Medical terminology is composed of a prefix, root word, and suffix: Prefix: A prefix is placed at the beginning of a word to modify or change its meaning. Pre means "before." Prefixes may also indicate a location, number, or time. Root: central part of a word. Suffix: The ending part of a word that modifies the meaning of the word. Additional resources: [Intro to med terms] [Med terms rules] [Med term reference] [Word building reference] [Practice Exams]
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Use this reference to see how common medical terms are created using the various prefixes, suffixes, and root words.
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: obstetr/o 1st Root Definition: pregnancy; birth 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -ic Suffix Definition: pertaining to Definition: pertaining to the care of a woman during pregnancy and after the birth
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: ocul/o 1st Root Definition: eye 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -ist Suffix Definition: specialist Definition: specialist in the disease and treatment of the eye
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: olig/o 1st Root Definition: scanty 2nd Root Word: troph/o 2nd Root Word Definition: nourishment; development Suffix: -ic Suffix Definition: pertaining to Definition: pertaining to nutrition deficiency
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: onc/o 1st Root Definition: tumor 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -logist Suffix Definition: specialist in the study of Definition: specialist in the diagnosing and treatment of cancer
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: onc/o 1st Root Definition: tumor 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -logy Suffix Definition: study (process of) Definition: study of tumors
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: onch/o 1st Root Definition: nail (of fingers or toes) 2nd Root Word: myc/o 2nd Root Word Definition: fungus Suffix: -osis Suffix Definition: condition, usually abnormal Definition: abnormal condition of a fungal infection of the finger or toe nails
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: onch/o 1st Root Definition: nail (of fingers or toes) 2nd Root Word: phag/o 2nd Root Word Definition: eat; swallow Suffix: -y Suffix Definition: condition; process Definition: condition of biting; eating finger or toe nails
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: ophthalm/o 1st Root Definition: eye 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -logy Suffix Definition: study (process of) Definition: study of treatment and disease of the eye
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: opt/o 1st Root Definition: eye; vision 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -ist Suffix Definition: specialist Definition: specialist in the treatment and disease of the eye
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: opt/o 1st Root Definition: eye; vision 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -metry Suffix Definition: process of measuring Definition: process of measuring the eye’s strength and range
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: or/o 1st Root Definition: mouth 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -al Suffix Definition: pertaining to Definition: pertaining to the mouth
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: orth/o 1st Root Definition: straight 2nd Root Word: odont/o 2nd Root Word Definition: tooth Suffix: -ist Suffix Definition: specialist Definition: specialist in the straightening of teeth
Prefix: osse- Prefix Definition: bony 1st Root Word: 1st Root Definition: 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -ous Suffix Definition: pertaining to Definition: pertaining to or composed of bone
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: oste/o 1st Root Definition: bone 2nd Root Word: arthr/o 2nd Root Word Definition: joint Suffix: -itis Suffix Definition: inflammation Definition: deterioration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone (a form of arthritis)
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: oste/o 1st Root Definition: bone 2nd Root Word: chondr/o 2nd Root Word Definition: cartilage Suffix: -itis Suffix Definition: inflammation Definition: inflammation of the bone and cartilage
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: oste/o 1st Root Definition: bone 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -clasis Suffix Definition: to break Definition: surgical break down of bone tissue
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: oste/o 1st Root Definition: bone 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -genesis Suffix Definition: producing; forming Definition: formation of bone
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: oste/o 1st Root Definition: bone 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -malacia Suffix Definition: softening Definition: softening of bone
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: oste/o 1st Root Definition: bone 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -pathy Suffix Definition: disease; emotion Definition: disease of bone
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: oste/o 1st Root Definition: bone 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -penia Suffix Definition: deficiency Definition: deficiency of bone mass
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: oste/o 1st Root Definition: bone 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -porosis Suffix Definition: condition of pores (spaces) Definition: condition of weak; porous; brittle bones
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: oste/o 1st Root Definition: bone 2nd Root Word: sarc/o 2nd Root Word Definition: flesh (connective tissue) Suffix: -oma Suffix Definition: tumor; mass; fluid collection Definition: malignant tumor of bone
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: oste/o 1st Root Definition: bone 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -tomy Suffix Definition: process of cutting Definition: surgical process of cutting bone
Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: ot/o 1st Root Definition: ear 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -logy Suffix Definition: study (process of) Definition: study of the ear and it’s diseases