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Following, in no particular order, are
frequently used word beginnings (prefixes) and word endings (suffixes) used to
make up many medical terms. You
don’t need to memorize whether an item is a prefix or suffix, or even if it is
a word root, just what it means! I
know this is all “Greek” to you (and some of it really is!), but there will
be so much reinforcement as we go along that you can’t help but remember
meanings. Be patient with yourself.
| -itis |
= inflammation
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tonsillitis,
appendicitis
(you know these!) |
| -osis |
= abnormal condition |
cyanosis (of blueness, due to
cold or low oxygen) |
| -ectomy |
= to cut out (remove) |
appendectomy, tonsillectomy (you know these too!) |
| -otomy |
= to cut into |
tracheotomy (to cut into the windpipe,
temporary opening) |
| -ostomy |
= to make a
“mouth” |
colostomy (to make a
permanent opening in colon) |
| a/an |
= without, none |
anemia (literally no blood
but means few red cells) |
| micro |
= small |
microstomia (abnormally small
mouth, see “stomy” in colostomy above?) |
| macro |
= large |
macrostomia (abnormally large
mouth) |
| mega/ -megaly |
= enlarged |
megacolon (abnormally large
colon = large intestine) |
| -scopy/ -scopic |
= to look, observe |
colonoscopy (look into colon)
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| Just a few more that you will see and hear
over and over again.
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| -graphy/ -graph |
= recording
an image
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mammography (imaging the breasts)
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| -gram |
= the image (X-ray) |
mammogram |
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Whenever you see these endings, -graphy,
-graph, -gram, they relate to recording an image such as an X-ray, CT or MRI
scan or a written recording with pen and moving paper.
Mammography is the process of recording, i.e. the machine and procedure.
Mammogram is the image itself, the X-ray.
A recording of heart activity is called an electrocardiogram using an
electrocardiograph. A recording of
brain activity is an electroencephalogram and the medical procedure and machine
is called electroencephalography (whew, what a mouthful!).
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| -ology/ -ologist |
= study, specialize in |
cardiologist, nephrologist (study
the heart, the kidneys)
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To see a lung specialist, you would
visit a pulmonologist. To see a
specialist in nerve and brain disease, make an appointment with a neurologist.
If you have a bad eye infection, you may be referred to an
ophthalmologist. Your
rheumatism acting up? You would
want to find a physician specializing in rheumatology.
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Revised September 13, 2007 |
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