Medical Vocab: Lesson 1

Front 1

a- (an- before a vowel or b)

Back 1

Prefix

not, without, lacking, deficient

a-biogenesis; an-algesia

Front 2

anti- (ant- often before a vowel or b; hyphenated before i)

Back 2

Prefix

against, opposed to, preventing, relieving

anti-biotic; anti-retroviral

Front 3

di- (rarely dis-)

Back 3

Prefix

two, twice, double

di-phonia; dis-diaclast

Front 4

dys-

Back 4

Prefix

difficult, painful, defective, abnormal

dys-menorrhea; dys-trop

Front 5

ec- (ex- before a vowel)


SPECIAL NOTE: the ex in most words is derived from LATIN examples; excrete, exhale, extensor, ecudate

Back 5

Prefix

out of, away from

ec-tasis; ex-encephalia

Front 6

ecto- (ect- often before a vowel)

Back 6

Prefix

outside of

ecto-derm; ect-ostosis

Front 7

en- (em- before b, m and p)

Back 7

Prefix

in, into, within

en-cephalitis; em-metropia

Front 8

endo-, ento- (end-, ent- before a vowel)

Back 8

Prefix

within

en-dogenous; en-toptic

Front 9

epi- (ep- before a vowel or b)

Back 9

Prefix

upon, over, above

epi-cardium; ep-encephalon

Front 10

exo-

Back 10

Prefix

outside, from the outside, toward the outside

exo-cardia; exo-thermal

Front 11

hemi-

Back 11

Prefix

half, partial, (often) one side of the body

hemi-cardia; hemi-gastrectomy

Front 12

hyper-

Back 12

Prefix

over, above, excessive, beyond normal

hyper-hidrosis; hyper-parathyroidism

Front 13

hypo- (hyp- before a vowel or b)

Back 13

Prefix

under, deficient, below normal

hypo-chondria; hyp-algesia

Front 14

mono- (mon- before a vowel or b)

Back 14

Prefix

one, single

mono-blast; mono-neuritis

Front 15

peri-

Back 15

Prefix

around, surrounding

peri-antiitis; peri-cardiac

Front 16

syn- (sym- before b, p, and ; the n assimilates or is dropped before s)

Back 16

Prefix

together, with, joined

syn-apse; sy-stolic

Front 17

-a

Back 17

Noun-forming suffix

state, condition

dyspne-a; erythroderm-a

Front 18

-ac (rare)

Back 18

Ajective-forming suffix

pertaining to, located in

cardi-ac; ile-ac

Front 19

-ia; (often appears as -y)

Back 19

Noun forming suffix

state or condition; process, procedure

anem-ia; hypertroph-y

Front 20

-iac (rare)

Back 20

Noun-forming suffix

person afflicted with

hemophil-iac; man-iac

Front 21

-iasis

Back 21

Noun-forming suffix

disease, abnormal condition, abnormal presence of

with lith- formation or presence of calculi in the
body

elephant-iasis; ancylostom-iasis

Front 22

-ic

Back 22

Adjective-forming suffix

pertaining to, located in

parapleg-ic; anorex-ic

Front 23

-ic

Back 23

Noun-forming suffix

drug or agent
person suffering from a disability or condition

analges-ic; tox-ic

Front 24

-in, -ine

Back 24

Noun-forming suffix

forms names of substances

adrenal-in; epinephr-ine

Front 25

-ist

Back 25

Noun-forming suffix

a person interested in

cardiolog-ist; hematolog-ist

Front 26

-itic

Back 26

Adjective-forming suffix

pertaining to, pertaining to inflammation

arthr-itic

Front 27

-itic

Back 27

Noun-forming suffix

drug, agent

antineur-itic

Front 28

-itis

Back 28

Noun-forming suffix

inflammation

gastr-itis; periton-itis

Front 29

-itides

Back 29

Plural Noun-forming suffix

Plural of -itis

arthr-itides; dermat-itides

Front 30

-ium, (rarely -eum)

Back 30

Noun-forming suffix

membrane, connective tissue

endometr-ium; periton-eum

Front 31

-ium, (rarely -eum)

Back 31

Noun-forming suffix

in a few words -ium names a region of the body

epigastr-ium; hypochondr-ium

Front 32

-ma, (combining form -mat) (sometimes -m)

Back 32

Noun-forming suffix

abnormal, diseased condition

ade-ma; trau-ma

Front 33

-ma, (combining form -mat) (sometimes -m

Back 33

Combining Form

abnormal, diseased condition

ede-mat-ogenic; trau-mat-ic

Front 34

-ma, (combining form -mat) (sometimes -m)

Back 34

Combining Form

abnormal, diseased condition

phleg-m; sper-m

Front 35

-osis

Back 35

Noun-forming suffix

abnormal, diseased condition

nephr-osis; scler-osis

Front 36

-otic

Back 36

Adjective-forming suffix

pertaining to, located in

nephr-otic; scler-otic

Front 37

-sia

Back 37

Noun-forming suffix

state, condition, process, procedure

amne-sia; dyspha-sia

Front 38

-sis

Back 38

Noun-forming suffix

state, condition, process, procedure

antisep-sis; prophylaxis (prophylac-sis)

Front 39

-tic

Back 39

Adjective-forming suffix (forms adjectives form nouns ending in -sis)

pertaining to

antisep-tic; eme-tic

Front 40

-tic

Back 40

Noun-forming suffix

drug, agent

antineuro-tic; antispasmo-tic

a person suffering from a disability or condition

neuro-tic; arthr-itic

Front 41

-y

Back 41

Noun-forming suffix

state, condition, process, procedure

hypertroph-y; microcephal-y

Front 42

acanth-

Back 42

Combining Form

thorn, spine

acanth-ocytosis

Front 43

alg-

Back 43

Combining Form

pain

my-alg-ia

Front 44

alges-

Back 44

Combining Form

sensitivity to pain

alges-ia

Front 45

all-

Back 45

Combining Form

other, divergence, difference from

all-oplasia

Front 46

angi-

Back 46

Combining Form

blood vessel, duct

angi-ocarditis

Front 47

arteri-

Back 47

Combining Form

artery

arteri-ogram

Front 48

arthr-

Back 48

Combining Form

joint

arthr-itis

Front 49

bi-

Back 49

Combining Form

life

bi-ology

Front 50

brady-

Back 50

Combining Form

slow

brady-rhythmia

Front 51

cardi-

Back 51

Combining Form

heart

cardi-ogram

Front 52

cephal-

Back 52

Combining Form

head

cephal-algia

Front 53

crani-

Back 53

Combining Form

skull

epi-crani-um

Front 54

cyt-

Back 54

Combining Form

cell

leuko-cyt-e

Front 55

encephal-

Back 55

Combining Form

brain

encephal-itis

Front 56

erythr-

Back 56

Combining Form

red, red blood cell

erythr-ocyte

Front 57

lept-

Back 57

Combining Form

thin, fine, slight

lept-omeninges

Front 58

leuk-

Back 58

Combining Form

white, white blood cell

leuk-emia

Front 59

lith-

Back 59

Combining Form

stone

angio-lith

Front 60

log-

Back 60

Combining Form

word, study

bio-log-y

Front 61

malac-

Back 61

Combining Form

soft

malac-osteon

Front 62

mes-

Back 62

Combining Form

middle, secondary, partial, mesentery

mes-oderm

Front 63

-meter, metr-

Back 63

Combining Form

measure, measuring device (words ending in -meter indicate an instrument for measuring)

bio-metr-y

Front 64

nephr-

Back 64

Combining Form

kidney

nephr-ectomy

Front 65

neur-

Back 65

Combining Form

[tendon] nerve, nervous system

neur-ology

Front 66

oste-

Back 66

Combining Form

bone

oste-oporosis

Front 67

prosop-

Back 67

Combining Form

face

prosop-ospasm

Front 68

prot-

Back 68

Combining Form

first, primitive, early

prot-oneuron

Front 69

scler-

Back 69

Combining Form

hard

scler-oderma

Front 70

sten-

Back 70

Combining Form

narrow

sten-ocephaly

Front 71

stere-

Back 71

Combining Form

solid, having three dimensions

stere-otropism

Front 72

tachy-

Back 72

Combining Form

rapid

tachy-cardia

Front 73

tox(i)-

Back 73

Combining From

poison

tox-in

Front 74

-logy

Back 74

Suffix Form of log-

study, science, the study or science of

cardio-logy

Front 75

-logist

Back 75

Suffix Form of log-

one who specializes in a certain study or science

neuro-logist

Front 76

-malacia

Back 76

Suffix Form of malac-

the softening (of tissues) of

Front 77

-sclerosis

Back 77

Suffix Form scler-

the hardening (of tissues) of

arterio-sclerosis

Front 78

-stenosis

Back 78

Suffix Form sten-

the narrowing (of a part of the body)

angio-stenosis

Front 79

-toxic

Back 79

Suffix Form of tox-

poisonous (to an organ)

cardio-toxic

Front 80

-toxin

Back 80

Suffix Form of tox-

a substance poisonous to (a part of the body)

neuro-toxin

Front 81

-osis

Back 81

Suffix

indicates an abnormal condition:

neurosis, psychosis

Front 82

-osis

Back 82

Suffix

When affixed to a combining form indicating an organ or a part of the body, it usually indicates a noninflammatory diseased conditon:

nephrosis, endometriosis.

Front 83

-osis

Back 83

Suffix

Following the combining form cyt- (cell) it means an abnormal increase in number of the type of cell indicated:

leukocytosis, erythrocytosis

Front 84

-osis

Back 84

Suffix Form

Following the combining form for an adjective, it indicates the abnormality characterized by the meaning of the adjective:

stenosis-narrowing of a passage
sclerosis-hardening of tissues
cyanosis-bluish discoloration of a part

Front 85

-osis

Special Words anastomosis

Back 85

a surgical or pathological connection between two passages

Front 86

-osis

Special Words exostosis

Back 86

a bony growth arising form the surface of a bone

Front 87

-osis

Special Words aponeurosis

Back 87

a sheet of tissue connecting muscles to bones

Front 88

-osis

Special Words symbiosis

Back 88

the living together in close association of two organisms of different species

Front 89

-osis

Special Words antibiosis

Back 89

the association between two organisms in which one is harmful to the other

Front 90

The ADJECTIVAL FORM for words ending in -osis is -otic

give examples

Back 90

EXAMPLES:
neurosis - neurotic
psychosis - psychotic
nephrosis - nephrotic
symbiosis - symbiotic

Front 91

The word etiology is from the Greek noun aitia (cause, origin) with the suffix form -logy. the etiology of a disease or an abnormal condition is its cause or origin. In medical dictionaries it is usually abbreviated

Back 91

etiol

Front 92

xeros

Back 92

Greek NOUNS

dry

xeroderma

Front 93

splen

Back 93

Greek NOUNS

spleen

spleenomegaly

Front 94

phono

Back 94

Greek NOUNS

voice

phonology

Front 95

thorax

Back 95

Greek NOUNS

chest cavity

thorocentesis

Front 96

Diphthongs

Back 96

Greek Latin English Greek ex meaning Eng ex
ai ae e haima blood hematology
ei ei ei or i cheir hand cheirospasm
oi oe e oidema swelling edema
ou u u gloutus buttock gluteal

Front 97

declension

Back 97

the inflection of nouns, pronouns, and adjective

Greek nouns are DECLINED in five grammatical cases in both singular and plural: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative and vocative

Front 98

nominative

Back 98

A noun or pronoun is in the “Nominative Case” when it is the subject of a sentence, or when it completes a being verb.

Generally, the noun "that is doing something" is in the nominative.

Front 99

genitive

Back 99

A noun or pronoun is in the “Genitive Case” when it shows possession

Front 100

dative

Back 100

A noun or pronoun is in the Dative Case when it is used as an indirect object

Front 101

accusative

Back 101

A noun or pronoun is in the “Accusative Case” when it receives the action of a transitive verb, or when it serves as the object of a preposition. Another term for “Accusative” is ‘Objective.”

Front 102

vocative

Back 102

Names that are being addressed directly are said to be in the vocative case

Front 103

first declination

Back 103

nouns that are mostly feminine, and end in -e or -a and sometimes in short -a

Front 104

second declination

Back 104

nouns that are mostly masculine or neuter, and end in -os if masculine and in -on if neuter

Front 105

combining form

Back 105

the base of nouns of the first and second declensions is found by dropping the ending of the nominative case; suffixes and other combining forms are added to form words

Front 106

connecting vowel

Back 106

if a suffix or a combining form that begins with a consonant is attached to a combining form that ends in a consonant, then a vowel, called the connecting vowel, usually o and sometimes i or u (espeically with words derived from Latin), is inserted between the two forms

ex: leuk-o-cyte; calc-i-penia; vir-u-lent

Front 107

-e

Back 107

on the end of a word is an English ending or suffix

-e is never a connecting vowel and a connecting vowel is never found on the end of a word

Front 108

-on or -os

Back 108

on the END of a word is an original Greek ending. Later we will have some original Latin endings.

Front 109

Always use suffix forms like -stenosis when they are found on the end of a word. Do not break them down. This is really the only exception to the rule that we break the word down into its elements: examples

Back 109

angio-stenosis
aorto-stenosis
arterio-stenosis

Front 110

Occasionally when you have two vowels or two consonants together one will drop out

Back 110

endosteum = end- oste- -eum
periosteum = peri- oste- -eum

Front 111

In a word like toxicosis because toxic is not at the end it must be broken down

Back 111

toxic-osis

Front 112

Be sure to look at the information about suffixes on Page 6.

Back 112

Most noun-forming suffixes mean state, condition, process or procedure. You must pick out the appropriate one for your Etymological Meaning. For example, in the word photosynthesis you would have to use process for the meaning of -sis. Photosynthesis is not a state or condition it is a process. In question 40 you would not use the meaning state or condition for the -y in osteometry, process or procedure would be a much more appropriate choice. In other words think about your analysis and the meaning of the words you are analyzing.

Front 113

break down the word abiosis

Back 113

a- not, without, lacking
BI- life
-o- connecting vowel
-sis state, condition

Front 114

break down the word acanthosis

Back 114

ACANTH- thorn, spine
-osis abnormal or diseased condition