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) |