Medical Terminology List: Meaning of Root Words, Prefixes, Suffixes and Textbook Dictionary - EZmed (2023)

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Medical terminology: definition

Medical terminology is the language used in healthcare to describe anatomy, structures, conditions, diagnoses, procedures, treatments, and much more.

Learning medical words can be a challenge at first…until now!

This publication will help simplify all available courses, books, quizzes, dictionaries and glossaries in the field of medical terminology.

Medical and nursing terms often use a combination of prefixes, root words, and suffixes to define meaning.

We are talking about medicine.prefixesyshortcutsin previous posts, and now we will focus on the common roots of this entry.

Be sure to check out the list of other medical terminology conferences below!

Medical abbreviations EASY!

Medical Prefixes EASY!

Medical root words made easy! - Part I - Currently watching

Medical root words made easy! - Part two

Medical root words made easy! - Part III

Medical suffixes EASY!

Prefixes, root words and suffixes

Before delving into the common roots of words, let's briefly recall the main elements of the medical term.

You may remember from the previous postprefixes that most medical words have a beginning, middle, and end.

The beginning is a prefix.

The center is the root.

The ending is a suffix.

Prefix = descriptive

The prefix is ​​usually the descriptive part of a medical term and forms the beginning of a word.

The prefix describes characteristics such as location, address, number, quantity, size, or color.

root = subject

The root is the subject of the medical term.

This is the basic meaning of the word and often refers to a part or system of the body.

The root forms the middle of the word when there is a prefix.

If there is no prefix, the first part of the word will be the stem.

Suffix = meaning

The suffix adds meaning to the medical term and is the end of the word.

A suffix may indicate a disease, disorder, condition, procedure, process, specialty, test, or condition.

List of common root words I

As mentioned above, medical roots are the focus of the word and often refer to a part or system of the body.

Let's take a look at the 4 groups of common medical roots below.

**The brackets below each term contain simple tips and examples to help you remember the root of the word.

**Most of the roots listed below end in "O" to simplify pronunciation. This is called a combinatorial form.

Note that the root of a word may be followed by a vowel other than "O".

The vowel that follows a word root is called a connecting vowel and connects the root to another root or suffix.

Belly= Belly

(Ab muscles = Front musclesBelly)

Bonus Trick:"Belly" and "belly" sound similar, which makes it easier to remember.

arterially= artery

(Atherosclerosis = thickening or hardening of the walls of blood vesselsarteries)

Bonus Trick:"Arterio" and "artery" sound similar, which makes them easy to remember.

arm= Shoulder

(Upper arm = heart rate located on the center of the upperarm)

Bronchi= bronchi

(bronchitis = inflammationbronchiusually caused by viruses)

Bonus Trick:"Bronch" and "bronchus" sound similar, which makes them easy to remember.

Lindo= Rak

(Carcinogenic = a substance that can causerak)

Cardio= heart

(Cardiovascular = It is related toheartand blood vessels)

(Cardiomyopathy = chronic diseaseheartmuscle)

Bike= two points

(Colonoscopy = procedure performed to examinecolon)

Bonus Trick:"Colo" and "colon" sound similar, making them easy to remember.

Quick= cell

(Cytotoxic = toxic to lifecells)

Dermis/dermis= Leather

(Dermatologist = medical specialist in treatmentfurconditions)

brain= Brain

(Encephalitis = inflammationbrain)

Extra tip:"-itis" is a common suffix for inflammation. More on this in the suffix lecture!

List of Common Root Words II

Let's continue with the second group of common roots.

gastronomy= stomach

(Gastritis = inflammation of the gastric mucosastomach)

bowel= intestine

(Intestinal obstruction = partial or complete bowel blockagebowels)

Bonus Trick:"Gut" and "gut" sound similar, which makes it easier to remember.

mio= muscles

(Heart muscle =Muscularheart tissue)

Neuro= nerve

(neuron =Nervecell, a specialized cell that transmitsnerveimpulses)

Eye/ophthalmology= Ojo

(Oculomotor = refers to movementOjo)

(Ophthalmologist = a specialist who treats conditions related toOjo)

oto= ear

(Otoscope = an instrument used for examinationear)

Lung= lung

(Pulmonologist = a specialist who treats diseases related tolungs)

torako= chest/chest

(Thoracotomy = surgical incision inchestwall)

numer= Thyroid

(Thyrotoxicosis = condition where there is too muchthyroidhormones in the body)

Bonus Trick:"Thyro" and "Thyro" sound similar, making them easy to remember.

Guts= Guts (Internal Organs)

Visceroreceptors = a group of receptors located invisceralorgans)

Bonus Trick:"Viscero" and "viscera" sound similar, which makes it easier to remember.

List of Common Root Words III

Let's move on to the third group of common roots.

Tissue/Hist= fabric

(Histology = the study of microscopic structurestextiles)

Liver= liver

(Hepatomegaly = abnormal enlargementliver)

Nephro= Kidney

(kidney stones =Kidneypiedras)

Is it= Cancer/Time

(Oncogene = a gene that has the potential to transform a cell into atumorwhole)

(Oncology = examination and treatmentcancers)

Osteo= bone

(Osteofito =Bonespurs/growths associated with articular cartilage degeneration)

Skull= skull

(Craniotomy = surgical opening inskull)

fat= Fat/adipose tissue

(Fat = connective tissue made of lipid-rich tissueGordocells called adipocytes

adreno= Adrenal

(Adrenal cortex = outer layeradrenal)

Bonus Trick:"Adreno" and "adrenal" sound similar, which makes it easier to remember.

art/article= articulation

(Arthroscopy = surgery to see inside acommon)

head= head

(Cephalocaudal = Continue or follow fromheadfollow someone)

List of Common Root Words IV

Let's end this with the last group of common roots.

neumo= lung

(Pneumonia = a disease characterized by inflammationlungtissue, usually due to infection)

Reminder:"Pulmo" also refers to the lungs.

Cerebellum= cerebellum

(Angle/dimple of cerebellar pontoon = space betweencerebellumi most)

Bonus Trick:"Cerebella" and "cerebellum" sound similar.

Brain= Brain

(Cerebral vessels = refers tobrainbrain and its blood vessels)

(cerebrovascular accident = ACV = cerebrovascular accident)

Bonus Trick:"Cerebro" and "cerebrum" sound similar, which makes it easier to remember.

Nadal= bladder

(Cystoscopy = a procedure that uses an endoscope to look insidebladder)

Duodenum= duodenum

(Duodenography = radiographic visualizationduodenumwith contrast dye)

Bonus Trick:"Duodenal" and "duodenum" sound similar.

Reminder:The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine.

bright= language

(Macroglossy = incorrect magnificationTongue)

**All of the examples so far have had root as the first part of the word, as we focus on medical roots in this post.

However, macroglossia is a good example of a medical term that uses a prefix, which in this case is macro followed by a stem.

larynx= Larynx

(laryngospasm = spasmodic closurelarynx)

Lymphoma= a lot

(Lymphadenopathy = disease affectinglymphknots)

Bonus Trick:"Lympho" and "lymph" sound similar, which makes it easier to remember.

Muscle= muscles

(Musculoskeletal system = associated withmusculatureand skeleton together)

Reminder:"Myo" also refers to muscles.

Naso= nos

Nasopharynx = The upper part of the throat that connects tonasalticket)

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