G - Word Building Reference

Medical terminology is composed of a prefix, root word, and suffix:
Prefix: A prefix is placed at the beginning of a word to modify or change its meaning. Pre means "before." Prefixes may also indicate a location, number, or time.
Root: central part of a word.
Suffix: The ending part of a word that modifies the meaning of the word.
Additional resources: [Intro to med terms] [Med terms rules] [Med term reference] [Word building reference] [Practice Exams]

Medical Terminology Reference

Use this reference to see how common medical terms are created using the various prefixes, suffixes, and root words.

galactocele

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: galact/o
1st Root Definition: milk
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -cele
Suffix Definition: hernia; swelling
Definition: cyst containing milk or a milky substance

galactorrhea

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: galact/o
1st Root Definition: milk
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -rrhea
Suffix Definition: flow; discharge
Definition: abnormal flow; discharge of milk

gastritis

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gastr/o
1st Root Definition: stomach
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -itis
Suffix Definition: inflammation
Definition: inflammation of the lining of the stomach

gastrodynia

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gastr/o
1st Root Definition: stomach
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -dynia
Suffix Definition: pain
Definition: stomach pain

gastroenteritis

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gastr/o
1st Root Definition: stomach
2nd Root Word: enter/o
2nd Root Word Definition: intestines (usually small intestines)
Suffix: -itis
Suffix Definition: inflammation
Definition: inflammation of the stomach and intestines

gastroenterology

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gastr/o
1st Root Definition: stomach
2nd Root Word: enter/o
2nd Root Word Definition: intestines (usually small intestines)
Suffix: -logy
Suffix Definition: study (process of)
Definition: study of the stomach and intestines

gastromegaly

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gastr/o
1st Root Definition: stomach
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -megaly
Suffix Definition: enlargement
Definition: enlarged stomach

gastroscope

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gastr/o
1st Root Definition: stomach
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -scope
Suffix Definition: instrument for visual examination
Definition: instrument for visual examination of the stomach

gastrostomy

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gastr/o
1st Root Definition: stomach
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -stomy
Suffix Definition: new opening
Definition: opening into the stomach from the abdominal wall

geriatric

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: ger/o
1st Root Definition: old age
2nd Root Word: iatr/o
2nd Root Word Definition: physician; treatment
Suffix: -ic
Suffix Definition: pertaining to
Definition: pertaining to the treatment of an old person

gerontology

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: geront/o
1st Root Definition: old age
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -logy
Suffix Definition: study (process of)
Definition: study of old age; aging

geropsychiatric

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: ger/o
1st Root Definition: old age
2nd Root Word: psych/o
2nd Root Word Definition: mind
Suffix: -ic
Suffix Definition: pertaining to
Definition: pertaining to the mental health disorders of old age

geropsychology

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: ger/o
1st Root Definition: old age
2nd Root Word: psych/o
2nd Root Word Definition: mind
Suffix: -logy
Suffix Definition: study (process of)
Definition: study of the mental health disorders of old age

gingivitis

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gingiv/o
1st Root Definition: gum
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -itis
Suffix Definition: inflammation
Definition: inflammation of the gums

glaucoma

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: glauc/o
1st Root Definition: gray
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -oma
Suffix Definition: tumor; mass; fluid collection
Definition: abnormal pressure within the eyeball

glossology

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gloss/o
1st Root Definition: tongue
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -logy
Suffix Definition: study (process of)
Definition: study of the tongue and its diseases

glossophobia

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gloss/o
1st Root Definition: tongue
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -phobia
Suffix Definition: fear
Definition: fear of speaking in general or in public

glycolysis

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: glyc/o
1st Root Definition: glucose; sugar
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -lysis
Suffix Definition: breakdown; separation; destruction; loosening
Definition: breakdown of glucose in the process of cell metabolism

gnathodynamometer

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gnath/o
1st Root Definition: jaw
2nd Root Word: dynam/o
2nd Root Word Definition: power; strength
Suffix: -meter
Suffix Definition: measure
Definition: device to measure the force applied in closing the jaw

gnathodynia

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gnath/o
1st Root Definition: jaw
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -dynia
Suffix Definition: pain
Definition: jaw pain

gonorrhea

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gon/o
1st Root Definition: seed
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -rrhea
Suffix Definition: flow; discharge
Definition: venereal disease involving discharge from the vagina or urethra

gynecologist

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gynec/o
1st Root Definition: woman; female
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -logist
Suffix Definition: specialist in the study of
Definition: specialist in the treatment of females

gynecology

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gynec/o
1st Root Definition: woman; female
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -logy
Suffix Definition: study (process of)
Definition: study of treatment, diseases of females

gynecomastia

Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: gynec/o
1st Root Definition: woman; female
2nd Root Word: mast/o
2nd Root Word Definition: breast
Suffix: -ia
Suffix Definition: condition
Definition: condition of swelling breast tissue in males

Navigation

Check out the following resources to support your learning and understanding of medical terminology:

Quick Introduction– provides an overview and introduction to medical terminology.
Medical Terms – Prefixes, roots, suffixes – Alphabetical listing of Med Terms.
Medical Terms – Rules governing singular versus plural versions of medical terms are described.
Medical Terminology Exams– twenty new exams were created to test your knowledge of medical terminology.

Word building reference [ G ]

Alphabetical Listing (word building)