Greek and Latin Anatomy and Medical word parts and their meaning

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