Chapter 2 – Word Elements Related to Anatomy and Physiology
As you study medical terminology, you will find that certain word elements can be applied to a
wide range of anatomic structures and physiology concepts, and are therefore present in a wide range
of medical terms. For your convenience, we have gathered together the most common of these word
elements in this chapter. If you learn these common word elements now, you will have a head start in
being able to analyze and understand a vast array of medical terms.
To help you assimilate all of the word elements presented in this chapter, we have grouped
them into categories by topic or meaning. We have also provided examples of medical terms in which
they are used. We have also provided examples of medical terms in which they are used. In addition to
studying the word elements themselves, pay attention to the use of combining vowels in these
examples. This will help you not only remember the word elements, but also understand how they are
combined to form meaningful words.
Suffixes Commonly Used to Form Nouns
The following suffixes are often added to root words to create nouns.
Suffix Meaning Example Definition
-ation process vaccination Process of vaccinating (vaccin/o)
-blast immature cell osteoblast Immature bone (oste/o) cell
-cyte cell hepatocyte Liver (hepat/o) cell
-globin protein hemoglobin A blood (hem/o) protein
-is forms noun from root dermis Middle layer of the skin (derm/o)
word
-ist specialist cardiologist Specialist in the study (log/o) of the heart (cardi/o)
-logy study of cardiology Study of the heart (cardi/o)
-um thing; structure myocardium The structure formed by the muscle (my/o) tissue in the
heart (cardi/o)
Suffixes Commonly Used to Form Adjectives
The following suffixes can be added to root words to create adjectives. You will probably recognize many
of these suffixes, since they are used to create adjectives from non-medical as well as medical root
words.
Suffix Meaning Example Definition
-ac pertaining to cardiac Pertaining to the heart (cardi/o)
-al pertaining to nasal Pertaining to the nose (nas/o)
-ar pertaining to muscular Pertaining to the muscle (muscul/o)
-ary pertaining to pulmonary Pertaining to the lungs (pulmon/o)
-ated subjected to, having myelinated Having been covered with a myelin sheath (myelin/o)
-genic producing carcinogenic Producing cancer (carcin/o)
-ic pertaining to gastric Pertaining to the stomach (gastr/o)
-ical pertaining to neurological Pertaining to the study (log/o) of nerves (neur/o)
-ile pertaining to penile Pertaining to the penis (pen/o)
-ior pertaining to anterior Pertaining to the front (anter/o)
-oid resembling mucoid Resembling mucus (muc/o)
-ory pertaining to auditory Pertaining to sound (audit/o)
-ose having the qualities of varicose Having the qualities of a twisted vein (varic/o)
-ous pertaining to venous Pertaining to a vein (ven/o)
Suffixes Commonly Used to Create Singular and Plural Forms
Because of their Greek or Latin origin, some medical terms use somewhat strange-looking singular and
plural suffixes. Once you learn just a few of these forms, however, these terms will not seem
intimidating.
Suffix (singular) Suffix (plural) Example (singular to plural)
-a -ae Vertebra -> Vertebrae
-en -ina Lumen -> Lumina
-is -es Diagnosis -> Diagnoses
-nx -nges Salpinx -> Salpinges
-on -a Ganglion -> Ganglia
-um -a Bacterium -> Bacteria
-us -i Broncus -> Bronchi
-x -ces Appendix -> Appendices
Prefixes Commonly Used to Denote Number or Quantity
The following prefixes are commonly used to denote the number or quantity of anatomic structures or
physiologic processes present. As you will see, they can be found in a wide variety of medical terms.
Prefix Meaning Example Definition
bi- two biceps muscle A muscle having two “heads” (-ceps)
di- two diarthric Pertaining to (-ic) two joints (arthr/o)
hemi- one-half hemiplegia Partial paralysis (-plegia) of one-half of the body, the right or
left half
mono- one; single mononuclear Pertaining to (-ar) a cell having one nucleus (nucle/o)
multi- many multigravida A woman who has been pregnant (-gravida) more than once
nulli- none nullipara A woman who has given birth (-para) to no living children
poly- many polymorphonuclear Pertaining to (-ar) having a nucleus (nucle/o) with many
shapes (morph/o)
quadri- four quadriceps muscle A muscle having four “heads” (-ceps)
semi- one-half; partly semilunar valve A valve resembling (-ar) a half moon (lun/o)
tri- three tricuspid valve A valve consisting of three pointed or tapered shapes (-cuspid)
uni- One unilateral Pertaining to (-al) one side (later/o)
Prefixes Commonly Used to Describe Normal Function
The following prefixes are commonly used to describe normal anatomic structures and physiologic
processes. As you will see, some of these prefixes are used to indicate normal functioning of a particular
organ, while others are used to compare two or more structures or processes.
Prefix Meaning Example Definition
eu- good; normal euthyroid Having a normally functioning thyroid gland (-thyroid)
hetero- different heteromorphic Pertaining to (-ic) a different shape (morph/o)
homeo- unchanging; same homeostasis Maintenance of an unchanging state (-stasis) or internal
environment in the body
homo- Same homotopic Pertaining to (-ic) the same place (top/o) on the body
iso- equal; same isomorphic Pertaining to (-ic) the same shape (morph/o)
normo- normal normotension Normal blood pressure (-tension)
Prefixes Commonly Used to Denote Direction or Location in Time or Space
In anatomy and physiology, the location of one anatomic structure is typically described by comparing
its position to that of another structure; similarly, the timing of one physiologic process is often
described in comparison to the occurrence of another. The prefixes listed below are commonly used for
this purpose and are found in numerous terms pertaining to anatomy and physiology.
Prefix Meaning Example Definition
ab- away from abductor A muscle that draws a limb (-ductor) away from the body
ad- toward; near adrenal Pertaining to (-al) a structure located near the kidney (ren/o)
ante- before (in time); anteversion Forward tilting or turning (-version) of an organ from its usual
forward position
contra- against; opposite side contralateral Pertaining to (-al) something on the opposite side (later/o) of
the body
dia- through diarrhea Discharge (-rrhea) of abundant, watery feces through the anus
dis- apart; away from dislocate To move (-locate) a structure away from its usual position, as
in dislocating a bone from its joint
ec- out; away from ectopic Pertaining to (-ic) a structure out of place (top/o)
em- in; inside empyema A condition (-ema) characterized by the presence of pus (py/o)
inside a body cavity, usually the chest cavity
en- in; surrounded by endemic Pertaining to (-ic) something that occurs in people (dem/o) in a
particular geographic region
endo- inside; within endometrium The structure or tissue (-um) lining the inside of the uterus
(metri/o)
epi- on; over; above; outer epidermis Noun (-is) signifying the outer layer of the skin (derm/o)
ex- out; away from exhale To breathe (-hale) out
exo- outside exocrine Secreting (-crine) to the outside surface of an organ rather
than into the blood
hypo- under hypothalamus The gland located under the thalamus gland (-thalamus)
inter- between; among interstitial Pertaining to (-al) the space (stiti/o) between tissue cells
intra- within; inside intravenous Pertaining to (-ous) a process occurring inside a vein (ven/o)
ipsi- same; same side ipsilateral Pertaining to (-al) something on the same side (later/o) of the
body
para- beside; beyond parathyroid glands The glands located beside the thyroid gland (-thyroid)
per- through percutaneous Pertaining to (-ous) a process occurring through the skin
(cutane/o)
peri- around; surrounding pericardium The structure or tissue (-um) that surrounds the heart (cardi/o)
post- after (in time or place) postpartum After labor or childbirth (-partum)
pre- before (in time or prenatal Pertaining to (-al) the time before birth (nat/o)
place)
primi- first primigravida A woman who is pregnant (-gravida) for the first time
pro- before (in time); in prolapse Sinking (-lapse) of an organ to a location in front of its usual
front of position
retro- backward; behind retroversion Backward tilting or turning (-version) of an organ from its usual
position
sub- under; beneath subcutaneous Pertaining to (-ous) a process occurring below the skin
(cutane/o)
trans- through; across transurethral Pertaining to (-al) a process occurring through the urethra
(urethr/o)