Medical Terminology Reference
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Use this reference to see how common medical terms are created using the various prefixes, suffixes, and root words. |
macroglossia
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Prefix: macro- Prefix Definition: large 1st Root Word: gloss/o 1st Root Definition: tongue 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -ia Suffix Definition: condition Definition: condition of having an enlarged tongue |
macrophage
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Prefix: macro- Prefix Definition: large 1st Root Word: 1st Root Definition: 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -phage Suffix Definition: eat; swallow Definition: form of white blood cells that consumes foreign material |
mammogram
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: mamm/o 1st Root Definition: breast 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -gram Suffix Definition: record Definition: photograph record of the breast made with X-rays |
mammoplasty
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: mamm/o 1st Root Definition: breast 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -plasty Suffix Definition: surgical repair Definition: plastic surgery of the breast |
mastectomy
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: mast/o 1st Root Definition: breast 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -ectomy Suffix Definition: removal; excision; resection Definition: surgical procedure to remove a breast |
mastopexy
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: mast/o 1st Root Definition: breast 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -pexy Suffix Definition: fixation; to put in place Definition: surgical procedure to change the shape of a breast (breast lift) |
medication
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: medic/o 1st Root Definition: to heal; healing 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -ation Suffix Definition: process; condition Definition: drug or other substance used to treat disease or injuries |
melanin
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: melan/o 1st Root Definition: black 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -in Suffix Definition: a substance; chemical; chemical compound Definition: dark pigment (hair; skin etc.) |
meningitis
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: mening/o 1st Root Definition: meninges (membranes covering the spinal cord and brain) 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -itis Suffix Definition: inflammation Definition: inflammation of the meninges |
menopause
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: men/o 1st Root Definition: menses; menstruation 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -pause Suffix Definition: to pause; discontinue Definition: discontinuation of menstruating |
menorrhagia
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: men/o 1st Root Definition: menses; menstruation 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -rrhagia Suffix Definition: bursting forth (of blood) Definition: abnormal heavy bleeding during menstruation |
merocrine
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: mer/o 1st Root Definition: part 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -crine Suffix Definition: secrete; separate Definition: discharged secretion that does not cause major injury to the secreting cell |
mesoderm
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Prefix: meso- Prefix Definition: middle 1st Root Word: 1st Root Definition: 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -derm Suffix Definition: skin Definition: middle layer of an embryo |
metacarpal
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: metacarp/o 1st Root Definition: metacarpals (hand bones) 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -al Suffix Definition: pertaining to Definition: pertaining to the bones of the hand |
methodical
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: method/o 1st Root Definition: procedure; technique 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -ical Suffix Definition: pertaining to Definition: pertaining to an established procedure; technique |
metrorrhagia
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: metr/o 1st Root Definition: uterus (womb) 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -rrhagia Suffix Definition: bursting forth (of blood) Definition: abnormal bleeding from the uterus |
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microcardia
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Prefix: micro- Prefix Definition: small 1st Root Word: cardi/o 1st Root Definition: heart 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -ia Suffix Definition: condition Definition: abnormal condition of a small heart |
microscope
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Prefix: micro- Prefix Definition: small 1st Root Word: 1st Root Definition: 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -scope Suffix Definition: instrument for visual examination Definition: instrument used for viewing very small objects |
microscopy
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Prefix: micro- Prefix Definition: small 1st Root Word: 1st Root Definition: 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -scopy Suffix Definition: visual examination Definition: visual examination using a microscope to view miniscule objects |
morphology
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: morph/o 1st Root Definition: shape; form 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -logy Suffix Definition: study (process of) Definition: study of forms of objects |
multiparous
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Prefix: multi- Prefix Definition: many 1st Root Word: 1st Root Definition: 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -parous Suffix Definition: to bear; bring forth (live births) Definition: one who has had more than one pregnancy ending with viable children |
myalgia
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: my/o 1st Root Definition: muscle 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -algia Suffix Definition: pain Definition: muscle pain |
myasthenia
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: my/o 1st Root Definition: muscle 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -asthenia Suffix Definition: lack of strength Definition: abnormal condition which causes weakness of certain muscles |
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mydriasis
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: mydr/o 1st Root Definition: wide 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -iasis Suffix Definition: abnormal condition Definition: abnormal dilation of the pupil of the eye |
myeloblast
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: myel/o 1st Root Definition: spinal cord; bone marrow 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -blast Suffix Definition: embryonic; immature cell Definition: immature cell of the bone marrow |
myoblast
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: my/o 1st Root Definition: muscle 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -blast Suffix Definition: embryonic; immature cell Definition: embryonic cell that turns into a cell of muscle fiber |
myoblastoma
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: my/o 1st Root Definition: muscle 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -blastoma Suffix Definition: immature tumor (cells) Definition: tumor comprised of immature muscle cells |
myorrhaphy
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: my/o 1st Root Definition: muscle 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -rrhaphy Suffix Definition: suture Definition: suture of a muscle |
myringotomy
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: myring/o 1st Root Definition: tympanic membrane (eardrum) 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -tomy Suffix Definition: process of cutting Definition: surgical incision into the eardrum to drain fluid or relieve pressure |
myxoma
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Prefix: Prefix Definition: 1st Root Word: myx/o 1st Root Definition: mucus 2nd Root Word: 2nd Root Word Definition: Suffix: -oma Suffix Definition: tumor; mass; fluid collection Definition: non-cancerous tumor of connective tissue that contains mucus |