Word Roots
This common veterinary word root means "heart."
What is cardi/ (or cardio/)?
This prefix means "above, excessive, or more than normal."
What is hyper-?
This incredibly common medical suffix means "inflammation."
What is -itis?
This directional term refers to the backside or top surface of a four-legged animal.
What is dorsal?
A Golden Retriever comes into the clinic with itchy, inflamed skin. Combining the root for skin and the suffix for inflammation, the vet tech charts this condition.
What is dermatitis?
If you are examining a patient's stomach, you are dealing with this root word.
What is gastr/ (or gastro/)?
This prefix means "below, deficient, or less than normal."
What is hypo-?
This suffix simply means "the study of."
What is -logy?
This term refers to the belly-side or underside of an animal.
What is ventral?
A cat's chart notes that it needs a surgical procedure to completely remove its ovaries and uterus. The tech knows this type of surgical removal uses this suffix.
What is an ectomy? (or Ovariohysterectomy / Spay)
This root word refers specifically to the skin.
What is derm/ (or dermat/)?
This prefix means "fast," often used to describe a rapid heart rate.
What is tachy-?
This suffix refers to a surgical removal or cutting out of a body part.
What is -ectomy?
This directional term means moving toward the animal's head.
What is cranial?
An animal's heart rate is dangerously slow during surgery. The monitor alerts the team to this specific medical condition.
What is bradycardia?
When a patient has a bone issue, the vet will use this root word.
What is oste/ (or osteo/)?
This prefix means "slow," often used to describe a sluggish heart rate or breathing pattern.
What is brady-?
This suffix means "disease" or "abnormal condition."
What is -pathy?
This directional term means moving toward the animal's tail.
What is caudal?
A dog swallowed a toy, and the vet needs to make a temporary surgical incision into the stomach to fish it out. The tech writes down this procedure name.
What is a gastrotomy?
This root word refers specifically to the kidneys.
What is nephr/ (or ren/)?
This prefix means "difficult, painful, or abnormal."
What is dys-?
This suffix means to make a surgical incision or to cut into an organ.
What is -otomy?
A cat is brought into the clinic with a wound on its front leg. The veterinarian tells you the injury is located distal to the elbow. This means you should look for the wound closer to this part of the leg.
What is the paw (or lower down the leg/away from the body)?
A puppy is brought to the back clinic because it is having highly visible, painful, and difficult breathing. The tech tells the vet the puppy is experiencing this.
What is dyspnea?