Root Meaning Example
Acou, Acu hearing Acoustics
Acro, Acro extremity Acromium
Aden, Adeno gland Adenoma – tumor with a gland like structure
Adip fat Adipose tissue
Alg, Algia pain Neuralgia -pain along a nerve
Angi(o) vessel Angiocardiography – x-ray of the blood vessels and heart
Ater (i) Arteries Ateriosclerosis – hardening of the arteries
Artgrm Arthro Joint arthropathy – disease of joint
Aut, Auto Self Autolysis- destruction of cells of the body
Bio life, living Biopsy – examination of tissue removed from a living body
Blast germ, bud Blastocyte – an embryonic or undiferrentiated cell
Brachi arm Biceps Bracii – the biceps located on the arm
Blephar eyelid Biepharitis – inflammation of the eyelids
Bronch trachea, windpipe Bronchoscopy – direct visual examination of the bronchii
bucc cheek Buccocrvical – pertaining to the cheek and neck
Capit head
carcin cancer carcinogenic – causing cancer
caud, caudal tail away from the head, inferior
cephal head hydrocephalus – enlargement of the head
cerbro brain cerebrospinal fluid – fluid in the cranium and spinal canal
cheil lip Cheilosis – dry scaling of the lip
Chir hand Chiropractic – system of healthcare based on manual manipulation of the spine
Chole bile, gall Cholecystogram – x-ray of the gall bladder
Chrondr, chondri, chondrio cartilage chondrocyte – cartilage cell
Chrom, chromat, chromato color hyperchromic – highly colored
colo colon
corp, corpor the body
cortic outer layer
cost rib costal cartilage
crani skull craniotomy – surgical opening of the skull
cry, cryo cold cryotherapy – using cold for therapy
cut skin subcutaneous – under the skin
cysti, cysto sac/bladder cystoscope – instrument to look at the interior of the bladder
cyt, cyto, cyte cell cytology – the study of cells
dactyl, dactylo digits of fingers polydactylia – above normal number of fingers or toes
dent teeth dentist
derma, dermato skin dermatosis – skin disease
digit finger/toe
entero intestine enteritis – inflammation of the intestine
erythr red erythrocyte – red blood cell
fasci a band
febr fever
fil thread
gangli swelling, plexus
gastr stomach gastrointestinal – pertaining to the stomach and intestines
gloss, glosso tongue hypoglossal – located under the tongue
gyn (ec) female
hem, hemat blood hematoma – blood beneath the skin
hepat, hepato liver hepatitis – inflammation of the liver
hist, histio tissue histology – study of tissues
homeo, homo unchanging/steady – homeostasis – achievement of a steady state
hydro water hydrotherapy – water therapy
hyster uterus hysterectomy – surgical removal of the uterus
ileo, ileum part of the intestine ileocecal valve – folds at the opening between ileum and cecum
ilio, ilium flaring part of hip bone iliosacral – pertaining to the ilium and sacrum
labi lip
lachry, lacri tears nasolacrimal – pertainint to the nose and lachrymal apparatus
laryngo windpipe
leuco, leuko white leukocyte – white blood cell
lingu tongue
lip,lipo fat lipoma – fatty tumor
Mamm breast mammography
Mast breast mastitis
melan black
men month
meningo membrane meningitis – inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord and brain
metro uterus endometrium – lining of the utereus
morpho form/shape morphology – study of form and structure of things
myhelo marrow, spinal cord poliomyeitis – inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord
myo muscle myocardium – heart muscle
narc numbness/stupor narcotic
cecr, cecro pertaining to death necrotic tissue
nephro kidney nephrosis – degeneration of kidney tissue
neuro nerve neuroblastoma – malignant tumor of the nervous system
nutri nutrition
oculo eye binocular – pertaining to the two eyes
odont tooth orthodontic – proper positioning of the teeth
oo egg oocyte
ophthalm eye ophthalmology – science of the eye and it’s diseases
or mouth orifice
orb circle
oss,osseo, osteo bone ostema – bone tumor
oto ear otosclerosis – formation of bone in the labyrinth of the ear
patho disease Pathology – study of disease
pec, pek solidify pectose
pept, pepto digestion
phag, phago to eat phagocytosis – a cell that eats migroorganisme, other cells
pharyng throat
philic,philo to like/have affinity for hemophilic – have an affinity to bleeding
phob, phobia fear massageshoolphobia – fear of massage school
phot light
phren mind/diaphragm
pleur(o) the lining of the chest cavity Pleuritis – inflammation
pneumo lung pneumothorax – air in the thoracic cavity
pod foot podiatry – study of foot disorders
procto anus/rectum proctoscopy
pseud, pseudo false pseudoangina – false angina
psycho soul/mind psychology, psychiatry
pulmo lung
pyel pelvis
pyo pus pyuria – pus in urine
pyloro opening between stomach and duodenum
reno, ren kidney
rhin, rhino nose
sarc flesh
scler, sclero hard scleroderma – hardening of the skin
sep, septic poison/toxic septicemia – presence of bacterial toxins in blood (blood poisoning)
ser watery substance
soma, somato body somatic – of the body
splen(o) spleen
spondylo relationship to the spine
statis, stat stand still homeostasis – achievement of a steady state
tars ankle tarsals
therm heat thermometer
thorac chest
tom, tomo section/layer
tox poison
ur(o), uret, ureth urine, urinary
viscer organ