Med term Ch. 1, 2, 3, Medical Terminology Abbreviations-
syncop/o
to cut short, cut off
pares/i
to disable
paret/o
to disable
-fuge
to drive away
palaption
to feel
palpation
to feel
inject/o
to force or throw in
suppur/o, suppurate/o
to form pus
remission
to get better or improve; doesn't mean cure
remission
to get better or improve; most often used when discussing cancer (does not mean cure)
-para
to give birth
-physis
to grow
pend/o
to hang
febrile
to have a fever
Recurrent
to have again
recurrent
to have again
percussion
to hit something and listen to the resulting sound or feel for the resulting vibration
Percussion
to hit something and listen to the resulting sound or feel resulting vibration
isch/o
to hold back
duct/o
to lead, carry
auscultation
to listen
-ize
to make, to treat
-metry
to measure
afebrile
to not have a fever
aliment/o
to nourish
perme/o
to pass or go through
chym/o
to pour, juice
-lytic
to reduce, destroy
-drome
to run, running
-leptic
to seize, take hold of
-mission
to send
discharge
to send home; to unload; fluid coming out of a part of the body (your body unloading a fluid)
-crit
to separate
lux/o
to slide
-lapse
to slide, fall, sag
klept/o
to steal
-tropin
to stimulate, act on
tone/o
to stretch
exud/o, exudat/o
to sweat out
Reassurance
to tell patient that the problem is not serious or dangerous
reassurance
to tell the patient that the problem is not serious or dangerous
supportive care
to treat the symptoms and make the patient feel better
-verse, -version
to turn
co-
together, with
com-
together, with
con-
together, with
syn-
together, with, union, association
gloss/o
tongue
lingu/o
tongue
tonsill/o
tonsil, throat
prematur/o
too early, untimely
cherry angioma
too many blood vessels formed in one area
hypertrichosis
too much hair
hyperhidrosis
too much sweat over sweat condition
odont/o
tooth
dent/i, dent/o
tooth, teeth
lacer/o, lacerat/o
torn, mangled
TKR
total knee replacement
tact/i
touch
palpat/o
touch, feel, stroke
contact/o
touched, infected
pachyderma pa-kih-DER-mah
tough skin
Caudal
toward the bottom
af-
toward, to
ap-
toward, to
as-
toward, to
at-
toward, to
ad-
toward, to, in the direction of
thrache-
trachea
trache/i, trache/o
trachea, windpipe
TURP
transurethral resection of the prostate
palliative
treating the symptoms, but not actually getting rid of disease
palliative
treating the symptoms, but not actually getting rid of the cause
Tx
treatment
therap/o, therapeut/o
treatment
chemotherapy KEE-moh-THEH-rah-pee
treatment using chemicals chemo / therapy chemical / treatment
trigon/o
trigone
syring/o
tube
fistul/o
tube or pipe
tub/i, tub/o
tube, pipe
TB
tuberculosis
onc/o
tumor
-oma
tumor, neoplasm
-cele
tumor, swelling, or hernia
vers/o, vert/o
turn
trop/o, -tropia
turn, change
exstroph/o
turned or twisted out
divert/i
turning aside
cris/o, critic/o
turning point
gyr/o
turning, folding
BID
twice a day
bi-
twice, double, two
di-
twice, twofold, double
gemin/o
twin, double
verg/o
twist, incline
tors/o
twist, rotate
tort/i
twisted
strept/o
twisted chain
bin-
two by two
miring/o
tympanic membrane, eardrum
tympan/o
tympanic membrane, eardrum
aphth/o
ulcer
uln/o
ulna (medial lower arm bone)
omphal/o
umbilical cord, the navel
mut/o
unable to speak, inarticulate
athet/o
uncontrolled
sub-
under, less, below
anis/o
unequal
spontane/o
unexplained, of one's own accord
innominat/o
unnamed, nameless
intact/o
untouched, whole
an-, ana-
up, apart, backward, excessive
UGI
upper gastrointestinal
URI
upper respiratory infection
erect/o
upright
arrect/o
upright, lifted up, raised
azot/o
urea, nitrogen
ureter/o
ureter
urethr/o
urethra
UA
urinalysis
vesic/o
urinary bladder
cyst/o
urinary bladder, cyst, sac of fluid
UTI
urinary tract infection
mictur/o, micturit/o
urinate
-uresis
urination
-uria
urination, urine
urin/o
urine or urinary organs
ur/o
urine, urinary tract
manipul/o
use of hands
electrocauterization e-LEK-troh-KAW-ter-ai ZAY-shun
using electricity to destroy tissue by burning it electro / cauteriz / ation electricity / burn / process
electrodesiccation e-LEK-troh-deh-sih-KAY-shun
using electricity to destroy tissue by drying it electro / desicc / ation electricity / drying / process That little packet labeled "Do Not Eat" that you sometimes find in packages is called a desiccant because it absorbs moisture and keeps the product dry.
-salpinx
uterine (fallopian) tube
salping/o
uterine (fallopian) tube, auditory (eustachian) tube
hyster-
uterus
hyster/o
uterus
metr/i, metr/o, metri/o
uterus
uter/i, uter/o
uterus
uvul/o
uvula, little grape
vaccin/i, vaccin/o
vaccine
colp/o
vagina
vagin/o
vagina
vag/o
vagus nerve, wandering
valv/o, valvul/o
valve
varic/o
varicose veins, swollen or dilated vein
poikil/o
varied, irregular
vas/o
vas deferens, vessel
vast/o
vast, great, extensive
phleb-
vein
phleb/o
vein
ven/o
vein
VD
venereal disease
ventricul/o
ventricle of brain or heart, small chamber
VC
ventricular catherization
venul/o
venule, small vein
vertebr/o
vertebra, backbone
spondyl/o
vertebrae, vertebral column, backbone
-clonus
violent action
viscer/o
viscera, internal organ
-opia
vision condition
-opsia, -opsis, -opsy
vision, view of
-scopy
visual examination
VS
vital signs
voc/i
voice
emet/o
vomit
-emesis
vomiting
episi/o
vulva
vulv/o
vulva, covering
Pending
waiting for
pending
waiting for
ambul/o, ambulat/o
walk
pariet/o
wall
deliri/o
wandering in the mind
verruc/o
wart
lav/o, lavat/o
wash, bathe
emaciat/o
wasted by disease
-phthisis
wasting away
observation
watch, keep an eye on
aqu/i, aqu/o, aque/o
water
rheum/o, rheumat/o
watery flow, subject to flow
cera-
wax
Impression
way of saying assesment
asthen-, -asthenia
weakness, lack of strength
macerate
wet rash
WTD
wet to dry
disposition
what happened to pateint at end of visit; where patient went after the visit; home, ICU, normal hospital bed
disposition
what happened to the patient at the end of the visit; often used at the end of ED notes to reference where the patient went after the visit (home, the ICU, normal hospital bed)
-dote
what is given
Symtom
what patient feels
diagnosis
what the health care professional thinks the patient has
vertig/o, vertigin/o
whirling round
alb/i, alb/o,
white
leuk/o
white
leuko-
white or white blood cell
mydri/o
wide
disseminat/o
widely scattered
-eurysm
widening
-dilation
widening, stretching, expanding
gamet/o
wife or husband, egg or sperm
fenestr/o
window
c
with
sym-
with, together, joined together
ento-
within
WNL
within normal limits
intern/o
within, inner
intra-
within, inside
intro-
within, into, inside
s
without
atres/i
without an opening
edentul/o
without teeth
lup/i, lup/o
wolf
gynec/o
woman, female
lex/o, -lexia
word, phrase
erg/o, -ergy
work
verm/i
worm
deteriorat/o
worsening or gradual impairment
vascular lesion VAS-kyoo-lar LEE-zhun
wounds related to blood vessels blood vessel/ wound
rhytid/o
wrinkle
rug/o
wrinkle, fold
rhytido-
wrinkled appearance
rhytidermia rih-tih-DER-mee-ah
wrinkled skin Because rhytid- ends with a d and -dermia starts with one, the two combined into one.
carp/o
wrist bones
scrib/o, script/o
write
roentgen/o
x-ray
XP
xeroderma pigmentosa
y/o
years old
lute/o xantho **
yellow
xanth/o
yellow
xantho-
yellow
xanthoderma zan-thoh-DER-mah
yellow skin
xanthosis zan-THOH-sis
yellowing of the skin xanth / osis yellow / condition
Xanthoderma
yellowness of skin
ichthyosis ik-thee-OH-sis
a condition in the skin is dry and scaly resembling fish scales ichthy / osis fish scale / condiion
paronychia par-aw-NIH-kee-ah
a condition of the tissue around a nail Note: The prefix para- has been modified here to par- because the root that follows it begins with a vowel. par / onych / ia around / nail / condition
fissure FIH-zhur Loss of Skin Surface
a crack in the skin from Latin, for a split or divide
lethargic
a decrease in level of consciousness; in a medical record, this is generally an indication that the patient is really sick
crust krust Material on Skin Surface
a dried substance (i.e., blood, pus) on the skin
antibiotic an-tai-bai-OH-tk
a drug that destroys or opposes growth of microorganisms
antihistamine an-tee-HIS-tah-meen
a drug that opposes the effects of histamine
antipruritic an-tee-pruh-RIH-tik
a drug that prevents or relieves itching anti / pruritic against / itching
antiseptic an-tee-SEP-tik
a drug that prevents sepsis (rotting of flesh) by killing microorganisms anti / septic against / rotting
anesthetic an-es-THET-ik
a drug that temporarily blocks sensation
ptomat/o
a fall
steatoma STAY-ah-TOH-ma
a fatty tumor steat / oma fat / tumor
mycosis mai-KOH-sis
a fungal condition myc / osis fungus / condition
dermatomycosis der-mah-toh-mai-KOH-sis
a fungal skin condition dermato / myc / osis skin / fungus / condition
comedo koh-MEE-doh
a hair follicle that is plugged with sebum (black head, white head) from Latin, for to eat up
impetigo im-peh-TAI-goh
a highly contagious bacterial infection of the skin from Latin, for to attack
ecchymosis eh-kih-MOH-sis
a large bruise from Greek, for to pour out
bulla BUL-lah Elevated, Fluid-Filled
a larger blister from Latin, for bubble
tumor TOO-mur Elevated, Palpable, Solid-Mass
a larger solid mass
differential diagnosis
a list of conditions the patient may have based on the symptoms exhibited and the results of the exam
mitr/o
a miter, having two points on top
-crasia
a mixture or blending
onychia oh-NIK-ee-ah
a nail condition onych / ia nail / condition
-ist
a person who practices, specialist
-gram
a picture or record
-graph
a picture or record, machine for recording
sequelae
a problem resulting from a disease or injury
Pustule PUS-tyool Elevated, Fluid-Filled
a pus-filled blister from Latin, for little blister small rash bumps filled with pus
eczema EK-zeh-mah
a red itchy rash that may weep or ooze, then become crusted and scaly from Greek, for to boil over
excoriation eks-kor-ee-A-shun Loss of Skin Surface
a scratch ex / cori / ation out / skin / condition
dermatoconiosis der-ma-toh-COH-nee-oh-sis
a skin condition caused by dirt dermato / coni / osis skin / dust / condition
cherry angioma CHEH-ree an-gee-OH-mah
a small blood vessel tumor angi / oma blood vessel / tumor
petechia puh-TEE-kee-yah
a small bruise from Latin, for freckle or spot
papule PA-pyool Elevated, Palpable, Solid-Mass
a small solid mass from Latin, for pimple
Plaque on rash PLAK Elevated, Palpable, Solid-Mass
a solid mass on the surface of the skin large and flat bumps on rash
nodule on rash NAWD-jyool Elevated, Palpable, Solid-Mass
a solid mass that extends deeper into the skin large bump large bumps (over 1 cm)
ulcer UL-sir Loss of Skin Surface
a sore from Latin, for sore
-thymia
a state of mind
apoplect/o
a stroke
mit/o
a thread
xanthoma zan-THOH-mah
a yellow tumor xanth / oma yellow / tumor
Abd
abdomen
abdomin/o
abdomen
venter-
abdomen
lapar/o
abdomen, abdominal wall
celi/o, cel/o
abdomen, belly
alert
able to answer questions; responsive; interactive
-ois
abnormal condition
-mycosis
abnormal condition of fungus
-ago
abnormal condition, disease
-esis
abnormal condition, disease
-ia
abnormal condition, disease
-iasis
abnormal condition, disease
-osis
abnormal condition, disease
-sis
abnormal condition, disease
-ia
abnormal condition, disease, plural of -ium
-megaly
abnormal enlargement
phob/o, -phobia
abnormal fear
-sclerosis
abnormal hardening
-stenosis
abnormal narrowing
-malacia
abnormal softening
onychomalacia AW-nih-koh-mah-LAY-shah
abnormal softening of a nail
trichomegaly tri-koh-MEG-ah-lee
abnormally thick hair
mausoleum
above ground
supraren/o
above or on the kidney, suprarenal gland
AKA
above the knee amputation
super-, super/o
above, excessive, higher than
epi-
above, upon, on
supra-
above, upper, excessive
excori/o, excoriat/o
abrade or scratch
acetabul/o
acetabulum (hip socket)
AIDS
acquired immune deficiency syndrome
acromi/o
acromion, point of shoulder blade
transvers/o
across, crosswise
trans-
across, through
-praxis
act, activity, practice use
AK
actinic keratosis
-praxia
action, condition concerning the performance of movements
-ion
action, process, state or condition
prosth/o, prosthet/o
addition, appendage
adenoid/o
adenoids
adren/o, adrenal/o
adrenal glands
PC
after meals
post-
after, behind
anti-
against
ob-
against
contra-
against, counter, opposite
-lyst
agent that causes lysis or loosening
exacerbat/o
aggravate, irritate
aer/o
air, gas
albumin/o
albumin, protein
holo-
all
abrupt
all of a sudden
systmeic/generalized
all over the body (or most of it) rash all over body
pan-
all, entire, every
alveol/o
alveolus, air sac, small sac
amni/o
amnion, fetal membrane
epidemi/o
among the people, an epidemic
I/O
amount of fluids patient has taken in or put out
ALS
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
onychocryptosis AW-nih-koh-krip-TOH-sis
an ingrown nail onycho / crypt / osis nail / hidden / condition
atopic dermatitis AY-taw-pik der-mah-TAI-tis
an unusual inflammation of the skin a / top / ic dermat / itis not / place / pertaining to skin / inflammation Atopic literally means not in the right place and thus unusual.
aneurysm/o
aneurysm
angin/o
angina, choking, strangling
goni/o
angle
zo/o
animal life
impression
another way of saying assessment
unremarkable
another way of saying normal
proct/o
anus and rectum
an/o
anus, ring
anxi/o, anxiet/o
anxiety, anxious, uneasy
aort/o
aorta
apic/o
apex
aponeur/o
aponeurosis (type of tendon)
append/o, appendic/o
appendix
-orexia
appetite
fornic/o
arch, vault, brothel
convex/o
arched, vaulted
brachi/o
arm
axill/o
armpit
circum-
around, about
amph-
around, on both sides, doubly
Abg's
arterial blood gases
ASHD
arterial sclerosis heart disease
arter/o, arteri/o
artery
arteri-
artery
ad lib
as desired
prn
as needed
asbest/o
asbestos
ABCDE
asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolving
QHS
at night
atri/o
atrium
infest/o
attack, assail, molest
-igo
attack, diseased condition
aggress/o
attack, step forward
phil/o, -phil, -philia
attraction to, like, love
consci/o
aware, awareness
abs-
away from
ab-
away from, negative, absent
abrasion uh-BRAY-zhun
away/scrape
ax/o
axis, main stem
dors/i, dors/o
back of body
poplit/o
back of the knee
occipit/o
back of the skull, occiput
glott/i, glott/o
back of the tongue
re-
back, again
opisth/o
backward
bacteri/o
bacteria
dys-
bad, difficult, or painful
malign/o
bad, evil
mal-
bad, poor, evil
scrot/o
bag or pouch
foll/i
bag, sac
postpartum alopecia post-PAR-tum al-oh-PEE-shah
baldness experienced by women after a pregnancy post / partum alopecia after / birth baldness
alopec/o
baldness, mangy
claustr/o
barrier
BCC
basal cell carcinoma
bas/o
base, opposite of acid
BRP
bathroom privilege
fer/o
bear, carry
gest/o, gestat/o
bear, carry young or offspring
-ferous
bearing, carrying, producing
-iferous
bearing, carrying, producing
puls/o
beat, beating, striking
percept/o
become aware, perceive
consolid/o
become firm or solid
concept/o
become pregnant
decubitis ulcer deh-KYOO-bih-tus UL-sir
bed sore
pros-
before
AC
before meals
anter/o
before, front
pro-
before, in behalf of
ante-
before, in front of
fore-
before, in front of
pre-
before, in front of
-arche
beginning
retro-
behind, backward, back of
poster/o
behind, toward the back
oriented
being aware of who he or she is, where he or she is, and the current time; a patient who is aware of all three is "_________ x3"
cultured for infection
being sampled to see if it harbors bacteria, virus or fungus
eruct/o, eructat/o
belch forth
BKA
below the knee amputation
infer/o
below, beneath
infra-
below, beneath, inferior to
flex/o
bend
refract/o
bend back, turn aside
supinat/o
bend backward, place on the back
BPH
benign prosthetic hypertrophy
pron/o, pronat/o
bent forward
var/o
bent or twisted inward
valg/o
bent or twisted outward
kyph/o
bent, hump
stup/e
benumbed, stunned
par-, para-
beside, near, beyond, abnormal
juxta-
beside, near, nearby
inter-
between, among
ultra-
beyond, excess
cholangi/o
bile duct
bil/i
bile, gall
chol/e
bile, gall
bilirubin/o
bilirubin
ligat/o
binding or tying off
Bx
biopsy
nat/i
birth
nev/o
birthmark, mole
caruncul/o
bit of flesh
melan/o
black, dark
melano-
blackness of skin
cyst-, -cyst
bladder, bag
-rrhage, -rrhagia
bleeding, abnormal excessive fluid discharge
viti/o
blemish, defect
hemato-
blood
sangu/i, sanguin/o
blood
thromb-
blood clot
angi/o
blood or lymph vessel
BP
blood pressure
hemathidrosis heh-mat-ih-DROH-sis
blood sweat condition sweating blood
vascul/o
blood vessel, little vessel
-emia
blood, blood condition
hem/o, hemat/o
blood, relating to the blood
cyan/o
blue
corp/u, corpor/o
body
soma-, somat/o
body
BMI
body mass index
system/o, systemat/o
body system
oss/e, oss/i
bone
oste/o, ost/o
bone
osteo-
bone
metatars/o
bones of the foot between the tarsus and toes
OU
both eyes
ambi-
both sides, around or about, double
fund/o
bottom, base, ground
adnex/o
bound to
arc/o
bow, arc or arch
BM
bowel movement
encephal-
brain
encephal/o
brain
dendr/o
branching, resembling a tree
clasis, -clast
break down
comminut/o
break into pieces
erupt/o
break out, burst forth
fract/o
break, broken
-lysis
breakdown, separation, destruction, loosening
mamm/o
breast
mast/o
breast
masto-
breast
hal/o, halit/o
breath
pne/o-
breath, breathing
inhal/o, inhalat/o
breathe in
inspir/o, inspirat/o
breathe in
exhal/o, exhalat/o
breathe out
expir/o, expirat/o
breathe out
-pnea
breathing
effect/o
bring about a response, activate
reduct/o
bring back together
align/o
bring into line or correct position
lat/i, lat/o
broad
abrupt/o
broken away from
bronch/i, bronchi/o, bronch/o
bronchial tube, bronchus
bronchiol/o
bronchiole, bronchiolus
bronchi-
bronchus
contus/o
bruise
germin/o
bud, sprout, germ
caus/o, caust/o
burning, burn
burs/o
bursa, sac of fluid near joint
dehisce/o
burst open, split
glute/o
buttocks
PO
by mouth
PR
by rectum
calcane/o
calcaneus, heel bone
calci-, calc/o
calcium
Ca, CA
calcium, cancer
calc/i
calcium, lime, the heel
skin biopsy
can be a removal of the entire lesion
carcin/o
cancerous
-ile
capable of
mobil/o
capable of moving
-able
capable of, able to
-ible
capable of, able to
carb/o
carbon
CO2
carbon dioxide
capn/o
carbon dioxide, sooty or smoky appearance
carbuncl/o
carbuncle
CPR
cardiac pulmonary resuscitation
CV
cardiovascular
CVA
cardiovascular accident
ingest/o
carry or pour in
phor/o
carry, bear, movement
vect/o
carry, convey
-ferent
carrying
defer/o
carrying down or out
-phoresis
carrying, transmission
chondr/i, chondr/o
cartilage
cartilag/o
cartilage, gristle
scalp/o
carve, scrape
eti/o
cause
-cide
causing death
mutagen/o
causing genetic change
cec/o
cecum
cyt/o, -cyte
cell
cement/o
cementum, a rough stone
CNS
central nervous system
cerebell/o
cerebellum
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
cerebr/o
cerebrum, brain
cerumin/o
cerumen, earwax
paus/o
cessation, stopping
metabol/o
change
meta-
change, beyond, subsequent to, behind, after or next
transit/o
changing
-an
characteristic of, pertaining to
-acious
characterized by
bucc/o
cheek
zygomat/o
cheek bone, yoke
nor-
chemical compound
pector/o
chest
steth/o
chest
thora/o, thorac/o
chest
thorac-
chest
-thorax
chest, pleural cavity
masset/o
chew
mastic/o, masticat/o
chew
pedi/a
child
ped/o
child, foot
puerper/i
childbearing, labor
loch/i
childbirth, confinement
-partum, parturit/o
childbirth, labor
suffoc/o, suffocat/o
choke, strangle
cholesterol/o
cholesterol
chori/o, chorion/o
chorion, membrane
choroid/o
choroid layer of eye
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
cycl/o
ciliary body of eye, cycle
circulat/o
circulate, go around in a circle
-type
classification, picture
clavicul/o, cleid/o
clavicle, collar bone
Sterile
clean, germ free conditions
cathart/o
cleansing, purging
CTA
clear to auscultation (normal sounding lungs)
saphen/o
clear, apparent, manifest
coher/o, cohes/o
cling, stick together
clitor/o
clitoris
palliat/o
cloaked, hidden
mu/o
close, shut
thromb/o
clot
coagul/o, coagulat/o
clotting, coagulation
agglutin/o
clumping, stick together
staphyl/o
clusters, bunch of grapes
anthrac/o
coal, coal dust
coccyg/o
coccyx, tailbone
spirochet/o
coiled microorganism
turbinat/o
coiled, spiral shaped
treponem/o
coiled, turning microbe
convolut/o
coiled, twisted
cry/o
cold
frigid/o
cold
abscess/o
collection of pus, going away
colo-
colon
col/o
colon, large intestine
colon/o
colon, large intestine
chrom/o, chromat/o
color
-aise
comfort, ease
vulgar/i
common
choledoch/o
common bile duct
soci/o
companion, fellow being
CBC
complete blood count
CT
computated axial tomography
concentr/o
condense, intensify, remove excess water
-ion
condition
ation
condition
-ostosis
condition of bone
-cytosis
condition of cells
-ism
condition, state of
circumscrib/o
confined, limited in space
confus/o
confusion, disorder
CNF
congestive heart failure
conjunctiv/o
conjunctiva, joined together, connected
-aria
connected with
peristals/o, peristalt/o
constrict around
intrins/o
contained within
cavern/o
containing hollow spaces
oxid/o
containing oxygen
systol/o
contraction
-stalsis
contraction, constriction
-stasis, -static
control, maintenance of a constant level
domin/o
controlling, ruling
tax/o
coordination, order
cord/o
cord, spinal cord
corne/o
cornea
canth/o
corner of the eye
CABG
coronary artery bypass graph
CAD
coronary artery disease
coron/o
coronary, crown
cortic/o
cortex, outer region
byssin/o
cotton dust
tuss/i
cough
expector/o
cough up
opercul/o
cover or lid
cort-
covering
tunic/o
covering, cloak, sheath
tectori/o
covering, roof-like
fiss/o, fissur/o
crack, split, cleft
crepit/o, crepitat/o
crackling, rattling
creatin/o
creatine
-genic, -genesis
creation, reproduction
herpet/o
creeping
lunul/o
crescent
climacter/o
crisis, rung of a ladder
ankyl/o
crooked, bent, stiff
cuboid/o
cube-like
culd/o
cul-de-sac, blind pouch
cult/o
cultivate
C&S
culture and sensitivity
cali/o, calic/o
cup, calyx
lord/o
curve, swayback bent
scoli/o
curved, bent
cis/o
cut
amput/o, amputat/o
cut away, cut off a part of the body
sect/o, secti/o
cut, cutting
tom/o
cut, section, slice
dissect/o
cutting apart
circumcis/o
cutting around
incis/o
cutting into
excis/o
cutting out
-otomy
cutting, surgical incision
QD*
daily
chore/o
dance
malignant
dangerous; a problem
scot/o
darkness
cadaver/o
dead body, corpse
necr/o
death
thanas/o, thanat/o
death
mort/i, mort/o, mort/u
death, dead
sapr/o
decaying, rotten
illusi/o
deception
decub
decubitus ulcer
hem/e
deep red iron-containing pigment
comat/o
deep sleep
aplast/o
defective development, lack of development
-penia
deficiency
-penia
deficiency, lack, too few
hyp-
deficient, decreased
hypo-
deficient, decreased, under
DJD
degenerative joint disease
delus/o
delude, mock, cheat
derm
dermatology
cyrosrugery
destruction of tissue through freezing
cryosurgery KRAI-oh-SIR-juh-ree
destruction of tissue through freezing cryo / surgery cold / surgery
pernici/o
destructive, harmful
plas/i, plas/o, -plasia
development, growth, formation
troph/o, -trophy
development, nourishment
fren/o
device that limits movement
DM
diabetes mellitus
Dx
diagnosis
phren/o
diaphragm, mind
diaphragmat/o
diaphragm, wall across
peps/i, -pepsia, pept/o
digest, digestion
mydrias/i
dilation of the pupil
attenuat/o
diluted, weakened
hypomelanosis hai-poh-mel-an-OH-sis
diminished melanin in the skin
hypopigmentation hai-poh-pig-men-TAY-shun
diminished pigment in the skin
hypohidrosis hai-poh-hih-DROH-sis
diminished sweating no sweat condition
paralys/o, paralyt/o
disable
-pathy
disease
morbid/o
disease, sickness
path/o, -pathy
disease, suffering, feeling, emotion
lesion
diseased tissue
-ectopy
displacement
dislocat/o
displacement
-lysis
dissolve or loose
dilut/o
dissolve, separate
tele/o
distant, far
foss/o
ditch, shallow depression
bifurcat/o
divide or fork into two branches
digest/o
divide, distribute
Sagittal
divides body in slices left to right
schiz/o
division, split
DSS
docusate sulfate
dipl/o
double
kata-, kath-
down
de-
down, lack of, from, not, removal
cat-, cata-,cath-
down, lower, under, downward
retract/o
draw back or in
spad/o
draw off, draw
constrict/o
draw tightly together
strict/o
draw tightly together, bind or tie
tract/o
draw, pull, path, bundle of nerve fibers
fec/i, fec/o
dregs, sediment, waste
-ptosis
droop, sag, prolapse, fall
letharg/o
drowsiness, oblivion
pharmac/o, pharmaceut/o
drug
chem./i, chem/o, chemic/o
drug, chemical
kraur/o
dry
xer/o
dry
xerosis
dry conditions (could be of rash) xer= dry osis= condition
DD
dry dressing
ichthy/o
dry, scaly
desic/o
drying
xero-
dryness
ambly/o
dull, dim
duoden/i, duoden/o
duodenum, first part of small intestine
phe/o
dusky
coni/o
dust
moribund/o
dying
oto-
ear
-otia
ear condition
aur/i, aur/o
ear, hearing
ot/o
ear, hearing
aud-, audi/o, audit/o
ear, hearing, the sense of hearing
precoc/i
early, premature
seb/o or sebace/o
ears sebum
phag/o
eat, swallow
onychophagia aw-nih-koh-FAY-jah
eating (biting) the nail
gangren/o
eating sore, gangrene
-phagia
eating, swallowing
EAHF
eczema, asthma, hay fever
o/o, oo/o
egg
ovul/o
egg
ov/i, ov/o
egg, ovum
cubit/o
elbow
olecran/o
elbow, olecranon
electr/o
electricity, electric
EKG
electroencephalogram
-blast
embryonic, immature, formative element
vacu/o
empty
evacu/o, evacuat/o
empty out
enem/o
end in, inject
ESRD
end stage renal disease
termin/o
end, limit
-megaly
enlargement
introit/o
entrance or passage
vestibul/o
entrance, vestibule
-ase
enzyme
epididym/o
epididymis
epiglott/o
epiglottis
epithel/i, epitheli/o
epithelium
iso-
equal
eczemat/o
eruption
esophag/o
esophagus
esophagi-
esophagus
Q H
every hour
Q am
every morning
Q PM
every night
-rrhagia
excessive bleeding
hypertrichosis HAI-per-trih-KOH-sis
excessive growth of hair
hypermelanosis
excessive melanin in the skin over black condition
-agra
excessive pain, seizure, attack of severe pain
hyperpigmentation hai-per-pig-men-TAY-shun
excessive pigment in the skin
hyper-
excessive, increased
per-
excessive, through
affect/o
exert influence on
-ectasis
expansion/dilation
eliminat/o
expel from the body
ventilat/o
expose to air, fan
pinn/i
external ear, auricle
pol/o
extreme
sterile
extremely clean, germ-free conditions; especially importing during medical procedures and surgery
acr/o
extremities (hands and feet), top, extreme point
extreme/o, extremit/o
extremity, outermost
ocul/o
eye
ophthalm/o
eye, vision
opt/i, opt/o, optic/o
eye, vision
cili/o
eyelashes, microscopic hair-like projections
blephar/o
eyelid
palpebr/o
eyelid
faci/o
face, form
procident/o
fall down or forward
prolaps/o
fall downward, slide forward
symptomat/o
falling together, symptom
-ptosis
falling/ downward displacement
pseud/o
false
FHx
family history
dist/o
far
fasci/o
fascia, fibrous band
tachy-
fast, rapid
FBS
fasting blood sugar
FSBS
fasting blood sugar
adip/o
fat
lipid/o, lip/o
fat, lipid
steat/o
fat, lipid, sebum
esthet/o
feeling, nervous sensation, sense of perception
sens/i
feeling, sensation
estr/o
female
femor/o
femur, thigh bone
FESO4
ferrous sulfate
fertil/o
fertile, fruitful, productive
embry/o
fertilized ovum, embryo
fet/i, fet/o
fetus, unborn child
febr/i
fever
pyr/o, pyret/o
fever, fire
fibr/o
fiber
fibrin/o
fibrin, fibers, threads of a clot
fibros/o
fibrous connective tissue
fibul/o
fibula
perone/o
fibula
-iatry
field of medicine
-iatrics
field of medicine, healing
infarct/o
filled in, stuffed
filtr/o, filtrat/o
filter, to strain through
tremul/o
fine tremor or shaking
digit/o
finger or toe
onych/o
fingernail or toenail
dactyl/o
fingers, toes
primi-
first
prot/o, prote/o
first
inflammat/o
flame within, set on fire
eclamps/o, eclampt/o
flashing or shining forth
plan/o
flat
plac/o
flat plate or patch
flat/o
flatus, rectal gas
sarc/o
flesh, connective tissue
pulpos/o
fleshy, pulpy
regurgit/o
flood or gush back
-rrhea
flow
flu/o
flow
-rrhea
flow or discharge
amni-
fluid filled sac containing fetus
erythem/o, erythemat/o
flushed, redness
foc/o
focus, point
plic/o
fold or ridge
follicul/o
follicle, small sac
f/u
follow up
pod/o
foot
talip/o
foot and ankle deformity
vi/o
force
front/o
forehead, brow
preputi/o
foreskin, prepuce
furc/o
forking, branching
-poiesis
formation
poiesis
formation
sebopoiesis see-boh-poh-EE-sis
formation of oil (sebum) oil formation
-poiesis
formation, to make
-plasm
formative material of cells
quadr/i, quadr/o
four
quadri-
four
tetra-
four
QID*
four times daily
Fx
fracture
-clasis
fracture/ break
defec/o, defecat/o
free from waste, clear
fimbri/o
fringe
erythema eh-rih-THEE-ma
from Greek, for redness
midsagitt/o
from front to back, at the middle
pruritus prur-AI-tis
from latin, for itching *an itch*
extrins/o
from the outside, contained outside
FS
frozen section
-ose
full of, pertaining to, sugar
fung/i
fungus
myc/e, myc/o
fungus
infundibul/o
funnel
-stomosis, -stomy
furnish with a mouth or outlet, new opening
sulc/o
furrow, groove
Distal
further from center
furuncul/o
furunculus, a boil, an infection
cholecyst/o
gallbladder
gangli/o, ganglion/o
ganglion
asthmat/o
gasping, choking
gastrocnemi/o
gastrocnemius, calf muscle
GERD
gastroesophogeal reflux disease
GI
gastrointestinal
port/i
gate, door
mut/a
genetic change
GU
genitourinary
acquir/o
get, obtain
gigant/o
giant, very large
gingiv/o
gingival tissue, gums
don/o
give
remiss/o
give up, let go, relax
radiat/o
giving off rays or radiant energy
aden/o
gland
balan/o
glans penis
silic/o
glass
vitre/o
glassy, made of glass
glomerul/o
glomerulus
fluor/o
glowing, luminous
glycol-
glucose
GTT
glucose tolerance test
gluc/o
glucose, sugar
glyc/o, glycos/o
glucose, sugar
coll/a
glue
glycogen/o
glycogen, animal starch
tine/o
gnawing worm, ringworm
-grade
go
stimul/o
goad, prick, incite
process/o
going forth
goitr/o
goiter, enlargement of the thyroid gland
gonad/o
gonad, sex glands
eu-
good, normal, well, or easy
degenerat/o
gradual impairment, breakdown, diminished function
granul/o
granule(s)
glauc/o
gray
poli/o
gray matter of brain and spinal cord
halluc/o
great or large toe
magn/o
great, large
chlor/o
green
brux/o
grind
inguin/o
groin
senesc/o
grow old
GH
growth hormone
kel/o
growth, tumor
Gyn
gynocology
-hexia
habit
capill/o
hair
pil/i, pil/o
hair
trich/o
hair
tricho/
hair
depilate/o
hair removal
hirsut/o
hairy, rough
demi-
half
hemi-
half
semi-
half
hallucin/o
hallucination, to wander in the mind
cheir/o
hand
chir/o
hand
man/i, man/o
hand
manubri/o
handle
scirrh/o
hard
call/i, callos/o
hard, hardened and thickened
indurat/o
hardened
kerato-
hardness or horniness
strid/o
harsh sound
-tropic
having an affinity for
-parous
having borne one or more children
capit/o
head
cephal-
head
cephal/o, -ceps
head
hygien/o
healthful
-cusis
hearing
acust/o, -acusia, -acusis
hearing, sense of hearing
acous/o,acoust/o
hearing, sound
cardi/o, card/o
heart
cardio-
heart
cordi/o
heart
HR
heart Rate
calor/i
heat
therm/o
heat
cauter/o, caut/o
heat, burn
pachy-
heavy, thick
hemoglobin/o
hemoglobin
herni/o
hernia
-cele
hernia, tumor, swelling
Occult
hidden
crypt/o
hidden
occult
hidden
occult/o
hidden, concealed
hil/o
hilum, notch or opening from a body part
cox/o
hip, hip joint
H&P
history and physical
h/o
history of
retent/o
hold back
tenac/i
holding fast, sticky
concav/o
hollow
koil/o
hollow or concave
cav/i, cav/o
hollow, cave
sin/o, sin/u
hollow, sinus
mellit/o
honey, honeyed
-one
hormone
hormon/o
hormone
kera-
horn, hardness
keratosis KEH-rah-TOH-sis
horny tissue condition kerat / osis horny / condition
kerat/o
horny, hard, cornea
humer/o
humerus (upper arm bone)
cent-
hundred
lemm/o
husk, peel, bark
chlorhydr/o
hydrochloric acid
hymen/o
hymen, a membrane
HTN
hypertension
ile/o
ileum, small intestine
ili/o
ilium, hip bone
STAT
immediately
immune/o
immune, protection, safe
inocul/o
implant, introduce
em-
in
ir-
in
ventr/o
in front, belly side of body
emmetr/o
in proper measure
in-
in, into, not, without
end-, endo-
in, within, inside
en-
in, within, into
Axanthopsia
inability to see color yellow
-tomy
incision
atel/o
incomplete, imperfect
incubat/o
incubation, hatching
pustul/o
infected pimple
infect/o
infected, tainted
seps/o
infection
sept/o
infection, partition
contagi/o
infection, unclean, touching of something
-itis
inflammation
steatitis stay-ah-TAI-tis
inflammation of fat tissue steat / itis fat / inflammation
dermatitis der-mah-TAI-tis
inflammation of the skin dermat / itis skin / inflammation
sclerodermatitis skleh-roh-der-mah-TAI-tis
inflammation of the skin accompanied by thickening and hardening
mycodermatitis mai-koh-der-mah-TAI-tis
inflammation of the skin caused by fungus myco / dermat / itis fungus / skin / inflammation
actinic dermatitis ak-TIN-ik der-mah-TAI-tis
inflammation of the skin caused by sun exposure actin / ic dermat / itis sun ray / pertaining to skin / inflammation
seborrheic dermatitis se-boh-RAY-ik der-mah-TAI-tis
inflammation of the skin caused by the discharge of oil (sebum) sebo / rrhe / ic dermat / itis oil / discharge / pertaining to skin / inflammation
acne vulgaris AK-nee vul-GAR-is
inflammation of the skin follicles acne vulgaris acne common
hidradenitis hih-dra-deh-NAI-tis
inflammation of the sweat glands sweat gland inflammation hidr / aden / itis sweat / gland / inflammation
Onychocryptosis
ingrown or hidden toenail
hered/o, heredit/o
inherited, inheritance
traumat/o
injury
intim/o
innermost
cathet/o
insert, send down
Sig
instructions short for signa, from latin, for label
-trite
instrument for crushing
-scope
instrument for visual examination
-tome
instrument to cut
insulin/o
insulin
IDDM
insulin dependent diabetes melittus
excruciat/o
intense pain, agony
pertuss/i
intensive cough
ID
interdermal
intestin/o
intestine
ID
intradermal
IM
intramuscular
IV
intravenous
IVP
intravenous pyelogram
eso-
inward
iod/o
iodine
ion/o
ion, to wander
irid-
iris
uve/o
iris, choroid, ciliary body, uveal tract
ir/i, ir/o, irid/o, irit/o
iris, colored part of eye
sider/o
iron
anomal/o
irregularity
-clysis
irrigation, washing
IBS
irritable bowel syndrome
ischi/o
ischium
insul/o
island
Chronic
it has been going on for a while now
chronic
it has been going on for a while now
exacerbation
it is getting worse
acute
it just started recently or is a sharp, severe symptom
marked
it really stands out
genetic/hereditary
it runs in the family
psor/i, psor/o
itch, itching
prurit/o
itching
Pruritis
itchy rash
icter/o
jaundice
gnath/o
jaw
jejun/o
jejunum
zygot/o
joined together
copulat/o
joining together, linking
artho-
joint
arthr/o
joint
articul/o
joint
contine/o, continent/o
keep in, contain, hold back, restrain
ket/o, keton/o
ketones, acetones
clav/i
key
nephr/o
kidney
nephron-
kidney
ren/o
kidney
KUB
kidney, ureters, bladder (x-ray)
nod/o
knot, swelling
-gnosia
knowledge, to know
condyl/o
knuckle, knob
toc/o, -tocia, -tocin
labor, birth
albinism AL-bin-ism
lack of skin pigment causing patient to look white
dacryocyst/o
lacrimal sac (tear sac)
lamin/o
lamina
macro-
large, abnormal size or length, long
mega-, megal/o
large, great
major/o
larger
patch (vitiligo) pach (vih-tih-LAI-goh) Flat, Nonpalpable
larger, flat discolored area
maxim/o
largest, greatest
laryng/o
larynx, throat
ris/o
laugh
nom/o
law, control
strat/i
layer
product/o
lead forward, yield, produce
LA
left atrium
O.S.
left eye
LV
left ventrical
sinistr/o
left, left side
phac/o
lens of eye
phak/o
lens of eye
mei/o
less, meiosis
-porosis
lessening in density, porous condition
bi/o
life
vit/a, vit/o
life
ligament/o
ligament
syndesm/o
ligament
syndesmo-
ligament
actin/o
light
lumin/o
light
phot/o
light
depigmentation
lightening of skin or loss of pigment
-oid
like, resembling
claudicat/o
limping
labi/o
lip
cheil/o
lip or lips
Differential diagnosis
list of conditions patient may have based on symptoms exhibited and results of exam
auscult/a, auscult/o
listen
discharge
literally, to unload 1. to send home 2. fluid coming out of body part
globul/o
little ball
trabecul/o
little beam marked with cross bars or beams
corpuscul/o
little body
capsul/o
little box
fascicul/o
little bundle
canalicul/o
little canal or duct
spirill/o
little coil
nodul/o
little knot
tubercul/o
little knot, swelling
nucleol/o
little nucleus, nucleolus
areol/o
little open space
-ole
little, small
hepat-
liver
hepat/o
liver
lob/i, lob/o
lobe, well-defined part of an organ
longev/o
long-lived, long life
spec/i
look at, a kind or sort
lax/o, laxat/o
loosen, relax
solut/o, solv/o
loosened, dissolved
erosion ee-ROH-zhun Loss of Skin Surface
loss of skin e/ rosion (away), (gnaw/eat)
pedicul/o
louse (singular), lice (plural)
lumb/o
lower back, loin
caud/o
lower part of body, tail
pulm/o, pulmon/o
lung
pneum/o, pneumon/o
lung, air
decubit/o
lying down
supin/o
lying on the back
lymphaden/o
lymph gland
lymphangi/o
lymph vessel
lymph-
lymph, gland, vessel
lymph/o
lymph, lymphatic tissue
man/i
madness, rage
rabi/o
madness, rage
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
-gog, -gogue
make flow
emolli/o
make soft, soften
-facient
making, producing
-ific
making, producing
-fic, fic/o
making, producing, forming
terat/o
malformed fetus
malleol/o
malleolus, little hammer
malle/o
malleus, hammer
mandibul/o
mandible, lower jaw
poly-
many
multi-
many, much
agor/a
marketplace
viril/o
masculine, manly
mastoid/o
mastoid process
matern/o
maternal, of a mother
maxill/o
maxilla (upper jaw)
labyrinth/o
maze, labyrinth, the inner ear
cib/o
meal
prandi/o, -prandial
meal
-meter
measure, instrument used to measure
mediastin/o
mediastinum, middle
medicat/o
medication, healing
medic/o
medicine, physician, healing
medull/o
medulla (inner section), middle, soft, marrow
diphther/o
membrane
membran/o
membrane, thin skin
mening/o, meningi/o
membranes, meninges
menisc/o
meniscus, crescent
mens/o
menstruate, menstruation, menses
men/o
menstruation, menses
mesenter/o
mesentery
nunci/o
messenger
metacarp/o
metacarpals, bones of the hand
medi/o
middle
mes-
middle
meso-
middle
mid-
middle
mesi/o
middle, median plane
obstetr/i, obstetr/o
midwife, one who stands to receive
galact/o
milk
lact/i, lact/o
milk
-mimetic
mimic, copy
psych/o
mind
ment/o
mind, chin
mineral/o
mineral
specul/o
mirror
lun/o, lunat/o
moon
progressive
more and more each day
ple/o
more, many
-kinesis
motion
mot/o, motil/o
motion, movement
OS
mouth
stomato-
mouth
os-
mouth, bone
or/o
mouth, oral cavity
stom/o, stomat/o
mouth, oral cavity
grad/i
move, go, step, walk
kines/o, kinesi/o, -kinesia
movement
muc/o, mucos/o
mucus
myx/o, myxa-
mucus
MS
multiple sclerosis
MTV
multivitamins
muscul/o
muscle
my/o
muscle
myo-
muscle
myos/o
muscle
myom/o
muscle tumor
fibrill/o
muscular twitching
MI
myocardial infarction
myocardi/o
myocardium, heart muscle
ungu/o
nail
onychopathy aw-nik-AW-pah-thee
nail disease
onych/o or ungu/o
nails exungulate means to cut nails
fauc/i
narrow pass, throat
-constriction
narrowing
-stenosis
narrowing
stric-
narrowing
sten/o
narrowing, contracted
NGT
nasal gastric tube
physi/o, physic/o
nature, physical
N&V
nausea and vomiting
nause/o
nausea, seasickness
umbilic/o
navel
proxim/o
near
trachel-
neck
cervic/o
neck, cervix (neck of uterus)
dis-
negative, apart, absence of
neutr/o
neither, neutral
radicul/o
nerve root
nerv/o, neur/i, neur/o
nerve, nerve tissue
urtic/o
nettle, rash, hives
recticul/o
network
reticul/o
network
gli/o
neurologic tissue, supportive tissue of nervous system
neo-, ne/o
new, strange
nid/o
next
noct/i
night
nyct/o, nyctal/o
night
NPO
nil per os (nothing by mouth
thel/o
nipple
papill/i, papill/o
nipple-like
niter-, nitro-
nitrogen
-amine
nitrogen compound
non-
no
NAD
no acute distress (no signs of intense symptoms)
idiopathic
no known specific cause; it just happens
an-
no, not, without
a-
no, not, without, away from, negative
Noc
nocturnal, night
NIDDM
non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
nulli-
none
unremarkable
normal
norm/o
normal or usual
NSS
normal saline solution
nas/i, nas/o
nose
rhin/o
nose
rhino-
nose
nar/i
nostril
im-
not
un-
not
intermitt/o
not continuous
NEC
not elsewhere classified
anhidrosis an-ih-DROH-sis
not enough sweat under sweat condition
malaise
not feeling well
NOS
not otherwise specified
noncontributory
not related to this specific problem
NPO
nothing by mouth
-a
noun ending
-ax
noun ending
-e
noun ending
-is
noun ending
-isy
noun ending
-y
noun ending
nutri/o, nutrit/o
nourishment, food, nourish, feed
nucle/o
nucleus
kary/o
nucleus, nut
numer/o
number, count
narc/o
numbness, stupor
obes/o
obese, extremely fat
oblongat/o
oblong, elongated
-opaque
obscure
-mania
obsessive preoccupation
OC
occular
areat/o
occurring in patches or circumscribed areas
menstru/o, menstruat/o
occurring monthly
sebo/
oil
seborrhea
oily secretion rash
sen/i
old
ger/i
old age
geront/o
old age
presby/o
old age
senil/o
old age
oment/o
omentum, fat
extra-
on the outside, beyond, outside
uni-
one
-plegic
one affected with paralysis
-er
one who
-metrist
one who measures
mono-
one, single
milli-
one-thousandth
debrid/e
open a wound
-duct
opening
hiat/o
opening
meat/o
opening or passageway
foramin/o
opening, foramen
-surgery
operative procedure
cirrh/o
orange-yellow, tawny
orbit/o
orbit, bony cavity or socket
organ/o
organ
ossicul/o
ossicle (small bone)
heter/o
other, different
all/o, all-
other, different from normal, reversal
ef-
out
ametr/o
out of proportion
e-
out of, from
es-
out of, outside, away from
ex-
out of, outside, away from
exo-
out of, outside, away from
lateral
out to the side
ec-
out, outside
ecto-
out, outside
extern/o
outside, outer
oophor/o
ovary
ovari-
ovary
ovari/o
ovary
OTC
over the counter
OD
overdose
superflu/o
overflowing, excessive
keloid KEE-loid
overgrowth of scar tissue kel / oid tumor / resembling
ox/i, ox/o, ox/y
oxygen
-oxia
oxygen condition
-algia
pain
-dynia
pain
algia or dynia
pain
-algia
pain, painful condition
dermatalgia dermatodynia
painful rash
-algesia, -algesic
painful, pain sense
palat/o
palate, roof of mouth
pall/o, pallid/o
pale, lacking or drained of color
palm/o
palm of the hand
vol/o
palm or sole
pancreat-
pancreas
pancreat/o
pancreas
-plegia
paralysis
-plegia
paralysis, stroke
parasit/o
parasite
parathyroid/o
parathyroid glands
parotid/o
parotid gland
subluxat/o
partial dislocation
-paresi
partial or incomplete paralysis
patell/a, patell/o
patella, kneecap
Pt
patient
idi/o
peculiar to the individual or organ, one, distinct
pelv/i, pelv/o
pelvic bone, pelvic cavity, hip
PID
pelvic inflammatory disease
pyel-
pelvis of the kidney
styl/o
pen, pointed instrument
pen/i
penis
phall/i, phill/o
penis
priap/o
penis
dem/o
people, population
PUD
peptic ulcer disease
PO
per os (by mouth)
PR
per rectum
funct/o, function/o
perform, function
oper/o, operat/o
perform, operate, work
-ive
performs, tends toward
perine/o
perineum
PICC
peripherally inserted centra catheter
peritone/o
peritoneum
albino al-BAY-noh
person afflicted with albinism
leukotrichia
person with white hair leuko is white trichia is hair
perspir/o
perspiration
-ac
pertaining to
-al
pertaining to
-ar
pertaining to
-ary
pertaining to
-eal
pertaining to
-ial
pertaining to
-ic
pertaining to
-ical
pertaining to
-ine
pertaining to
-ior
pertaining to
-ory
pertaining to
-ous
pertaining to
-tic
pertaining to
-cytic
pertaining to a cell
equin/o
pertaining to a horse
hypodermic hai-poh-DER-mik
pertaining to beneath the skin
subcutaneous sub-kyoo-TAY-nee-us
pertaining to beneath the skin
hypodermic hai-poh-DER-mik
pertaining to beneath the skin hypo / derm / ic beneath / skin / pertaining to
-pneic
pertaining to breathing
mortal/i
pertaining to death, subject to death
-dural
pertaining to dura mater
fatal/o
pertaining to fate, death
-plastic
pertaining to formation
intradermal in-tra-DER-mal
pertaining to inside the skin
intradermal in-tra-DER-mal
pertaining to inside the skin ntra / derm / al inside / skin / pertaining to
-cidal
pertaining to killing
-thymic
pertaining to the mind, relating to the thymus gland
epidermal eh-pih-DER-mal
pertaining to the skin epi / derm / al upon / skin / pertaining to
transdermal trans-DER-mal
pertaining to through the skin
percutaneous per-kyoo-TAY-nee-us
pertaining to through the skin sub / cutane / ous beneath / skin / pertaining to
-scopic
pertaining to visual examination
phalang/o
phalanges, finger and toe
PE
physical exam
PT
physical therapy
iatr/o
physician, treatment
segment/o
pieces
pigment/o
pigment, color
column/o
pillar
papul/o
pimple
pineal/o
pineal gland
fove/o
pit
pituit/o, pituitar/o
pituitary gland
loc/o
place
sit/u
place
top/o
place, position, location
placent/o
placenta, round flat cake
phyt/o, -phyte
plant
ather/o
plaque, fatty substance
plak/o, -plakia
plaque, plate, thin flat layer or scale
-plasty
plastic surgery or repair
copi/o
plentiful
pleur/o
pleura, side of the body
plex/o
plexus, network
synaps/o, synapt/o
point of contact
acne/o
point or peak
cusp/i
point, pointed flap
stigmat/o
point, spot
tox/o, toxic/o
poison, poisonous
vir/o
poison, virus
polyp/o
polyp, small growth
pont/o
pons (a part of the brain), bridge
por/o
pore, small opening
K+
potassium
kal/i
potassium
-fusion
pour
transfus/o
pour across, transfer
diffus/o
pour out, spread apart
effus/o
pouring out
ecchym/o
pouring out of juice
potent/o
powerful
pract/i, practic/o
practice, pursue an occupation
-cyesis
pregnancy
gravid/o
pregnancy
-gravida
pregnant
pregn/o
pregnant, full of
abort/o
premature expulsion of a nonviable fetus
PMS
premenstral syndrome
Rx
prescription
lithiasis
presence of stones
suppress/o
press down
depress/o
press down, lower, pressed or sunk down
coarct/o, coarctat/o
press together, narrow
press/o
press, draw
urg/o
press, push
constipat/o
pressed together, crowded together
impress/o
pressing into
impuls/o
pressure or pushing force, drive, urging on
bar/o
pressure, weight
contracept/o
prevention of conception
prophylaxis
preventive treatment
ichthyo-
problems with skin texture scaliness
-tomy
process of cutting
-fication
process of making
-graphy
process of recording
-tion
process, state or quality of
secret/o
produce, separate out
genit/o
produced by, birth, reproductive organs
-genous
producing
gen-, gen/o, -gen
producing, forming
-gene
production, origin, formation
prostat/o
prostate gland
-phylaxis
protection
-phylactic
protective, preventive
globin/o, -globulin
protein
protein/o
protein
pub/o
pubis, part of hip bone
pudend/o
pudendum
convuls/o
pull together
sphygm/o
pulse
cor/o
pupil
core/o
pupil
pupill/o
pupil
PERRLA
pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
purpur/o
purple
pur/o
pus
py-
pus
py/o
pus
purul/o
pus-filled
impact/o
pushed against, wedged against, packed
osm/o
pushing, thrusting
intoxic/o
put poison in
the/o
put, place
pylor/o
pylorus, pyloric sphincter
pyramid/o
pyramid-shaped
tranquil/o
quiet, calm, tranquil
radi/o
radiation, x-rays, radius (lateral lower arm bone)
lev/o, levat/o
raise, lift up
ROM
range of motion
exanthemat/o
rash
centripetal
rash spread from outside inward
centrifugal
rash start from the middle and goes outward works their way outward
restor/o
rebuild, put back, restore
recept/o
receive, receiver
recipi/o
receive, take to oneself
convalesc/o
recover, become strong
recuperat/o
recover, regain health
procto-
rectum
rect/o
rectum, straight
erythr/o
red
rube-
red
erythro-
red or red blood cell
erythroderma eh-RIH-throh-DER-ma
red skin
eosin/o
red, rosy
erythema
redness from Greek
RRR
regular rate and rhythm (normal heart rate)
hydr/o, hydra-
relating to water
cine-
relationship to movement
alg/e, algi/o, alg/o, algesi/o
relationship to pain
andr/o
relationship to the male
-apheresis
removal
-ectomy
removal
-pheresis
removal
excisional biopsy
removal of part of the leison
chemosurgery KEE-moh-SIR-juh-ree
removal of tissue that has been destroyed using chemicals chemo / surgery chemical / surgery
pyel/o
renal pelvis, bowl of kidney
contaminat/o
render unclean by contact, pollute
procreat/o
reproduce
prolifer/o
reproduce, bear offspring
-form, form/o
resembling, in the shape of
retin/o
retina, net
ROS
review of symptoms (anything not directly related to chief complaint
resuscit/o
revive
rhythm/o
rhythm
cost/o
rib
RA
right atrium
O.D.
right eye
dextr/o
right side
RV
right ventrical
tetan/o
rigid, tense
circ/i
ring or circle
tinnit/o
ringing, buzzing, tinkling
matur/o
ripe
pubert/o
ripe age, adult
rhabd/o
rod, rod-shaped
bacill/o
rod-shaped bacterium
volv/o
roll, turn
involut/o
rolled up, curled inward
crypt
room or vault hidden beneath floor corpses are placed
rhiz/o
root
rotat/o
rotate, revolve
cari/o
rottenness, decay
spher/o
round, sphere, ball
abrad/o, abras/o
rub or scrape off
dermabrasion der-mah-BRAY-zhun
rubbing or scraping away the outer surface of skin
borborygm/o
rumbling sound
prodrom/o
running ahead, precursor
syndrom/o
running together
Genetic/Hereditary
runs in family
-rrhexis
rupture
sacc/i, sacc/o
sac
cyst-
sac or bladder
sacr/o
sacrum
sell/o
saddle
Benign
safe
benign
safe
-ptyal/o
saliva
saliv/o
saliva
sial/o
saliva
sialaden/o
salivary gland
ipsi-
same
is/o
same, equal
hom/o
same, like, alike
home/o
sameness, unchanging, constant
squam/o
scale-like layer desquamation is removing dead skin
olig/o
scanty, few
scapul/o
scapula, shoulder blade
cicatric/o
scar
cicatrix (plural: cicatrices) SIK-ah-triks
scar from Latin, for scar
scler/o
sclera, white of eye, hard
thalass/o
sea
raph/o
seam, suture
crin/o, -crine
secrete
lactat/o
secrete milk
exocrin/o
secrete out of
endocrin/o
secrete within
gon/e, gon/o
seed
spor/o
seed, spore
vis/o
seeing, sight
-lepsy
seizure
aut/o
self
semin/i
semen, seed, sperm
vesicul/o
seminal vesicle, blister, little bladder
stol/o
send or place
-esthesia, esthesi/o
sensation, feeling
aesthet/o
sensation, sense of perception
sensitiv/o
sensitive to, affected by
excret/o
separate, discharge
ap-, apo-
separation, away from, opposed, detached
seros/o
serous
ser/o
serum
SARS
severe acute respiratory syndrome
libid/o, libidin/o
sexual drive, desire, passion
-pareunia
sexual intercourse
vener/o
sexual intercourse
erot/o
sexual love
STD
sexually transmitted disease
opac/o, opacit/o
shaded, dark, impenetrable to light
vill/i
shaggy hair, tuft of hair
concuss/o
shaken together, violently agitated
trem/o
shaking, trembling
morph/o
shape, form
lenticul/o
shaped like a lens, pertaining to a lens
-iform
shaped or formed like, resembling
communic/o
share, to make common
acu/o
sharp, severe, sudden
acuit/o, acut/o
sharp, sharpness
thec/o
sheath
-lemma
sheath, covering
decidu/o
shedding, falling off
conch/o
shell
brachy-
short
brev/i, brev/o
short
SOB
shortness of breath
om/o
shoulder
clus/o
shut or close
occlud/o, occlus/o
shut, close up
later/o
side
ethm/o
sieve
sigmoid/o
sigmoid colon
-um
singular noun ending
-us
singular noun ending
sinus/o
sinus
skelet/o
skeleton
techn/o, techni/o
skill
cutane/o
skin
derma-, dermat/o, derm/o
skin
dermat or dermato
skin
dermat-
skin
dermia
skin
dermatosis der-mah-TOH-sis
skin condition
dermopathy der-MAW-pa-thee
skin disease
scale SKAYL Material on Skin Surface
skin flaking off
petechi/o
skin spot
xenograft ZEE-noh-graft
skin transplant taken from a species other than the patient's xeno / graft foreign / transplant
heterograft HEH-ter-oh-graft
skin transplant taken from a species other than the patient'shetero / graft different / transplant
homograft*
skin transplant taken from another member of the patient's species (homo, because it is from a similar species, and allo, because it is from another person) homo / graft (allo / graft) similar / transplant (other / transplant)
cori/o
skin, leather
crani/o
skull
obliqu/o
slanted, sideways
hypn/o
sleep
somn/i, somn/o
sleep
sopor/o
sleep
gracil/o
slender
laps/o
slip, fall, slide
-listhesis
slipping
brady-
slow
micr/o, micro-
small
papule on rash
small bump (under 1 cm)
Vesicle on rash VEH-sih-kul Elevated, Fluid-Filled
small bump (under 1 cm) filled with clear liquid a smaller blister
enter/o
small intestine
-ule
small one
macule, macula (freckle) MA-kyool, MAW-koo-lah Flat, Nonpalpable
small, flat discolored area from Latin, for spot or stain
-ula
small, little
lepto-
small, soft
minor/o
smaller
mio-
smaller, less
minim/o
smallest, least
-osmia
smell, odor
olfact/o
smell, sense of smell
leiomy/o
smooth (visceral) muscle
rhonc/o
snore, snoring
stert/o
snore, snoring
glen/o
socket or pit
Na
sodium
natr/o
sodium
macerate MAS-ir-ayt
soften the skin
plant/i, plant/o
sole of foot
ster/o
solid structure
stere/o
solid, three-dimensional
-sol
solution
symptom
something a patient feels
embol/o
something inserted or thrown in
plasm/o
something molded or formed
Marked
something that stands out
ulcer/o
sore, ulcer
ech/o
sound
son/o
sound
san/o
sound, healthy, sane
phon/o, -phonia
sound, voice
sanit/o
soundness, health
scintill/o
spark
-phasia
speak or speech
-ian
specialist
-iatrist
specialist
-ician
specialist
-ologist
specialist
phas/o
speech
sperm/o, spermat/o
sperm, spermatozoa, seed
sphen/o
sphenoid bone, wedge
cocc/i, cocc/o, -coccus
spherical bacteria
arachn/o
spider web, spider
rachi/o
spinal column, vertebrae
myel/o
spinal cord, bone marrow
chord/o
spinal cord, cord
spin/o
spine, backbone
acanth/o
spiny, thorny
cochle/o
spiral, snail, snail shell
-ptysis
spitting
splen-
spleen
splen/o
spleen
-fida
split
bifid/o
split, divided into two parts
macul/o
spot
dilat/o, dilatat/o
spread out, expand
sput/o
sputum, spit
SCC
squamous cell carcinoma
strab/i
squint, squint-eyed
diastole/o
standing apart, expansion
staped/o, stapedi/o
stapes (middle ear bone)
astr/o
star, star-shaped
amyl/o
starch
-ancy
state of
localized
stays in a certain part of the body rash is limited to specific area
Localized
stays in certain part of body
steril/i
sterile
stern/o
sternum, the breastbone
adhes/o
stick to, cling to
visc/o
sticky
viscos/o
sticky
rigid/o
stiff
punct/o
sting, prick, puncture
sutur/o
stitch, seam
gastro-
stomach
gastr/o
stomach, belly
lith/o, -lith
stone, calculus
calcul/o
stone, little stone
-pause
stopping
orth/o
straight, normal, correct
xen/o
strange, foreign
atop/o
strange, out of place
-sthenia
strength
distend/o, distent/o
stretch apart, expand
tens/o
stretch out, extend, strain
ectasia, -ectasis
stretching, dilation, enlargement
rhabdomy/o
striated muscle
percuss/o
strike, tap, beat
monil/i
string of beads, genus of parasitic mold or fungus
striat/o
stripe, furrow, groove
-ium
structure, tissue
-logy
study of
carot/o
stupor, sleep
SC
subcutaneous
SQ
subcutaneous
subcut
subcutaneous
SC
subcutaneous (under skin
absorpt/o
suck up, suck in
paroxysm/o
sudden attack
-spasm, spasmod/o
sudden involuntary contraction, tightening, or cramping
sacchar/o
sugar
sucr/o
sugar
thio-
sulfur
-pexy
surgical fixation
-desis
surgical fixation of bone or joint, to bind, tie together
-syndesis
surgical fixation of vertebrae
-centesis
surgical puncture to remove fluid
-centesis
surgical puncture to remove fluid or tissue
-pexy
surgical reattachment
-ectomy
surgical removal, cutting out, excision
-plasty
surgical repair
-rrhaphy
surgical suturing
-ostomy
surgically creating an opening
peri-
surrounding, around
deglutit/o
swallow
diaphor/o
sweat
hidr-
sweat
hidr/o
sweat
sudor/i
sweat
hidrosis
sweating sweat formation
glycer/o
sweet
orgasm/o
swell, be excited
-edema
swelling
-dema
swelling (fluid)
edem-, edemat/o
swelling, fluid, tumor
urticaria ur-tih-KAR-ee-ah
swollen raised itchy areas of the skin from Latin, for burning nettle
xiph/i, xiph/o
sword
compatibil/o
sympathize with
Sx
symptom
synovi/o, synov/o
synovial membrane, synovial fluid
syphil/i, syphil/o
syphilis
intussuscept/o
take up or receive within
autograft AW-toh-graft
taken from a different place on patients body
tars/o
tarsus (ankle bone), instep, edge of the eyelid
insipid/o
tasteless
dacry-
tear duct
dacry/o
tear, lacrimal duct (tear duct)
lacrim/o
tear, tear duct, lacrimal duct
T
temperature
tempor/o
temporal bone, temple
deca-, deci-
ten, tenth
diur/o, diuret/o
tending to increase urine output
tendin/o
tendon
ten/o, tend/o
tendon, stretch out, extend, strain
ton/o
tension, tone, stretching
didym/o
testes, twins, double
test/i, test/o
testicle, testis
orch/o, orchid/o, orchi/o
testicles, testis, testes
thalam/o
thalamus, inner room
etiology
the cause
prognosis
the chances for things getting better or worse
hidropoiesis hih-droh-poh-EE-sis
the formation of sweat
lent/i
the lens of the eye
onycholysis AW-nih-KAWL-ih-sis
the loss of a nail onycho / lysis nail / loose
nuch/o
the nape
pathogen
the organism that causes the problem
telangiectasia (spider angioma) tel-an-jee-ek-TAY-zhuh
the overexpansion of the end of a blood vessel; sometimes called a spider angioma because of how it looks on the skin tel / angi / ectasia end / blood vessel / expansion
oxy/o
the presence of oxygen in a compound
-graphy
the process of producing a picture or record
morbidity
the risk for being sick
mortality
the risk for dying
-ology
the science or study of
interstiti/o
the space between things
phlegm/o
thick mucus
scleronychia skleh-raw-NIH-kee-ah
thickening and hardening of the nails scler / onych / ia hard / nail / condition
pachyo-
thickness
lept/o
thin, slender
-us
thing, singular noun ending
dips/o, -dipsia
thirst
tri-
three
TID
three times a day
TID
three times daily
jugul/o
throat
pharyng-
throat
pharyng/o
throat, pharynx
palpit/o
throbbing, quivering
dia-
through, between, apart, complete
ejaculat/o
throw or hurl out
pollic/o
thumb
thym/o
thymus gland, soul
thyro-
thyroid
thyr/o, thyroid/o
thyroid gland
TSH
thyroid stimulation hormone
tibi/o
tibia (shin bone)
sphincter/o
tight band
chron/o
time
hist/o, histi/o
tissue
-necrosis
tissue death
necrosis neh-KROH-sis
tissue death necr / osis death / condition
degeneration
to be getting worse
pher/o
to bear or carry
par/o
to bear, bring forth, labor
-phoria
to bear, carry, feeling, mental state
spir/o
to breathe
aspir/o, aspirat/o
to breathe in
-tripsy
to crush
incision and drainage (I&D) in-SIH-zhun and DRAY-nij
to cut into a wound to allow trapped infected liquid to drain in / cision in / cut
Oriented
Being aware of self, time, place
Malignant
Dangerous; a problem
Lethargic
Decrease in level of consciousness; indication the patient is really sick
Dx
Diagnosis
DDx
Differential diagnosis
lesion
Disseased tissue
Transverse
Divides body from top to bottom
Coronal
Divides the body into slices from front and back
EENT
Ear Eyes Nose Throat
EKG
Electro Cardiogram
ED
Emergency Department
ER
Emergency Room
ECU
Emergency care unit
Antral/Anterior/ventral
Front
GT
Gastrostomy tube
delt/o
Greek letter delta, triangular shape
sigm/o
Greek letter sigma
alopecia a-loh-PEE-sha
Hair loss/baldness from Greek, for fox
Ht
Height
Hx
History
HPI
History of present illness
ICU
Intensive care unit
Exacerbation
It is getting worse
L&D
Labor and delivery
Progressive
More and more each day
Idipathic
No known specific cause
Malaise
Not feeling well
Noncontributory
Not related to specific problem
OR
Operating Room
PAthogen
Organism that caused problem
PTT
Partial thromboplastin time
PMHx
Past medical history
PICU
Pediatric intensive care unit
PE
Physical exam
PACU
Post-anesthesia care unit
Prophylaxis
Preventive treatment
Urticaria
Rash appearing as hives
RR
Respiratory rate
SOA
Shortness of air
SICU
Surgical intensive care unit
Dorsal/Posterior
The back
Morbidity
The risk for being sick
Mortality
The risk for dying
Febrile
To have a fever
Auscultation
To listen
Afebrile
To not have a fever
Supportive care
To treat symptoms and make patient feel better
Medial
Toward middle
Cranial
Toward the top
TD
Transdermal
Observation
Watch, keep eye on
Wt
Weight
WDWN
Well developed, well nourished
diagnosis
What health care prof thinks patient has
catabol/o
a breaking down
-phage
a cell that destroys, eat, swallow
coit/o
a coming together
cyanidrosis sai-yan-ih-DROH-sis
Blue Sweat condition cyan= blue idr= sweat osis= condition
CVL
Central venous line
Prognosis
Chances of getting better or worse
CC
Chief Complaint
Proximal
Closer to center
CCU
Cornary care unit
Post-Op
After surgery
A&O
Alert and oriented
Abrupt
All of the sudden
Systemic/generalized
All over the body
bartholin/o
Bartholin's gland
Pre-Op
Before surgery
Abscess AB-ses away/go Elevated, Fluid-Filled
*a localized collection of pus in the body* -larger pustule (large bump filled with pus) *Note:* The reason this word means going away is because in ancient times, it was believed that the harmful humors of the body would "go away" from the body via pus leaking from an abscess.
QID
4 times a day
Sequelae
A problem resulting from disease or injury
Alert
Able to answer questions;interactive