How to decode a term
Read the suffix first, then the prefix, then the root. Tachy|card|ia = fast + heart + condition = a fast heart rate. Hyper|glyc|emia = excessive + sugar + blood condition.
- 1,297 original questions: CNA, PTCB, CCMA
- Timed full-length exams + domain score reports
- 90 days, one-time - emailed to you after purchase
Your course access is emailed to you after purchase. 14-day money-back guarantee. Refund policy
Word roots
| Root | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cardi/o | heart | cardiology |
| hepat/o | liver | hepatitis |
| nephr/o, ren/o | kidney | nephrology, renal |
| gastr/o | stomach | gastritis |
| pulmon/o, pneum/o | lung | pneumonia |
| oste/o | bone | osteoporosis |
| derm/o, dermat/o | skin | dermatitis |
| neur/o | nerve | neuropathy |
| hem/o, hemat/o | blood | hematology |
| ven/o, phleb/o | vein | venipuncture, phlebotomy |
| arthr/o | joint | arthritis |
| cyt/o | cell | cytology |
Prefixes
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| brady- | slow | bradycardia |
| tachy- | fast | tachycardia |
| hyper- | above, excessive | hypertension |
| hypo- | below, deficient | hypoglycemia |
| a-, an- | without | apnea |
| dys- | difficult, painful | dysphagia |
| peri- | around | pericardium |
| sub- | under | subcutaneous |
| intra- | within | intramuscular |
| poly- | many | polyuria |
Suffixes
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -itis | inflammation | appendicitis |
| -ectomy | surgical removal | appendectomy |
| -otomy | cutting into | tracheotomy |
| -ostomy | surgical opening | colostomy |
| -algia | pain | neuralgia |
| -emia | blood condition | anemia |
| -pnea | breathing | dyspnea |
| -uria | urine condition | hematuria |
| -scopy | visual examination | endoscopy |
| -megaly | enlargement | cardiomegaly |
Test yourself on the CCMA
Take the free practice test and get a score report by topic in a few minutes.
CNA, PTCB and CCMA prep course - $19
1,297 original practice questions for CNA, PTCB and CCMA, with explanations, timed exams and domain score reports. One-time $19 for 90 days, emailed to you after purchase - no subscription.
Your course access is emailed to you after purchase. 14-day money-back guarantee. Refund policy
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -itis mean?
Inflammation, as in arthritis (joint inflammation).
What is the difference between -ectomy and -ostomy?
-ectomy is removal (appendectomy); -ostomy is creating an opening (colostomy).
Which exams test medical terminology?
CCMA lists medical terminology under foundational knowledge, the NHA CPT lists it as core knowledge, and the PTCE includes it in order entry and processing.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Understanding Medical Words (accessed 2026-09-23)
- NHA CCMA test plan (2022) (accessed 2026-09-23)