Word roots, prefixes and suffixes of anatomical terms :
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(Click here to take a 'Word Roots' quiz!)
Prefix/suffix | Example | Meaning |
---|---|---|
pachy- | Pachyderma | Thick |
palpebr- | Palpebra | Of or pertaining to the eyelid |
pan-, pant- | Panophobia | Complete, or containing everything |
papill- | Papillitis | Of or pertaining to the nipple |
papul- | Papulation | Small elevation or swelling in the skin |
para- | Alongside of, abnormal | |
-paresis | Hemiparesis | Slight paralysis |
parvo- | Parvovirus | Small |
patho- | Pathology | Disease |
-pathy | Sociopathy | A disease, or disorder |
pauci- | Pauci-immune | Few |
pector- | Pectoralgia | Breast |
ped-, -ped-, -pes | Pedoscope | Of or pertaining to the foot; -footed |
ped-, pedo- | Pediatrics | Of or pertaining to the child |
pelv- | Pelvis | Hip bone |
-penia | Osteopenia | Deficiency |
peo- | Peotomy | Of or pertaining to the penis |
-pepsia | Dyspepsia | Relating to digestion, or the digestive tract |
per- | Through | |
peri- | Periodontal | Surrounding, around |
-pexy | Nephropexy | Fixation |
phaco- | Phacolysis | Lens-shaped |
-phage, -phagia | Sarcophagia | Relating to eating or ingestion |
phag- | Phagocyte | Eating, devouring |
phagist-: | Lotophagi | Feeds on |
-phagy | Anthropophagy | Feeding on |
phallo- | Aphallia | Phallus |
pharmaco- | Pharmacology | Drug, medication |
pharyng- | Pharyngitis | Of or pertaining to the pharynx |
-phil | Hemophilia | Attraction for |
-phillic | Hydrophilic | To like |
phleb- | Phlebotomy | Of or pertaining to the veins, a vein |
-phobe | Photophobia | Fear of, aversion to |
-phobia | Arachnophobia | Exaggerated fear, sensitivity |
phon- | Phonograph | Sound |
phos- | Phosphene | Of or pertaining to light |
phot- | Photopathy | Of or pertaining to light |
phren- | Schizophrenia | The mind |
phyt- | Hydrophyte | To grow |
pilo- | Depilatory | Hair |
piri- | Piriformis muscle | Pear shaped |
-plasia | Achondroplasia | Formation, development |
-plasty | Rhinoplasty | Surgical repair, reconstruction |
-plegia | Paraplegia | Paralysis |
pleio- | Pleiomorphism | More, excessive, multiple |
pleur-, pleur | Pleurogenous | Of or pertaining to the ribs |
-plexy | Cataplexy | Stroke or seizure |
-pnea | Apnea | Breath |
pneumo- | Pneumonia | Of or pertaining to the lungs |
pneumat- | Air, lung | |
pod- | Podiatry | Of or pertaining to the foot |
-poiesis | Hematopoiesis | Production |
polio- | Poliomyelitis | A grey color |
poly- | Polymyositis | Plurality |
por- | Pore, porous | |
porphyr- | Porphyroblast | A purple color |
post- | Postmortem | After, or behind |
pre- | Prematurity | Before |
presby- | Presbyopia | Old age |
prim- | Primary | First, or most-important |
pro- | Procephalic | Before |
procto- | Proctology | Anus, rectum |
prosop- | Prosopagnosia | Face |
prot- | Protoneuron | First, or most important |
pseudo- | Pseudoephedrine | False, or fake |
psych-, psych | Psychology | Of or pertaining to the mind |
pterygo- | Lateral pterygoid plate | Pertaining to a wing |
psor- | Psoriasis | Itching |
-ptosis | Apoptosis | Falling, drooping |
-ptysis | Hemoptysis | Spitting |
pulmo- | Pulmonary | Of or relating to the lungs |
pyel- | Pyelonephritis | Pelvis |
pykno- | Pyknosis | To thicken |
pyo- | Pyometra | Pus |
pyro- | Antipyretic | Fever |
Resources :
In this section we've added a few alternative study aids to help you along.
- Articles - Here you'll find a range of short articles on basic anatomy and physiology topics, complete with a few 'test yourself' questions for each one.
- Images and pdf's - Just in case you get tired of looking at the screen we've provided images and pdf files that you can print out and use for 'off-line' practice.
- Word Roots - When you learn the word roots, prefixes and suffixes contained within anatomical and medical terms, you can often work out what they mean. This can be a useful skill as you progress in your studies, so we've provided a dictionary to help you!
- Games - Finally in the resources section, we've added some simple games to make anatomy and physiology practice a little bit more fun.