Anatomy Word Roots

melan-

[black] melanin: Dark pigment produced by certain cells.

corac-

[a crow's beak] coracoid process: Beaklike process of the scapula.

gangli-

[a swelling] ganglion: Mass of neuron cell bodies.

-osis

[abnormal condition] leukocytosis: Condition in which white blood cells are overproduced.

hyper-

[above] hyperthyroidism: Condition resulting from an above-normal secretion of thyroid hormone

hyper-

[above] hypertonic: Solution that has a greater osmotic pressure than body fluids.

puber-

[adult] puberty: The time in life when a person becomes able to reproduce.

inter-

[among, between] intervertebral disc: Structure between vertebrae.

mons-

[an eminence] mons pubis: Rounded elevation overlying the pubic symphysis in a female.

peri-

[around] pericardial membrane: Membrane that surrounds the heart.

peri-

[around] peripheral nervous system: Portion of the nervous system that consists of nerves branching from the brain and spinal cord.

peri-

[around] peristalsis: Wavelike ring of contraction that moves material along the alimentary canal.

ax-

[axis] axial skeleton: Upright portion of the skeleton that supports the head, neck, and trunk.

ax-

[axis] axon: Cylindrical nerve fiber that carries impulses away from a neuron cell body.

dors-

[back] dorsal: Position toward the back.

pelv-

[basin] pelvic cavity: Basin-shaped cavity enclosed by the pelvic bones.

-gen

[be produced] allergen: Substance that evokes an allergic response

ventr-

[belly or stomach] ventricle: Fluid-filled space in the brain.

hypo-

[below] hypothyroidism: Condition resulting from a below-normal secretion of thyroid hormone.

hypo-

[below] hypotonic: Solution that has a lesser osmotic pressure than body fluids.

para-

[beside] parathyroid glands: Set of glands on the surface of the thyroid gland.

inter-

[between] intercalated disc: Band between adjacent cardiac muscle cells.

inter-

[between] intercalated disc: Membranous band that connects cardiac muscle cells.

inter-

[between] interphase: Stage between the end of one cell division and the beginning of the next.

bil-

[bile] bilirubin: Pigment excreted in the bile.

toc-

[birth] oxytocin: Hormone that stimulates the uterine muscles to contract during childbirth.

hema-

[blood] hematocrit: Percentage of red blood cells in a given volume of blood.

hemo-

[blood] hemoglobin: Pigment in red blood cells that transports oxygen and carbon dioxide.

hemo-

[blood] hemoglobin: Red pigment responsible for the color of blood.

-som

[body] ribosome: Tiny, spherical structure that consists of protein and RNA and functions in protein synthesis.

os-

[bone] osseous tissue: Bone tissue.

-clast

[break] osteoclast: Cell that breaks down bone tissue.

-blast

[bud] osteoblast: Cell that will form bone tissue.

chondr-

[cartilage] chondrocyte: Cartilage cell.

-zym

[causing to ferment] enzyme: Protein that speeds a chemical reaction without itself being consumed.

cyt-

[cell] cytoplasm: Fluid (cytosol) and organelles that occupy the space between the cell membrane and the nuclear envelope.

-cyt

[cell] osteocyte: Bone cell.

meta-

[change] metabolism: Chemical changes that occur within the body.

mut-

[change] mutation: Change in genetic information.

thromb-

[clot] thrombocyte: Blood platelet involved in the formation of a blood clot.

systol-

[contraction] systolic pressure: Blood pressure resulting from a single ventricular contraction.

cort-

[covering] renal cortex: Shell of tissues surrounding the inner kidney.

crist-

[crest] crista galli: Bony ridge that projects upward into the cranial cavity.

-tomy

[cutting] anatomy: Study of structure, which often involves cutting or removing body parts.

diastol-

[dilation] diastolic pressure: Blood pressure when the ventricle of the heart is relaxed.

patho-

[disease] pathogen: Disease-causing agent

-lyt

[dissolvable] electrolyte: Substance that releases ions in water.

cata-

[down] catabolism: Cellular processes that break larger molecules into smaller ones.

tympan-

[drum] tympanic membrane: Eardrum.

iso-

[equal] isotonic: Solution that has the same osmotic pressure as body fluids.

decidu-

[falling off] deciduous teeth: Teeth shed during childhood.

pseud-

[false] pseudostratified epithelium: Tissue with cells that appear to be in layers, but are not.

adip-

[fat] adipose tissue: Tissue that stores fat.

lip-

[fat] lipids: Group of organic compounds that includes fats.

sens-

[feeling] sensory neuron: Neuron that conducts impulses into the brain or spinal cord.

sarco-

[flesh] sarcoplasm: Material (cytoplasm) within a muscle fiber.

humor-

[fluid] humoral immunity: Immunity resulting from antibodies in body fluids

aliment-

[food] alimentary canal: Tubelike part of the digestive system.

immun-

[free] immunity: Resistance to (freedom from) a specific disease

fimb-

[fringe] fimbriae: Irregular extensions on the margin of the infundibulum of the uterine tube.

pyl-

[gatekeeper] pyloric sphincter: Muscle that serves as a valve between the stomach and small intestine.

vitre-

[glass] vitreous humor: Clear, jellylike substance within the eye.

-glia

[glue] neuroglia: Cells that support neurons; part of nervous tissue.

seb-

[grease] sebaceous gland: Gland that secretes an oily substance.

vill-

[hairy] villi: Tiny projections of mucous membrane in the small intestine.

-stasis

[halt] hemostasis: Arrest of bleeding from damaged blood vessels.

scler-

[hard] sclera: Tough, outer protective layer of the eye.

cardi-

[heart] pericardium: Membrane that surrounds the heart.

cran-

[helmet] cranial: Pertaining to the portion of the skull that surrounds the brain.

laten-

[hidden] latent period: Time between application of a stimulus and the beginning of a muscle contraction.

kerat-

[horn] keratin: Protein produced as epidermal cells die and harden.

-tropic

[influencing] adrenocorticotropic hormone: Hormone that influences secretions from the adrenal cortex.

intra-

[inside] intramembranous bone: Bone that forms within sheetlike masses of connective tissue.

plex-

[interweaving] choroid plexus: Mass of specialized capillaries associated with spaces in the brain.

glen-

[joint socket] glenoid cavity: Depression in the scapula that articulates with the head of a humerus.

chym-

[juice] chyme: Semifluid paste of food particles and gastric juice formed in the stomach.

condyl-

[knob] condyle: Rounded, bony process.

nod-

[knot] nodule: Small mass of lymphocytes surrounded by connective tissue

macr-

[large] macrophage: Large phagocytic cell.

strat-

[layer] stratified epithelium: Tissue with cells in layers.

labi-

[lip] labia minora: Flattened, longitudinal folds that extend along the margins of the female vestibule.

glom-

[little ball] glomerulus: Cluster of capillaries within a renal corpuscle.

hepat-

[liver] hepatic duct: Duct that carries bile from the liver to the bile duct.

-poie

[make, produce] erythropoietin: Hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells.

poie-

[make, produce] hematopoiesis: Process that forms blood cells.

andr-

[man] androgens: Male sex hormones.

poly-

[many] polyunsaturated: Molecule that has many double bonds between its carbon atoms.

labyrinth

[maze] labyrinth: Complex system of connecting chambers and tubes of the inner ear.

mening-

[membrane] meninges: Membranous coverings of the brain and spinal cord.

mens-

[month] menses: Monthly flow of blood from the female reproductive tract.

moto-

[moving] motor neuron: Neuron that stimulates a muscle to contract or a gland to secrete.

morul-

[mulberry] morula: Embryonic structure consisting of a solid ball of about sixteen cells that resembles a mulberry.

myo-

[muscle] myofibril: Contractile structure within a muscle cell.

umbil-

[navel] umbilical cord: Structure attached to the fetal navel (umbilicus) that connects the fetus to the placenta.

neutr-

[neither one nor the other] neutral: Solution that is neither acidic nor basic.

papill-

[nipple] papillary muscle: Small mound of muscle projecting into a ventricle of the heart.

papill-

[nipple] renal papillae: Small elevations that project into a renal calyx.

im-

[not] imbalance: Condition in which factors are not in equilibrium.

nutri-

[nourish] nutrient: Substance needed to nourish cells.

mono-

[one] monosaccharide: Compound whose molecule consists of a single sugar unit.

genesis-

[origin] spermatogenesis: Formation of sperm cells.

hetero-

[other, different] heterozygous: Condition in which the members of a gene pair are different.

exo-

[outside] exocrine gland: Gland that releases its secretion to the outside through a duct.

extra-

[outside] extracellular fluid: Fluid outside of the body cells.

hyper-

[over, more] muscular hypertrophy: Enlargement of muscle fibers.

meat-

[passage] auditory meatus: Canal of the temporal bone that leads inward to parts of the ear.

nephr-

[pertaining to the kidney] nephron: Functional unit of a kidney.

fov-

[pit] fovea capitis: Pit in the head of a femur.

lacun-

[pool] lacuna: Space between the chorionic villi that fills with maternal blood.

iris

[rainbow] iris: Colored, muscular part of the eye.

tachy-

[rapid] tachycardia: Abnormally fast heartbeat.

erythr-

[red] erythrocyte: Red blood cell.

pleur-

[rib] pleural membrane: Membrane that encloses the lungs and lines the thoracic cavity.

-lemm

[rind or peel] neurilemma: Sheath that surrounds the myelin of a nerve cell axon.

cric-

[ring] cricoid cartilage: Ring-shaped mass of cartilage at the base of the larynx.

hom-

[same, common] homozygous: Condition in which the members of a gene pair are the same.

homeo-

[same] homeostasis: Maintenance of a stable internal environment.

allant-

[sausage] allantois: Tubelike structure extending from the yolk sac into the connecting stalk of the embryo.

squam-

[scale] squamous epithelium: Tissue with flattened or scalelike cells.

de-

[separation from] dehydration: Removal of water from the cells or body fluids.

inflamm-

[set on fire] inflammation: Localized redness, heat, swelling, and pain in tissues

cribr-

[sieve] cribriform plate: Portion of the ethmoid bone with many small openings.

chorio-

[skin] chorion: Outermost membrane surrounding the fetus and its membranes.

derm-

[skin] dermis: Inner layer of the skin.

cut-

[skin] subcutaneous: Beneath the skin.

choroid

[skinlike] choroid coat: Middle, vascular layer of the eye.

brady-

[slow] bradycardia: Abnormally slow heartbeat.

follic-

[small bag] follicle: Ovarian structure that contains an egg.

follic-

[small bag] hair follicle: Tubelike depression in which a hair develops.

alveol-

[small cavity] alveolus: Microscopic air sac within a lung.

funi-

[small cord or fiber] funiculus: Major nerve tract or bundle of myelinated nerve cell axons in the spinal cord.

calyc-

[small cup] major calyces: Cuplike divisions of the renal pelvis.

cochlea

[snail] cochlea: Coiled tube in the inner ear.

calat-

[something inserted] intercalated disc: Membranous band that connects cardiac muscle cells.

-gram

[something written] electrocardiogram: Recording of the electrical changes in the myocardium during a cardiac cycle.

macula

[spot] macula lutea: Yellowish spot on the retina.

-stasis

[standing still] homeostasis: Maintenance of a stable internal environment.

tetan-

[stiff ] tetanic contraction: Sustained muscular contraction.

gastr-

[stomach] gastric gland: Part of the stomach that secretes gastric juice.

embol-

[stopper] embolism: Obstruction of a blood vessel.

-logy

[study of ] physiology: Study of body functions.

sacchar-

[sugar] monosaccharide: Molecule consisting of a single sugar unit.

glyc-

[sweet] glycogen: Complex carbohydrate composed of many glucose molecules bound together in a particular way.

lacri-

[tears] lacrimal gland: Tear gland.

mit-

[thread] mitosis: Process of cell division when threadlike chromosomes become visible within a cell.

nat-

[to be born] prenatal: Period of development before birth.

cleav-

[to divide] cleavage: Period of development when the zygote divides, producing increasingly smaller cells.

pino-

[to drink] pinocytosis: Process by which a cell takes in tiny droplets of liquid.

phag-

[to eat] phagocytosis: Process by which a cell takes in solid particles.

detrus-

[to force away] detrusor muscle: Muscle within the bladder wall that expels urine.

agglutin-

[to glue together] agglutination: Clumping of red blood cells.

append-

[to hang something] appendicular: Pertaining to the limbs.

diuret-

[to pass urine] diuretic: Substance that promotes urine production.

mict-

[to pass urine] micturition: Process of expelling urine from the urinary bladder.

-crin

[to secrete] endocrine: Pertaining to internal secretions.

ejacul-

[to shoot forth] ejaculation: Expulsion of semen from the male reproductive tract.

olfact-

[to smell] olfactory: Pertaining to the sense of smell.

syn-

[together] synapse: Junction between two neurons.

syn-

[together] syncytium: Mass of merging cells that act together.

syn-

[together] synergist: Muscle that works with a prime mover to produce a movement.

syn-

[together] synthesis: Process by which substances are united to form a new type of substance.

lingu-

[tongue] lingual tonsil: Mass of lymphatic tissue at the root of the tongue.

odont-

[tooth] odontoid process: Toothlike process of the second cervical vertebra.

dendr-

[tree] dendrite: Branched nerve cell process that serves as a receptor surface of a neuron.

trigon-

[triangle] trigone: Triangular area on the internal floor of the urinary bladder.

di-

[two] disaccharide: Compound whose molecules are composed of two sugar units bound together.

ana-

[up] anabolism: Cellular processes that use smaller molecules to build larger ones.

epi-

[upon] epidermis: Outer layer of the skin.

epi-

[upon] epiglottis: Flaplike structure that partially covers the opening into the larynx during swallowing.

epi-

[upon] epithelial tissue: Tissue that covers all free body surfaces.

acetabul-

[vinegar cup] acetabulum: Depression of the hip bone that articulates with the head of the femur.

pariet-

[wall] parietal membrane: Membrane that lines the wall of a cavity.

-troph

[well fed] muscular hypertrophy: Enlargement of muscle fibers.

troph-

[well fed] trophoblast: Cellular layer that surrounds the inner cell mass and helps nourish it.

leuko-

[white] leukocyte: White blood cell.

bronch-

[windpipe] bronchus: Primary branch of the trachea.

endo-

[within] endocrine gland: Gland that releases its secretion internally into a body fluid.

endo-

[within] endoplasmic reticulum: Complex of membranous structures within the cytoplasm.

intra-

[within] intracellular fluid: Fluid in body cells.

an-

[without] anaerobic respiration: Respiratory process that does not require oxygen.

erg-

[work] synergist: Muscle that works with a prime mover to produce a movement.

carp-

[wrist] carpals: Wrist bones.