Common
Medical Root Words
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 |
| Root |
Meaning |
Example |
| Abdomin
|
abdomen |
abdominal |
| Acanth
|
thorny,
spiny |
acanthaceous |
| Acetabul
|
acetabulum
(hip socket) |
acetabulum |
| Acou
|
hearing |
acoustic |
| Acr |
extremities;
height |
acral |
| Actin |
ray;
radius |
actinic |
| Adenoid |
adenoids |
adenoiditis |
| Aden |
gland |
adenocarcinoma |
| Adrenal |
adrenal
gland |
adrenalectomy |
| Adren |
adrenal
gland |
adrenal |
| Aer |
air;
gas |
aerate |
| Albumin |
albumin |
albuminaturia |
| Algesi |
pain |
analgesia |
| Alveoli |
alveolus |
alveolitis |
| Ambly |
dull;
dim |
amblyopia |
| Amni |
amnion |
amniocele |
| Amnion |
amnion |
amnionic |
| Amyl |
starch |
amylose |
| Andr |
male |
androgen |
| Angi |
vessel |
angina |
| Anis |
unequal;
dissimilar |
anisothenic |
| Ankyl |
crooked;
bent; fused |
ankylosed |
| Antr |
antrum
(cavity, chamber) |
antrum |
| An |
anus |
anus |
| Aort |
aorta |
aortic |
| Aponeur |
aponeurosis |
aponeurotic |
| Appendic |
appendix |
appendicitis |
| Arche;
Archi |
first;
beginning |
archecentric |
| Arteri |
artery |
arteriography |
| Arteriol |
arteriole
(small artery) |
arteriolosclerosis |
| Arthr |
joint |
arthritis |
| Articul |
joint |
articulation |
| Atel |
imperfect;
incomplete |
atelectasis |
| Ather |
yellowish;
fatty plaque |
atherosclerosis |
| Atri |
atrium
(chamber) |
atrioventricular |
| Aur |
ear |
aural |
| Aut |
self |
autoantibody |
| Axill |
armpit |
axilla |
| Azot |
urea;
nitrogen |
azotemia |
| Bacteri |
bacteria |
bacterial |
| Balan |
glans
penis |
balanitis |
| Bi |
life |
biology |
| Bil |
bile |
biliary
(duct) |
| Blast |
developing
cell |
blastoctye |
| Blephar |
eyelid |
blepharoplasty |
| Brachi |
arm |
brachial
(artery) |
| Bronch |
bronchus |
bronchitis |
| Bronchiol |
bronchiole |
bronchiole |
| Bucc |
cheek |
buccal |
| Burs |
bursa
(cavity) |
bursitis |
| Calc |
calcium |
calcium |
| Cancer |
cancer |
cancer |
| Carcin |
cancer |
carcinoma |
| Cardi |
heart |
cardiac |
| Carp |
carpals
(wrist bones) |
carpal
tunnel |
| Caud |
tail;
toward the lower part of the body |
caudal |
| Cec |
cecum |
cecal |
| Celi |
abdomen
(abdominal cavity) |
celioenterotomy |
| Cephal |
head |
cephalad |
| Cerebell |
cerebellum |
cerebellar |
| Cerebr |
cerebrum,
brain |
cerebromedullary |
| Cerumin |
cerumen
(earwax) |
ceruminal |
| Cervic |
cervix |
cervical |
| Cheil |
lip |
cheilitis |
| Chir |
hand |
chirality |
| Cholangi |
bile
duct |
cholangitis |
| Chol |
gall;
bile |
cholecystectomy |
| Choledoch |
common
bile duct |
choledochitis |
| Chondr |
cartilage |
chondral |
| Chori |
chorion |
chorioretinal |
| Chrom |
color |
chromatogenous |
| Clavic |
clavicle
(collarbone) |
clavicle |
| Clavicul |
clavicle
(collarbone) |
clavicular |
| Col |
colon |
colonitis |
| Colp |
vagina |
colposcopy |
| Coni |
dust |
coniosis |
| Conjunctiv |
conjunctiva |
conjunctivitis |
| Core |
pupil |
corectasis |
| Corne |
cornea |
corneal |
| Coron |
heart |
coronary |
| Cortic |
cortex
(outer layer of body organ) |
cortical |
| Cor |
pupil |
corectasis |
| Cost |
rib |
costicervical |
| Crani |
cranium
(skull) |
cranial |
| Cry |
cold |
cryotherapy |
| Crypt |
hidden |
cryptic |
| Culd |
culdesac |
culdesac |
| Cutane |
skin |
subcutaneous |
| Cyan |
blue |
cyanotic |
| Cyes |
pregnancy |
cyesis |
| Cyst |
bladder;
sac |
cystic |
| Cyt |
cell |
cytology |
| Dacry |
tear,
tear duct |
dacryoadenitis |
| Dactyl |
fingers
or toes |
dactylolysis |
| Dent |
tooth |
dentition |
| Dermat |
skin |
dermatology |
| Derm |
skin |
dermis |
| Dextr |
right |
ambidextrous |
| Diaphor |
sweat |
diaphoresis |
| Diaphragmat |
diaphragm |
diaphragmatitis |
| Dipl(o) |
two;
double |
diploid |
| Dips |
thirst |
dipsosis |
| Disk |
intervertebral
disk |
diskectomy |
| Diverticul |
diverticulum |
diverticulitis |
| Dors |
back
(of the body) |
dorsal |
| Duoden |
duodenum |
duodenal |
| Dur |
hard;
dura mater |
dural |
| Dynam |
power
or strength |
dynamogenic |
| Ech |
sound |
echocardiogram |
| Ectop |
located
away from usual place |
ectopic
(pregnancy) |
| Electr |
electricity,
electrical activity |
electrocardiogram |
| Embry |
embryo;
to be full |
embryonic |
| Emmetr |
a
normal measues |
emmetropia |
| Encephal |
brain |
encephalitis |
| Endocrin |
endocrine |
endocrinosis |
| Enter |
intestines |
enteritis |
| Epididym |
epididymis |
epididymal |
| Epiglott |
epiglottis |
epiglottiditis |
| Episi |
vulva |
episiotomy |
| Epitheli |
epithelium |
epithelial |
| Erythr |
red |
erythematous |
| Esophag |
esophagus |
esophagocele |
| Esthesi |
sensation,
sensitivity, feeling |
anesthesia |
| Eti |
cause
(of disease) |
etiology |
| Faci |
face |
facioplasty |
| Femor |
femur
(upper leg bone) |
femoral |
| Fet |
fetus;
unborn child |
fetal |
| Fibr |
fibrous
tissue, fibers |
fibroma |
| Fibul |
fibula
(lower leg) |
fibular |
| Gangli |
ganglion |
ganglia |
| Ganglion |
ganglion |
ganglionated |
| Gastr |
stomach |
gastritis |
| Ger |
old
age; aged |
geriatric |
| Geront |
old
age; aged |
gerontology |
| Gingiv |
gum |
gingivitis |
| Glomerul |
glomerulus |
glomerulonephritis |
| Gloss |
tongue |
glossoncus |
| Gluc |
sweetness;
sugar |
glucose |
| Glyc |
sugar |
glycerin |
| Glycos |
sugar |
glycosamine |
| Gnath |
jaw |
gnathitis |
| Gnos |
knowledge |
gnosis |
| Gon |
seed |
gonad |
| Gravid |
pregnancy |
gravida |
| Gynec |
woman |
gynecology |
| Gyn |
woman |
gynopathic |
| Hem |
blood |
hemoglobin |
| Hemat |
blood |
hematocrit |
| Hepat |
liver |
hepatitis |
| Herni |
hernia |
herniated |
| Heter |
other |
heterosexual |
| Hidr |
sweat |
hidradenoid |
| Hist |
tissue |
histology |
| Hom |
same |
homogeneous |
| Home |
sameness;
unchanging |
homeostasis |
| Humer |
humerus
(upper arm bone) |
humerus |
| Hydr |
water |
hydrate,
dehydrate |
| Hymen |
hymen |
hymen |
| Hypn |
sleep |
hypnogenic |
| Hyster |
uterus |
hysterectomy |
| Iatr |
medicine;
physician |
iatrogenic |
| Ichthy |
fish |
icthyoid |
| Ile |
ileum |
ileotomy |
| Ili |
ilium |
iliosacral |
| Immune |
immune |
immunodeficiency |
| Irid |
iris |
iritis |
| Iri |
iris |
iritoectomy |
| Ischi |
ischium |
ischiorectal |
| Isch |
deficiency;
blockage |
ischemia |
| Is(o) |
equal;
same |
isocellular |
| Jejun |
jejunum |
jejunotomy |
| Kal |
potassium |
hypokalemia |
| Kary |
nucleus |
karyon |
| Kerat |
cornea |
keratotomy |
| Kerat |
horny
tissue; hard |
keratosis |
| Kin |
movement |
kinesis |
| Kinesi |
movement;
motion |
kinesiology |
| Kyph |
hump |
kyphosis |
| Labi |
lips |
labium |
| Labyrinth |
labyrinth |
labyrinthitis |
| Lacrim |
tear
duct, tear |
lacrimal |
| Lact |
milk |
lactation |
| Lamin |
lamina
(thin; flat plate or layer) |
laminar |
| Lapar |
abdomen |
laparoscopy |
| Laryng |
larynx |
laryngitis |
| Later |
side |
lateral |
| Lei |
smooth |
leiomyoma |
| Leuk |
white |
leukemia |
| Lingu |
tongue |
lingual |
| Lip |
fat |
lipid |
| Lith |
stone;
calculus |
lithotripsy |
| Lob |
lobe |
lobular |
| Lord |
bent
forward |
lordosis |
| Lymph |
lymph |
lymphoma |
| Macr |
abnormal
largeness |
macromolecular |
| Mamm |
breast |
mammary
|
| Mandibul |
mandible
(lower jawbone) |
mandibular |
| Mast |
breast |
mastitis |
| Mastoid |
mastoid |
mastoidotomy |
| Maxilla |
maxilla
(upper jawbone) |
maxillary |
| Meat |
meatus
(opening) |
meatus |
| Melan |
black |
melanoma |
| Mening |
meninges |
meningitis |
| Menisci |
meniscus
(crescent) |
meniscus |
| Men |
menstruation |
menstrual |
| Ment |
mind |
mental |
| Metr |
uterus |
metroptosis |
| Mon(o) |
one |
monoparesis |
| Morph(o) |
form;
shape |
morphology |
| Muc |
mucus |
mucosal |
| Myc |
fungus |
mycete |
| Myel |
bone
marrow; spinal cord |
myeloma |
| Myelon |
bone
marrow; spinal cord |
myelonic |
| Myos |
muscle |
myostroma |
| My |
muscle |
myasthenia |
| Narc |
stupor |
narcotic |
| Nas |
nose |
nasal |
| Nat |
birth |
prenatal |
| Necr |
death
(cells; body) |
necrosis |
| Nephr |
kidney |
nephritis |
| Neur |
nerve |
neuropathy |
| Noct |
night |
nocturnal |
| Nyct |
night |
nycterine |
| Nyctal |
night |
nyctalopia |
| Ocul |
eye |
ocular |
| Olig |
scanty;
few |
oliguria |
| Omphal |
umbilicu;
navel |
omphaloma |
| Onc |
tumor |
oncology |
| Onych |
nail |
onychogenic |
| Oo |
egg;
ovum |
oocyte |
| Oophor |
ovary |
oophorectomy |
| Ophthalm |
eye |
ophthalmology |
| Opt |
vision |
optical |
| Orchid |
testis;
testicle |
orchidoncus |
| Orchi |
testis;
testicle |
orchiectomy |
| Orch |
testis;
testicle |
orchilytic |
| Organ |
organ |
organic |
| Or |
mouth |
oral |
| Orth |
straight |
orthodontist |
| Oste |
bone |
osteoporosis |
| Ot |
ear |
otitis |
| Ov |
egg |
ovum |
| Ox |
oxygen |
oxidation |
| Pachy |
thick |
pachycephalic |
| Palat |
palate |
palatoplegia |
| Pancreat |
pancreas |
pancreatic |
| Papill |
nipple |
papillary |
| Parathyroid |
parathyroid
gland |
parathyroidoma |
| Par |
bear;
give birth to; labor |
para |
| Patell |
patella
(kneecap) |
patellectomy |
| Path |
disease |
pathology |
| Part |
bear;
give birth to; labor |
postpartum |
| Pector |
chest |
pectoralgia |
| Ped |
child;
foot |
pediatrics/pedal |
| Pelv |
pelvis;
pelvic bone |
pelvic |
| Perine |
perineum |
perineum |
| Peritone |
peritoneum |
peritoneal |
| Petr |
stone |
petrous |
| Phac |
lens
of the eye |
phacolysis |
| Phag |
eat;
swallow |
dysphagia |
| Phak |
lens
of the eye |
phakomatosis |
| Phalang(o) |
pharynx |
phalangeal |
| Phas |
speech |
aphasia |
| Phleb(o) |
vein |
phlebitis |
| Phot |
light |
photokinetic |
| Phren |
mind |
phrenology |
| Physi |
nature |
physiology |
| Plasm |
plasma |
plasmacyte |
| Pleur |
pleura |
pleuracentesis |
| Pneumat |
lung;
air |
pneumathemia |
| Pneum(o) |
lung;
air |
pneumogastric |
| Pneumon |
lung;
air |
pneumonia |
| Pod |
foot |
podiatry |
| Poli(o) |
gray
matter |
polioclastic |
| Poikil(o) |
varied;
irregular |
poikiloblast |
| Polyp |
polyp;
small growth |
polypathia |
| Poster |
back
(of body) |
posterior |
| Prim |
first |
primary |
| Proct |
rectum |
proctology |
| Prostat |
prostate
gland |
prostatitis |
| Pseud |
fake;
false |
pseudopolyp |
| Psych |
mind |
psychiatry |
| Pub |
pubis |
pubic |
| Puerper |
childbirth |
puerperal |
| Pulmon |
lung |
pulmonary |
| Pupil |
pupil |
pupil |
| Pyel |
renal
pelvis |
pyelogram |
| Pylor |
pylorus
(pyloric sphincter) |
pylorostomy |
| Py |
pus |
empyema |
| Pyr |
fever;
heat |
pyrogenic |
| Quadr |
four |
quadruplets |
| Rachi(o) |
vertebra;
spinal or vertebral column |
rachiocentesis |
| Radic |
nerve
root |
radiculopathy |
| Radicul |
nerve
root |
radicular |
| Radi |
radius
(lower arm bone) |
radius |
| Rect(o) |
rectum |
rectocele |
| Ren |
kidney |
renal |
| Retin |
retina |
retinosis |
| Rhabd |
rodshaped,
striated |
rhabditis |
| Rhin(o) |
nose |
rhinitis |
| Rhytid |
wrinkles |
rhytidoplasty |
| Rhiz(o) |
nerve
root |
rhizoneure |
| Salping(o) |
fallopian
(uterine) tube |
salpingitis |
| Sarc(o) |
flesh;
connective tissue |
sarcocele |
| Scapula |
scapula
(shoulder bone) |
scapular |
| Sclera |
sclera |
sclerectomy |
| Scoli |
crooked,
curved |
scoliosis |
| Seb |
sebum
(oil) |
sebaceous |
| Sept(o) |
septum
(dividing wall; partition) |
septum |
| Sial |
saliva |
salivary |
| Sigmoid |
sigmoid |
sigmoidoscopy |
| Sinus |
sinus |
sinusitis |
| Somat(o) |
body |
somatometry |
| Somn |
sleep |
insomnia |
| Son |
sound |
sonogram |
| Spermat |
spermatozoan;
sperm |
spermatorrhea |
| Sperm |
spermatozoan;
sperm |
spermiduct |
| Sphygm |
pulse |
sphygmomenometer |
| Spir |
breathe;
breathing |
transpiration |
| Spleen |
spleen |
spleen |
| Spondyl(o) |
vertebra;
spinal or vertebral column |
spondylosis |
| Staped |
stapes
(middle ear bone) |
stapedial |
| Staphyl(o) |
grapelike
clusters |
staphylococcus |
| Stern |
sternum
(breastbone) |
sternal |
| Steth |
chest |
stethoscope |
| Stomat(o) |
mouth |
stomatoplasty |
| Strept(o) |
twisted
chains |
streptococcus |
| Synovi |
synovia;
synovial membrane |
synovial |
| System |
system |
systemic |
| Tars |
tarsals
(ankle bones) |
metatarsal |
| Tars(o) |
edge
of eyelid; tarsal (instep of foot) |
tarsitis
|
| Tendin |
tendon |
tendinitis |
| Tend |
tendon |
tendotomy |
| Ten |
tendon |
tendon |
| Test |
testis;
testicle |
testicular |
| Therm(o) |
heat |
thermal |
| Thorac |
thorax
(chest) |
thoracic |
| Thromb(o) |
clot |
thrombus |
| Thym(o) |
thymus
gland |
thymolysis |
| Thyroid |
thyroid
gland |
thyroiditis |
| Thyr |
thyroid
gland |
thyroid |
| Tibi |
tibia
(lower leg bone) |
tibial |
| Tom(o) |
cut;
section |
tomography |
| Ton |
tension,
pressure |
tonicity |
| Tonsil |
tonsils |
tonsillitis |
| Top(o) |
place |
topographic |
| Toxic |
poison |
toxic |
| Trachel(o) |
neck;
necklike |
trachelitis |
| Trache(o) |
trachea |
tracheobronchial |
| Trich |
hair |
trichoid |
| Tympan |
eardrum;
middle ear |
tympanic
membrane |
| Uln |
ulna
(lower arm bone) |
ulnar |
| Ungu |
nail |
ungual |
| Ureter(o) |
ureter |
ureteroplasy |
| Urethr |
urethra |
urethrectomy |
| Urin |
urine;
urinary tract |
urinalysis |
| Ur |
urine;
urinary tract |
urinary |
| Uter |
uterus |
intrauterine |
| Uvul |
uvula |
uvuloptosis |
| Vagin |
vagina |
vaginal |
| Valv |
valve |
valvula |
| Valvul |
valve |
valvuloplasty |
| Vas(o) |
vessel;
duct |
vasectomy |
| Ven |
vein |
venous |
| Ventricul |
ventricle |
ventricular |
| Vertebr(o) |
vertebra;
(spinal column) |
costovertebral
|
| Vesic(o) |
bladder;
sac |
vesical |
| Vesicul(o) |
seminal
vesicles |
vesiculation |
| Viscer(o) |
internal
organs |
viscera |
| Vulv |
vulva |
vulvitis |
| Xanth |
yellow |
xanthoma |
| Xer(o) |
dry |
xerosis |
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