GlobalRPh Medical Terminology Section- Letter L
Medical terminology is used to precisely describe the human body components, processes, illnesses, medical procedures, and pharmacology. Medical terms are used in the field of medicine, and clinical settings. This section deals with all med terms beginning with the letter L, and features medical roots, prefixes and suffixes. Introduction to Medical Terminology.
Medical Terminology - Letter L
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-labile
unstable, perishable
labi/o
lip
lacrim/o
tear; tear duct; lacrimal duct
lact/o
milk
lal/o, -lalia
speech, babble
lamin/o
lamina
lampr/o
clear
lapar/o
abdominal wall; abdomen
-lapse
to slide, fall, sag
laryng/o
larynx (voice box)
later/o
side
lecith/o
yolk, ovum
lei/o
smooth
leiomy/o
smooth (visceral) muscle
-lemma
sheath; covering
lepid/o
plakes, scales
lepr/o
leprosy
-lepsy
seizure
lept/o
thin, slender
-leptic
to seize, take hold of
leth/o
death
leuk/o
white
levo-
left
lex/o
word; phrase
-lexia
word; phrase
lien/o
spleen
ligament/o
ligament
ligat/o
binding, tying
lim/o
hunger
lingu/o
tongue
lip/o
fat; lipid
-lipsis
omit, fail
-listhesis
slippage e.g. vertebral slippage conditions
lith/o
stone, calculus
-(o)lithiasis
Compound suffix: condition or presence of stones
-lithotomy
incision (for removal) of a stone
lob/o
lobe
logad/o
whites of the eyes
-logist
specialist
log/o
study
-logy
study (process of)
loph/o
ridge
lord/o
curve; swayback
lox/o
oblique, slanting
-lucent
to shine
lumb/o
lower back; loin
lumin/o
light
lute/o
yellow
lux/o
to slide
lymph/o
lymph
ly/o
to dissolve, loosen
lymphaden/o
limph gland (node)
lymphangi/o
lymph vessel
-lysis
breakdown; separation; destruction; loosening
-lytic
to reduce, destroy, separate; breakdown
Word Building and Medical Terms beginning with the letter L
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L
labiodental
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: labi/o
1st Root Definition: lip
2nd Root Word: dent/i
2nd Root Word Definition: tooth
Suffix: -al
Suffix Definition: pertaining to
Definition: pertaining to a sound made with the lips and teeth
lactase
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: lact/o
1st Root Definition: milk
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -ase
Suffix Definition: enzyme
Definition: enzyme that breaks down milk sugar lactose into glucose
lactation
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: lact/o
1st Root Definition: milk
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -ion
Suffix Definition: process
Definition: process of secreting milk by the mammary glands
laparotomy
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: lapar/o
1st Root Definition: abdominal wall; abdomen
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -tomy
Suffix Definition: process of cutting
Definition: surgical incision into the abdominal cavity
leukemia
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: leuk/o
1st Root Definition: white
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -emia
Suffix Definition: blood condition
Definition: the body forming too many white blood cells; type of cancer
leukocyte
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: leuk/o
1st Root Definition: white
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -cyte
Suffix Definition: cell
Definition: white blood cells
leukopenia
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: leuk/o
1st Root Definition: white
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -penia
Suffix Definition: deficiency
Definition: deficiency of white cells in the blood
lipoid
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: lip/o
1st Root Definition: fat; lipid
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -oid
Suffix Definition: resembling; derived from
Definition: relating to resembling fat
liposuction
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: lip/o
1st Root Definition: fat; lipid
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -suction
Suffix Definition: removal
Definition: procedure to remove excess fat by suctioning under the skin
lithotomy
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: lith/o
1st Root Definition: stone; calculus
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -tomy
Suffix Definition: process of cutting
Definition: surgical procedure to remove a stone
lithotripsy
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: lith/o
1st Root Definition: stone; calculus
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -tripsy
Suffix Definition: to cut
Definition: process of breaking stones into small particles that can pass
in urine
lumbar
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: lumb/o
1st Root Definition: lower back; loin
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -ar
Suffix Definition: pertaining to
Definition: pertaining to the lower back; loin
lymphedema
Prefix:
Prefix Definition:
1st Root Word: lymph/o
1st Root Definition: lymph
2nd Root Word:
2nd Root Word Definition:
Suffix: -edema
Suffix Definition: swelling
Definition: accumulation of fluid causing swelling in an area of the body
Increasing your understanding of medical terminology
Additional references:
Word Building Reference- This resource strengthens your understanding of medical terminology. See how common medical terms are created using the various prefixes, suffixes, and root words.
Medical Terminology Intuitive Section 
This section was developed for 'speed learning' of medical terminology. Start by reviewing the meanings for a block of medical terms, and then go back and choose a previous term randomly and try to recall the meaning of that particular medical term before hovering over the term to determine the answer. These frequent mini-tests will accelerate the learning process and in a relatively short period of time, you will be able to quickly recall the meaning of all of the listed medical terms. This method of learning is superior to flash cards because of the frequent exposure and testing of your recall.
