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Medical TERMINOLOGY

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]

Alphabetical Listing of Med Terms

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Med terms ‘L’- medical terms list

GlobalRPh Medical Terminology Section- Letter L

Prefixes and Suffixes Medical Terminology beginning with 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


Alphabetical Listing of Med Terms

a b c d e f g h i j k l m
n o p q r s t u v w x y z

 

 

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 hot-anim 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.


 

 

 

 

Med terms ‘L’- medical terms list