Freshman Basic Terminology

Prefix 1

100

A-/An

Without, lack of (e.g. aseptic- without infection)

200

Hyper-

Excessive, above normal (e.g. hyerthermia- high body tempature)

300

Hypo-

Below normal, deficient (e.g. hypoglycemia-low blood sugar)

400

Slow (e.g. slow heart rate)

Brady-

500

Fast (e.g. fast breathing)

Tachy-

Suffix 1

100

-itis

Inflammation (e.g. arthritis- inflammation of the joints)

200

-ectomy

Surgical removal (e.g. removal of a kidney is nephrectomy)

300

-osis

Condition, usually abnormal (e.g. cirrhosis- abnormal liver condition)

400

-opathy

Disease (e.g. cardiomythopathy- heart disease)

500

Cutting, incision

-otomy (e.g. laparotomy- incision into the abdomen)

Prefix 2

100

Sub-

Below, under (e.g. subcutaneous- Under the skin)

200

Inter-

Between (e.g. intervertebral - between vertebrae)

300

Endo-

Inside, within (e.g. endoscope- a tool for viewing inside the body)

400

Ex-

Out of

500

E-

Away from (e.g. excision- removal of tissue)

Suffix 2

100

-phobia

Fear (e.g. zoophobia-fear of animals)

200

-emia

Blood condition (e.g. anemia- lack of red blood cells)

300

-graphy

Process of recording (e.g. radiography- process of taking X-rays)

400

Study of

-logy (e.g. veterinary pathology- study of diseases in animals)

500

Pertaining to

-al (e.g. cardic- pertaining to the heart)