Chapter 1: Basic Word Structure

Front 1

aden/o

Back 1

gland

Front 2

arthr/o

Back 2

joint

Front 3

bi/o

Back 3

life

Front 4

carcin/o

Back 4

cancerous, cancer

Front 5

cardi/o

Back 5

heart

Front 6

cephal/o

Back 6

head

Front 7

cerebr/o

Back 7

cerebrum

Front 8

cis/o

Back 8

to cut

Front 9

crin/o

Back 9

to secrete (to form and give off)

Front 10

cyst/o

Back 10

urinary bladder; a sac or a cyst (sac containing fluid)

Front 11

cyt/o

Back 11

cell

Front 12

derm/o, dermat/o

Back 12

skin

Front 13

electr/o

Back 13

electricity

Front 14

encephal/o

Back 14

brain

Front 15

enter/o

Back 15

intestines (usually the small intestine)

Front 16

erythr/o

Back 16

red

Front 17

gastr/o

Back 17

stomach

Front 18

glyc/o

Back 18

sugar

Front 19

gnos/o

Back 19

knowledge

Front 20

gynec/o

Back 20

woman, female

Front 21

hem/o, hemat/o

Back 21

blood

Front 22

hepat/o

Back 22

liver

Front 23

iatr/o

Back 23

treatment, physician

Front 24

leuk/o

Back 24

white

Front 25

log/o

Back 25

study of

Front 26

metr/o

Back 26

to measure

Front 27

nephr/o

Back 27

kidney (Greek)

Used with -osis, -itis, and -ectomy (Greek) to describe abnormal conditions and operative procedures.

Front 28

neur/o

Back 28

nerve

Front 29

onc/o

Back 29

tumor

Front 30

ophthalm/o

Back 30

eye

Front 31

orth/o

Back 31

straight

Front 32

oste/o

Back 32

bone

Front 33

path/o

Back 33

disease

Front 34

ped/o

Back 34

child

Front 35

psych/o

Back 35

mind

Front 36

radi/o

Back 36

x-rays

Front 37

ren/o

Back 37

kidney (Latin)

Used with -al (Latin) to describe the kidney.

Front 38

rhin/o

Back 38

nose

Front 39

sarc/o

Back 39

flesh

Front 40

sect/o

Back 40

to cut

Front 41

thromb/o

Back 41

clot, clotting

Front 42

ur/o

Back 42

urinary tract, urine

Front 43

vascul/o

Back 43

blood vessel

Front 44

-ac

Back 44

pertaining to

Front 45

-al

Back 45

pertaining to

Front 46

-algia

Back 46

pain

Front 47

-cyte

Back 47

cell

Front 48

-ectomy

Back 48

excision or removal

Front 49

-emia

Back 49

blood condition

Front 50

-genic

Back 50

Pertaining to producing, produced by, or produced in

Front 51

-globin

Back 51

protein

Front 52

-gram

Back 52

record

Front 53

-ic, -ical

Back 53

pertaining to

Front 54

-ion

Back 54

process

Front 55

-ism

Back 55

process, condition

Front 56

-ist

Back 56

specialist

Front 57

-itis

Back 57

inflammation

Front 58

-logy

Back 58

process of study

-log = study

-y = process or condition

Front 59

-oma

Back 59

growth of abnormal cells (tumor) or mass

Also, mass or collection of blood (as in hematoma)

Front 60

-opsy

Back 60

process of viewing

Front 61

-osis

Back 61

condition, usually abnormal (slight increase in numbers when used with blood cells)

Front 62

-pathy

Back 62

disease condition

Front 63

-scope

Back 63

instrument to visually examine

Front 64

-scopy

Back 64

process of visually examining

Front 65

-sis

Back 65

state of or condition

Front 66

-state

Back 66

stands

Front 67

-tomy

Back 67

process of cutting, incision

-tom = to cut

-y = process of

Front 68

-um

Back 68

a structure

Front 69

-y

Back 69

process, condition

Front 70

a-, an-

Back 70

no, not, without

Front 71

aut-, auto-

Back 71

self, own

Front 72

dia-

Back 72

complete, through

Front 73

end-, endo-

Back 73

within

Front 74

epi-

Back 74

above, upon

Front 75

ex-, exo-

Back 75

out, outside of, outward

Front 76

hyper-

Back 76

excessive, above, more than normal

Front 77

hypo-

Back 77

deficient, below, under, less than normal

When hypo- is used with a part of the body, it means below.

Front 78

in-

Back 78

into, in

Front 79

peri-

Back 79

surround, around

Front 80

pro-

Back 80

before, forward

Front 81

re-

Back 81

back, backward, again

Front 82

retro-

Back 82

behind

Front 83

sub-

Back 83

below, under

Front 84

trans-

Back 84

across, through

Front 85

adenitis

Back 85

Inflammation of a gland.

Front 86

adenoma

Back 86

Tumor of a gland.

Front 87

adenopathy

Back 87

Disease condition of the glands.

Front 88

anemia

Back 88

Without blood.

A decreased number of erythrocytes or an abnormality of the hemoglobin (a chemical) within the RBCs. This results in decreased delivery of oxygen to cells of the body. Anemic patients look so pale that early physicians thought they were literally "without blood."

Front 89

arthralgia

Back 89

Pain of the joints.

Front 90

arthritis

Back 90

Inflammation of a joint.

Front 91

arthroscopy

Back 91

Process of visual examination of a joint.

Front 92

autopsy

Back 92

Process of viewing by oneself.

An examination of a dead body with one's own eyes to determine the cause of death and nature of disease.

Front 93

biology

Back 93

Process of studying life or living things.

Front 94

biopsy

Back 94

Process of viewing life.

Living tissue is removed from the body and viewed under a microscope.

Front 95

carcinogenic

Back 95

Pertaining to producing cancer.

Front 96

carcinoma

Back 96

Tumor that is cancerous.

Carcinomas grow from epithelial (surface or skin) cells that cover the outside of the body and line organs, cavities, and tubes within the body.

Front 97

cardiac

Back 97

Pertaining to the heart.

Front 98

cardiologist

Back 98

An internal medicine specialist who takes additional (fellowship) training in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

Front 99

cardiology

Back 99

Process of study of the heart.

Front 100

cephalic

Back 100

Pertaining to the head.

A cephalic presentation describes a "head first" position for the delivery of an infant.

Front 101

cerebral

Back 101

Pertaining to the cerebrum.

A cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke occurs when blood vessels are damaged in the cerebrum. This causes bleeding and decreased blood flow to nerve cells in specific areas of the brain.

Front 102

cystitis

Back 102

Inflammation of the urinary bladder.

Front 103

cystoscope

Back 103

Instrument used to visually examine the urinary bladder by way of the urethra.

Front 104

cystoscopy

Back 104

Process of visually examining the urinary bladder.

Front 105

cytology

Back 105

Process of studying cells.

Front 106

dermatitis

Back 106

Inflammation of the skin.

Front 107

dermatology

Back 107

Process of study of the skin.

Front 108

diagnosis

Back 108

State of complete knowledge.

A decision about the nature of the pateint's condition made after sufficient information has been obtained about the patient's condition.

Front 109

electrocardiogram

Back 109

Record of electricity in the heart (ECG or EKG).

Front 110

electroencephalogram

Back 110

Record of electricity in the brain (EEG).

Front 111

encephalitis

Back 111

Inflammation of the brain.

Front 112

endocrine glands

Back 112

Glands that secrete hormones within the body.

Endocrine glands (e.g. thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands) secrete hormones directly within (into) the bloodstream.

Front 113

endocrinologist

Back 113

Specialist in the study of glands that secrete within the body.

Front 114

endocrinology

Back 114

Process of study of glands that secrete inside the body.

Front 115

endoscope

Back 115

Instrument to visually examine the inside of the body (e.g. cystoscope).

Front 116

endoscopy

Back 116

Process of visually examining with an endoscope the inside of the body.

Front 117

enteritis

Back 117

Inflammation of the small intestines.

Front 118

enteropathy

Back 118

Disease condition of the intestines.

Front 119

epidermis

Back 119

Outermost layer of skin; lies above the dermis (the middle layer of skin).

Front 120

epigastric

Back 120

Pertaining to above the stomach.

Front 121

erythrocyte

Back 121

Red blood cells. Carry oxygen in the blood.

Front 122

excision

Back 122

The process of cutting out / removal.

Front 123

exocrine glands

Back 123

Glands which release their chemical secretions (e.g. saliva, sweat, tears) through tubes (ducts) to the outside of the body.

Front 124

gastrectomy

Back 124

Process of removing all or, more commonly, part of the stomach.

AKA gastric resection AKA excision of the stomach.

Front 125

gastric

Back 125

Pertaining to the stomach.

Front 126

gastroenterologist

Back 126

An internal medicine specialist who takes fellowship training in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Front 127

gastroenterology

Back 127

Process of study of the stomach and intestines.

Front 128

gastrotomy

Back 128

Process of cutting the stomach.

Front 129

gynecologist

Back 129

Specialist in surgery and internal medicine to diagnose and treat disorders of the female reproductive system. Ovarian cysts are sacs of fluid that form on and in the ovaries.

Front 130

gynecology

Back 130

Process of studying women and women's diseases.

Front 131

hematologist

Back 131

An internal medicine specialist who takes fellowship training in the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders such as anemia and clotting diseases.

Front 132

hematology

Back 132

Process of studying blood.

Front 133

hematoma

Back 133

Formed when blood escapes from blood vessels and collects as a clot in a cavity or organ or under the skin.

Front 134

hemoglobin

Back 134

Protein in blood (specifically in RBCs).

Carries oxygen.

Front 135

hepatitis

Back 135

Inflammation of the liver.

Front 136

hepatoma

Back 136

Malignant tumor of the liver.

Front 137

hyperglycemia

Back 137

Condition of having excessive sugar in the blood.

Most frequently associated with diabetes. People with diabetes have high blood sugar levels because they lack insulin (in type 1 diabetes) or have ineffective insulin (in type 2 diabetes). Insulin is the hormone normally released by the pancreas (an endocrine gland near the stomach) to "escort" sugar from the bloodstream into cells. Sugar (glucose) is then broken down in cells to release energy. When insulin is not present, sugar cannot enter cells and builds up in the bloodstream (hyperglycemia).

Front 138

hyperthyroidism

Back 138

Condition of excessive thyroid gland secretion.

A hyperactive thyroid gland (an endocrine gland in the neck) secretes a greater than normal amount of thyroxine (thyroid hormone, or T4). Because thyroxine causes cells to burn fuel and release energy, signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism are increased energy level and nervousness, tachycardia, weight loss, and exophthalmos (bulging eyeballs).

Front 139

hypodermic

Back 139

Pertaining to underneath the skin.

Front 140

hypogastric

Back 140

Pertaining to below the stomach.

Front 141

hypoglycemia

Back 141

Deficient glucose levels in the blood.

Front 142

iatrogenic

Back 142

Pertaining to side effects produced by treatment or intervention by a physician.

Front 143

incision

Back 143

The process of cutting into.

Front 144

leukemia

Back 144

Blood condition of WBCs.

Condition of blood in which cancerous WBCs proliferate (increase in number).

Front 145

leukocyte

Back 145

WBCs.

Helps the body fight disease.

Front 146

leukocytosis

Back 146

Condition, a slight increase in normal WBCs, occurs as WBCs multiply to fight an infection.

Don't confuse with leukemia, a cancerous (malignant) condition marked by high levels of abnormal, immature WBCs.

Front 147

nephrectomy

Back 147

Removal of a kidney.

Front 148

nephritis

Back 148

Inflammation of the kidney.

Front 149

nephrologist

Back 149

An internal medicine specialist who takes fellowship training in the diagnosis and medical treatment of kidney disease. Does not perform surgery on the urinary tract, but treats kidney disease with drugs.

Front 150

nephrology

Back 150

Process of study of the kidneys.

Front 151

nephrosis

Back 151

Condition/disease of the kidneys.

Front 152

neural

Back 152

Pertaining to nerves.

Front 153

neuralgia

Back 153

Pain of the nerves.

Front 154

neurologic

Back 154

Pertaining to the study of nerves.

Front 155

neurologist

Back 155

An internal medicine specialist who takes fellowship training in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of nervous tissue (brain, spinal cord, and nerves).

Front 156

neurology

Back 156

Process of study of nerves and the Nervous System.

Front 157

oncologist

Back 157

Specialist in the study of tumors/cancer.

Internal medicine specialist who takes fellowship training in the diagnosis and medical (drug) treatment of cancer.

Front 158

oncology

Back 158

Process of study of tumors/cancer.

Front 159

ophthalmologist

Back 159

Specialist in the study of the eyes.

Physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the eye.

Trains in both surgery and internal medicine in order to diagnose and treat disorders of the eye.

Front 160

ophthalmology

Back 160

Process of study of the eyes.

Front 161

ophthalmoscope

Back 161

An instrument for visual examination of they eyes.

Front 162

optician

Back 162

Grinds lenses and fits glasses but does not examine eyes, prescribe corrective lenses, or treat eye diseases.

Front 163

optometrist

Back 163

Examines eyes and prescribes corrective lenses, but cannot treat eye diseases.

Front 164

orthopedist

Back 164

Specialist in disorders of bones and muscles in people of all ages.

Has ped/o root (meaning child) in the name because they once exclusively straightened children's bones and corrected deformities.

Front 165

osteitis

Back 165

Inflammation of the bone.

Front 166

osteoarthritis

Back 166

Inflammation of bone and joints.

Condition of aging, a degeneration of bones and joints often accompanied by inflammation.

Front 167

osteotomy

Back 167

Incision into bone.

Front 168

pathogenic

Back 168

Pertaining to producing disease.

Front 169

pathologist

Back 169

Specialist in the study of diseases.

Examines biopsy samples microscopically and examines dead bodies to determine the cause of death.

Front 170

pathology

Back 170

Process of study of disease.

Front 171

pediatrics

Back 171

Pertaining to treatment of children.

Front 172

pericardium

Back 172

The membrane that surrounds the heart.

Front 173

prognosis

Back 173

State of having knowledge before.

A prediction about the outcome of an illness/treatment, and it is always given after the diagnosis has been determined.

Front 174

prostate gland

Back 174

This exocrine gland stands in front of the urinary bladder.

It produces semen.

Front 175

psychiatrist

Back 175

Specialist in treatment of the mind.

Specialist in diagnosing and treating mental illness.

Front 176

psychology

Back 176

Process of study of the mind.

Front 177

radiology

Back 177

Process of study of x-rays.

Low-energy x-rays are used for diagnostic imaging.

Front 178

renal

Back 178

Pertaining to the kidney.

Front 179

resection

Back 179

Process of cutting back in the sense of cutting out or removal (excision).

Operation in which tissue is "cut back" or removed. The Latin resectio means a trimming or pruning.

Front 180

retrocardiac

Back 180

Behind the heart.

Front 181

rhinitis

Back 181

Inflammation of the nose.

Front 182

sarcoma

Back 182

Tumor of the flesh.

Cancerous (malignant) tumor.

Grows from cells of "fleshy" connective tissue such as muscle, bone, and fat, whereas a carcinoma (another type of cancerous tumor) grows from epithelial cells that line the outside of the body or the inside of organs in the body.

Front 183

subhepatic

Back 183

Pertaining to below the liver.

Front 184

thrombocyte

Back 184

Cells that help with clotting, AKA platelets.

Front 185

transhepatic

Back 185

Pertaining to across or through the liver.

Front 186

urology

Back 186

Process of study of the urinary tract.

Front 187

thrombus

Back 187

A clot that forms.

Front 188

thrombosis

Back 188

Condition of clot formation.

Front 189

urologist

Back 189

Surgical specialist who operates on the organs of the urinary tract and the organs of the male reproductive system.