Anatomical and Physiological Terminology: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes

Anatomical and Physiological Terminology

This study guide provides an organized overview of common prefixes, roots, and suffixes used in Anatomy and Physiology. Understanding these word parts is essential for interpreting medical and scientific terminology encountered in the study of the human body.

Word Roots and Their Meanings

Word roots form the foundation of many anatomical and physiological terms. Recognizing these roots can help students deduce the meanings of complex terms.

• corn-, cornu-: horn (e.g., corneum – outer layer of the skin; cornu – horn-shaped structure)

• corona: crown (e.g., coronal suture – a suture of the skull)

• corp-, corpus: body (e.g., corpus luteum – structure in the ovary)

• cortex: bark, outer layer (e.g., cerebral cortex – outer layer of the brain)

• cost-: rib (e.g., intercostal – between the ribs)

• cran-: skull (e.g., craniotomy – surgical opening of the skull)

• cyst-: bladder, sac (e.g., cystitis – inflammation of the urinary bladder)

• cyt-: cell (e.g., cytology – study of cells)

• derm-, dermato-: skin (e.g., dermis – deep layer of the skin)

• dent-, denti-: tooth (e.g., dentin – substance of the tooth)

• dendr-: tree, branch (e.g., dendrite – branched part of a neuron)

• di-: two, double (e.g., diaphragm – structure separating two areas)

• duct-: lead, draw (e.g., ductus deferens – tube carrying sperm)

• dur-: hard (e.g., dura mater – tough outer meningeal layer)

• ect-, ex-, exo-: outside, outer (e.g., exocrine – secreting externally)

• endo-, en-: within, inside (e.g., endocytosis – taking particles into a cell)

• erythr-: red (e.g., erythrocyte – red blood cell)

• gastr-: stomach (e.g., gastritis – inflammation of the stomach)

• glom-: ball (e.g., glomerulus – cluster of capillaries in the kidney)

• gloss-: tongue (e.g., glossopathy – disease of the tongue)

• gluc-, glyc-: sweet, sugar (e.g., gluconeogenesis – production of glucose from noncarbohydrate sources)

• glute-: buttock (e.g., gluteus maximus – largest muscle of the buttock)

• gon-, gono-: seed, offspring (e.g., gonads – sex organs)

• hepat-: liver (e.g., hepatitis – inflammation of the liver)

• hist-: tissue (e.g., histology – study of tissues)

• homo-, homeo-: same (e.g., homeostasis – maintenance of stable internal conditions)

• hydr-, hydro-: water (e.g., dehydration – loss of body water)

• hyper-: above, excessive (e.g., hypertension – high blood pressure)

• hypo-: below, deficient (e.g., hypodermic – beneath the skin)

• hyster-, hystero-: uterus (e.g., hysterectomy – removal of the uterus)

• ile-: intestine (e.g., ileum – last portion of the small intestine)

• inter-: between (e.g., intercellular – between cells)

• intra-: within (e.g., intracellular – inside the cell)

• iso-: equal, same (e.g., isotonic – equal tension or concentration)

• jugul-: throat (e.g., jugular vein – vein in the neck)

• karyo-: nucleus (e.g., karyotype – appearance of the cell nucleus)

• kerat-: horn (e.g., keratin – tough protein in skin and nails)

• kilo-: thousand (e.g., kilocalorie – 1000 calories)

• kin-, kines-: movement (e.g., kinetic energy – energy of motion)

Prefixes and Suffixes: Usage and Examples

Prefixes and suffixes modify the meaning of root words, providing additional information about location, quantity, condition, or process.

• bi-, di-: two, double (e.g., bicuspid – two-pointed; diaphragm – partition between two areas)

• epi-: upon, above (e.g., epidermis – outer layer of skin)

• peri-: around (e.g., pericardium – membrane around the heart)

• endo-: within (e.g., endocrine – secreting internally)

• exo-, ecto-: outside (e.g., exocrine – secreting externally; ectopic – out of place)

• inter-: between (e.g., intercostal – between the ribs)

• intra-: within (e.g., intracellular – within the cell)

• hypo-: below, less than (e.g., hypodermic – under the skin)

• hyper-: above, more than (e.g., hyperplasia – increased cell production)

• -itis: inflammation (e.g., hepatitis – inflammation of the liver)

• -ology: study of (e.g., cytology – study of cells)

• -oma: tumor, swelling (e.g., hematoma – swelling filled with blood)

• -osis: condition, usually abnormal (e.g., cyanosis – bluish discoloration due to lack of oxygen)

• -ectomy: removal (e.g., hysterectomy – removal of the uterus)

• -emia: blood condition (e.g., hypokalemia – low potassium in the blood)

Selected Examples and Applications

• Gluconeogenesis: The process of producing glucose from noncarbohydrate sources, such as amino acids and glycerol. This is important during fasting or intense exercise.

• Intercalated Discs: Specialized connections between cardiac muscle cells that facilitate synchronized contraction of the heart.

• Fenestrated Capillaries: Capillaries with small pores (fenestrae) that allow for increased exchange of substances between blood and tissues, found in organs like the kidneys and endocrine glands.

• Homeostasis: The maintenance of a stable internal environment in the body, crucial for normal physiological function.

• Hyaline Cartilage: A type of connective tissue with a glassy appearance, found in joints, the nose, and respiratory tract.

Table: Common Anatomical Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes

Word Part	Meaning	Example	Application
cyt-	cell	cytology	Study of cells
hepat-	liver	hepatitis	Inflammation of the liver
derm-	skin	dermatology	Study of the skin
oste-	bone	osteocyte	Bone cell
myo-	muscle	myopathy	Disease of muscle tissue
neuro-	nerve	neurology	Study of the nervous system
-itis	inflammation	arthritis	Inflammation of a joint
-ectomy	removal	appendectomy	Removal of the appendix
hyper-	above, excessive	hypertension	High blood pressure
hypo-	below, deficient	hypoglycemia	Low blood sugar

Additional info:

• Some terms in the original notes were fragmented or partially illegible; logical groupings and standard definitions have been provided for clarity.

• Understanding these word parts is foundational for mastering more complex anatomical and physiological vocabulary.