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.
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 |
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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)