Medical Terminology

The following list of common prefixes and suffixes can be employed to work out the meaning of complex disease terminology encountered on requests for radiological examinations. Prefixes A-or an-

absence of or without

Adreno-

relating to the adrenal glands

Angio-

relating to blood or lymph vessels

Ante-

in front or before

Arterio-

relating to arteries

Bi-

two

Brady-

slow

Bucc-

relating to the cheek

Burs-

relating to bursa within synovial joints

Cardi-

relating to the heart

Cephal-

relating to the head

Cebr-

relating to the brain

Cervic-

neck

Chol-

relating to the biliary system or bile

Crani-

relating to the skull

Cysto-

relating to the bladder or gall bladder

Dacro-

relating to tears and their associated glands or ducts

Dacry-

relating to tears

Demi-

half

Dorsi-

back

Dys

difficulty

Ec-

away from or not in the usual position

Endo-

inside or within

Ente-

relating to the intestine

Epi-

upon

Erythro-

reddening or flushing of

Ex-

out of

Gastr-

relating to the stomach

Gingiv-

relating to the gums

Haem-

relating to the blood

Hemi-

half

Hydro-

water

Hyper-

beyond normal limits

Hypo-

below normal limits

Hystro-

relating to the uterus

Idio-

relating to an individual or self

Infra-

below

Inter-

between

Intra-

within

Iso-

the same as

Lact-

relating to milk

Laparo-

relating to the abdominal wall

Leuco or leuko-

relating to white blood cells

Lingu-

relating to the tongue

Lipo-

relating to fat

Litho-

stone formation

Lympho-

relating to the lymphatic system

Lysis-

destruction of

Macro-

large

Mammo or masto-

relating to the breast

Mega-

enlargement of

Myo-

relating to muscle

Neo-

new

Nephro-

relating to the kidney

Neuro-

relating to the nervous system

Orchid-

relating to the testes

Osteo-

relating to the bones

Peri-

around

Phleb-

relating to the veins

Pneumo-

relating to the lungs

Poly-

many

Post-

after

Pyo-

relating to pus

Retro-

behind

Salpingo-

relating to the uterine tubes

Sial-

relating to the salivary glands

Spleno-

relating to the spleen

Spondy-

relating to the spine

Sub-

beneath

Supra-

above, upper

Syn-

together

Tachy-

too fast

Trach-

relating to the trachea

Trans-

through

Urin-or uro-

relating to the urinary system or urine

Vesico-

relating to the bladder

Suffixes -aemia

disease affecting the blood

-algia

pain

-ectasis

enlargement or widening of

-ectomy

surgical removal of

-itis

inflammation of

-oma

tumour

-oscopy

visual examination of

-ostomy

surgical opening of

-osis

disease of

-penia

lack of

-plasty

repair or reconstruction

-rrhoea

flow