the science of living organisms
  • bi -opsy, examination of tissue from a living organism

broncho-, bronchi , gullet

  • broncho-cele, windpipe tumor, goiter
  • broncho-pneumonia, inflammation of the bronchi

cardi-, cardio , heart

  • cardi -a-taxia, irregularity in the action of the heart
  • cardio -gram, recording of the movements of the heart

derma-, dermat- skin)

  • derma -graph, an instrument for writing on the skin
  • dermato -logy, study of the skin, logy, study of

entero-, enteron , intestine

  • enter-ectomy, resection of a segment of the intestine
  • entero-lith, an intestinal calculus

gastr-, gaster-, gastro- , stomach and intestines

  • gastro -enterology, the medical specialty dealing with diseases of the stomach and intestines
  • gastr -odynia, pain in the stomach

gynec-, gyne-, gynec- , female

  • gyneco -mastia, female breast in the male
  • gyneco -plastics, reparative surgery of the female organs

hem- , hemnat- , haima- , haimat- , blood

  • hemat -emesis, vomiting of blood
  • hemo -rrhage, bleeding

hepat-, hepar-, hepato- , liver

  • hepat -a-trophy, atrophy of the liver
  • hepato -melanosis, dark pigmentation of the liver

hydr-, hydor-, hydro- ,water

  • hydro -cephalus, waterhead, a congenitaldeformation
  • hydro -gen, a gas which forms water when combined with oxygen
  • hydro -therapy, treatment by the use of water

hypno- , sleep

  • hypn -agogue, inducer of sleep
  • hypno -lepsy, uncontrollable sleepiness

hyster, hystera- , uterus

  • hyster -ectomy, excision of the uterus
  • hystero -ptosis, prolapse of the uterus

litho-, lithos- , stone

  • litho -nephria, stone in the kidney
  • litho -tomy, cutting for stone

morph-, morphe- , form

  • morpho -logy, the science of structure
  • morpho -genesis, the evolution of form

my-, mys-, myo- , muscle

  • my -asthenia, muscular weakness
  • myo -carditis, inflammation of the muscular wall of the heart

myel- myelo -, spinal cord; bone marrow

narc-, narke- , numbness, stupor

  • narco -lepsy, numbing seizure, petit mal
  • narco -mania, craving for narcotics.

nephro-, nephros- , kidney

  • nephro -py-osis, suppuration of the kidney
  • nephro -scler-osis, hardening of the kidney

neuro-, neuron , cord, tendon, nerve

  • neur -algia, nerve pain
  • neur -asthenia, nerve weakness

odont-, odys , tooth)

  • odonto -clasis, breaking of tooth
  • odont -orthrosis, straightening of teeth

ophthalmo-, ophthalmos- , eye

  • ophthalmo -gyric, causing eye movements
  • ophthalmo -scope, an instrument to view the eye

osteo-, osteon- , bone

  • osteo- malacia-softening of the bone
  • osteo- necrosis, killing, decay of the bone

ot- , ear

  • oto- myc-osis, a fungus-caused inflammation of the ear
  • oto- rrhea-, discharge from the ear

pod- , pus, foot

  • pod- agra, seizure in the foot, gout
  • pod- iatrist, foot practitioner

pyo-, pyon- , pus

  • pyo- genic, pus forming
  • pyo- periton-itis, suppurative inflammation of the peritoneum
  • pyr-, pyret-, fire, heat, inflammation
  • pyr- exia, an acute inflammation
  • pyreo- mania, an uncontrollable desire to set things on fire

sphygmo- , pulse

  • sphygmo- graph instrument to measure pulse.
  • sphygmo- mano-meter an instrument to measure blood pressure

zoo- , a living organism

  • zoo- logy, study of animals
  • zoo- parasite, an animal parasite

Initial words for compound adjectives

allo-, allos- , other, combining form

  • allo- cinesis, passive movement, reflex movement
    all- ergy, a clinical change in the capacity of the organism to react to an infection, hypersensitiveness

auto- , self

  • auto- matism, a condition in which movements are made without conscious thought
  • aut- opsy, seeing with one's own eyes, postmortem examination

brady- , slow

  • brady- cardia, abnormal slowness of the heart beat
  • brady- pnea, abnormal slowness of respiration

caco-, kakos- , bad

  • cac- hexia, bad habit, lack of nutrition, and wasting
  • cac- idrosis, morbid sweating

crypto- , secret, hidden,

  • crypto- genic, of hidden or obscure origin
  • crypt- orchid, hidden or undescended testis

ecto-, ektos- , outside

  • ecto- derm, outer side of the skin
  • ecto- plasm, moulded on the outer side, the outer side of the cytoplasm

erythro-, erythros- , red

  • erythro- cyte, red blood cells,
  • erythr- edema, red swelling

hemi- , one-half

  • hemi- atrophy, atrophy of one lateral half of a part or organ
  • hemi- plegia, half stroke, paralysis of one side of the body

hetero-, heteros- , other, different, opposite

  • hetero- plasty, surgical grafting with tissue derived from another individual
  • hetero- tonia, different, variable tension

homeo-, homoios- , similar

  • homeo- pathy-a special system of therapeutics
  • homeo- stasis, condition of bodily equilibrium; literally staying the same

homo-, homos- , the same

  • homo- lateral, on or relating to the same side
  • homo- sexual, having attraction for the same sex

idio-, idios- , one's own, private

  • idio- pathic, noting a primary disease, one originating without apparent extrinsic cause
  • idio- syncrasy, one's own mixing, peculiarities of a person

iso-, isos- , equal, like

  • iso-thermal, having the same temperature
  • iso-tonia-, tonic equality

leuco-, leukos- , white)

  • leuco- cyte, white blood cell
  • leuco- rrhea, white discharge

macro-, makros- , long, large

  • macro- cephalic, having a large head
  • macro- glossia, enlargement of the tongue

mega-, megal-, megas-, megal- , great, large

  • mega- colon, dilatation of the large intestine
  • megalo- mania, delusion of grandeur

melan-, melas- , black

  • melan- cholia, black bile, a depressed emotional state
  • melano- sarcoma, a deeply pigmented sarcoma

meso-, mesos- , middle

  • mes- encephalon, midbrain
  • mes- entery, middle intestine

micro-, mikros- , small

  • micro- be, mikros+bios, small living thing
  • micro- scope, a viewer of small things

mono-, monos- , alone, single

  • mono- nuclear, having a single nucleus
  • mono- plegia, paralysis of one limb

neo-, neos- , new, recent, young

  • neo- natal, relating to the period immediately succeeding birth
  • neo- plasm, new growth

oligo-, oligos- , little, few

  • oligo- phrenia, mental weakness, feeblemindedness
  • oligo- pnea, infrequent respiration

ortho-, orthos- , straight, correct

  • ortho- dontia, straightening of the teeth
  • ortho- pedics, correction of deformities

oxy-, oxys- , sharp, acid

  • oxy- gen, a gaseous element present in acids
  • oxy- lallia, rapid speech

paleo-, palaios- , ancient

  • paleo- genesis, hereditary transmission of peculiarities
  • paleo- pathology, study of diseases of the prehistoric times

pan-, pas- , all, entire

  • pan- creas, all flesh, the pancreas gland
  • pan- demic, a disease attacking all

polio-, polios- , grey

  • polio- encephalitis, inflammation of the grey matter of the brain
  • polio- myelitis, inflammation of the grey matter of the spinal cord

poly-, polys- , much, many

  • poly- pus, many feet
  • poly- uria, excessive urination

prota-, protos- , first

  • proto- plasm, first formed, living matter
  • proto- type, first form, primitive form

pseudo-, pseudes- , false, spurious

  • pseudo- cele, false cavity,the 5th ventricle of the brain
  • pseudo- cyesis, false pregnancy

tachy-, tachys- , fast

  • tachy- cardia, rapid heart rate;
  • tachy- pnea, rapid breathing

xantho-, xanthos- , yellow.

  • xantho- derm, yellow skin;
  • xanth- opsia, yellow vision

Prefixes and beginnings of adverb compounds

di-, dis- , twice

  • di- hydric, a chemical compound with two hydrogen atoms
  • di- morphism, with two forms

endo-, endon- , within

  • endo- crine, secretion within, internal secretion
  • endo- metrium, within the uterus, membrane lining the uterus

eu- , well, easy

  • eu- phoria, bearing oneself well, good health
  • eu- thanasia, easy death

exo- , outside, outward

  • exo- genous-, originating outside
  • exo- gnathion, outside jaw, maxilla

opisth-, opisthe- , behind

  • opisth- encephalon, brain behind, the cerebellum
  • opistho- tonos, stretching backward, a tetanic spasm

palin- , back, backward, again

  • palin- drome, a word or number that is the same forward and backward - dad
  • palin-dromia, a running back, a relapse
  • palin-esthesia, a return of sensation

tele- distant.

  • tele- pathy, minding reading from a distance.
  • tele-neuron, the distant neuron, end neuron

Second parts of compound nouns

-agogue, -agogos , leader

  • galact- agogue, an agent promoting the secretion of milk
  • hypn-agogue, inducer of sleep,
  • hypnotic

-agra , seizure

  • cardi- agra, heart seizure, angina pectoris
  • pod- agra, foot seizure, gout

-algia, -algos , pain

  • gastr- algia, stomach ache
  • neur- algia, nerve pain

-asthenia, -asthenes , weak

  • my- asthenia, muscular weakness
  • neur- asthenia, nerve weakness, nervous exhaustion

-cele, -kele , protrusion, tumor, hernia

  • hemato- cele, blood cyst
  • hydro- cele, water hernia

-centesis , surgical puncture

-cinesia, -kinesis , movement

  • cardio- cinesia, movement, action of the heart
  • entero- cinesia, movement of the intestine, peristalsis

-clasia, -clasis , breaking

  • arthro- clasia, breaking of a joint, breaking up of adhesions
  • hemo- clasis, breaking up of the red blood cells

-cyte, -kytos , cell.

  • erythro- cyte, red blood cell; lympho-cyte, lymph cell

-ectomy , remove with surgery.

  • hyster- ectomy; removal of the uterus
  • thyroid- ectomy removal of the thyroid

-ectopia , ek+topos= out of place

  • nephr- ectopia, abnormal movement of the kidney
  • splen- ectopia, abnormal movement of the spleen

-emia, -haima , blood

  • an- emia, lack of blood
  • ur- emia, an excess of urea in the blood

-esthesia, -aisthesis , feeling, sensibility

  • an- esthesia, lack of feeling
  • par- esthesia, an abnormal spontaneous sensation, like itching

-genesis, -geny , generation, origin

  • patho- genesis, the origin or development of a disease
  • spermato- genesis, production of spermatozoa
  • onto- geny, the development of the individual

-gram, -gramma , writing, drawing

  • cardio- gram, the record of the movement of the heart
  • encephalo- gram, a roentgenogram of the brain

-graph, -graphy , graphein = to write

  • dermo- graph, an instrument for marking or writing on the skin
  • ventriculo- graphy, radiography of the cerebral ventricles

-lith , lithos = stone, calculus

  • entero- lith, an intestinal calculus
  • hemato- lith, a concretion in the wall of a blood vessel

-logia, -logie, -logy , logos = word, discourse, treatise

  • physio- logy, the science which deals with life processes
  • uro- logy, the specialty dealing with the diseases of the urinary organs

-lysis , dissolution, loosening, breaking down

  • hemo- lysis, destruction of the red blood cells
  • para- lysis, loss of voluntary movement in a muscle

-malacia , malakia = softening

  • myo- malacia, softening of muscular tissues
  • osteo- malacia, softening of the bones

-mania , madness, uncontrollable impulse.

  • klepto- mania, a pathological impulse to steal;
  • megalo- mania, delusion of grandeur

-megalia, -megaly , megas and megal = large

  • acro- megalia or acromegaly, enlargement of the extremities
  • spleno- megalia, enlargement of the spleen

-meter , metron and metrum = measure, an instrument for measuring

  • pulsi- meter, instrument to measure the pulse
  • thermo- meter, instrument to measure heat

-odynia , odyne = pain

  • acr-odynia, pain in the extremities
  • ot-odynia, pain in the ear

-opia , ops = vision

  • ambly- opia, dimness of vision, amblys = dull
  • my- opia, winking vision, shortsightedness, myein = to wink

-pathy , pathos = suffering

  • adeno- pathy, glandular disease
  • psycho- pathy, a disorder of the mind, insanity

-philia , philein = to like

  • hemo- philia, liking of blood, a disorder marked with hemorrhages

-phobia , phobos = fear

  • claustro- phobia, a morbid fear of being in any closed place
  • hydro- phobia, fear of water, rabies

-plasty , plassein = to form as a plastic surgeon

  • entero- plasty, plastic surgery of the intestines
  • rhino- plasty, plastic surgery of the nose, rhis, rhin = nose

-rrhea , rrhoia = flow

  • gono- rrhea, a discharge caused by gonococcus infection
  • leuco- rrhea, white discharge

-sclerosis , hardening, induration

  • arterio- sclerosis, hardening of the arteries
  • arthro- sclerosis, stiffness of the joint

-scope, -scopy , skopein = to view

  • cysto- scope, an instrument to view the bladder, kystis-bladder
  • ophthalmo- scope, an instrument to view the fundus of the eye

-spasm , spasmos = convulsion, cramp

  • entero- spasm, intestinal colic
  • pyloro- spasm, painful contraction of the pylorus

-stasis , stoppage, checking

  • hemo- stasis, arrest of bleeding
  • homeo- stasis, standing still, bodily equilibrium

-staxis , dripping, oozing, slow hemorrhage

  • entero- staxis, bleeding from the intestines
  • epi- staxis, nose bleed

-stenosis , narrowing

  • cardio- stenosis, narrowing of the heart
  • entero- stenosis, narrowing of the intestines

-stomy , stoma-mouth

  • colo- stomy, forming an opening into the colon
  • cysto- stomy, forming an opening into the bladder

-therapy , therapeia = treatment

  • hydro- therapy, treatment by water
  • physio- therapy, treatment by natural means (air, water, massage)

-tomy , tome = incision

  • laparo- tomy, incision into the loin, lapara = loin
  • lobo- tomy, operation on the frontal lobe

-trophy , troph = to nourish

  • a- trophy, lack of nourishment, wasting of the tissues of the body
  • hyper- trophy, excessive nourishment, overgrowth

-uria , urein = urinate

  • hemat- uria, blood in the urine
  • py- uria, pus in the urine

Latin words, prefixes, suffixes

Latin words in medicine

anus - ring ilium - flank ruga - wrinkle
aqua - water labium - lip saliva - spittle
bacillus - little rod latius - side scrotum - pouch
bucca - cheek, cake lens - lentil sella - chair
cancer - crab ligamentum - binding semen - seed
caput - head lingua - tongue spina - thorn
caries - decay lues - plague stimulus - goad
cella - chamber lupus - wolf succus - juice
cerebrum - brain Manus - hand sudor - sweat
cervix - neck Meatus - opening tabes - wasting
cor - heart Mens - mind talus - ankle
corpus - body Mensis - month tergum - back
cortex - bark Morbus - disease tonsilla - pointed
cutis - skin Nodus - knot tunica - garment
dens - tooth oculus - eye tussis - cough
facies - face os - mouth ulcus - ulcer
fascia - land ovum - egg, pan uterus - womb
febris - fever patella - shallow vagina - sheath
femur - thigh bone pectus - chest valva - valve
fetus - embryo pelvis - basin vas - vessel
foramen - perforation placenta - flat, pole vena - vein
fornix - arch pons - bridge venter - belly
fossa - ditch pulmo - lung vermis - worm
frons - forehead pupilla - little vesica - bladder
fundus - base, bottom, furrow, girl ren - kidney virus - poison
glans - gland retina - net vivo -in the living body(plant, animal)
hernia - rupture    


Prefixes

When prefixes are added to a stem, letters can be changed. Often the final consonant of a Latin prefix change match the letter that follows.

Examples

  • ad-cept - ac-cept
  • ad-ferens - af-ferens
  • ad-sume - as-sume
  • con-lapse - col-lapse
  • con-lateral - col-lateral
  • ob-ciput - oc-ciput
  • ob-press - op-press,

Latin prefixes

a-, ab-, abs , away from, off

  • a-vulsion, tearing away
  • ab-ductor, leading away
  • ab-oral, away from the mouth
  • abs-tract, a condensation

ad- , to, toward

  • ad-hesion, sticking to
  • ad-renal, near the kidney, adrenal gland
  • ac-cretion, accumulation
  • ap-pendix, hanging upon

ambi-, ambo- , both, on both sides

  • ambi- dextrous, able to use both hands
  • ambi- valent, having power in both directions
  • ambo- ceptor, accepting both, a substance in the blood
  • ambo- sexual, bisexual, affecting both sexes

ante- , before, in time or space, in front of, forward

  • ante- cubital, before the elbow
  • ante- flexion, bending forward
  • ante- natal, before birth
  • ante- version, tipping forward

bi-, bis- , twice, double

  • bi- carbonate, a salt having two elements of carbonic acid
  • bi- cuspid, having two points
  • bi- lateral, pertaining to both sides
  • bis- axillary, pertaining to both armpits = axilla

circum- , around, about

  • circum- cision, cutting around
  • circum- flex, bent around
  • circum- ocular, around the eye
  • circum- oral, around the mouth

co-, con-, cum = with, together

  • co- agulation, changing into a clot
  • con- cussion, a violent shock
  • col- lapse, extreme prostration
  • com- press, pressed together, a compressed pad

contra- , against, opposed

  • contra- ception, against conception
  • contra- indication, rendering a particular treatment undesirable
  • contra- stimulant, opposing stimulation
  • contra- toxin, against toxin

de- , down, downward, sometimes aprivative

  • de- ciduous, not permanent, temporary
  • de- composition, decay, putrefaction
  • de- mentia, without mind, mental deterioriation
  • de- odorant, taking odor away

di-, dis- , an inseparable preposition denoting sundering, apart, sometimes negative

  • di- gestion, carrying food away
  • dis- infectant, freeing from infection, an agent that disinfects
  • dis- location, displacement of a bone
  • dis- sect, cut apart, cut up

e-, ec-, ex-, out, out of, off, removal

  • e- jection, act of throwing out
  • e- nucleate-to remove whole
  • ex- tract, something drawn out
  • ex- udate, from ec+sudate, sweat out, sweat

extra-, extro- , outside of, outer side

  • extra- cellular, outside the cell
  • extra- cranial, outside the skull
  • extra- vasation, a discharge of blood from a vessel into the tissues
  • extro- vert, a person whose interest is turned outward

in-, im-, in- , into, inside

  • in- cision, cutting in, a cut
  • in- cubation, lying in, the latent stage of an infectious disease
  • im- mersion, placing a body under water
  • im- pacted, pressed closely together, immovable

in-, im-, ir , not, a negation

  • in- curable, not curable
  • in- sane, without mind, of unsound mind
  • im- maculate, without a spot
  • ir- reducible, not reducible, incapable of being made smaller

infra- , below, beneath, downward, lower

  • infra- inguinal, below the groin
  • infra- maxillary, below the maxilla
  • infra- orbital, below the orbit, eye socket
  • infra- red, beyond the red end of the spectrum

inter- , between

  • inter- cellular, between cells
  • inter- digital, between the fingers or toes
  • inter- mittent, marked by intervals
  • inter- vertebral, situated between two vertebrae

intra- , within, inside of

  • intra- cellular, within the cell
  • intra- rectal, within the rectum
  • intra- uterine, within the uterus
  • intra- venous, in, into, within a vein

intro- , into, inward, within

  • intro- duction, leading into
  • intro- flexion, bending inward
  • intro- mission, insertion
  • intro- vert, turned within, a person given to introspection

juxta- , beside, near

  • juxta- articular, situated near a joint
  • juxta- position, an adjacent position
  • juxta- spinal, close to the spinal column

ob- , in front of, against, near, space or time

  • ob- literation, complete removal
  • ob- stetrics, to stand in front of a woman, midwifery
  • ob- struction, the act of blocking or clogging
  • oc- clusion from ob-clusion, the act of closure or state of being closed

per- , through, thorough, excessive, very

  • per- cutaneous, through the skin, cutis
  • per- forate, to pierce, bone through
  • per- meable, permitting the passage through
  • per- oxide, the oxide that contains the greatest number of oxygen' atoms

post- , behind, following, after, time or space, posterior

  • post- encephalitis, following or a sequel of encephalitis
  • post- febrile, after fever, febris
  • post- ocular, behind the eye
  • post- partum, after birth

prae-, pre- , before, in time or space, in front of, anterior

  • pre- frontal, the anterior portion of the frontal lobe
  • pre- gnancy, before birth, gestation
  • pre- mature, unripe, undeveloped, occurring before the appointed time
  • pre- oral, in front of the mouth

pro- , before, in front of, forward

  • pro- cess, an advance or progress
  • pro- ductive, leading forward, capable of producing
  • pro- lapse, to fall, sink forward
  • pro- sector, one who prosects, demonstrator of anatomy

re-, red- , before a vowel, back, again

  • re- current, running back, returned
  • re- duce, lead back, replace
  • re- flex, bent back, reacting, reaction
  • red- integration, renewal, restoration of lost or injured parts

retro- , back, backward, behind

  • retro- flexion-bending backward
  • retro- grade, going backward, moving backward
  • retro- nasal, posterior nasal
  • retro- version, turning backward

se- , an inseparable prefix meaning apart, sundering

  • se- cretion, separation, of various substances from the blood
  • se- gregation, removal of certain parts from a mass
  • se- junction, breaking of continuity

sub-, sup- , under, in position or degree, beneath, downward, nearly

  • sub- acute, not definitely acute
  • sub- cutaneous, under the skin
  • sub- liminal, below the threshold, of sensation,
  • sup- puration, from sub-puration, the formation of pus

super- , above, in position or degree, over, upper part, extreme

  • super- acute, excessively sharp or acute
  • super- ciliary, above the eyebrow
  • super- numerary, in excess of the regular or normal number
  • super- tension, extreme tension

supra- , above, upon, over, upper

  • supra- costal, above the rib, costa
  • supra- pubic, above the pubic arch
  • supra- renal, above the kidney, ren
  • supra- sternal, above the breast, sternum

trans- , across, through, beyond

  • trans- ference, carry across, displacement of symptoms or effect
  • trans- fusion, pouring across, transfer of blood
  • trans- plantation, grafting of tissues
  • trans- urethral, through the urethra

ultra- , beyond, in excess

  • ultra- filtration, extra fine filtration
  • ultra- ligation, ligation of a vessel beyond the origin of a branch
  • ultra- violet, rays beyond the violet end of the spectrum
  • ultra- virus, extra virus, filtrable virus

Suffixes

-ago, -igo , to drive, gives an idea of activity

  • lumb- ago, rheumatism of the lumbar region, lumbus-loin
  • prur- igo, itch, prurire = to itch
  • vert- igo, dizziness, giddiness, vertere = to turn around

-alis, -al , an adjectival termination

  • cruci- al, decisive, crux=cross
  • digit- al, relating or resembling a digit
  • dors- al, relating to the back, dorsum
  • or- al, relating to the mouth

-culum, -cle , small, diminutive

  • corpus- cle, little body
  • folli- cle, little bag, follis
  • ventri- cle, little belly, ventricle, venter
  • vesi- cle, little bladder, vesica

-or , denotes a state or an agent

  • don- or, giver, donare = to give
  • levat- or, one that lifts, levare = to lift
  • rub- or, redness, ruber = red
  • tum- or, swelling, tumescere=to swell

-orium, -terion , designates a place

  • sanat- orium, place for treatment, sanare=to heal
  • sens- orium, the seat of sensation, sensus=sense
  • tent- orium, an anatomical part resembling a tent or covering

-osus, -ous, -ose , suffix used on adjectives

  • aque- ous, watery, aqua
    adip- ose, fatty, adip=fat)
    pil- ose, hairy, pilus=hair
    rug- ose, wrinkled, ruga=wrinkle

-tas, -ty , denotes an abstract quality or idea

  • acidi- ty, the state of being acid
  • immuni- ty, a state resistant to disease, immunis=free from service
  • in-sani- ty, unsoundness of mind, insanus
  • senili- ty, old age, senex-old

-tio, -tion , signifies an action or function

  • bi-furca- tion, a forking, division into branches, furca-fork
  • in-flamma- tion, a morbid change in the tissues, flamma=flame
  • palpa- tion, an examination by the hands, palpare=to feel

Compounds in Latin

ilio-, ilium , flank

  • ilio- costal, relating to the ilium and ribs, costa
  • ilio- femoral, relating to the ilium and thigh bone, femur
  • ilio- lumbar, relating to the iliac and lumbar region, lumbus=loin
  • ilio- sacral, relating to the ilium and sacrum

latero-, -latus , later, side

  • latero- abdominal, pertaining to the side and abdomen
  • latero- flexion, a bending or curvature to one side, flectere=to bend
  • latero- torsion, twisting to one side, torquere=to twist
  • latero- version, turning to one side, vertere=to turn

Initial words for adjective compounds

albo-, albus =white

  • albo- cinereous, ashen white, cinus, (ciner=ash)
  • albo- ferrin, a light brown powder with an iron compound, ferrum
  • albu- lactin, trade name of a soluble lactalbumin, lac-milk

anter-, anterior =before, in front of

  • antero- grade, moving forward, gradior=to step
  • antero- lateral, in front and to the side, latus
  • antero- posterior, relating to both front and rear.

dextro-, dexter, dextr , right

  • dextro- ocular, right eyed, oculus
  • dextro- manual, right handed, manus
  • dextro- pedal, right footed, pes & ped

mal-, malus =bad, evil

  • mal- adjustment, poor adjustment
  • mal- aria, bad air, aria
  • mal- formation, congenital deformity
  • mal- practice, mistreatment of a disease

medio-, medius =middle

  • medio- carpal, relating to the central part of the wrist, carpus
  • medio- lateral, relating to the middle and one side
  • medio- tarsal, relating to the middle of the instep tarsus

multi-, multus =many

  • multi- form, occurring in many forms
  • multi- gravida, a woman who has been pregnant many times
  • multi- lobar, having several lobes
  • multi- nuclear, having two or more nuclei

pluri-, plus, plur , more

  • pluri- glandular, noting several glands or their secretion
  • pluri- gravida, a synonym for multi-gravida
  • pluri- para, a woman who has given birth to three or more children.

primi-, primus =first

  • primi- para, a woman giving birth the first time
  • prim- ordial, primitive, ordire=to begin

postero- posterior =behind

  • postero- lateral, behind and to one side
  • postero- parietal, relating to the posterior portion of the parietal lobe

semi- , half, in part, somewhat

  1. semi- comatose-in a condition of mild coma
  2. semi- flexion, midway between extension and flexion
  3. semi- lunar, half-moon shaped, luna
  4. semi- luxation, a partial dislocation, luxatio

sesqui- , one and a half, one-half more

  • sesqui- basic, a salt with 3 equivalents of the acid for 2 of the base
  • sesqui- hora, an hour and a half

sinistro-, sinister, sinistr , left

  • sinistro-cerebral, relating to the left cerebral hemisphere
  • sinistro-lateral, relating to the left side
  • sinistro-torsion, turning or twisting to the left

uni-, unus =one

  • uni-axial, having one axis
  • uni-lateral, having one side, confined to one side only
  • uni-nuclear, having one nucleus

Nouns in the second part of a compound

-form, forma =shape, form indicating a resemblance to the stem

  • cunei- form, wedge shaped, cuneus
  • funi- form, rope like, funis
  • fusi- form, spindle shaped, fusus

-fuge, fugare , to expel, drive away

  • centri- fuge, an apparatus driving particles to the center
  • febri- fuge, reducing fever, febris
  • vermi- fuge, an agent causing expulsion of intestinal worms, vermis

Words with a mixture of Greek and Latin

Greek - Latin

Latin - Greek

Multiple combinations of G & L

 

Source: An Introduction to Medical Terminology. by George L. Banay

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Dr. Robert Sweetland's notes
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