Medical terminology simplified! List of common medical root words and their dictionary meanings, along with a review of prefixes and suffixes. Great for students, nursing, and coding courses!
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With so many medical terminology courses, books, dictionaries, glossaries, and quizzes available, it can be challenging to find a simple source that teaches you the basic high-yield information you need to know.
Fortunately you have come to the right place!
We have created a series of lectures where medical terminology is simplified for you!
This series will provide you with lists of common medical abbreviations, prefixes, root words, and suffixes!
Our tables will give you example medical words and terms, their definitions and meanings, and tricks to remember it all!
We already reviewed common medical abbreviations, prefixes, root words (part I and III), and suffixes in previous posts - see below!
This post is Part II of common root words.
Make sure to check out the other medical terminology lectures below!
Medical Root Words MADE EASY! - Part II - Currently Viewing
Letβs first remind ourselves what medical terminology isβ¦..
Medical terminology is the language used in healthcare to describe anatomy, structures, conditions, diagnoses, procedures, treatments, and much more.
You might remember from the other medical terminology lectures that most medical words have a beginning, middle, and an end.
They are referred to as the prefix, root, and suffix.
The prefix is at the beginning.
The root is in the middle.
The suffix is at the end.
The prefix is typically the descriptive part of the medical term, and it forms the beginning of the word.
The prefix describes characteristics such as a location, direction, number, quantity, amount, size, or color.
The root provides the subject of the medical term.
It is the core meaning of the word, and it often pertains to a body part or system.
The root forms the middle of the word when a prefix is present.
If there is no prefix, then the root will form the beginning of the word.
Some medical terms may also have more than one root combined together.
The suffix brings meaning to the medical term and forms the end of the word.
The suffix might indicate a disease, disorder, condition, procedure, process, specialty, test, or status.
As mentioned above, medical roots are the subject of the word and often pertain to a body part or system.
Letβs review 3 lists of common medical root words starting with list 1.
Of note, most of the roots listed below end in βOβ.
This is called the combining form, and the βOβ is the combining vowel.
The combining vowel is the vowel that follows the root word, and it connects the root to another root or a suffix.
Be aware that the combining vowel may be a different vowel other than βOβ.
Axillo- = Armpit
Example: Axillary Vein
The axillary vein is named for its anatomical location as it traverses through the axilla.
The vein originates at the lower border of the teres major muscle and ascends medially through the axilla (armpit) toward the 1st rib.
Reno- = Kidney
Therefore, a renogram is a graphic record of the kidneys.
More specifically, it is a nuclear medicine study in which the renal excretion of a radioactive tracer that has been injected into the renal system is graphically recorded.
Rhino- = Nose
Therefore, rhinorrhea refers to a runny nose or nasal discharge from the nose.
You can think of a rhinoceros and its horn on its nose to help you remember βrhino-β means βnoseβ.
Sigmoido- = Sigmoid Colon
We learned in the suffix lecture that β-oscopyβ refers to the examination or viewing of, especially with the use of a scope (an instrument used for viewing or observing).
Therefore, a sigmoidoscopy is a procedure that uses a scope to visualize the inside of the sigmoid colon.
The sigmoid colon is the S-shaped final part of the colon that connects to the rectum.
You can think of how the sigmoid colon is shaped like an βSβ to remember the terms βsigmoido-β and βsigmoidβ (which both start with the letter βSβ).
Sinus- = Sinuses
Therefore, sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses, especially around the nose.
βSinus-β and βsinusβ are self-explanatory as the root word is the same as the meaning.
Tracheo- = Trachea
We learned in the suffix lecture that β-ostomyβ means to surgically create an artificial opening or stoma.
Therefore, a tracheostomy is a surgical opening through the neck into the trachea to allow for the passage of air.
βTracheo-β and βtracheaβ sound similar making the root meaning easy to remember.
Tympano- = Eardrum
The suffix β-sclerosisβ refers to the hardening of tissue, especially from overgrowth of fibrous tissue.
Therefore, tympanosclerosis is the calcification and hardening of tissue in the eardrum.
Of note, the medical term for eardrum is tympanic membrane which makes sense given the root βtympano-β refers to βeardrumβ.
Umbilico- = Umbilicus (Belly Button/Navel)
Example: Umbilical Cord
The umbilical cord is the cord arising from the fetusβ navel, connecting the fetus to the placenta.
Vasculo- = Blood Vessels
Therefore, perivascular means situated or occurring around a blood vessel.
Perivascular is a good example of a medical term using a prefix (peri-) followed by a root word (vasculo-).
Just a reminder, we learned other root words in previous lectures that refer to blood vessels as well.
Click the hyperlinks below to check them out!
βVaso-β = Blood Vessel
Vesico- = Bladder or Blister
Example: Colovesical Fistula
Therefore, a colovesical fistula is an abnormal connection (fistula) between the colon and urinary bladder.
Colovesical is a great example of 2 root words combined together.
Letβs continue with the next set of common medical root words.
Adeno- = Gland
Therefore, adenocarcinoma is a cancer that originates in the glands or gland cells, which are typically found in tissues that line internal organs.
Chondro- = Cartilage
Therefore, chondroblasts are immature cartilage cells that play a role in the formation of cartilage.
Blepharo- = Eyelid
Therefore, blepharospasm is involuntary movement, twitching, or contraction of the eyelid(s).
Bucco- = Cheek
The buccinator is the major facial muscle underlying the cheek.
Carpo- = Wrist
Examples: Carpal Bones or Metacarpal Bones
The carpal bones are the eight bones of the wrist.
The prefix βmeta-β means after, subsequent to, or behind.
Therefore, the metacarpal bones are the bones of the hand, which are subsequent to the carpal bones of the wrist.
Metacarpal is another good example of a medical term that uses a prefix (meta-) followed by a root word (carpo-).
Cholecysto- = Gallbladder
As mentioned above, the suffix β-itisβ means inflammation.
Therefore, cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder.
Costo- = Rib
We learned above that βchondro-β refers to cartilage.
Again β-itisβ means inflammation.
Therefore, costochondritis is inflammation of the cartilage of the rib cage or chest wall.
Cutaneo- = Skin
Example: Transcutaneous or Transcutaneous Pacing
Therefore, transcutaneous means by way of or through the skin.
Transcutaneous is another good example of a term that uses a prefix (trans-) followed by a root word (cutaneo-).
An example medical term is transcutaneous pacing which is a temporary means of pacing the heart by delivering pulses of electrical current through the skin.
Gingivo- = Gums
Examples: Supragingival Plaque or Subgingival Plaque
Therefore, supragingival plaque refers to bacteria above the margin of the gums, and subgingival plaque refers to bacteria below the margin of the gums.
Supragingival and subgingival are additional good examples of medical terms that use a prefix (supra-/sub-) followed by a root word (gingivo-).
Labio- = Lips
Example: Labiodental Sounds
βDento-β refers to teeth.
Therefore, labiodental sounds refer to the letters made using the lower lip and upper teeth such as βFβ or βVβ.
Letβs wrap it up with one final set of common medical root words.
Lingua/Linguo- = Tongue
We just learned above that βgingivo-β refers to the gums of the mouth.
Therefore, linguogingival pertains to the tongue and gums.
You can also think of bilingual which is the ability to speak in 2 languages or βtonguesβ, and this will help you remember βlinguo-β means βtongueβ.
Myelo- = Bone Marrow or Spinal Cord
Examples: Myeloma, Myeloblast, Myelofibrosis, or Myelogram
Therefore, myeloma is a malignant tumor of the bone marrow.
Next, we mentioned above that βblasto-β means immature.
Therefore, a myeloblast is a type of immature white blood cell that forms in the bone marrow.
Next, βfibro-β refers to fibrous tissue.
Therefore, myelofibrosis is a condition marked by an increase in fibrous tissue or scarring of the bone marrow, usually interrupting normal production of blood cells.
Finally, we mentioned above that β-gramβ is a record, picture, or image.
Therefore, a myelogram is a radiologic photograph of the spinal cord using contrast dye.
Odonto- = Teeth
We mentioned above that the prefix βperi-β means around or surrounding.
We also already know that β-itisβ means inflammation.
Therefore, periodontitis is inflammation of the tissue around the teeth.
Periodontitis is a great example of a medical term that uses a prefix (peri-), a root (odonto-), and a suffix (-itis).
Oro- = Mouth
The oropharynx is the part of the throat (pharynx) at the back of the mouth (oral cavity).
Pelvo- = Pelvis
Example: Pelvic Binder
A pelvic binder is a device that might be used during a trauma to compress the pelvis in patients with a confirmed or suspected pelvic fracture.
βPelvo-β and βpelvisβ sound similar making the root meaning easy to remember.
Spleno- = Spleen
Therefore, a splenectomy is the surgical removal of the spleen.
βSpleno-β and βspleenβ sound similar making the root meaning easy to remember.
Spondylo- = Vertebrae or Spine
We know from the suffix lecture that β-osisβ refers to a medical condition or disease process.
Spondylosis refers to a condition in which there is degenerative arthritic changes in the spine or vertebrae.
Aorto- = Aorta
The root word βsteno-β means narrow or close.
We just mentioned above that β-osisβ refers to a medical condition or disease process.
Therefore, aortostenosis is the condition in which there is narrowing of the aorta.
βAorto-β and βaortaβ sound similar making the root meaning easy to remember.
Angio- = Blood Vessel
Therefore, angiography is the process of taking a picture of blood vessels using a radiographic dye to better visualize the vasculature.
Just a reminder of the following terms pertaining to blood vessels as well.
βVaso-β = Blood Vessel
βVasculo-β = Blood Vessel
Stetho- = Chest
We know from the suffix lecture that β-scopeβ is an instrument used to view or examine a part of the body.
Therefore, a stethoscope is an instrument used primarily to listen to the chest, especially the heart and lungs.
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