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