GlobalRPh Medical Terminology Section- Letter P
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 P, and features medical roots, prefixes and suffixes. Introduction to Medical Terminology.
Medical Terminology - Letter P
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pachy-
heavy; thick
-pagus
conjoined twins
palat/o
palate (roof of mouth)
pale/o
old
pali-
recurrence, repetition
palliat/o
to soothe, relieve
palpebr/o
eyelid
palp/o, palpat/o
to touch gently
palpit/o
flutter, throbbing
pan-
all
pancreat/o
pancreas
pant/o
all, whole
papill/o
nipple-like; optic disc
papul/o
papule, pimple
par-
other than; abnormal
para-
near; beside; abnormal; apart from; along the side of
-para
to bear, bring forth (live births)
-parous
to bear, bring forth
parasit/o
parasite
parathyroid/o
parathyroid glands
-paresis
weakness
-pareunia
sexual intercourse
-partum
birth; labor
patell/a
patella
patell/o
patela
path/o
disease
-pathy
disease; emotion
pector/o
chest
pedicul/o
louse
ped/o
child; foot
pelv/i
pelvis; hip region
pelv/o
pelvis; hip region
pend/o
to hang
-penia
deficiency
-pepsia
digestion
per-
through
percuss/o
to tap
peri-
surrounding
perine/o
perineum
peritone/o
peritoneum
per/o
deformed, maimed
perone/o
fibula
perspir/o
breathe through
petr/o
stone, petrous region of temporal bone
-pexy
fixation; to put in place
phac/o
lens of eye
phag/o
eat; swallow
-phage
eat; swallow
-phagia
eating; swallowing
phak/o
lens of eye
phalang/o
phalanges (of fingers and toes)
phall/o
penis
phaner/o
visible, apparent
pharmac/o
drug
pharmaceut/o
drug
pharyng/o
throat (pharynx)
phas/o
speech
-phasia
speech
phe/o
dusky; dark
-pheresis
removal
phil/o
like; love; attraction to
-phil
attraction for
-philia
attraction for
phim/o
muzzle
phleb/o
vein
phob/o
fear
-phobia
fear
phon/o
voice; sound
-phonia
voice; sound
-phor/o
to bear
-phoresis
carrying; transmission
-phoria
to bear, carry; feeling (mental state)
phosphat/o
phosphate
phot/o
light
phren/o
diaphragm; mind
-phthisis
wasting away
-phylaxis
protection
phyl/o
race, species, type
physi/o
nature; function
physic/o
physical, natural
-physis
to grow
phys/o
air, gas
phyt/o
plant
-phyte
plant
picr/o
bitter
pies/i, -piesis
pressure
pil/o
hair
pimel/o
fat, fatty
pineal/o
pineal gland
pin/o
to drink
pituitar/o
pituitary gland
-plakia
plaque
plan/o
flat, level, wandering
plant/o
sole of the foot
plas/o
development; formation
-plasia
development; formation
-plasm
formation; structure
-plastic
pertaining to formation
-plasty
surgical repair
platy-
broad, flat
ple/o
more; many
-plegia
paralysis; palsy
-plegic
paralysis; palsy
pleur/o
pleura
plex/o
plexus; network (of nerves)
-pnea
breathing
pneum/o
lung; air; gas
pneumon/o
lung; air; gas
pod/o
foot
-poiesis
formation
-poietin
substance that forms
poikil/o
varied; irregular
pol/o
extreme
polio-
gray matter (of brain or spinal cord)
poly-
many; much
polyp/o
polyp; small growth
pont/o
pons ( a part of the brain)
por/o, -pore
opening, passageway
-porosis
condition of pores (spaces)
-posia
drinking
posit/o
arrangement, place
post-
after; behind
poster/o
back (of body); behind
-prandial
meal
-praxia
action
pre-
before; in front of
presby/o
old age
primi-
first
pro-
before; forward
proct/o
anus and rectum
pros-
before; forward
pros/o
forward, anterior
prosop/o
face
prostat/o
prostate gland
prot/o
first
prote/o
protein
proxim/o
near
prurit/o
itching
psamm/o
sand, sand-like material
pseudo-
false
psor/o
itching
psych/o
mind
psychr/o
cold
-pterygium
abnormality of the conjunctiva
-ptosis
droop; sag; prolapse; protrude
ptyal/o
saliva
-ptysis
spitting
pub/o
pubis (anterior part of hip bone)
pulmon/o
lung
puls/o, pulsat/o
to beat, beating
-puncture
to pierce a surface
pupill/o
pupil (dark center of eye)
purpur/i
purple
purul/o
pus
py/o
pus
pycn/o
thick, dense
pyel/o
renal pelvis
pyl/e
portal vein
pylor/o
pylorus; pyloric sphincter
pyr/o
fever; fire
pyret/o
fever
pyrex/o
fever
Word Building and Medical Terms beginning with the letter P
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P
More content is on its way... Check out the resources below.
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.
