Here is a list of word parts used in your OER textbook. Errors and omissions can occur so please contact your instructor if you need any terms fixed or added. The live list is housed on TCC’s SharePoint server at Appendix A – Word Parts Glossary (LIVE).docx

This was last updated October 11, 2024.

Prefix List

a-: Absence of, without, no, not

ab-: Away from, take away

ad-: Towards, to, near

ambi-, ambo-: Both

amphi-: Double, both sides

an-: Absence of, without, no, not

ana-: Up, upward or back, backward

ante-: Before, in front of, forward

anti-: Opposing, against

ap-, apo-: Separated, derived from

aut-, auto-: Self, by yourself

bi-: Double, two, twice, both

bin-: Two

brachy-: Short

brady-: Slow

cata-: Lower, down, against circum-: Around

co-, con-, com-: Together, with

contra-: Against, opposed to

crypt-: Hidden

de-: Down, from di-: Twice, two

dia-: Through, apart, across, between

dis-: Apart from, free from

dys-: Painful, abnormal, difficult, labored

e-, ec-, ex-: From, away from, out of

ect-, exo-, ecto-: Outside, outer, on

em-: In

en-: In

endo-: Within, inner

ent-: Within, inner

ento-: Within, inner

epi-: Upon, over, on

ep-: Upon, over, on

eu-: Good, normal

extra-, extro-: Beyond, outside of, outward

hemi-: Half

hyp-: Below, beneath, deficient

hyper-: Above, excessive, beyond

hypo-: Deficient, below, under, incomplete

im-: Intro, in, within

in-: Intro, in, within

infra-: Below, beneath

inter-: Between

intra-: Within, inside

intro-: Into, within

iso-: Same, equal

macro-: Large

mal-: Bad

mes-, meso-: Middle

meta-: Change, beyond, after

micro-, micr-: Tiny, small

mono-, uni-: One

mult-, multi-: Many, multiple

neo-: New, recent

nulli-: None

oligo-: Small amount

ortho-: Straight, normal

oxy-: Rapid, sharp, acid

pan-: All, total

par-: Near

para-: Around, beside, beyond, abnormal

per-: Through

peri-: Surrounding, around

poly-: Excessive, over, many

post-: After, following, behind

pre-, pro-: In front of, before, preceding

presby-: Old age

pro-: Before

pseudo-: False

quadri-: Four

re-: Backward, again

retro-: Behind, backward

semi-: Half, partial

sub-: Below, under, beneath

super-, supra-: Above, excessive, superior

sym-, syn-: With, together, joined

tachy-: Fast, rapid

tetr-: Four

trans-: Through, across, beyond

tri-: Three

ultra-: Excessive, beyond

uni-: One

Combining Form List

abdomin/o: Abdomen

acous/o: Hearing

acr/o: Extremities, height

aden/o: Gland

adenoid/o: Adenoids

adip/o: Fat

adren/o: Adrenal glands

adrenal/o: Adrenal glands

albin/o: White

albumin/o: Albumin

alges/o: Sensitivity to pain

alveol/o: Alveolus

amni/o, amnion/o: Amnion, amniotic fluid

an/o: Anus

andr/o: Male

angi/o: Vessel

ankyl/o: Stiff, bent

antr/o: Antrum

aort/o: Aorta

aponeur/o: Aponeurosis

append/o: Appendix

appendic/o: Appendix

arche/o: First, beginning

arteri/o: Artery

arthr/o: Joint

atel/o: Imperfect, incomplete

ather/o: Yellowish, fatty plaque

atri/o: Atrium

audi/o: Hearing

audit/o: Hearing

aur/i, aur/o: Ear

aut/o: Self

azot/o: Urea, nitrogen

balan/o: Glans penis

bi/o: Life

blast/o: Developing cell, germ cell

blephar/o: Eyelid

bronch/o: Bronchus

bronchi/o: Bronchus

burs/o: Bursa

calc/i: Calcium

capn/o: Carbon dioxide

carcin/o: Cancer

card/i: Heart

card/o: Heart

cardi/o: Heart

carp/o: Carpals, wrist

cec/o: Cecum

celi/o: Abdomen, abdominal cavity

cephal/o: Head

cerebell/o: Cerebellum

cerebr/o: Cerebrum

cervic/o: Cervix

cheil/o: Lip

chol/e: Gall, bile

cholangi/o: Bile duct

cholecyst/o: Gallbladder

choledoch/o: Common bile duct

chondr/o: Cartilage

chori/o: Chorion

chrom/o: Color

chrondr/i, chrondr/o: Cartilage

clavic/o: Clavicle, collarbone

clavicul/o: Clavicle, collarbone

coagul/o: Clotting

cochle/o: Cochlea

col/o: Colon

colon/o: Colon

colp/o: Vagina

coni/o: Dust

conjunctiv/o: Conjunctiva

contract/o-: Pull together

cor/o: Pupil

core/o: Pupil

corne/o: Cornea

coron/o: Heart, crown, or circle

cortic/o: Cortex, outer layer of a body organ

cost/o: Ribs

crani/o: Cranium

cry/o: Cold

crypt/o: Hidden

cutane/o: Skin

cyan/o: Blue

cyst/o: Bladder, sac, or cyst

cyt/o: Cell

dacry/o: Tear, tear duct

derm/o: Skin

dermat/o: Skin

diaphragmat/o: Diaphragm

dipl/o: Two, double

dips/o: Thirst

disk/o: Intervertebral disk

diverticul/o: Diverticulum

duct/o: Bring; duct/ move

duoden/o: Duodenum

dur/o: Dura mater, hard

ech/o: Sound

electr/o: Electricity; electrical activity

embry/o: Embryo

encephal/o: Brain

endocrin/o: Endocrine

endometri/o: Endometrium

enter/o: Intestine

eosin/o: Red, dawn, rosy

epididym/o: Epididymis

epiglott/o: Epiglottis

episi/o: Vulva

erythemat/o: Redness

erythr/o: Red

esophag/o: Esophagus

esthesi/o: Sensation, sensitivity

fasci/o: Fascia

femor/o: Femur, upper leg bone

fet/o: Fetus, unborn offspring

fibr/o: Fibrous tissues

fibrin/o: Fibrin

fibul/o: Fibula, lower leg bone

gangli/o: Ganglion

ganglion/o: Ganglion

gastr/o: Stomach

gingiv/o: Gum

gli/o: Glia, gluey substance

glomerul/o: Glomerulus

gloss/o: Tongue

glyc/o: Sugar

glycos/o: Sugar

gonad/o: Gonad

gravid/o: Pregnancy

gyn/o: Woman

gynec/o: Female reproductive system

hem/o: Blood

hemat/o: Blood

hepat/o: Liver

herni/o: Hernia, protrusion of an organ through a membrane or cavity wall

heter/o: Other, different

hidr/o: Sweat

hist/o: Tissue

home/o: Sameness

humer/o: Humerus, upper arm bone

hydr/o: Water

hymen/o: Hymen

hyster/o: Uterus

ile/o: Ileum

ili/o: Ilium

immun/o: Immune, immunity

Intestin/o: Intestines

ir/o: Iris

irid/o: Iris

is/o: Same, equal

isch/o: Deficiency, blockage

ischi/o: Ischium

jejun/o: Jejunum

kal/i: Potassium

kerat/o: Cornea

kerat/o: Hard, horny tissue, keratin

kines/o: Movement, motion

kinesi/o: Movement, motion

kyph/o: Hump

kyph/o: Increased convexity of the spine

labyrinth/o: Labyrinth, inner ear

lacrim/o: Tear, tear duct

lact/o: Milk

lamin/o: Lamina (thin, flat plate or layer)

lapar/o: Abdomen, abdominal cavity

laryng/o: Larynx

lei/o: Smooth

leimy/o: Smooth (visceral) muscle that lines the walls of internal organs

leuk/o: White

lingu/o: Tongue

lip/o, lipid/o: Fat

lith/o: Stone, calculus

lob/o: Lobe

lord/o: Bent forward, increased concavity of the spine

lumb/o: Loin, lumbar region of the spine

lymph/o: Lymph, lymph tissue

lymphaden/o: Lymph gland, lymph node

mamm/o: Breast

mandibul/o: Mandible, lower jawbone

mast/o: Breast

mastoid/o: Mastoid bone

maxill/o: Maxilla, upper jawbone

meat/o: Meatus

melan/o: Black

men/o: Menstruation

mening/o: Meninges

meningi/o: Meninges

menisc/o: Meniscus, crescent

ment/o: Mind

metr/i: Uterus

mon/o: One, single

muc/o: Mucus

my/o: Muscle

myc/o: Fungus

myel/o: Marrow (bone marrow), spinal cord

myocardi/o: Heart muscle

myos/o: Muscle

myring/o: Tympanic membrane

myx/o: Mucus

nas/o: Nose

nat/o: Birth

natr/o: Sodium

necr/o: Death

nephr/o: Kidney

neur/o: Nerve

neutr/o: Neutral; neither base nor acid

noct/i: Night

ocul/o: Eye

olig/o: Few, scanty

omphal/o: Umbilicus, navel

onych/o: Nail

oophor/o: Ovary

ophthalm/o: Eye

opt/o: Vision

or/o: Mouth

orch/o: Testis, testicle

orchi/o: Testis, testicle

orchid/o: Testis, testicle

orth/o: Straight

ossicul/o: Ossicle

oste/o: Bone

ot/o: Ear

ox/i: Oxygen

pachy/o: Thick

palat/o: Palate

pancreat/o: Pancreas

par/o: To bear, labor, childbirth, give birth to

parathyroid/o: Parathyroid gland

part/o: To bear, labor, childbirth, give birth to

patell/o: Patella, kneecap

pelv/i: Pelvis, pelvic bones, pelvic cavity

pen/i: Penis

perine/o: Perineum

peritone/o: Peritoneum

petr/o: Stone

phac/o: Lens

phag/o: Eat, swallow

phak/o: Lens

phalang/o: Bones of the finger and toes

phall/o: Penis

pharyng/o: Pharynx

phas/o: Speech

phleb/o: Vein

phon/o: Sound, voice

phot/o: Light

phren/o: Diaphragm

phys/o: Growing

pil/o: Hair

pituitar/o: Pituitary gland

plant/o: Sole of the foot

plasm/o: Plasma

pleur/o: Pleura

pne/o: breathing

pneum/o: Lung, air

pneumat/o: Lung

pneumon/o: Lung, air

poikil/o: Varied, irregular

poli/o: Gray matter

polyp/o: Polyp, small growth

pont/o: Pons (structure in the brain)

posth/o: Prepuce, foreskin

preputi/o: Prepuce, foreskin

prim/i: First

proct/o: Rectum

prostat/o: Prostate gland

pseud/o: False

psych/o: Mind

pub/o: Pubis

puerper/o: Childbirth

pulmon/o: Lung

pupill/o: Pupil

py/o: Pus

pyel/o: Renal pelvis

pylor/o: Pylorus, pyloric sphincter

quadr/i: Four

rachi/o: Vertebral spine, vertebral column

radi/o: X-rays, ionizing radiation, radius

radic/o: Nerve root

radicul/o: Nerve root

rect/o: Rectum

ren/o: Kidney

respir/o: Breath, breathing

retin/o: Retina

rhabd/o: Rod-shaped, striated

rhin/o: Nose

rhiz/o: Nerve root

rhytid/o: Wrinkles

sacr/o: Sacrum

salping/o: Uterine tube, fallopian tube

sarc/o: Flesh, connective tissue

scapul/o: Scapula, shoulder blade

scler/o: Hardening

scoli/o: Crooked, curved

scrot/o: Scrotum

seb/o: Sebum

semin/i: Semen

sept/o: Septum

sial/o: Saliva, salivary gland

sigmoid/o: Sigmoid colon

sinus/o: Sinus

somat/o: Body

somn/o: Sleep

son/o: Sound

sperm/o: Sperm, spermatozoon

spermat/o: Sperm, spermatozoon

spin/o: Backbone, spine 

spir/o: Breathe, breathing

splen/o: Spleen

spondyl/o: Vertebra, spine, vertebral column

staped/o: Stapes, middle ear

staphyl/o: Grapelike clusters

steat/o: Fat, sebum

stern/o: Sternum, breastbone

stomat/o: Mouth

strept/o: Twisted chains

symptomat/o: Symptom

synovi/o: Synovia

tars/o: Tarsals, ankle bones

tax/o: Coordination

ten/o: Tendon

tend/o: Tendon

tendin/o: Tendon

terat/o: Malformations

test/o: Testis, testicle

testicular/o: Testis, testicle

thalam/o: Thalamus

thec/o: Sheath

therm/o: Heat

thorac/o: Thorax, chest cavity

thromb/o: Clot

thym/o: Thymus gland

thyr/o: Thyroid gland

thyroid/o: Thyroid gland

tibi/o: Tibia, lower leg bone

tom/o: To cut, section, slice

ton/o: Tension, pressure

tonsill/o: Tonsil

tort/i: Twisted position

tox/o: Poison

trache/o: Trachea

trachel/o: Cervix

trich/o: Hair

tympan/o: Middle ear, tympanic membrane

uln/o: Ulna, lower arm bone

ungu/o: Nail

ur/o: Urine, urinary tract

ureter/o: Ureter

urethr/o: Urethra

urin/o: Urine, urinary tract

uvul/o: Uvula

vag/o: Vagus nerve

vagin/o: Vagina

valv/o or valvul/o: Valve

vas/o: Vas deferens, vessel, duct

vascul/o: Vessel

ven/o: Vein

ventricul/o: Ventricle

vertebr/o: Vertebra, spine, vertebral column

vesic/o: Bladder, sac

vesicul/o: Seminal vesicle

vestibul/o: Vestibule

vulv/o: Vulva

xanth/o: Yellow

xer/o: Dryness, dry

Suffix List

-a: NOTE: No meaning, noun ending

-ac: Pertaining to

-ad: Toward

-ade: Process of

-al: Pertaining to

-algesia: Sensitivity to pain

-algia: Pain

-amnios: Amnion, amniotic fluid

-apheresis: Removal, carrying away, withdrawal

-ar: Pertaining to

-ary: Pertaining to

-asthenia: Weakness

-atic: Pertaining to

-ation: being, having, process

-atresia: Occlusion, closure

-blast: Immature cell, embryonic

-cele: Hernia, protrusion

-centesis: Surgical withdrawal of fluid

-cide, -cidal: Kill, destroy

-cision: Processing of cutting

-clasia: Break

-clast: Break

-cleisis: Surgical closure

-cnemius: leg

-coccus: Berry shaped

-collis: Condition of the neck

-cyesis: Pregnancy

-cyte: Cell

-cytosis: Abnormal condition of cells (increase in cells)

-desis: Surgical fixation, fusion

-drome: Run, running together

-dynia: Pain

-e: NOTE: Noun ending, no meaning

-eal: Pertaining to

-ectasis: Stretching out, dilation, expansion

-ectomy: Excision, surgical removal, cutting out

-emia: Condition of blood

-esis: Condition

-ferous: Pertaining to

-gen: Substance that produces/causes, agent that produces/causes

-genesis: Beginning, development, or production

-genic: Producing, originating, causing

-gia: Pain

-globin: Protein

-gram: Record of, radiographic image

-graph: Instrument used to record

-graphy: Process of recording

-ia: Condition of, abnormal state, diseased state

-ian: pertaining to

-iasis: Condition

-iatrist: Specialist, physician

-iatry: Specialty, treatment

-ic: Pertaining to

-ics: knowledge, practice

-ictal: Seizure, attack

-ile: Pertaining to

-ion: Process

-ior: Pertaining to

-is: Noun suffix, no meaning

-ism: State of, condition, theory

-itis: Inflammation

-lepsy: Seizure

-lith: Stone

-logist: Specialist who studies and treats

-logy: Study of

-lysis: Destruction, breakdown, loosening, seperating

-malacia: Softening

-megaly: Enlarged, enlargement

-meter: Instrument used to measure

-metry: Process of measuring

-oid: Resembling

-oma: Tumor, mass

-opia: Vision condition

-opsy: View of, process of viewing, viewing

-or: Person who does or produces; thing that does or produces

-osis: Abnormal condition

-ous: Pertaining to

-paresis: Slight paralysis

-pathy: Disease, abnormality

-penia: Abnormal reduction, decrease, deficiency

-pepsia: Digestion

-pexy: Surgical fixation, suspension

-phage: Eat, swallow

-phagia: Eating, swallowing

-phasia: Speech

-phobia: Abnormal fear, aversion to specific things

-physis: Growth

-plasia: Condition of, formation, development, growth

-plasm: Growth, substance, formation

-plasty: Surgical repair

-plegia: Paralysis

-pnea: Breathing

-poiesis: Formation, production

-praxia: To perform, action

-ptosis: Drooping, sagging, prolapse

-ptysis: Spitting, coughing

-rrhage: Excessive flow

-rrhagia: Rapid flow of blood, excessive bleeding

-rrhaphy: Suturing, repairing, fixation

-rrhea: Discharge, flow

-rrhexis: Rupture or breaking away

-salpinx: Uterine (fallopian) tube

-sarcoma: Malignant tumor

-schisis: Split, fissure

-sclerosis: Hardening

-scope: Instrument used for visualization

-scopic: Visual examination

-scopy: Process of viewing, visual examination

-sis: Condition, state of

-spasm: Sudden, involuntary

-stasis: Stop, stopping, controlling

-stenosis: Constriction, narrowing

-stomy: Creation of an artificial opening

-thorax: Chest, chest cavity

-tion: Process of

-tocia: Birth, labor

-tome: Instrument used to cut

-tomy: Cut into, incision

-tripsy: Crushing

-trophic, -trophy: growth, development

-trophy: Nourishment, development

-um: NOTE: Noun ending, no meaning

-ure: Result of, system

-uria: Urine, urination

-us: NOTE: No meaning, noun ending