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. |
dacryoadenitis
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dacry/o
1st Root Definition: tear
2nd Root Word: aden/o
2nd Root Word Definition: gland
Suffix: -itis
Suffix Definition: inflammation
Definition: inflammation of the lacrimal gland (gland that produces tears) |
dacryocystitis
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dacryocyst/o
1st Root Definition: tear sac; lacriman sac
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -itis
Suffix Definition: inflammation
Definition: inflammation of the tear sac |
dactylogy
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dactyl/o
1st Root Definition: fingers; toes
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -logy
Suffix Definition: study (process of)
Definition: process of communicating by signs made with the fingers (sign
language) |
dehydrate
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Prefix: de-
Prefix Definition: lack of; down; less; removal of
1st Root Word: hydr/o
1st Root Definition: water
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -ate
Suffix Definition: possessing; have the appearance or characteristics of
Definition: lack of water |
dentist
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dent/i
1st Root Definition: tooth
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -ist
Suffix Definition: specialist
Definition: specialist in the treatment that affect the teeth |
dermatitis
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dermat/o
1st Root Definition: skin
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -itis
Suffix Definition: inflammation
Definition: inflammation of the skin |
dermatologist
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dermat/o
1st Root Definition: skin
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -logist
Suffix Definition: specialist in the study of
Definition: specialist in the treatment of skin |
dermatology
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dermat/o
1st Root Definition: skin
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -logy
Suffix Definition: study (process of)
Definition: study of the skin |
dermatosis
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dermat/o
1st Root Definition: skin
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -osis
Suffix Definition: condition, usually abnormal
Definition: abnormal condition/disease of the skin |
dextrocardia
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dextr/o
1st Root Definition: right
2nd Root Word: cardi/o
2nd Root Word Definition: heart
Suffix: -ia
Suffix Definition: condition
Definition: condition where the heart points to the right instead of the left |
diagnosis
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Prefix: dia-
Prefix Definition: complete
1st Root Word: gnos/o
1st Root Definition: knowledge
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -osis
Suffix Definition: condition, usually abnormal
Definition: knowledge of identifying abnormal conditions; disease, illness |
dialysis
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Prefix: dia-
Prefix Definition: complete
1st Root Word:
1st Root Definition:
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -lysis
Suffix Definition: breakdown; separation; destruction; loosening
Definition: separation of particles (waste…) in a liquid |
diarrhea
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Prefix: dia-
Prefix Definition: complete
1st Root Word:
1st Root Definition:
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -rrhea
Suffix Definition: flow; discharge
Definition: condition of feces being discharged from the bowels in a liquid
form |
diploid
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dipl/o
1st Root Definition: double
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -oid
Suffix Definition: resembling; derived from
Definition: cell or nucleus containing two complete sets of chromosomes
derived from each parent |
diplopia
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dipl/o
1st Root Definition: double
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -opia
Suffix Definition: vision condition
Definition: vision condition of seeing double (double vision) |
diplosis
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dipl/o
1st Root Definition: double
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -osis
Suffix Definition: condition, usually abnormal
Definition: condition of cells having two homologous copies of each
chromosome |
dipsomania
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dips/o
1st Root Definition: thirst
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -mania
Suffix Definition: obsessive preoccupation
Definition: obsessive preoccupation of being thirsty for alcohol |
dissection
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Prefix: dis-
Prefix Definition: apart; to separate
1st Root Word: sect/o
1st Root Definition: to cut
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -ion
Suffix Definition: process
Definition: process of cutting (a body) apart |
distal
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dist/o
1st Root Definition: far; distant
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -al
Suffix Definition: pertaining to
Definition: pertaining to being distant from the center of the body or point
of attachment |
dorsad
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dors/o
1st Root Definition: back (of body)
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -ad
Suffix Definition: toward
Definition: toward the back |
dorsal
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dors/o
1st Root Definition: back (of body)
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -al
Suffix Definition: pertaining to
Definition: pertaining to the back |
dorcephalad
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Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: dors/o
1st Root Definition: back (of body)
2nd Root Word: cephal/o
2nd Root Word Definition: head
Suffix: -ad
Suffix Definition: toward
Definition: toward the back of the head |
dwarfism
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Prefix: dwarf-
Prefix Definition: short stature
1st Root Word:
1st Root Definition:
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -ism
Suffix Definition: process; condition
Definition: condition of being short in stature |
dysentery
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Prefix: dys-
Prefix Definition: bad; painful; difficult; abnormal
1st Root Word: enter/o
1st Root Definition: intestines
2nd Root Word: (usually small intestines)
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -y
Suffix Definition: condition; process
Definition: abnormal condition of the intestines |
dysfunction
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Prefix: dys-
Prefix Definition: bad; painful; difficult; abnormal
1st Root Word: funct/o
1st Root Definition: performance
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -ion
Suffix Definition: process
Definition: process of an abnormal performance of an organ or system |
dysgeusia
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Prefix: dys-
Prefix Definition: bad; painful; difficult; abnormal
1st Root Word:
1st Root Definition:
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -geusia
Suffix Definition: taste
Definition: abnormal sense of taste |
dyspepsia
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Prefix: dys-
Prefix Definition: bad; painful; difficult; abnormal
1st Root Word:
1st Root Definition:
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -pepsia
Suffix Definition: digestion
Definition: bad; painful; difficult; abnormal digestion |
dysphagia
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Prefix: dys-
Prefix Definition: bad; painful; difficult; abnormal
1st Root Word:
1st Root Definition:
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -phagia
Suffix Definition: eating; swallowing
Definition: difficult; painful when swallowing |
dysphasia
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Prefix: dys-
Prefix Definition: bad; painful; difficult; abnormal
1st Root Word:
1st Root Definition:
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -phasia
Suffix Definition: speech
Definition: abnormal speech behavior |
dysplasia
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Prefix: dys-
Prefix Definition: bad; painful; difficult; abnormal
1st Root Word:
1st Root Definition:
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -plasia
Suffix Definition: development; formation
Definition: abnormal formation; development of an organ or tissue |
dysthymia
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Prefix: dys-
Prefix Definition: bad; painful; difficult; abnormal
1st Root Word:
1st Root Definition:
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -thymia
Suffix Definition: mind (condition of)
Definition: abnormal condition of the mind (mild depression) |
