Question | Answer |
a-, an- | no, not, without |
ab- | away from |
ad- | toward |
ana- | up, apart |
ante- | before, forward |
anti- | against |
auto- | self, own |
bi- | two |
brady- | slow |
cata- | down |
con- | with, together |
contra- | against, opposite |
de- | down, lack of |
dia- | through, complete |
dys- | bad, painful, difficult |
ec-, ecto | out, outside |
en-, endo- | in, within |
epi- | upon, on, above |
eu- | good, normal |
ex- | out, away from |
hemi- | half |
hyper- | excessive, above |
hypo- | deficient, under |
mal- | bad |
meta- | beyond, change |
micro- | small |
neo- | new |
pan- | all |
para- | abnormal, beside, near |
per- | through |
peri- | surrounding |
poly- | many, much |
post- | after, behind |
pre- | before, in front of |
pro- | before, forward |
pseudo- | false |
re- | back, again |
retro- | behind, backwards |
sub- | under |
supra- | above, upper |
syn-, sym- | together, with |
tachy- | fast |
trans- | across, through |
ultra- | beyond, excel |
uni- | one |
apnea | Not breathing. |
anoxia | Without oxygen (decrease in tissues). |
abnormal | Pertaining to away from the norm (rule); not regular. |
Abductor | One who (muscle which) leads away from the body. |
adductor | One who (muscle which) leads toward the body. |
Adrenal glands | Endocrine glands located above (toward) the kidneys. |
anabolism | Process of casting (building) up materials (proteins) within cells. |
analysis | To separate (apart). |
ante cibum | Before meals. |
Anteflexion | Bending forward. |
antepartum | Before birth. |
antisepsis | Condition against infection. |
antibiotic | Pertaining to against life (germ life). |
Antibody | Protein substance made in the body to destroy foreign antigens. |
antigen | A substance (usually foreign) that stimulates the production of antibodies. |
Antitoxin | A substance (antibody) produced in response to and capable of neutralizing a toxin |
autoimmune disease | A condition related to making antibodies (immune substances) against one’s own (auto-) cells and tissues. |
Bifurcation | Forking (branching) into two; as the trachea bifurcates into two individual tubes. |
bilateral | Pertaining to two sides. |
Bradycardia | Condition of slow heartbeat. |
Catabolism | Process of casting down materials (sugar) to release energy in cells. |
congenital anomaly | Irregularity at birth. |
connective | To tie (bind) together. |
contraindication | To point out against; as reasons why a drug should not be taken. |
contralateral | Pertaining to the opposite side. Ipsilateral means pertaining to the same side. |
Dehydration | Condition of lack of water. |
diameter | To measure through; as the diameter of a circle. |
diarrhea | To flow through; water is not properly absorbed through the walls of the colon. |
dialysis | Complete separation; two types are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. |
dyspnea | Difficult breathing. |
dysplasia | Abnormal (“bad”) development or formation. |
ectopic pregnancy | Pregnancy out of the normal place (usually in the fallopian tubes). |
Endocardium | Inner lining (membrane) of the heart. |
endoscope | Instrument to view within the body; gastroscope, bronchoscope, laparoscope. |
endotracheal | Pertaining to within the trachea. |
epithelium | Skin cell; literally, “upon a nipple.” |
euphoria | Good feeling, “high.” |
Euthyroid | Normal thyroid function. |
exophthalmos | Eyeballs that protrude. |
Hemiglossectomy | Removal of half the tongue. |
Hyperglycemia | Increase in blood sugar. |
hyperplasia | Condition of increased formation (increase in number of cells). |
Hypertrophy | Increase in development; increase in size of cells. |
Hypodermic injection | Use of a needle and syringe to force liquid under the skin. |
hypoglycemia | Decrease in blood sugar. |
insomniac | Pertaining to inability to sleep. |
incision | Process of cutting into; sectioning. |
infracostal | Pertaining to below ribs. |
intercostal | Pertaining to between the ribs. |
intravenous | Pertaining to within a vein. |
macrocephaly | Pertaining to an enlarged head; a congenital anomaly. |
malignant | Harmful, bad; cancerous condition. |
malaise | Feeling of discomfort; “bad feeling.” |
metacarpal bones | Five hand bones (beyond the wrist). |
metamorphosis | Condition of change of shape or form. |
metastasis | Beyond control; spreading of a malignant tumor. |
microscope | Instrument to view small objects. |
neonatal | Pertaining to a newborn (infant). |
neoplasm | New growth; new formation (tumor). |
Pancytopenia | Condition of decrease in all cells (blood cells). |
paralysis | Abnormal destruction (of nerves) leading to loss of muscle function. |
parathyroid glands | Endocrine glands located near (on the dorsal side of) the thyroid gland. |
percutaneous | Pertaining to through the skin. |
pericardium | Membrane surrounding the heart. |
Periosteum | Membrane surrounding the bone. |
polymorphonuclear | Pertaining to a many-shaped nucleus; a type of white blood cell. |
polyneuritis | Inflammation of many nerves. |
postmortem | After death. |
postpartum | After childbirth; this most often refers to the mother. |
precancerous | Pertaining to before cancer; a lesion that may become cancerous. |
prenatal | Pertaining to before birth. |
prodrome | Signs and symptoms that appear before the onset of a more severe illness. |
prolapse | Sliding forward or downward. |
pseudocyesis | State of false pregnancy. |
Relapse | A sliding back; recurrence of symptoms of disease. |
remission | To send back; disappearance of symptoms of disease. |
recombinant DNA | Inserting a gene (region of DNA) from one organism into the DNA of another organism. |
retroperitoneal | Pertaining to behind the peritoneum. |
retroflexion | Bending backward. |
subcutaneous | Pertaining to under the skin. |
suprapubic | Pertaining to above the pubic bone (part of the pelvis). |
Syndactyly | Condition of webbed (held together) fingers or toes; a congenital anomaly. |
synthesis | To put or place together, as in protein synthesis or photosynthesis. |
syndrome | A group of symptoms that run (occur) together. |
symbiosis | Condition or state of “life together” |
symmetry | State of “measurement together”; equality of parts; mirror images. |
symphysis | To grow together; bones that grow together at the joint. |
tachypnea | Rapid breathing. |
transfusion | To pour across, as in transferring blood from one person to another. |
transurethral | Pertaining to through the urethra. |
ultrasonography | Process of recording ultrasound (beyond the normal range) waves. |
unilateral | Pertaining to one side. |