Once you know the specific parts of the integumentary system, it’s time to put your medical terminology expertise into practice by tracking down the meaning of root words and checking out their useful applications. The roots are essential medical terminology knowledge, because once you master these roots (good ol’ Greek and Latin ones, that is), you can break down any hair/skin/nail/gland-related word and discover its meaning.
| Root Word | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Aden/o | Gland |
| Adip/o | Fat |
| Albin/o | White |
| Aut/o | Self |
| Bi/o | Life |
| Blephar/o | Eyelid |
| Carcin/o | Carcinoma (cancer) |
| Cutane/o | Skin |
| Cry/o | Cold |
| Cyan/o | Blue |
| Derm/o, Derm/a, Dermat/o | Skin |
| Diaphor/o | Profuse sweating |
| Erythem/o | Red |
| Hidr/o | Sweat |
| Histi/o | Tissue |
| Kerat/o | Hard, horny |
| Leuk/o | White |
| Lip/o, Lipid/o | Fat |
| Melan/o | Black |
| Myc/o | Fungus |
| Necr/o | Death (cell or body) |
| Onych/o | Nail |
| Papill/o | Nipplelike |
| Pil/o | Hair |
| Py/o | Pus |
| Rhytid/o | Wrinkle |
| Sclera/o | Hardening |
| Seb/o | Sebum (fat) |
| Squam/o | Scale |
| Steat/o | Fat, sebum |
| Trich/o | Hair |
| Xer/o | Dry |
| Xanth/o | Yellow |
Herpes comes from the Greek word herpo, meaning “to creep along.” It is descriptive of the course and type of skin lesion as with herpes zoster (shingles).
Here is a list of prefixes and suffixes pertaining to your hair, nails, skin, and glands.
| Prefix | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Epi- | On, over, upon |
| Para- | Beside, beyond, around |
| Per | Through |
| Sub- | Under, below |
| Suffix | What It Means |
| -itis | Inflammation |
| -malacia | Softening |
| -opsy | View of, viewing |
| -orrhea | Flow, excessive discharge |
| -phagia | Eating or swallowing |
| -plasty | Surgical repair |