Basic 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 M, and features a med term prefix list along with roots and suffixes.
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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.
| macro- | large | |
| mal- | bad | |
| -malacia | softening | |
| malleol/o | malleolus | |
| mamm/o | breast | |
| mandibul/o | mandible (lower jaw bone) | |
| -mania | obsessive preoccupation | |
| -masesis | mastication, chewing | |
| mast/o | breast | |
| mastoid/o | mastoid process (behind the ear) | |
| maxill/o | maxilla (upper jaw bone) | |
| meat/o | meatus (opening) | |
| medi/o | middle | |
| medic/o | to heal, healing | |
| mediastin/o | mediastinum | |
| medi/o | middle | |
| medull/o | medulla (inner section); middle; soft, marrow | |
| mega- | large | |
| -megaly | enlargement | |
| melan/o | black | |
| mel/o | limb, limbs | |
| men/o | menses; menstruation | |
| mening/o | meninges (membranes covering the spinal cord & brain) | |
| meningi/o | meninges | |
| ment/o | mind; chin | |
| mer/o | part | |
| meso- | middle | |
| meta- | change; beyond | |
| metacarp/o | metacarpals (hand bones) | |
| metatars/o | metatarsals (foot bones) | |
| -meter | measure | |
| method/o | procedure, technique | |
| metr/o | uterus (womb); measure | |
| metri/o | uterus (womb) | |
| -metry | process of measuring | |
| mi/o | smaller; less | |
| micro- | small | |
| -mimesis | imitation, simulation | |
| -mimetic | mimic; copy | |
| -mission | to send | |
| -mnesia | memory | |
| mogi- | difficult | |
| mon/o | one; single | |
| morph/o | shape; form | |
| mort/o | death | |
| -mortem | death | |
| -motor | movement | |
| muc/o | mucus | |
| mucos/o | mucous membrane (mucosa) | |
| multi- | many | |
| muscul/o | muscle | |
| mut/a | genetic change | |
| mutagen/o | causing genetic change | |
| my/o | muscle | |
| myc/o | fungus | |
| mydr/o | wide | |
| myel/o | spinal cord; bone marrow | |
| myocardi/o | myocardium (heart muscle) | |
| myom/o | muscle tumor | |
| myos/o | muscle | |
| myring/o | tympanic membrane (eardrum) | |
| myx/o | mucus |
Additional Resources
Check out the following resources to support your learning and understanding of medical terminology:
- Quick Introduction– provides an overview and introduction to medical terminology.
- 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 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.
