ROOT WORDS

Root Words	Meaning	Example
A
Abdomin	abdomen	abdominal
Acanth	thorny, spiny	acanthaceous
Acetabul	acetabulum (hip socket)	acetabulum
Acou	hearing	acoustic
Acr	extremities; height	acral
Actin	ray; radius	actinic
Aden	gland	adenocarcinoma
Adenoid	adenoids	adenoiditis
Adren	adrenal gland	adrenal
Adrenal	adrenal gland	adrenalectomy
Aer	air; gas	aerate
Albumin	albumin	albuminaturia
Algesi	pain	analgesia
Alveoli	alveolus	alveolitis
Ambly	dull; dim	amblyopia
Amni	amnion	amniocele
Amnion	amnion	amnionic
Amyl	starch	amylose
An	anus	anus
Andr	male	androgen
Angi	vessel	angina
Anis	unequal; dissimilar	anisothenic
Ankyl	crooked; bent; fused	ankylosed
Antr	antrum (cavity, chamber)	antrum
Aort	aorta	aortic
Aponeur	aponeurosis	aponeurotic
Appendic	appendix	appendicitis
Arche; Archi	first; beginning	archecentric
Arteri	artery	arteriography
Arteriol	arteriole (small artery)	arteriolosclerosis
Arthr	joint	arthritis
Articul	joint	articulation
Atel	imperfect; incomplete	atelectasis
Ather	yellowish; fatty plaque	atherosclerosis
Atri	atrium (chamber)	atrioventricular
Aur	ear	aural
Aut	self	autoantibody
Axill	armpit	axilla
Azot	urea; nitrogen	azotemia

Root Words	Meaning	Example
B
Bacteri	bacteria	bacterial
Balan	glans penis	balanitis
Bi	life	biology
Bil	bile	biliary (duct)
Blast	developing cell	blastoctye
Blephar	eyelid	blepharoplasty
Brachi	arm	brachial (artery)
Bronch	bronchus	bronchitis
Bronchiol	bronchiole	bronchiole
Bucc	cheek	buccal
Burs	bursa (cavity)	bursitis

Root Words	Meaning	Example
C
Calc	calcium	calcium
Cancer	cancer	cancer
Carcin	cancer	carcinoma
Cardi	heart	cardiac
Carp	carpals (wrist bones)	carpal tunnel
Caud	tail; toward the lower part of the body	caudal
Cec	cecum	cecal
Celi	abdomen (abdominal cavity)	celioenterotomy
Cephal	head	cephalad
Cerebell	cerebellum	cerebellar
Cerebr	cerebrum, brain	cerebromedullary
Cerumin	cerumen (earwax)	ceruminal
Cervic	cervix	cervical
Cheil	lip	cheilitis
Chir	hand	chirality
Chol	gall; bile	cholecystectomy
Cholangi	bile duct	cholangitis
Choledoch	common bile duct	choledochitis
Chondr	cartilage	chondral
Chori	chorion	chorioretinal
Chrom	color	chromatogenous
Clavic	clavicle (collarbone)	clavicle
Clavicul	clavicle (collarbone)	clavicular
Col	colon	colonitis
Colp	vagina	colposcopy
Coni	dust	coniosis
Conjunctiv	conjunctiva	conjunctivitis
Cor	pupil	corectasis
Core	pupil	corectasis
Corne	cornea	corneal
Coron	heart	coronary
Cortic	cortex (outer layer of body organ)	cortical
Cost	rib	costicervical
Crani	cranium (skull)	cranial
Cry	cold	cryotherapy
Crypt	hidden	cryptic
Culd	culdesac	culdesac
Cutane	skin	subcutaneous
Cyan	blue	cyanotic
Cyes	pregnancy	cyesis
Cyst	bladder; sac	cystic
Cyt	cell	cytology

Root Words	Meaning	Example
D
Dacry	tear, tear duct	dacryoadenitis
Dactyl	fingers or toes	dactylolysis
Dent	tooth	dentition
Derm	skin	dermis
Dermat	skin	dermatology
Dextr	right	ambidextrous
Diaphor	sweat	diaphoresis
Diaphragmat	diaphragm	diaphragmatitis
Dipl(o)	two; double	diploid
Dips	thirst	dipsosis
Disk	intervertebral disk	diskectomy
Diverticul	diverticulum	diverticulitis
Dors	back (of the body)	dorsal
Duoden	duodenum	duodenal
Dur	hard; dura mater	dural
Dynam	power or strength	dynamogenic

Root Words	Meaning	Example
E
Ech	sound	echocardiogram
Ectop	located away from usual place	ectopic (pregnancy)
Electr	electricity, electrical activity	electrocardiogram
Embry	embryo; to be full	embryonic
Emmetr	a normal measues	emmetropia
Encephal	brain	encephalitis
Endocrin	endocrine	endocrinosis
Enter	intestines	enteritis
Epididym	epididymis	epididymal
Epiglott	epiglottis	epiglottiditis
Episi	vulva	episiotomy
Epitheli	epithelium	epithelial
Erythr	red	erythematous
Esophag	esophagus	esophagocele
Esthesi	sensation, sensitivity, feeling	anesthesia
Eti	cause (of disease)	etiology

Root Words	Meaning	Example
F
Faci	face	facioplasty
Femor	femur (upper leg bone)	femoral
Fet	fetus; unborn child	fetal
Fibr	fibrous tissue, fibers	fibroma
Fibul	fibula (lower leg)	fibular

Root Words	Meaning	Example
G
Gangli	ganglion	ganglia
Ganglion	ganglion	ganglionated
Gastr	stomach	gastritis
Ger	old age; aged	geriatric
Geront	old age; aged	gerontology
Gingiv	gum	gingivitis
Glomerul	glomerulus	glomerulonephritis
Gloss	tongue	glossoncus
Gluc	sweetness; sugar	glucose
Glyc	sugar	glycerin
Glycos	sugar	glycosamine
Gnath	jaw	gnathitis
Gnos	knowledge	gnosis
Gon	seed	gonad
Gravid	pregnancy	gravida
Gyn	woman	gynopathic
Gynec	woman	gynecology

Root Words	Meaning	Example
H
Hem	blood	hemoglobin
Hemat	blood	hematocrit
Hepat	liver	hepatitis
Herni	hernia	herniated
Heter	other	heterosexual
Hidr	sweat	hidradenoid
Hist	tissue	histology
Hom	same	homogeneous
Home	sameness; unchanging	homeostasis
Humer	humerus (upper arm bone)	humerus
Hydr	water	hydrate, dehydrate
Hymen	hymen	hymen
Hypn	sleep	hypnogenic
Hyster	uterus	hysterectomy

Root Words	Meaning	Example
I
Iatr	medicine; physician	iatrogenic
Ichthy	fish	icthyoid
Ile	ileum	ileotomy
Ili	ilium	iliosacral
Immune	immune	immunodeficiency
Iri	iris	iritoectomy
Irid	iris	iritis
Is(o)	equal; same	isocellular
Isch	deficiency; blockage	ischemia
Ischi	ischium	ischiorectal

J
Jejun	jejunum	jejunotomy

Root Words	Meaning	Example
K
Kal	potassium	hypokalemia
Kary	nucleus	karyon
Kerat	cornea	keratotomy
Kerat	horny tissue; hard	keratosis
Kin	movement	kinesis
Kinesi	movement; motion	kinesiology
Kyph	hump	kyphosis

Root Words	Meaning	Example
L
Labi	lips	labium
Labyrinth	labyrinth	labyrinthitis
Lacrim	tear duct, tear	lacrimal
Lact	milk	lactation
Lamin	lamina (thin; flat plate or layer)	laminar
Lapar	abdomen	laparoscopy
Laryng	larynx	laryngitis
Later	side	lateral
Lei	smooth	leiomyoma
Leuk	white	leukemia
Lingu	tongue	lingual
Lip	fat	lipid
Lith	stone; calculus	lithotripsy
Lob	lobe	lobular
Lord	bent forward	lordosis
Lymph	lymph	lymphoma

Root Words	Meaning	Example
M
Macr	abnormal largeness	macromolecular
Mamm	breast	mammary
Mandibul	mandible (lower jawbone)	mandibular
Mast	breast	mastitis
Mastoid	mastoid	mastoidotomy
Maxilla	maxilla (upper jawbone)	maxillary
Meat	meatus (opening)	meatus
Melan	black	melanoma
Men	menstruation	menstrual
Mening	meninges	meningitis
Menisci	meniscus (crescent)	meniscus
Ment	mind	mental
Metr	uterus	metroptosis
Mon(o)	one	monoparesis
Morph(o)	form; shape	morphology
Muc	mucus	mucosal
My	muscle	myasthenia
Myc	fungus	mycete
Myel	bone marrow; spinal cord	myeloma
Myelon	bone marrow; spinal cord	myelonic
Myos	muscle	myostroma

Root Words	Meaning	Example
N
Narc	stupor	narcotic
Nas	nose	nasal
Nat	birth	prenatal
Necr	death (cells; body)	necrosis
Nephr	kidney	nephritis
Neur	nerve	neuropathy
Noct	night	nocturnal
Nyct	night	nycterine
Nyctal	night	nyctalopia

Root Words	Meaning	Example
O
Ocul	eye	ocular
Olig	scanty; few	oliguria
Omphal	umbilicu; navel	omphaloma
Onc	tumor	oncology
Onych	nail	onychogenic
Oo	egg; ovum	oocyte
Oophor	ovary	oophorectomy
Ophthalm	eye	ophthalmology
Opt	vision	optical
Or	mouth	oral
Orch	testis; testicle	orchilytic
Orchi	testis; testicle	orchiectomy
Orchid	testis; testicle	orchidoncus
Organ	organ	organic
Orth	straight	orthodontist
Oste	bone	osteoporosis
Ot	ear	otitis
Ov	egg	ovum
Ox	oxygen	oxidation

Root Words	Meaning	Example
P
Pachy	thick	pachycephalic
Palat	palate	palatoplegia
Pancreat	pancreas	pancreatic
Papill	nipple	papillary
Par	bear; give birth to; labor	para
Parathyroid	parathyroid gland	parathyroidoma
Part	bear; give birth to; labor	postpartum
Patell	patella (kneecap)	patellectomy
Path	disease	pathology
Pector	chest	pectoralgia
Ped	child; foot	pediatrics/pedal
Pelv	pelvis; pelvic bone	pelvic
Perine	perineum	perineum
Peritone	peritoneum	peritoneal
Petr	stone	petrous
Phac	lens of the eye	phacolysis
Phag	eat; swallow	dysphagia
Phak	lens of the eye	phakomatosis
Phalang(o)	pharynx	phalangeal
Phas	speech	aphasia
Phleb(o)	vein	phlebitis
Phot	light	photokinetic
Phren	mind	phrenology
Physi	nature	physiology
Plasm	plasma	plasmacyte
Pleur	pleura	pleuracentesis
Pneum(o)	lung; air	pneumogastric
Pneumat	lung; air	pneumathemia
Pneumon	lung; air	pneumonia
Pod	foot	podiatry
Poikil(o)	varied; irregular	poikiloblast
Poli(o)	gray matter	polioclastic
Polyp	polyp; small growth	polypathia
Poster	back (of body)	posterior
Prim	first	primary
Proct	rectum	proctology
Prostat	prostate gland	prostatitis
Pseud	fake; false	pseudopolyp
Psych	mind	psychiatry
Pub	pubis	pubic
Puerper	childbirth	puerperal
Pulmon	lung	pulmonary
Pupil	pupil	pupil
Py	pus	empyema
Pyel	renal pelvis	pyelogram
Pylor	pylorus (pyloric sphincter)	pylorostomy
Pyr	fever; heat	pyrogenic

Root Words	Meaning	Example
Q
Quadr	four	quadruplets

Root Words	Meaning	Example
R
Rachi(o)	vertebra; spinal or vertebral column	rachiocentesis
Radi	radius (lower arm bone)	radius
Radic	nerve root	radiculopathy
Radicul	nerve root	radicular
Rect(o)	rectum	rectocele
Ren	kidney	renal
Retin	retina	retinosis
Rhabd	rodshaped, striated	rhabditis
Rhin(o)	nose	rhinitis
Rhiz(o)	nerve root	rhizoneure
Rhytid	wrinkles	rhytidoplasty

Root Words	Meaning	Example
S
Salping(o)	fallopian (uterine) tube	salpingitis
Sarc(o)	flesh; connective tissue	sarcocele
Scapula	scapula (shoulder bone)	scapular
Sclera	sclera	sclerectomy
Scoli	crooked, curved	scoliosis
Seb	sebum (oil)	sebaceous
Sept(o)	septum (dividing wall; partition)	septum
Sial	saliva	salivary
Sigmoid	sigmoid	sigmoidoscopy
Sinus	sinus	sinusitis
Somat(o)	body	somatometry
Somn	sleep	insomnia
Son	sound	sonogram
Sperm	spermatozoan; sperm	spermiduct
Spermat	spermatozoan; sperm	spermatorrhea
Sphygm	pulse	sphygmomenometer
Spir	breathe; breathing	transpiration
Spleen	spleen	spleen
Spondyl(o)	vertebra; spinal or vertebral column	spondylosis
Staped	stapes (middle ear bone)	stapedial
Staphyl(o)	grapelike clusters	staphylococcus
Stern	sternum (breastbone)	sternal
Steth	chest	stethoscope
Stomat(o)	mouth	stomatoplasty
Strept(o)	twisted chains	streptococcus
Synovi	synovia; synovial membrane	synovial
System	system	systemic

Root Words	Meaning	Example
T
Tars	tarsals (ankle bones)	metatarsal
Tars(o)	edge of eyelid; tarsal (instep of foot)	tarsitis
Ten	tendon	tendon
Tend	tendon	tendotomy
Tendin	tendon	tendinitis
Test	testis; testicle	testicular
Therm(o)	heat	thermal
Thorac	thorax (chest)	thoracic
Thromb(o)	clot	thrombus
Thym(o)	thymus gland	thymolysis
Thyr	thyroid gland	thyroid
Thyroid	thyroid gland	thyroiditis
Tibi	tibia (lower leg bone)	tibial
Tom(o)	cut; section	tomography
Ton	tension, pressure	tonicity
Tonsil	tonsils	tonsillitis
Top(o)	place	topographic
Toxic	poison	toxic
Trache(o)	trachea	tracheobronchial
Trachel(o)	neck; necklike	trachelitis
Trich	hair	trichoid
Tympan	eardrum; middle ear	tympanic membrane

Root Words	Meaning	Example
U
Uln	ulna (lower arm bone)	ulnar
Ungu	nail	ungual
Ur	urine; urinary tract	urinary
Ureter(o)	ureter	ureteroplasy
Urethr	urethra	urethrectomy
Urin	urine; urinary tract	urinalysis
Uter	uterus	intrauterine
Uvul	uvula	uvuloptosis

Root Words	Meaning	Example
V
Vagin	vagina	vaginal
Valv	valve	valvula
Valvul	valve	valvuloplasty
Vas(o)	vessel; duct	vasectomy
Ven	vein	venous
Ventricul	ventricle	ventricular
Vertebr(o)	vertebra; (spinal column)	costovertebral
Vesic(o)	bladder; sac	vesical
Vesicul(o)	seminal vesicles	vesiculation
Viscer(o)	internal organs	viscera
Vulv	vulva	vulvitis

W- There are no root words.

Root Words	Meaning	Example
X
Xanth	yellow	xanthoma
Xer(o)	dry	xerosis

Y- There are no root words.

Z- There are no root words.