Remember that you can take any root word or combining form and create several different medical terms.
| Root Word | What It Means | Example(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Abdomin/o | Abdomen | Abdominoplasty: Surgical repair or reconstruction of the abdomen |
| Angi/o | Vessel | Angioplasty: Surgical repair or reconstruction of a vessel |
| Arteri/o | Artery | Arterioplasty: Surgical repair or reconstruction of an artery |
| Arthr/o | Joint | Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint Arthroplasty: Surgical repair or reconstruction of a joint |
| Audi/o | Hearing | Audiometry: Measurement of hearing using an audiometer |
| Bio | Life | Biology: The study of life and living organisms |
| Bronch/i, bronch/o | Bronchus/lung | Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchi Bronchoscopy: Visual examination of the bronchi |
| Cardi/o | Heart | Cardiomegaly: Enlargement of the heart Cardiac: Pertaining to the heart Carditis: Inflammation of the heart |
| Cholecyst/o | Gallbladder | Cholecystectomy: Removal of the gallbladder Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder |
| Chondr/i, chondr/o | Cartilage | Chondromalacia: Softening of cartilage |
| Col/o | Colon | Colonoscopy: Visual examination of the colon Colonoscope: Instrument used in colonoscopy |
| Cry/o | Cold | Cryobiology: Branch of biology dealing with effects of low temperatures |
| Cysti, cyst/o | Bladder, or cyst | Cystectomy: Surgical removal of a simple cyst or of the urinary bladder Cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder Cystogram: Radiograph of the bladder Cystopexy: Surgical fixation of the bladder to abdominal wall |
| Cyt/o | Cell | Cytology: Study of cells |
| Duoden/o | Duodenum | Duodenotomy: Surgical cutting into the duodenum Duodenectomy: Surgical removal of the duodenum Duodenitis: Inflammation of the duodenum |
| Encephal/o | Brain | Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain |
| Episi/o | Vulva | Episiotomy: Surgical cutting of the vulva |
| Erythr/o | Red | Erythrocytes: Red blood cells Erythema: Reddening of the skin |
| Esophag/o | Esophagus | Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD): Visual examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum by scope |
| Galact/o | Milk | Galactorrhea: Spontaneous flow of milk when nursing |
| Gastr/o | Stomach | Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach Gastrectomy: Surgical removal of the stomach Gastrodynia: Stomach ache |
| Glyc/o | Sugar | Glycosuria: Sugar in the urine |
| Gynec/o | Female | Gynecologist: Physician who studies and treats diseases of female reproductive organs |
| Hemat/o, hem/o | Blood | Hematocyte: Blood cell |
| Hepat/o, hepatic/o | Liver | Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver |
| Heter/o | Other, different | Heterosexual: Sexually attracted to the opposite sex |
| Hist/o, histi/o | Tissue | Histology: Study and function of tissue |
| Hom/o, home/o | Same, alike | Homosexual: Sexually attracted to the same sex |
| Hydr/o | Water, wet | Hydromassage: Massage by means of moving water |
| Hyster/o | Uterus | Hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus |
| Ile/o | Ileum (intestine) | Ileostomy: Artificial opening into the ileum Ileitis: Inflammation of the ileum |
| Ili/o | Ilium (pelvic bone) | Ilioinguinal: Pertaining to the ilium and inguinal regions |
| Jejun/o | Jejunum | Jejunitis: Inflammation of the jejunum Jejunostomy: Artificial opening into the jejunum |
| Lacrima | Tears | Lacrimatory: Causing a flow of tears |
| Laryng/o | Larynx | Laryngitis: Inflammation of the larynx Laryngectomy: Surgical removal of the larynx |
| Leuk/o | White | Leukocyte: White blood cell |
| Lith/o | Stone or calculus | Lithotripsy: Crushing of a stone or calculus |
| Men/o | Menstruation | Menorrhea: Menstrual flow Menorrhagia: Excessive or heavy menstrual flow |
| Myel/o | Bone marrow/spinal cord | Myelogram: Recording of the spinal cord |
| My/o | Muscle | Myositis: Inflammation of a muscle Myalgia: Pain in a muscle or painful muscle |
| Nat/o | Birth | Prenatal: Before birth Postnatal: After birth |
| Necr/o | Death | Necrosis: Death of a cell Necrophobia: Morbid fear of death or dead bodies |
| Nephr/o | Kidney | Nephrectomy: Surgical removal of a kidney |
| Neur/o, neur/i | Nerve | Neurologist: Physician who studies and treats conditions of the nervous system |
| Oophor/o | Ovary | Oophorectomy: Surgical removal of an ovary Oophoritis: Inflammation of an ovary |
| Orchid/o, orchi/o | Testis | Orchialgia: A pain in the testicle Orchiectomy: Surgical removal of a testicle |
| Peritone/o | Peritoneum | Peritoneal: Pertaining to the peritoneum Peritonitis: Inflammation of the peritoneum |
| Pharyng/o | Pharynx | Pharyngitis: Inflammation of the pharynx (sore throat) |
| Pleur/o, pleur/a | Pleura, rib (side) | Pleurisy: Inflammation of the lining of the chest cavity Pleurolysis: Surgical separation of pleural adhesions |
| Pneum/a/o/ato/ono | Lungs | Pneumonitis: Inflammation of the lung |
| Proct/o | Rectum, anus | Proctologist: Physician who studies and treats diseases of rectum and anus |
| Pulmon/o | Lungs | Pulmonary: Pertaining to the lungs |
| Pyel/o | Renal pelvis | Pyelography: Radiograph (x-ray) of the pelvis of the kidneyPyelolithotomy: Removal of a stone from the kidney pelvis |
| Rect/o | Rectum | Rectosigmoid: Pertaining to the rectum and sigmoid |
| Salping/o | Fallopian tube | Salpingectomy: Surgical removal of a fallopian tube |
| Sarc/o | Flesh | Sarcoid: Resembling flesh |
| Splen/o | Spleen | Splenomegaly: Enlargement of the spleen Splenectomy: Surgical removal of the spleen |
| Tend/o, ten/o, tendin/o | Tendon | Tendinitis (or tendonitis): Inflammation of a tendon |
| Testicul/o | Testis | Testicular: Pertaining to a testis or testicle Testitis: Inflammation of a testis |
| Thorac/o | Chest | Thoracotomy: Incision into the chest cavity Thoracentesis: Surgical puncture into chest cavity |
| Tonsill/o | Tonsils | Tonsillectomy: Surgical removal of tonsils Tonsillitis: Inflammation of the tonsils |
| Ureter/o | Ureter | Ureterolithotomy: Removal of a calculus (stone) from a ureter by means of incision Ureteropelvic: Pertaining to the ureter and pelvis of the kidney |
| Urethr/o | Urethra | Urethritis: Inflammation of the urethra Urethropexy: Surgical fixation of the urethra |
| Vas/o | Vas deferens | Vasectomy: Surgical removal of portion of vas deferens for male sterilization |
| Viscer/o | Viscera (organs) | Viscerography: Radiography of the viscera |