Clinical pharmacists have the responsibility of dispensing drugs to both the in-patient and out-patient services of their institution. Some have extended their professional responsibilities to making ward rounds with physicians, monitoring drug therapy for safety, efficacy and desired clinical outcomes and identifying possible drug interactions.
To perform these professional roles effectively, in addition to an understanding of pharmacology and biopharmaceutics, clinical pharmacists must be able to communicate effectively with other members of the healthcare team.
In this article, therefore, an attempt has been made to outline some medical terminologies by giving definitions for the prefixes and suffixes that form their root. These are by no means exhaustive.
Prefixes in medical terminology
A prefix appears at the beginning of a word and generally describes location and intensity. By learning to recognize a few of the more commonly used medical prefixes, you can figure out the meanings of terms that may not be immediately familiar to you. It is worthy to note that not all medical terms have prefixes.
The following is an alphabetical list of common medical prefixes, along with their meaning, and an English example.
A – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| a-, an- | without, lack of | anuria (lack of urine output) |
| ab- | away from | abnormal (a structure or process that is not normal) |
| ad- | toward, near | adrenal glands (two small triangular endocrine glands situated one upon the upper end of each kidney) |
| ambi- | both sides | ambidextrous (using both hands) |
| ante- | before, forward | antepartum (an event before labour starts in pregnancy) |
| anti- | against | Antidotes (a therapeutic substance used to counteract the toxic action(s) of a specific substance) |
| apo- | off, away from | apophysis (growth or protuberance) |
| auto- | self | autograft (a transplant made using parts of the person’s own body) |
B – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefix | Meaning | Example (Definition) |
| bi- | two, both | bilateral (occurring on both sides of the body) |
C – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| cata- | downwards | Catabolism (the process of breaking down complex chemicals into simple chemicals) |
| con- | with, together | congenital (disease or physical abnormality present from birth) |
D – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| de- | without | depigmentation (without pigment) |
| diplo- | double | diplopia (double vision) |
| dys- | painful, difficult, abnormal | Dyspnoea (difficulty in breathing) |
E – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| ec-, ecto | out, outside | ectoderm (the outer layer of an early embryo) |
| endo- | within, inside | endoscopy (an examination of the inside of the body using an endoscope) |
| epi- | above | epigastric (above the stomach) |
| eu- | normal | euthyroid (normal thyroid function) |
| ex- | outwards | exostosis (condition of outward, or projecting, bone) |
| extra- | outside of | extrapleural (outside the pleural cavity) |
H – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| hemi- | half | hemiplegia (paralysis that is limited to one side of the body) |
| hetero- | different | heterograft (A transplant from one animal to another of a different species) |
| homo- | same | homoplasty (surgery to replace lost tissues by grafting similar tissues from another person) |
| hyper- | excessive, too much, above | hyperplasia (an abnormal increase in the number of cells in a tissue.) |
| hypo- | deficient, below | hypotension (low blood pressure), hypodermic (below the skin) |
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I – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| in- | inward, not | inhalation (to breathe in), infertility (not fertile) |
| Infra- | beneath | infra-axillary (below the axilla) |
| inter- | between | intervertebral (between the vertebrae) |
| intra- | within | intramuscular (into the muscle) |
J – Prefix used in medical terms
| Prefix | Meaning | Example (Definition) |
| juxta- | near | juxta-articular (near a joint) |
M – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| macro- | large | macroglossia (an abnormally large tongue) |
| mal- | bad, abnormal | malformation (abnormally formed) |
| mega- | great, large | megacolon (enlarged colon) |
| meta- | change, beyond | metaplasia (a change of one tissue to another), metastasis (the spreading of a malignant disease to distant parts of the body through the bloodstream or the lymph system) |
| micro- | small | microtia (having small ears) |
| mono- | one | monochromatic (having only one colour) |
| morph(o)- | shape | morphology (study of the form and structure of
organisms) |
| multi- | many | Multigravida (a pregnant woman who has had more than one pregnancy) |
N– Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| neo- | new | neonatal (pertaining to the first month of life.) |
| nulli- | none | nullipara (a woman who has never borne a child) |
O – Prefix used in medical terms
| Prefix | Meaning | Example (Definition) |
| olig(o)- | scanty, little | oliguria (an abnormally low excretion of urine) |
P – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| pan- | all | panacea (a medicine which is supposed to cure everything) |
| Par(a)- | beside, abnormal | paranasal (beside the nose), paraesthesia (abnormal or an unexplained tingling sensation) |
| per- | through | percutaneous (through the skin) |
| peri- | surrounding | periosteum (membrane surrounding a bone) |
| pico- | one-trillionth | picornavirus (extremely small RNA virus) |
| poly- | many, much | polyuria (production of excessive amounts of urine) |
| post- | after | postpartum (after childbirth) |
| pre- | before | precancer (a growth or cell which is not malignant but which may become cancerous) |
| pseudo- | false | pseudocyesis (spurious or false pregnancy) |
Q – Prefix used in medical terms
| Prefix | Meaning | Example (Definition) |
| quadri- | four | quadriplegia (paralysis of the four limbs of the body) |
R – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| re- | again | reinfection (infection of an area for another time after recovery, especially with the same microorganism) |
| retr(o)- | backward, behind | retrograde (going backwards or deteriorating), retroperitoneal (at the back of the peritoneum) |
S – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| semi- | Partial, half | semicomatose (almost unconscious or half asleep, but capable of being woken up) |
| sub- | under, less than | subcutaneous (under the skin) |
| super- | above | supercilia (the eyebrow) |
| supra- | above, upon | suprarenal (above the kidneys |
| syn- | with, together | syndrome (a group of symptoms occurring together regularly, and thus constituting a disease to which some particular name is given) |
T – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| tetra- | four | tetraplegia (paralysis of the body’s four limbs, also called quadriplegia.) |
| trans- | through, across | transdermal (entering through the skin), transurethral (across the urethra) |
U – Prefixes used in medical terms
| Prefixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| un- | not | unconscious (not conscious) |
| uni- | one | unilateral (affecting one side of the body only) |
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Medical Root Words
The root of a word is the foundation of a medical term and provides the general meaning of the word. It can be a whole word or part of a word. Medical root words come from many different languages (e.g., Greek, Latin, Arabic, French, and German) and find their way into English. Some commonly used medical root words in their combining form, their meaning, and examples are listed below.
A – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| abdomin(o)- | abdomen | abdominoscopy (an internal examination of the abdomen, usually with an endoscope) |
| acou- | hearing | acoustics (the science of sounds) |
| acr(o)- | extremity, peak | acrocyanosis (a blue coloration of the extremities, i.e. the fingers, toes, ears and nose, which is due to poor circulation) |
| aden(o)- | gland | adenocarcinoma (a malignant tumour of a gland) |
| adipo- | fat | adiposis (a state where too much fat is accumulated in the body) |
| andr(o)- | male | androsterone (one of the male sex hormones) |
| angi(o)- | blood vessel | angiosarcoma (a malignant tumour in a blood vessel) |
| ankyl | crooked, fusion | ankylosis (a condition in which the bones of a joint fuse together) |
| arteri(o)- | arteries | arteriopathy (a disease of an artery) |
| arthr(o)- | joint | arthroplasty (a surgical operation to repair or replace a joint) |
B – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| bili | bile | biliuria (the presence of bile in the urine) |
| bi(o)- | life | biocide (a substance which kills living organisms) |
| blast- or -blast | embryonic state | blastocyst (an early stage in the development of an embryo) |
| blephar(o)- | eyelid | blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid) |
| brachi(o)- | arm | brachialis muscle (a muscle that causes the elbow to bend) |
| brady- | slow | bradypnoea (unusually slow breathing) |
C – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| calc(i) | heel | calcaneus (the heel bone situated underneath the talus) |
| carcin(o)- | cancer | carcinogen (a substance which produces a carcinoma or cancer) |
| cardi(o)- | heart | cardiopathy (any kind of heart disease) |
| caud- | tail | caudal (toward the tail) |
| cephal(o)- | head | cephalalgia (pain in the head) |
| cerebr(o)- | cerebrum | cerebrospinal (referring to the brain and the spinal cord) |
| chem(o)- | chemical | chemotherapy (treatment with chemicals) |
| chol(e)- | bile | cholecystitis (acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, causing severe abdominal pain) |
| chondr(o)- | cartilage | chondritis (inflammation of a cartilage) |
| col(i)(o)- | colon | colitis (inflammation of the colon) |
| cost(o)- | rib | costalgia (pain around the chest due to damage to a rib or to one of the intercostal nerves beneath the ribs) |
| cut- | skin | cutaneous (relating to the skin) |
| cyan(o)- | blue | cyanosis (a bluish coloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to too much deoxygenated haemoglobin in the blood) |
| cyst(i)(o)- | bladder | cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder, which makes someone pass water often and with a burning sensation) |
| cyt(o)- | cell | cytodiagnosis (diagnosis after examination of cells) |
D – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| derm- or -derm | skin | dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) |
| dors(i)(o)- | back | dorsum (the back of any part of the body) |
E – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| encephal(o)- | brain | encephaloma (a tumour of the brain) |
| enter(o)- | intestine | enterocolitis (inflammation of the colon and small intestine) |
| erythr(o)- | red | erythrocytes (a mature red blood cell) |
F – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| fasci- | bundle | fasciae (bundles of muscle fibers) |
| febri- | fever | febrile (feverish or related to fever, as in febrile convulsions) |
| fil- | threadlike | filariasis (a tropical disease caused by parasitic threadworms in the lymph system, transmitted by mosquito bites) |
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G – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| galact(o)- | milk | galactorrhoea (the excessive production of milk) |
| gastro- | stomach | gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) |
| ger(o)- or geront(o)- | aging | gerontology (study of aging) |
| gloss(o)(a)- | tongue | glossitis (inflammation of the surface of the tongue) |
H – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| haeme(a)(o)- or haemato- | blood | haematology (the scientific study of blood, its formation and its diseases) |
| hepat(o)- | liver | hepatitis (inflammation of the liver through disease or drugs) |
| hist(i)(o)- | tissue | histogenesis (the formation and development of tissue from the embryological germ layer) |
| hydro- | water | hydrorrhoea (a discharge of watery fluid) |
| hyster(o)- | uterus | hysterotomy (a surgical incision into the uterus, as in caesarean section or for some types of abortion) |
I – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| ile(o)- | ileum | ileostomy (a surgical operation to make an opening between the ileum and the abdominal wall to act as an artificial opening for excretion of faeces) |
| ischi(o)- | hip | ischiopubic (pertaining to the ischium and pubes) |
J – Medical Root Words
| Root | Meaning | Example (Definition) |
| jejun(o)- | jejunum | jejunectomy (a surgical operation to cut into the jejunum) |
K– Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| kerat(o)- | horny tissue, cornea | keratoma (a hard-thickened growth due to hypertrophy of the horny zone of the skin) |
| kine(t)(o)- | movement | kinesiology (the study of human movements, particularly with regard to their use in treatment) |
L – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| labio- | lips, labia | labioplasty (a surgical operation to repair damaged or deformed lips) |
| lact(o)- | milk | lactose (a type of sugar found in milk) |
| laryng(o)- | larynx | laryngology (the study of diseases of the larynx, throat and vocal cords) |
| leuk(o)- | white | leukocytes (a white blood cell which contains a nucleus but has no haemoglobin) |
| lip(o)- | fat | lipoma (a benign tumour formed of fatty tissue) |
| lith(o)- | stone | litholapaxy (the evacuation of pieces of a stone in the bladder after crushing it with a lithotrite) |
M – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| mamm(o)- | breast | mammoplasty (plastic surgery to alter the shape or size of the breasts) |
| mast(o)- | breast | mastectomy (the surgical removal of a breast) |
| melan(o)- | black | melanoma (a tumour formed of dark pigmented cells) |
| meno- | menses | menorrhagia (very heavy bleeding during menstruation) |
| my(o)- | muscle | myocele (a condition in which a muscle pushes through a gap in the surrounding membrane) |
| myc(o)- | fungus | mycosis (any disease caused by a fungus, e.g. athlete’s foot) |
| myel(o)- | bone marrow, spinal cord | myelocyte (a cell in bone marrow which develops into a granulocyte) |
| myx | mucus | myxoma (a benign tumour of mucous tissue, usually found in subcutaneous tissue of the limbs and neck) |
N– Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| nas(o)- | nose | nasosinusitis (a condition in which the nose and sinuses swell up) |
| nephr(o)- | kidney | nephrolithiasis (a condition in which stones form in the kidney) |
| neur(o)- | nerve or nervous system | neurohormone (a hormone produced in some nerve cells and secreted from the nerve endings) |
O – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| ocul(o)- | eye | oculoplethysmography (measurement of the pressure inside the eyeball) |
| onc(o)- | tumor (cancerous) | oncogene (a part of the genetic system which causes malignant tumours to develop) |
| ophthalm(o)- | eye | ophthalmoplegia (paralysis of the muscles of the eye) |
| orchi(o)- | testes | orchitis (inflammation of the testes, characterised by hypertrophy, pain and a sensation of weight) |
| oro | mouth | oropharynx (a part of the pharynx below the soft palate at the back of the mouth) |
| oste(o)- | bone | osteitis (inflammation of a bone due to injury or infection) |
| ot(o)- | ear | otorrhoea (the discharge of pus from the ear) |
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P – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| paed- or ped(o)- | child | paediatrics (the study of children, their development and diseases.) |
| path(o)- | disease | pathogen (microorganism which causes a disease) |
| pharmaco | drugs | pharmacokinetics (the study of how the body reacts to drugs over a period of time) |
| pharyng(o)- | pharynx | pharyngitis (sore throat) |
| phleb(o)- | vein | phlebolith (a stone which forms in a vein as a result of an old thrombus becoming calcified) |
| phot(o)- | light | photopsia (a condition of the eye in which someone sees flashes of light) |
| plasm(o)- | liquid part of blood | plasminogen (a substance in blood plasma which becomes activated and forms plasmin) |
| pleur(o)- | pleura, rib, side | pleurisy (inflammation of the pleura) |
| pneum(o)- | lung | pneumonia (inflammation of a lung, where the tiny alveoli of the lung become filled with fluid) |
| pod(o)- | foot | podiatry (the study of minor diseases and disorders of the feet) |
| proct(o)- | anus or rectum | proctoclysis (the introduction of a lot of fluid into the rectum slowly) |
| psych(o)- | mind | psychiatry (study and treatment of mental disorders) |
| pyel(o)- | kidney | pyelotomy (a surgical operation to make an opening in the pelvis of the kidney) |
| pyr(o)- | burning or fever | pyrogen (a substance which causes fever) |
R – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| ren(o)- | kidney | renography (an examination of a kidney after injection of a radioactive substance, using a gamma camera) |
| rhin(o)- | nose | rhinoplasty (plastic surgery to correct the appearance of the nose) |
S – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| sarc(o)- | flesh | sarcoma (a highly malignant tumour made of connective tissue cells) |
| scler(o)- | hard | scleroma (a patch of hard skin or hard mucous membrane) |
| soma- or somat(o)- | body | somatization (psychiatric condition expressed through physical symptoms) |
| sten(o)- | narrow | stenosis (a condition in which a passage becomes narrow) |
T – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| tachy | Rapid, fast | tachyarrhythmia (a fast irregular heartbeat) |
| therm(o)- | heat | thermoanaesthesia (a condition in which someone cannot tell the difference between hot and cold) |
| thorac(o)- | chest | thoracotomy (a surgical operation to remove one or more ribs) |
| thromb(o)- | clot | thromboangiitis (a condition in which the blood vessels swell and develop blood clots along their walls) |
| trache(o)- | trachea | tracheobronchitis (inflammation of both the trachea and the bronchi) |
U – Medical Root Words
| Root | Meaning | Example (Definition) |
| ur(o)- | urinary, urine | urochesia (the passing of urine through the rectum, due to injury of the urinary system) |
V – Medical Root Words
| Roots | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| vas(o)- | Vessel, vas deferens | vasopressor (a substance which increases blood pressure by narrowing the blood vessels), vasoligation (a surgical operation to tie the vasa deferentia to prevent infection entering the epididymis from the urinary system) |
| ven(i)(o)- | vein | venoclysis (the procedure of slowly introducing a saline or other solution into a vein) |
| vesic(o)- | bladder | vesicospinal (pertaining to the urinary bladder and spine) |
Suffixes in medical terminology
Suffixes are attached at the end of words to change or add to the original meaning. In medical terminology, suffixes usually signify a medical condition, surgical procedure, diagnostic term, test information, disease, or part of speech. Some suffixes also signify medical practice or practitioners.
The following is an alphabetical list of common suffixes used in medical terminologies, along with their meaning, and examples (definitions).
A – Suffix used in medical terms
| Suffix | Meaning | Example (Definition) |
| -algia | pain | neuralgia (a spasm of pain which runs along a nerve) |
C – Suffix used in medical terms
| Suffix | Meaning | Example (Definition) |
| -cyte | cell | leucocyte (white blood cell) |
E – Suffixes used in medical terms
| Suffixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| -ectasis | dilation | bronchiectasis (dilated bronchi) |
| -ectomy | surgical removal | splenectomy (a surgical operation to remove the spleen) |
| -oedema (also a standalone word) | excessive fluid | angioedema (fluid buildup that causes swelling under the skin) |
| -emesis | vomiting | hematemesis (vomiting of blood) |
I – Suffixes used in medical terms
| Suffixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| -itis | inflammation | colitis (inflammation of the colon) |
| -ism | state of | hypothyroidism (state of low thyroid) |
L – Suffixes used in medical terms
| Suffixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| -logist | one who studies | cardiologist (a doctor who specialises in the study of the heart) |
| -lys(i)(o) | breakdown | cytolysis (the breaking down of cells) |
O – Suffixes used in medical terms
| Suffixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| -oma | tumour | glioma (any tumour of the glial tissue in the brain or spinal cord) |
| -osis | condition | fibrosis (the process of replacing damaged tissue by scar tissue) |
P – Suffixes used in medical terms
| Suffixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| -pathy | disease | myopathy (muscle disease) |
| -plasia | growth | hypoplasia (a lack of development or incorrect formation of a body tissue or an organ) |
| -plasty | surgical repair | angioplasty (plastic surgery to repair a blood vessel, e.g. a narrowed coronary artery) |
| -plegia | paralysis | hemiplegia (severe paralysis affecting one side of the body due to damage of the central nervous system) |
| -pnoea | breathing | orthopnoea (a condition in which a person has great difficulty in breathing while lying down) |
| -poiesis | production | erythropoiesis (the formation of red blood cells in red bone marrow) |
| -praxia | movement | apraxia (a condition in which someone is unable to make proper movements) |
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R – Suffix used in medical terms
| Suffix | Meaning | Example (Definition) |
| -rrhoea | fluid discharge | diarrhoea (a condition in which someone frequently passes liquid faeces) |
S – Suffixes used in medical terms
| Suffixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| -scope | observe | endoscope (tool for observing the interior of body organs) |
| -stomy | opening | duodenostomy (a permanent opening made between the duodenum and the abdominal wall) |
T – Suffixes used in medical terms
| Suffixes | Meanings | Examples (Definitions) |
| -taxis | movement | ataxia (a failure of the brain to control movements) |
| -tomy | incision | canaliculotomy (a surgical operation to open up a little canal) |
| -tripsy | crushing | lithotripsy (the process of breaking up kidney or gall bladder stones into small fragments that the body can eliminate them unaided) |
| -trophy | growth | hypertrophy (an increase in the number or size of cells in a tissue) |
References
1. Aguwa, C. (2012). Therapeutic Basis of Clinical Pharmacy In the Tropics, (4th ed.). Nigeria: Snaap Press Ltd.
2. Fremgen, B. and Frucht, S. (2016). Medical Terminology: A Living Language, (6th ed.). USA: Pearson Education, Inc.
3. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data (2009). Medical Terminology Made Incredibly Easy!, (3rd ed.). USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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