List_of_medical_roots,_suffixes_and_prefixes

List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes

List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes

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This is a list of roots, suffixes, and prefixes used in medical terminology, their meanings, and their etymologies. Most of them are combining forms in Neo-Latin and hence international scientific vocabulary. There are a few general rules about how they combine. First, prefixes and suffixes, most of which are derived from ancient Greek or classical Latin, have a droppable vowel, usually -o-. As a general rule, this vowel almost always acts as a joint-stem to connect two consonantal roots (e.g. arthr- + -o- + -logy = arthrology), but generally, the -o- is dropped when connecting to a vowel-stem (e.g. arthr- + -itis = arthritis, instead of arthr-o-itis). Second, medical roots generally go together according to language, i.e., Greek prefixes occur with Greek suffixes and Latin prefixes with Latin suffixes. Although international scientific vocabulary is not stringent about segregating combining forms of different languages, it is advisable when coining new words not to mix different lingual roots.

Prefixes and suffixes

The following is an alphabetical list of medical prefixes and suffixes, along with their meanings, origins, and English examples.

A

More information Affix, Meaning ...

B

More information Affix, Meaning ...

C

More information Affix, Meaning ...

D

More information Affix, Meaning ...

E

More information Affix, Meaning ...

F

More information Affix, Meaning ...

G

More information Affix, Meaning ...

H

More information Affix, Meaning ...

I

More information Affix, Meaning ...

J–K

More information Affix, Meaning ...

L

More information Affix, Meaning ...

M

More information Affix, Meaning ...

N

More information Affix, Meaning ...

O

More information Affix, Meaning ...

P

More information Affix, Meaning ...

Q–R

More information Affix, Meaning ...

S

More information Affix, Meaning ...

T

More information Affix, Meaning ...

U

More information Affix, Meaning ...

V

More information Affix, Meaning ...

X–Z

More information Affix, Meaning ...

English meanings

This section contains lists of different root classification (e.g. body components, quantity, description, etc.). Each list is alphabetized by English meanings, with the corresponding Greek and Latin roots given.

Roots of the body

Roots of bodily concepts

More information Bodily concept, Greek root in English ...

Body parts and substances

More information Body part or component, Greek root in English ...

Roots of color

More information Color, Greek root in English ...

Roots of description

More information Description, Greek root in English ...

Roots of position

More information Description, Greek root in English ...

Prefixes of quantity or amount

More information Description, Greek root in English ...

See also


References

  1. "Latin Word Study Tool". Tufts.edu. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  2. "opistho-". dictionary.com
  3. The Language of Medicine, 11th edition, Davi-Ellen Chabner
  4. Stedman's Online
  5. The Language of Medicine 11th Edition, Davi-Ellen Chabner
  6. Stanfield, Peggy S.; Hui, Y. H.; Cross, Nanna (30 September 2013). Essential Medical Terminology. Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN 978-1284038781.

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