Chapter 3
lipoma
a benign tumor composed of fatty tissue
melanoma
a black, malignant (cancerous) mole or tumor
narcolepsy
a chronic ailment that consists of chronic attacks of sleepiness or sleep
electroencephalography
a graphic recording of brain activity; can be used to check for seizure activity
jaundice
a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes; associated with liver disease
pyromania
abnormal preoccupation with fire
electroencephalograph
an instrument used to record the electrical impulses of the brain
hem/o
combining form meaning blood; hemolysis means the destruction of red blood cells
cyan/o
combining form meaning blue; cyanosis means a condition in which lack of oxygen results in bluish skin
carcin/o
combining form meaning cancer; carcinoma is a cancerous tumor
cry/o
combining form meaning cold; cryosurgery means the destruction of tissue by freezing
necr/o
combining form meaning dead; necrosis is dead tissue due to disease or trauma
ophthalm/o
combining form meaning eye; ophthalmopathy means any disease of the eye
later/o
combining form meaning lateral; toward the side or farther from the midline; bilateral means both sides
psych/o
combining form meaning mind; psychogenic means originating in the mind
narc/o
combining form meaning stupor; stupor and insensibility produced by narcotics
cephal/o
combining form meaning the head; cephalometry means the measurement of the head
phag/o
combining form meaning to ingest; a phagocyte is a cell that ingests
alb/o, albin/o
combining form meaning white; an albino is a person with the congenital condition lacking pigment
leuk/o
combining form meaning white; leukocyte means white blood cell
pyr/o
meaning fire; pyrogen is a fever (hot like fire) producing agent
aerobic
meanings living in the presence of oxygen; anaerobic means living without oxygen
dermal
pertaining to the skin
brady-
prefix meaning abnormal slowness; bradyphasia means abnormally slow speech
super-, supra-
prefix meaning above or beyond; superficial means on or above the surface
a-
prefix meaning absence or loss of; aphonia means absence or loss of voice
trans-
prefix meaning across; transdermal means across the skin
post-
prefix meaning after or behind; postpartum means after childbirth
contra-
prefix meaning against or opposed; contralateral means the opposite side
anti-
prefix meaning against; anticonvulsives are drugs that prevent convulsions or seizures
ab-
prefix meaning away from; moving the arms out to the sides is an example of abduction
dys-
prefix meaning bad; dystrophy is any disorder caused by defective metabolism or nutrition
cyt/o
prefix meaning cells; cytoscopy examination or visualization of cells
tachy-
prefix meaning increased or fast; tachycardia means fast heart rate
endo-
prefix meaning inside; endotracheal means inside the trachea
mega-
prefix meaning large or enlarged; megalocyte means a very large cell or large red blood cell
macro-
prefix meaning large; macrocephaly means enlarged head
hypo-
prefix meaning less than normal; hypoparathyroidism is below normal secretion of the parathyroids
photo-
prefix meaning light; photophobia means fear of light or sensitivity to light
eu-
prefix meaning normal; euthyroid means normal thyroid
uni-
prefix meaning one; unilateral means on side of the body
mal-
prefix meaning poor; malabsorption is a condition in which nutrients cannot be absorbed resulting in an inability to gain weight; poor absorption
bi-
prefix meaning two, the mitral valve has two flaps and is referred to as the bicuspid valve
-logy
suffix meaning the study or science of; mycology means the study of fungi
-lysis
suffix meaning to loosen, destroy or free; litholysis means dissolving or destroying calculus (stone)
carcinogenesis
the production or origin of cancer