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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 ‘S’- prefixes and suffixes in medical terminology

GlobalRPh Medical Terminology Section- Letter S

Prefixes and Suffixes Medical Terminology beginning with S

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 S, and features medical roots, prefixes and suffixes. Introduction to Medical Terminology.


Medical Terminology - Letter S 

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sacchar/o

sugar

sacr/o

sacrum

salping/o

fallopian tube; auditory (eustachian) tube

-salpinx

fallopian tube; oviduct

sangu/i

blood

sanit/a

health

sapr/o

rotten, decay

sarc/o

flesh (connective tissue)

scapul/o

scapula; shoulder blade

-schisis

to split

schist/o

split, cleft

schiz/o

split

sinistr/o

left

scint/i

spark

scirrh/o

hard

scler/o

sclera (white of eye)

-sclerosis

hardening

scolec/o

worm

scoli/o

crooked; bent

-scope

instrument for visual examination

-scopy

visual examination

scot/o

darkness

seb/o

sebum

sebace/o

sebum

sect/o

to cut

semi-

half

semin/i

semen; seed

-sepsis

putrefaction

seps/o

infection

sept/o

partition

ser/o

serum, serous

seven

hepta-, sept-, septi-

sial/o

saliva

sialaden/o

salivary gland

sider/o

iron

sigmoid/o

sigmoid colon

silic/o

glass

sinus/o

sinus

-sis

state of; condition

sit/o

food

six

hex-, hexa-, sex-

skelet/o

skeleton

-sol

solution

somat/o

body

-some

body

somn/o

sleep

-somnia

sleep

son/o

sound

-spadia

to tear; cut

span/o

scanty, scarce

-spasm

sudden contraction of muscles

spectr/o

image, spectrum

sperm/o

spermatozoa; sperm cells

spermat/o

spermatozoa; sperm cells

sphen/o

wedge; sphenoid bone

spher/o

globe-shaped; round

sphygm/o

pulse

-sphyxia

pulse

splanchn/o

viscera (internal organs)

spin/o

spine (backbone)

spir/o

to breathe

splen/o

spleen

spondyl/o

vertebra (backbone)

squam/o

scale

-stalsis

contraction

staped/o

stapes (middle ear bone)

staphyl/o

clusters; uvula

-stabile

stable, fixed

-stalsis

contraction

staped/o

stapes

-stasis

to stop; control; place

-stat

device/instrument for keeping something stationary

-static

pertaining to stopping; controlling

steat/o

fat; sebum

sten/o

narrowed, constricted

-stenosis

tightening; stricture

ster/o

solid structure; steroid

stere/o

solid; three-dimensional

stern/o

sternum (breastbone)

steth/o

chest

-sthenia

strength

stich/o

rows

stigmat/o

mark, point

-stitial

to set; pertaining to standing or positioned

stomat/o

mouth

-stomia

condition of the mouth

-stomy

new opening (to form a mouth)

strept/o

twisted chains

-stroma

supporting tissue of an organ

styl/o

pole or stake

sub-

under; below

submaxill/o

mandible (lower jaw bone)

succ/o

juice

sud/o

sweat

super-

above, beyond

-suppression

to stop

supra-

above; upper

sym-

together; with

symptom/o

occurrence

syn-

together; with

synaps/o, synapt/o

point of contact, to join

syncop/o

to cut off, cut short; faint

syndesm/o

ligament

synov/o

synovia; synovial membrane; sheath around a tendon

syring/o

tube

system/o

system

systol/o

contraction

 

 

Word Building and Medical Terms beginning with the letter S

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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 ‘S’- prefixes and suffixes in medical terminology