ANATOMY OF MEDICAL TERM
PREFIXES
ROOT WORDS
SUFFIXES
SURGICAL ABBREVIATIONS
100

CARRIES THE PRIMARY MEANING OF THE TERM; MAY STAND ALONE OR COMBINE WITH A PREFIX AND/OR SUFFIX

WHAT IS ROOT WORD?

100

A- , AN-

WHAT IS WITHOUT?

100

CARDIO

WHAT IS HEART?

100

INFLAMMATION

WHAT IS -ITIS?

100

ABBREVIATION FOR LUMBAR PUNCTURE

WHAT IS LP?

200

COMES AFTER THE ROOT; OFTEN SIGNALS A PROCEDURE, CONDITION, OR DISEASE PROCESS

WHAT IS SUFFIX?

200

DYS-

WHAT IS PAINFUL/DIFFICULT?

200

GASTRO

WHAT IS STOMACH?

200

SURGICAL REMOVAL

WHAT IS -ECTOMY?

200

ABBREVIATION FOR ANTERIER CRUCIATE LIGAMENT (REPAIR)

WHAT IS ACL?

300

COMES BEFORE THE ROOT; ALTERS OR MODIFIES THE ROOT'S MEANING 

WHAT IS PREFIX

300

HYPER-

HYPO-

WHAT IS ABOVE/EXCESSIVE?

WHAT IS BELOW/DEFICIENT?

300

ARTHRO

WHAT IS JOINT?

300

INCISION INTO

WHAT IS -OTOMY?

300

ABBREVIATION FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY

WHAT IS MIS?

400

A LETTER (USUALLY "O") INSERTED TO EASE PRONUNCIATION BETWEEN WORD ELEMENTS

WHAT IS A COMBINING VOWEL?

400

SUB-

WHAT IS UNDER, BENEATH?

400

RHINO

WHAT IS NOSE?

400

SURGICAL FIXATION

WHAT IS -PEXY?

400

ABBREVIATION OF OPEN REDUCTION INTERNAL FIXATION

WHAT IS ORIF?

500

HOW TO DECODE A MEDICAL TERM

WHAT IS SUFFIX -> BEGINNING -> MIDDLE?

500

TRANS-

WHAT IS ACROSS, THROUGH?

500

CYSTO

WHAT IS BLADDER?

500

TO SUTURE

WHAT IS -RRHAPHY?

500

ABBREVIATION FOR ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM (REPAIR)

WHAT IS AAA?

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