How the Unit 6 Word List Was Built
| Etymology | Prefix1 | Prefix2 | "Pre-Root" | Root Root | "Post-Root" | Suffix Word End | Word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greek akoustikos "pertaining to hearing" | acous | tic | acoustic | ||||
| aer | ot | itis | aerotitis | ||||
| ad → af | fer[re] | ent | afferent | ||||
| a | gnos | ia | agnosia | ||||
| a | kinet | opsia | akinetopsia | ||||
| Greek amblys, "blunt" + ops, "sight" | ambly | op | ia | amblyopia | |||
| ampulla | ampulla | ||||||
| a | myo | trophic | amyotrophic | ||||
| ana | stom | osis | anastomosis | ||||
| Greek aisthēsis, "feeling" | an | esthesi[o] | a | anesthesia | |||
| an | esthesio | logist | anesthesiologist | ||||
| Greek aneurysmos, "dilation" | aneurysm[os] | aneurysm | |||||
| an | irid | ia | aniridia | ||||
| Greek orexis, "appetite, desire" | an | orex | ia | anorexia | |||
| an | osm[e] | ia | anosmia | ||||
| anti | convuls[e] | ant | anticonvulsant | ||||
| anti | depress | ant | antidepressant | ||||
| anti | psycho | tic | antipsychotic | ||||
| anxio | lytic | anxiolytic | |||||
| a | path | y | apathy | ||||
| a | phak | ia | aphakia | ||||
| a | phas | ia | aphasia | ||||
| apo | neur | osis | aponeurosis | ||||
| arachn | oid | arachnoid | |||||
| arterio | scler | osis | arteriosclerosis | ||||
| asthen | opia | asthenopia | |||||
| a | stigmat | ism | astigmatism | ||||
| athero | scler | osis | atherosclerosis | ||||
| audio | gram | audiogram | |||||
| audio | logist | audiologist | |||||
| audio | metry | audiometry | |||||
| audit | ory | auditory | |||||
| aur | al | aural | |||||
| Greek autos, "self" + –ism | aut[os] | ism | autism | ||||
| auto | nom[y] | ic | autonomic | ||||
| axo | dendrit | ic | axodendritic | ||||
| axon | axon | ||||||
| axo | secret | ory | axosecretory | ||||
| axo | soma | tic | axosomatic | ||||
| basi[s] | l + ar | basilar | |||||
| bin | ocul | ar | binocular | ||||
| bi | pol[e] | ar | bipolar | ||||
| blepharo | edema | blepharedema | |||||
| blephar | itis | blepharitis | |||||
| blephro | conjunctiv | itis | blepharoconjunctivitis | ||||
| blepharo | plasty | blepharoplasty | |||||
| blepharo | plegia | blepharoplegia | |||||
| blepharo | ptosis | blepharoptosis | |||||
| blepharo | pyo | rrhea | blepharopyorrhea | ||||
| blepharo | spasm | blepharospasm | |||||
| blepharo | tomy | blepharotomy | |||||
| brain | brain | ||||||
| Greek bous, "ox" + limos, "hunger" (literally, "ox-hunger", i.e. ravenous hunger) | bulimia | ia | bulimia | ||||
| Latin "waterfall" | cataract | cataract | |||||
| cata | ton[o] | ia | catatonia | ||||
| caud[a] | ate | caudate | |||||
| ceph | algia | cephalgia | |||||
| cephalo | dynia | cephalodynia | |||||
| cerebell[o] | ar | cerebellar | |||||
| cerebell[o] | itis | cerebellitis | |||||
| cereb | ellum | cerebellum | |||||
| cerebr | al | cerebral | |||||
| cerebro | mening | itis | cerebromeningitis | ||||
| cerebro | pathy | cerebropathy | |||||
| cerebro | spin | al | cerebrospinal | ||||
| cerebro | tomy | cerebrotomy | |||||
| cerebro | vascul | cerebrovascular | |||||
| cerebr | cerebrum | ||||||
| Coined 1741 from Latin cera, "wax" + [bit]umen | cerumen | cerumen | |||||
| cerumino | lysis | ceruminolysis | |||||
| cerumino | lytic | ceruminolytic | |||||
| cerumin | oma | ceruminoma | |||||
| cerumin | osis | ceruminosis | |||||
| chemo | receptor | chemoreceptor | |||||
| Greek khorion, "membrane enclosing the fetus" | chor[ion] | oid | choroid | ||||
| Greek klonos, "violent" | clonus | clonus | |||||
| Latin cochlea, "snail shell" | cochlear | cochlear | |||||
| cochle | itis | cochleitis | |||||
| con | duct | ive | conductive | ||||
| Latin, short for membrana conjunctiva, because it forms a conjunction between the lids and the globe of the eye | conjunctiva | conjunctiva | |||||
| conjunctiv | itis | conjunctivitis | |||||
| Latin convulsus, "to pull this way and that" | convuls[e] | ion | convulsion | ||||
| corn[u] | ea | cornea | |||||
| cortico | spinal | corticospinal | |||||
| cranio | scler | osis | craniosclerosis | ||||
| syn | cranio | ost | osis | craniosynostosis | |||
| The ciliary body forms a ring, therefore cyclo | cyclo | kerat | itis | cyclokeratitis | |||
| cyclo | pleg | ia | cycloplegia | ||||
| cyclo | tomy | cyclotomy | |||||
| Greek dákru, "tear[drop]" | dacry/o | aden | algia | dacryoadenalgia | |||
| dacry/o | aden | ectomy | dacryoadenectomy | ||||
| dacry/o | aden | itis | dacryoadenitis | ||||
| Greek dákru, "tear[drop]" + Greek kústis, "cyst", "anatomical sac" | dacry/o | cyst | algia | dacryocystalgia | |||
| dacry/o | cyst | ectomy | dacryocystectomy | ||||
| dacry/o | cyst | itis | dacryocystitis | ||||
| dacryo | cysto | rhino | stomy | dacryocystorhinostomy | |||
| dacry/o | cysto | tomy | dacryocystotomy | ||||
| dacry/o | hemo | rrhea | dacryohemorrhea | ||||
| dacry/o | lith | dacryolith | |||||
| dacry/o | lith | iasis | dacryolithiasis | ||||
| dacry/o | pyo | rrhea | dacryopyorrhea | ||||
| dacry/o | rrhea | dacryorrhea | |||||
| dacry/o | stenosis | dacryostenosis | |||||
| Latin de + crescere, "to grow less" | decrement[um] | decrement | |||||
| Latin decussare, "form the letter X" (related to "decade" through Roman numeral X=10) | decussat[e] | ion | decussation | ||||
| Latin for "to plow outside the furrow" i.e. "to go off tracks" | de | lir[a] | ium | delirium | |||
| Latin de– + ment, "mind", i.e. out of one's mind | de | ment | ia | dementia | |||
| derma | tome | dermatome | |||||
| di | encephal | on | diencephalon | ||||
| dipl | opia | opia | diplopia | ||||
| dopa | [a]mine | dopamine | |||||
| dura | dura | ||||||
| dur[a] | itis | duritis | |||||
| dys | esthes | ia | dysesthesia | ||||
| dys | lex | ia | dyslexia | ||||
| dys | phas | ia | dysphasia | ||||
| dys | phor | is | dysphoria | ||||
| echo | encephalo | graphy | echoencephalography | ||||
| ec | trop | ion | ectropion | ||||
| ef | fer[re] | ent | efferent | ||||
| electro | encephalo | graphy | electroencephalography | ||||
| electro | physi | ology | electrophysiology | ||||
| embol | ism | embolism | |||||
| encephal[o] | itis | encephalitis | |||||
| encephalo | cele | encephalocele | |||||
| encephalo | gram | encephalogram | |||||
| encephalo | myel | itis | encephalomyelitis | ||||
| encephal/o | myel/o | neur/o | pathy | encephalomyeloneuropathy | |||
| encephalo | pathy | encephalopathy | |||||
| encephalo | py | osis | encephalopyosis | ||||
| end[o] | arter | ectomy | endarterectomy | ||||
| endo | lymph | endolymph | |||||
| endo | neur[o] | ium | endoneurium | ||||
| end | ophthalm | itis | endophthalmitis | ||||
| endo | vascul | ar | endovascular | ||||
| en | trop | ion | entropion | ||||
| e | nucle | ation | enucleation | ||||
| Greek epénduma, "upper garment" | ependym | al | ependymal | ||||
| epi | dur[a] | al | epidural | ||||
| Latin lepsis, "seizure" | epi | leps | y | epilepsy | |||
| epi | neur[o] | ium | epineurium | ||||
| Greek eso– "within" + –tropos, "turn" | eso | trop | ia | esotropia | |||
| eu | phor | ia | euphoria | ||||
| ex | ophthalmus | exophthalmus | |||||
| exo | trop | exotropia | |||||
| Latin, "outside, outward" | externus | externa | |||||
| extero | ceptor | exteroceptor | |||||
| fasc | icle | fascicle | |||||
| front | al | frontal | |||||
| gangli | oma | ganglioma | |||||
| ganglion | ganglion | ||||||
| ganglion | itis | ganglionitis | |||||
| Greek glaukommatos, "gray-eyed"; glaukoma, "cataract" | glaucoma | glaucoma | |||||
| Greek glossa or glotta, "tongue" + Greek pharanx, "cleft, chasm, gully, trench" | glosso | pharyng | eal | glossopharyngeal | |||
| gustat[e] | ion | gustation | |||||
| Greek gyros, "ring, circle" | gyrus | gyrus | |||||
| hemat[o] | oma | hematoma | |||||
| hemi | an | ops | ia | hemianopsia | |||
| hemi | pares | is | hemiparesis | ||||
| hemi | pleg | ia | hemiplegia | ||||
| hemo | rrhag[e] | hemorrhagic | |||||
| Latin, "tiny human being produced artificially" | homunculus | homunculus | |||||
| hydro | cephal[o] | us | hydrocephalus | ||||
| Greek ákousis, "hearing" | hyper | acusis | hyperacusis | ||||
| hyper | esthes | ia | hyperesthesia | ||||
| hyper | op | ia | hyperopia | ||||
| hyper | polar | ization | hyperpolarization | ||||
| hypno | tic | hypnotic | |||||
| hypo | acusis | hypoacusis | |||||
| hypo | gloss | al | hypoglossal | ||||
| Latin ictus, "strike, hit" | ictus | ictus | |||||
| Greek idios, "one's own" | idio | path | ic | idiopathic | |||
| in | somn[o] | ia | insomnia | ||||
| insula | insula | ||||||
| inter | ict[us] | al | interictal | ||||
| inter | neuron | interneuron | |||||
| inter/o | ceptor | interoceptor | |||||
| intra | cerebr[o] | al | intracerebral | ||||
| intra | ocul | ar | intraocular | ||||
| intra | vitre | al | intravitreal | ||||
| irid | algia | iridalgia | |||||
| irid | ectomy | iridectomy | |||||
| irid | emia | iridemia | |||||
| irido | cycl | ectomy | iridocyclectomy | ||||
| irido | cycl | itis | iridocyclitis | ||||
| irido | kerat | itis | iridokeratitis | ||||
| irido | pathy | iridopathy | |||||
| irido | tomy | iridotomy | |||||
| Greek iris, "rainbow" | iris | iris | |||||
| ir | itis | iritis | |||||
| Greek iskhein, "to hold" + haima, "blood" (also spelled ischæmia) | isch | [h]em[e] | ia | ischemia | |||
| isch | [h]em[e] | ic | ischemic | ||||
| kerat | algia | keratalgia | |||||
| kerat | itis | keratitis | |||||
| kerato | malacia | keratomalacia | |||||
| kerato | pathy | keratopathy | |||||
| kerato | plasty | keratoplasty | |||||
| kerato | tomy | keratotomy | |||||
| labyrinth | ectomy | labyrinthectomy | |||||
| labyrinth | itis | labyrinthitis | |||||
| labyrintho | tomy | labyrinthotomy | |||||
| lacrim | ation | lacrimation | |||||
| ligand | ligand | ||||||
| Latin lobus, "lobe" | lobe | lobe | |||||
| lob[o] | ectomy | lobectomy | |||||
| lobo | tomy | lobotomy | |||||
| macro | cephal[o] | y | macrocephaly | ||||
| mechano | receptor | mechanoreceptor | |||||
| medulla | medulla | ||||||
| mening | es | meninges | |||||
| meningi | oma | meningioma | |||||
| mening[o] | itis | meningitis | |||||
| meningo | cele | meningocele | |||||
| meningo | encephal | itis | meningoencephalitis | ||||
| meningo | pathy | meningopathy | |||||
| micro | cephal[o] | y | microcephaly | ||||
| micr | ot | ia | microtia | ||||
| mid | brain | midbrain | |||||
| Greek myein "to shut the eyes" + –osis | mi | osis | miosis | ||||
| miot | ic | miotic | |||||
| mono | pares | is | monoparesis | ||||
| mono | pleg | ia | monoplegia | ||||
| mono | synap[se] | tic | monosynaptic | ||||
| multi | pol[e] | ar | multipolar | ||||
| From Greek múdros, "mass of red hot material in a forge", maybe because of the eye glowing red when the pupil is dilated | mydriasis | asis | mydriasis | ||||
| mydriat | ic | mydriatic | |||||
| myel[o] | itis | myelitis | |||||
| myelo | cele | myelocele | |||||
| myelo | gram | myelogram | |||||
| myelo | malacia | myelomalacia | |||||
| myelo | meningo | cele | myelomeningocele | ||||
| myelo | pathy | myelopathy | |||||
| my | op | ia | myopia | ||||
| myo | tatic | myotatic | |||||
| myring | ectomy | myringectomy | |||||
| myring | itis | myringitis | |||||
| myringo | dermat | itis | myringodermatitis | ||||
| myringo | myc | osis | myringomycosis | ||||
| myringo | plasty | myringoplasty | |||||
| myringo | tomy | myringotomy | |||||
| narco | leps | y | narcolepsy | ||||
| naso | lacrim | al | nasolacrimal | ||||
| neur | algia | neuralgia | |||||
| neur[o] | asthen | ia | neurasthenia | ||||
| neur | ectomy | neurectomy | |||||
| neur[o] | itis | neuritis | |||||
| neuro | arthro | pathy | neuroarthropathy | ||||
| This term describes a "brain worm", a horrifying result of infection with tapeworms (commonly, the pork tapeworm Taenia solium). The tapeworm typically resides in a chamber made by the brain called a cysticercus, from the Greek words cyst/i–, "fluid-filled space" + –kérkos, "tall". | neuro | cysticerc[us] | osis | neurocysticercosis | |||
| neuro | dynia | neurodynia | |||||
| neuro | encephalo | myelo | pathy | neuroencephalomyelopathy | |||
| neuro | gen | ic | neurogenic | ||||
| neuro | glyco | penia | neuroglycopenia | ||||
| neuro | lysis | neurolysis | |||||
| neur[o] | oma | neuroma | |||||
| Greek neura, "nerve" + –on | neuron | neuron | |||||
| neuro | pathy | neuropathy | |||||
| Neuro + Latin pharmacia, Greek pharmakeia, "herb, medicine, potion" | neuro | pharmaco | logy | neuropharmacology | |||
| neur/o | phys/i/o | logy | neurophysiology | ||||
| neuro | plasty | neuroplasty | |||||
| neuro | rrhaphy | neurorrhaphy | |||||
| neuro | scler | osis | neurosclerosis | ||||
| neur[o] | osis | neurosis | |||||
| neur/o | surgery | neurosurgery | |||||
| neuro | tomy | neurotomy | |||||
| neuro | transmit | ter | neurotransmitter | ||||
| Latin nocere, "to hurt" | noci | [re]ceptor | nociceptor | ||||
| Greek "to nod away in sleep"; the drooping of the chin then snapping back into place while you are trying to listen to a boring lecture | nystagmus | nystagmus | |||||
| occiput | al | occipital | |||||
| oculo | myc | osis | oculomycosis | ||||
| oculo | pathy | oculopathy | |||||
| oculo | plasty | oculoplasty | |||||
| ophthalm | algia | ophthalmalgia | |||||
| ophthalm | ic | ophthalmic | |||||
| ophthalm | itis | ophthalmitis | |||||
| ophthalmo | logist | ophthalmologist | |||||
| ophthalm/o | my | itis | ophthalmomyitis | ||||
| ophthalmo | pathy | ophthalmopathy | |||||
| ophthalmo | plegia | ophthalmoplegia | |||||
| ophthalmo | scope | ophthalmoscope | |||||
| opt | ic | optic | |||||
| opto | kinet | ic | optokinetic | ||||
| opto | metr | ist | optometrist | ||||
| opto | my/o | meter | optomyometer | ||||
| Greek osmē, "smell, scent, odor" | osmo | receptor | osmoreceptor | ||||
| osteo | acusis | osteoacusis | |||||
| ot | algia | otalgia | |||||
| ot | itis | otitis | |||||
| oto | dynia | otodynia | |||||
| ot/o | laryng/o | logist | otolaryngologist | ||||
| oto | liths | otoliths | |||||
| ot/o | myc | osis | otomycosis | ||||
| oto | neuro | logist | otoneurologist | ||||
| oto | plasty | otoplasty | |||||
| ot/o | py/o | rrhea | otopyorrhea | ||||
| oto | rhino | laryngo | logist | otorhinolaryngologist | |||
| oto | rrhea | otorrhea | |||||
| oto | scler | osis | otosclerosis | ||||
| oto | scope | otoscope | |||||
| ot | oste | al | otosteal | ||||
| oto | tox | ic | ototoxic | ||||
| papill | edema | papilledema | |||||
| para | esthes | ia | paraesthesia | ||||
| Greek & Latin paralysis, Greek lyein, "loosen" | para | lysis | paralysis | ||||
| para | sym | path[os] | etic | parasympathetic | |||
| Greek páresis, "letting go, paralysis" | paresis | paresis | |||||
| pariet | al | parietal | |||||
| peri | lymph | perilymph | |||||
| peri | neur[o] | ium | perineurium | ||||
| Latin emulsionem, ex– + mulgere "to milk" (milk is an emulsion) | phaco | emulsif | ication | phacoemulsification | |||
| phaco | malacia | phacomalacia | |||||
| phaco | scler | osis | phacosclerosis | ||||
| phaco | scope | phacoscope | |||||
| phak | itis | phakitis | |||||
| phon | asthen | ia | phonasthenia | ||||
| phot | on | photon | |||||
| photo | phob | ia | photophobia | ||||
| photo + p | ic | photopic | |||||
| photo | receptor | photoreceptor | |||||
| plex | us | plexus | |||||
| Greek polios, "gray"; named because of the inflammation of the spinal cord | polio | myel[o] | itis | poliomyelitis | |||
| poly | neur[o] | itis | polyneuritis | ||||
| poly | neuro | pathy | polyneuropathy | ||||
| post | central | postcentral | |||||
| post | ganglion | ic | postganglionic | ||||
| post | ict[us] | al | postictal | ||||
| post | synap[se] | tic | postsynaptic | ||||
| pre | central | precentral | |||||
| pre | front | al | prefrontal | ||||
| pre | ganglion | ic | preganglionic | ||||
| pre | ict[us] | al | preictal | ||||
| pre | motor | premotor | |||||
| presby | acusis | presbycusis | |||||
| presby | op | ia | presbyopia | ||||
| pre | synap[se] | tic | presynaptic | ||||
| Latin pro– + pag, "to fasten"; reproduce one's kind | pro | pag | ate | propagate | |||
| propri[us] | [re]ceptor | proprioceptor | |||||
| Greek prosopon, "face" + a, "not" + gnosis, "knowing" | a | prosop | gnos | ia | prosopagnosia | ||
| pseud | esthes | ia | pseudesthesia | ||||
| psych | iatrist | psychiatrist | |||||
| psych | iatry | psychiatry | |||||
| psycho | gen | ic | psychogenic | ||||
| psycho | logist | psychologist | |||||
| the mind is not separate from the brain, but this terminology dates from a time in history when psychology and neurology were thought to be separate sciences | psycho | logy | psychology | ||||
| psycho | pathy | psychopathy | |||||
| psycho | pharmaco | logy | psychopharmacology | ||||
| psych[o] | osis | psychosis | |||||
| psycho | somat | ic | psychosomatic | ||||
| psycho | trop | ic | psychotropic | ||||
| quadri | pleg | ia | quadriplegia | ||||
| Latin refractarius, "obstinate, stubborn" | refract | ory | refractory | ||||
| re | polar | ization | repolarization | ||||
| the eye is divided into three concentric layers, or tunics; the retina is the innermost, net-like (Latin rete) tunic | retina | retina | |||||
| retin | al | retinal | |||||
| retin | itis | retinitis | |||||
| retino | pathy | retinopathy | |||||
| retino | pexy | retinopexy | |||||
| retino | scope | retinoscope | |||||
| retin | osis | retinosis | |||||
| saccule | saccule | ||||||
| sciatica | sciatica | ||||||
| sclera | sclera | ||||||
| Greek éktasis, "stretched out", "dilated" | scler | ectas[is] | ia | sclerectasia | |||
| scler | itis | scleritis | |||||
| sclero | malacia | scleromalacia | |||||
| sclero | tomy | sclerotomy | |||||
| Greek skotos, "darkness" | scot | oma | scotoma | ||||
| scot | op | ic | scotopic | ||||
| segment | al | segmental | |||||
| sensori | neur | al | sensorineural | ||||
| somn | ambul | ism | somnambulism | ||||
| somno | graphy | somnography | |||||
| stimulus | stimulus | ||||||
| Latin, "to squint" | strabismus | ||||||
| sub | arachn | oid | subarachnoid | ||||
| sub | dur[o] | al | subdural | ||||
| Latin sulcus, "furrow, trench, ditch" | sulcus | sulcus | |||||
| sym | path[os] | etic | sympathetic | ||||
| Greek, "cut off" | syncope | ||||||
| syn | esthes | ia | synesthesia | ||||
| tastant | tastant | ||||||
| tempor | al | temporal | |||||
| thermo | receptor | thermoreceptor | |||||
| Thromb[us], "clot" + embol, "plug" + –ism. Used more to indicate a condition. | thrombo | embol | ism | thromboembolism | |||
| Thromb[us], "clot" + embol, "plug" + –us. Used more to indicate an abnormal structure. | thrombo | embol | us | thromboembolus | |||
| thrombo | lytic | thrombolytic | |||||
| thromb | osis | thrombosis | |||||
| Latin, "to ring or jingle" | tinnitus | ||||||
| Greek toxicon, "poison to use on arrows", from Scythian toxon, "bow"; this may be the only Scythian word found in Medical English | tox | ic | toxic | ||||
| trans | cran | ial | transcranial | ||||
| Latin trans– + ducere, "to lead" | trans | duct | ion | transduction | |||
| trans | ient | transient | |||||
| Latin geminus, "twins" (as in the constellation Gemini) | tri | gemin | al | trigeminal | |||
| tympan[um] | ic | tympanic | |||||
| tympano | centesis | tympanocentesis | |||||
| tympano | metry | tympanometry | |||||
| tympano | plasty | tympanoplasty | |||||
| tympan/o | scler | osis | tympanosclerosis | ||||
| tympano | stomy | tympanostomy | |||||
| uni | pol[e] | ar | unipolar | ||||
| Latin ūter, "leather bag" + diminutive suffix –icle | utricle | utricle | |||||
| varicos[e] | ity | varicosity | |||||
| Latin, "to whirl around" | vertigo | vertigo | |||||
| vestibul | ar | vestibular | |||||
| vestibul | itis | vestibulitis | |||||
| vestibulo | cochlear | vestibulocochlear | |||||
| vestibulo | tomy | vestibulotomy | |||||
| vitr | ectomy | vitrectomy | |||||
| Latin, "glass-like" | vitre | ous | vitreous | ||||
| xer[o] | ophthalm | ia | xerophthalmia |
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