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Welcome to the MTWorld free information page on common medical
root words. This page on medical root words is designed to
be as comprehensive as possible and is provided as a free
resource for medical transcriptionists but can also be useful
for non medical transcriptionists and anyone in a related
healthcare or medical career field. We hope you find our common
medical root word page useful.
Root Words |
Meaning |
Example |
| A |
| TOP |
| Abdomin |
abdomen | abdominal |
| Acanth |
thorny, spiny | acanthaceous |
| Acetabul |
acetabulum (hip socket) | acetabulum |
| Acou |
hearing | acoustic |
| Acr |
extremities; height | acral |
| Actin |
ray; radius | actinic |
| Aden |
gland | adenocarcinoma |
| Adenoid |
adenoids | adenoiditis |
| Adren |
adrenal gland | adrenal |
| Adrenal |
adrenal gland | adrenalectomy |
| Aer |
air; gas | aerate |
| Albumin |
albumin | albuminaturia |
| Algesi |
pain | analgesia |
| Alveoli |
alveolus | alveolitis |
| Ambly |
dull; dim | amblyopia |
| Amni |
amnion | amniocele |
| Amnion |
amnion | amnionic |
| Amyl |
starch | amylose |
| An |
anus | anus |
| Andr |
male | androgen |
| Angi |
vessel | angina |
| Anis |
unequal; dissimilar | anisothenic |
| Ankyl |
crooked; bent; fused | ankylosed |
| Antr |
antrum (cavity, chamber) | antrum |
| Aort |
aorta | aortic |
| Aponeur |
aponeurosis | aponeurotic |
| Appendic |
appendix | appendicitis |
| Arche; Archi |
first; beginning | archecentric |
| Arteri |
artery | arteriography |
| Arteriol |
arteriole (small artery) | arteriolosclerosis |
| Arthr |
joint | arthritis |
| Articul |
joint | articulation |
| Atel |
imperfect; incomplete | atelectasis |
| Ather |
yellowish; fatty plaque | atherosclerosis |
| Atri |
atrium (chamber) | atrioventricular |
| Aur |
ear | aural |
| Aut |
self | autoantibody |
| Axill |
armpit | axilla |
| Azot |
urea; nitrogen | azotemia |
| B |
| TOP |
| Bacteri |
bacteria | bacterial |
| Balan |
glans penis | balanitis |
| Bi |
life | biology |
| Bil |
bile | biliary (duct) |
| Blast |
developing cell | blastoctye |
| Blephar |
eyelid | blepharoplasty |
| Brachi |
arm | brachial (artery) |
| Bronch |
bronchus | bronchitis |
| Bronchiol |
bronchiole | bronchiole |
| Bucc |
cheek | buccal |
| Burs |
bursa (cavity) | bursitis |
| C |
| TOP |
| Calc |
calcium | calcium |
| Cancer |
cancer | cancer |
| Carcin |
cancer | carcinoma |
| Cardi |
heart | cardiac |
| Carp |
carpals (wrist bones) | carpal tunnel |
| Caud |
tail; toward the lower part of the body | caudal |
| Cec |
cecum | cecal |
| Celi |
abdomen (abdominal cavity) | celioenterotomy |
| Cephal |
head | cephalad |
| Cerebell |
cerebellum | cerebellar |
| Cerebr |
cerebrum, brain | cerebromedullary |
| Cerumin |
cerumen (earwax) | ceruminal |
| Cervic |
cervix | cervical |
| Cheil |
lip | cheilitis |
| Chir |
hand | chirality |
| Chol |
gall; bile | cholecystectomy |
| Cholangi |
bile duct | cholangitis |
| Choledoch |
common bile duct | choledochitis |
| Chondr |
cartilage | chondral |
| Chori |
chorion | chorioretinal |
| Chrom |
color | chromatogenous |
| Clavic |
clavicle (collarbone) | clavicle |
| Clavicul |
clavicle (collarbone) | clavicular |
| Col |
colon | colonitis |
| Colp |
vagina | colposcopy |
| Coni |
dust | coniosis |
| Conjunctiv |
conjunctiva | conjunctivitis |
| Cor |
pupil | corectasis |
| Core |
pupil | corectasis |
| Corne |
cornea | corneal |
| Coron |
heart | coronary |
| Cortic |
cortex (outer layer of body organ) | cortical |
| Cost |
rib | costicervical |
| Crani |
cranium (skull) | cranial |
| Cry |
cold | cryotherapy |
| Crypt |
hidden | cryptic |
| Culd |
culdesac | culdesac |
| Cutane |
skin | subcutaneous |
| Cyan |
blue | cyanotic |
| Cyes |
pregnancy | cyesis |
| Cyst |
bladder; sac | cystic |
| Cyt |
cell | cytology |
| D |
| TOP |
| Dacry |
tear, tear duct | dacryoadenitis |
| Dactyl |
fingers or toes | dactylolysis |
| Dent |
tooth | dentition |
| Derm |
skin | dermis |
| Dermat |
skin | dermatology |
| Dextr |
right | ambidextrous |
| Diaphor |
sweat | diaphoresis |
| Diaphragmat |
diaphragm | diaphragmatitis |
| Dipl(o) |
two; double | diploid |
| Dips |
thirst | dipsosis |
| Disk |
intervertebral disk | diskectomy |
| Diverticul |
diverticulum | diverticulitis |
| Dors |
back (of the body) | dorsal |
| Duoden |
duodenum | duodenal |
| Dur |
hard; dura mater | dural |
| Dynam |
power or strength | dynamogenic |
| E |
| TOP |
| Ech |
sound | echocardiogram |
| Ectop |
located away from usual place | ectopic (pregnancy) |
| Electr |
electricity, electrical activity | electrocardiogram |
| Embry |
embryo; to be full | embryonic |
| Emmetr |
a normal measues | emmetropia |
| Encephal |
brain | encephalitis |
| Endocrin |
endocrine | endocrinosis |
| Enter |
intestines | enteritis |
| Epididym |
epididymis | epididymal |
| Epiglott |
epiglottis | epiglottiditis |
| Episi |
vulva | episiotomy |
| Epitheli |
epithelium | epithelial |
| Erythr |
red | erythematous |
| Esophag |
esophagus | esophagocele |
| Esthesi |
sensation, sensitivity, feeling | anesthesia |
| Eti |
cause (of disease) | etiology |
| F |
| TOP |
| Faci |
face | facioplasty |
| Femor |
femur (upper leg bone) | femoral |
| Fet |
fetus; unborn child | fetal |
| Fibr |
fibrous tissue, fibers | fibroma |
| Fibul |
fibula (lower leg) | fibular |
| G |
| TOP |
| Gangli |
ganglion | ganglia |
| Ganglion |
ganglion | ganglionated |
| Gastr |
stomach | gastritis |
| Ger |
old age; aged | geriatric |
| Geront |
old age; aged | gerontology |
| Gingiv |
gum | gingivitis |
| Glomerul |
glomerulus | glomerulonephritis |
| Gloss |
tongue | glossoncus |
| Gluc |
sweetness; sugar | glucose |
| Glyc |
sugar | glycerin |
| Glycos |
sugar | glycosamine |
| Gnath |
jaw | gnathitis |
| Gnos |
knowledge | gnosis |
| Gon |
seed | gonad |
| Gravid |
pregnancy | gravida |
| Gyn |
woman | gynopathic |
| Gynec |
woman | gynecology |
| H |
| TOP |
| Hem |
blood | hemoglobin |
| Hemat |
blood | hematocrit |
| Hepat |
liver | hepatitis |
| Herni |
hernia | herniated |
| Heter |
other | heterosexual |
| Hidr |
sweat | hidradenoid |
| Hist |
tissue | histology |
| Hom |
same | homogeneous |
| Home |
sameness; unchanging | homeostasis |
| Humer |
humerus (upper arm bone) | humerus |
| Hydr |
water | hydrate, dehydrate |
| Hymen |
hymen | hymen |
| Hypn |
sleep | hypnogenic |
| Hyster |
uterus | hysterectomy |
| I |
| TOP |
| Iatr |
medicine; physician | iatrogenic |
| Ichthy |
fish | icthyoid |
| Ile |
ileum | ileotomy |
| Ili |
ilium | iliosacral |
| Immune |
immune | immunodeficiency |
| Iri |
iris | iritoectomy |
| Irid |
iris | iritis |
| Is(o) |
equal; same | isocellular |
| Isch |
deficiency; blockage | ischemia |
| Ischi |
ischium | ischiorectal |
| J |
| TOP |
| Jejun |
jejunum | jejunotomy |
| K |
| TOP |
| Kal |
potassium | hypokalemia |
| Kary |
nucleus | karyon |
| Kerat |
cornea | keratotomy |
| Kerat |
horny tissue; hard | keratosis |
| Kin |
movement | kinesis |
| Kinesi |
movement; motion | kinesiology |
| Kyph |
hump | kyphosis |
| L |
| TOP |
| Labi |
lips | labium |
| Labyrinth |
labyrinth | labyrinthitis |
| Lacrim |
tear duct, tear | lacrimal |
| Lact |
milk | lactation |
| Lamin |
lamina (thin; flat plate or layer) | laminar |
| Lapar |
abdomen | laparoscopy |
| Laryng |
larynx | laryngitis |
| Later |
side | lateral |
| Lei |
smooth | leiomyoma |
| Leuk |
white | leukemia |
| Lingu |
tongue | lingual |
| Lip |
fat | lipid |
| Lith |
stone; calculus | lithotripsy |
| Lob |
lobe | lobular |
| Lord |
bent forward | lordosis |
| Lymph |
lymph | lymphoma |
| M |
| TOP |
| Macr |
abnormal largeness | macromolecular |
| Mamm |
breast | mammary |
| Mandibul |
mandible (lower jawbone) | mandibular |
| Mast |
breast | mastitis |
| Mastoid |
mastoid | mastoidotomy |
| Maxilla |
maxilla (upper jawbone) | maxillary |
| Meat |
meatus (opening) | meatus |
| Melan |
black | melanoma |
| Men |
menstruation | menstrual |
| Mening |
meninges | meningitis |
| Menisci |
meniscus (crescent) | meniscus |
| Ment |
mind | mental |
| Metr |
uterus | metroptosis |
| Mon(o) |
one | monoparesis |
| Morph(o) |
form; shape | morphology |
| Muc |
mucus | mucosal |
| My |
muscle | myasthenia |
| Myc |
fungus | mycete |
| Myel |
bone marrow; spinal cord | myeloma |
| Myelon |
bone marrow; spinal cord | myelonic |
| Myos |
muscle | myostroma |
| N |
| TOP |
| Narc |
stupor | narcotic |
| Nas |
nose | nasal |
| Nat |
birth | prenatal |
| Necr |
death (cells; body) | necrosis |
| Nephr |
kidney | nephritis |
| Neur |
nerve | neuropathy |
| Noct |
night | nocturnal |
| Nyct |
night | nycterine |
| Nyctal |
night | nyctalopia |
| O |
| TOP |
| Ocul |
eye | ocular |
| Olig |
scanty; few | oliguria |
| Omphal |
umbilicu; navel | omphaloma |
| Onc |
tumor | oncology |
| Onych |
nail | onychogenic |
| Oo |
egg; ovum | oocyte |
| Oophor |
ovary | oophorectomy |
| Ophthalm |
eye | ophthalmology |
| Opt |
vision | optical |
| Or |
mouth | oral |
| Orch |
testis; testicle | orchilytic |
| Orchi |
testis; testicle | orchiectomy |
| Orchid |
testis; testicle | orchidoncus |
| Organ |
organ | organic |
| Orth |
straight | orthodontist |
| Oste |
bone | osteoporosis |
| Ot |
ear | otitis |
| Ov |
egg | ovum |
| Ox |
oxygen | oxidation |
| P |
| TOP |
| Pachy |
thick | pachycephalic |
| Palat |
palate | palatoplegia |
| Pancreat |
pancreas | pancreatic |
| Papill |
nipple | papillary |
| Par |
bear; give birth to; labor | para |
| Parathyroid |
parathyroid gland | parathyroidoma |
| Part |
bear; give birth to; labor | postpartum |
| Patell |
patella (kneecap) | patellectomy |
| Path |
disease | pathology |
| Pector |
chest | pectoralgia |
| Ped |
child; foot | pediatrics/pedal |
| Pelv |
pelvis; pelvic bone | pelvic |
| Perine |
perineum | perineum |
| Peritone |
peritoneum | peritoneal |
| Petr |
stone | petrous |
| Phac |
lens of the eye | phacolysis |
| Phag |
eat; swallow | dysphagia |
| Phak |
lens of the eye | phakomatosis |
| Phalang(o) |
pharynx | phalangeal |
| Phas |
speech | aphasia |
| Phleb(o) |
vein | phlebitis |
| Phot |
light | photokinetic |
| Phren |
mind | phrenology |
| Physi |
nature | physiology |
| Plasm |
plasma | plasmacyte |
| Pleur |
pleura | pleuracentesis |
| Pneum(o) |
lung; air | pneumogastric |
| Pneumat |
lung; air | pneumathemia |
| Pneumon |
lung; air | pneumonia |
| Pod |
foot | podiatry |
| Poikil(o) |
varied; irregular | poikiloblast |
| Poli(o) |
gray matter | polioclastic |
| Polyp |
polyp; small growth | polypathia |
| Poster |
back (of body) | posterior |
| Prim |
first | primary |
| Proct |
rectum | proctology |
| Prostat |
prostate gland | prostatitis |
| Pseud |
fake; false | pseudopolyp |
| Psych |
mind | psychiatry |
| Pub |
pubis | pubic |
| Puerper |
childbirth | puerperal |
| Pulmon |
lung | pulmonary |
| Pupil |
pupil | pupil |
| Py |
pus | empyema |
| Pyel |
renal pelvis | pyelogram |
| Pylor |
pylorus (pyloric sphincter) | pylorostomy |
| Pyr |
fever; heat | pyrogenic |
| Q |
| TOP |
| Quadr |
four | quadruplets |
| R |
| TOP |
| Rachi(o) |
vertebra; spinal or vertebral column | rachiocentesis |
| Radi |
radius (lower arm bone) | radius |
| Radic |
nerve root | radiculopathy |
| Radicul |
nerve root | radicular |
| Rect(o) |
rectum | rectocele |
| Ren |
kidney | renal |
| Retin |
retina | retinosis |
| Rhabd |
rodshaped, striated | rhabditis |
| Rhin(o) |
nose | rhinitis |
| Rhiz(o) |
nerve root | rhizoneure |
| Rhytid |
wrinkles | rhytidoplasty |
| S |
| TOP |
| Salping(o) |
fallopian (uterine) tube | salpingitis |
| Sarc(o) |
flesh; connective tissue | sarcocele |
| Scapula |
scapula (shoulder bone) | scapular |
| Sclera |
sclera | sclerectomy |
| Scoli |
crooked, curved | scoliosis |
| Seb |
sebum (oil) | sebaceous |
| Sept(o) |
septum (dividing wall; partition) | septum |
| Sial |
saliva | salivary |
| Sigmoid |
sigmoid | sigmoidoscopy |
| Sinus |
sinus | sinusitis |
| Somat(o) |
body | somatometry |
| Somn |
sleep | insomnia |
| Son |
sound | sonogram |
| Sperm |
spermatozoan; sperm | spermiduct |
| Spermat |
spermatozoan; sperm | spermatorrhea |
| Sphygm |
pulse | sphygmomenometer |
| Spir |
breathe; breathing | transpiration |
| Spleen |
spleen | spleen |
| Spondyl(o) |
vertebra; spinal or vertebral column | spondylosis |
| Staped |
stapes (middle ear bone) | stapedial |
| Staphyl(o) |
grapelike clusters | staphylococcus |
| Stern |
sternum (breastbone) | sternal |
| Steth |
chest | stethoscope |
| Stomat(o) |
mouth | stomatoplasty |
| Strept(o) |
twisted chains | streptococcus |
| Synovi |
synovia; synovial membrane | synovial |
| System |
system | systemic |
| T |
| TOP |
| Tars |
tarsals (ankle bones) | metatarsal |
| Tars(o) |
edge of eyelid; tarsal (instep of foot) | tarsitis |
| Ten |
tendon | tendon |
| Tend |
tendon | tendotomy |
| Tendin |
tendon | tendinitis |
| Test |
testis; testicle | testicular |
| Therm(o) |
heat | thermal |
| Thorac |
thorax (chest) | thoracic |
| Thromb(o) |
clot | thrombus |
| Thym(o) |
thymus gland | thymolysis |
| Thyr |
thyroid gland | thyroid |
| Thyroid |
thyroid gland | thyroiditis |
| Tibi |
tibia (lower leg bone) | tibial |
| Tom(o) |
cut; section | tomography |
| Ton |
tension, pressure | tonicity |
| Tonsil |
tonsils | tonsillitis |
| Top(o) |
place | topographic |
| Toxic |
poison | toxic |
| Trache(o) |
trachea | tracheobronchial |
| Trachel(o) |
neck; necklike | trachelitis |
| Trich |
hair | trichoid |
| Tympan |
eardrum; middle ear | tympanic membrane |
| U |
| TOP |
| Uln |
ulna (lower arm bone) | ulnar |
| Ungu |
nail | ungual |
| Ur |
urine; urinary tract | urinary |
| Ureter(o) |
ureter | ureteroplasy |
| Urethr |
urethra | urethrectomy |
| Urin |
urine; urinary tract | urinalysis |
| Uter |
uterus | intrauterine |
| Uvul |
uvula | uvuloptosis |
| V |
| TOP |
| Vagin |
vagina | vaginal |
| Valv |
valve | valvula |
| Valvul |
valve | valvuloplasty |
| Vas(o) |
vessel; duct | vasectomy |
| Ven |
vein | venous |
| Ventricul |
ventricle | ventricular |
| Vertebr(o) |
vertebra; (spinal column) | costovertebral |
| Vesic(o) |
bladder; sac | vesical |
| Vesicul(o) |
seminal vesicles | vesiculation |
| Viscer(o) |
internal organs | viscera |
| Vulv |
vulva | vulvitis |
| X |
| TOP |
| Xanth |
yellow | xanthoma |
| Xer(o) |
dry | xerosis |
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