Medical Terminology Simplified

552 APPENDIX A• Glossary of Medical Word Elements

Medical Word Medical Word

Element Meaning Element Meaning

idi/o unknown; peculiar

-ile pertaining to

ile/o ileum (third part of the small

intestine)

ili/o ilium (lateral, flaring portion of

the hip bone)

im- not

immun/o immune, immunity, safe

in- in; not

-ine pertaining to

infer/o lower, below

infra- below, under

inguin/o groin

insulin/o insulin

inter- between

intra- in, within

-ion the act of

-ior pertaining to

irid/o iris

-is noun ending

isch/o to hold back; block

ischi/o ischium (lower portion of the

hip bone)

-ism condition

iso- same, equal

-ist specialist

-isy state of; condition

-itic pertaining to

-itis inflammation

-ive pertaining to

-ization process (of)

J

jaund/o yellow

jejun/o jejunum (second part of the

small intestine)

K

kal/i potassium (an electrolyte)

kary/o nucleus

kerat/o horny tissue; hard; cornea

ket/o ketone bodies (acids and acetones)

keton/o ketone bodies (acids and acetones)

kinesi/o movement

-kinesia movement

kinet/o movement

kyph/o humpback

L

labi/o lip

labyrinth/o labyrinth (inner ear)

lacrim/o tear; lacrimal apparatus (duct, sac,

or gland)

lact/o milk

-lalia speech, babble

lamin/o lamina (part of vertebral arch)

lapar/o abdomen

laryng/o larynx (voice box)

later/o side, to one side

lei/o smooth

leiomy/o smooth muscle (visceral)

-lepsy seizure

lept/o thin, slender

leuk/o white

lingu/o tongue

lip/o fat

lipid/o fat

-listhesis slipping

-lith stone, calculus

lith/o stone, calculus

lob/o lobe

log/o study of

-logist specialist in the study of

-logy study of

lord/o curve, swayback

-lucent to shine; clear

lumb/o loins (lower back)

lymph/o lymph

lymphaden/o lymph gland (node)

lymphangi/o lymph vessel

-lysis separation; destruction; loosening

M

macro- large

mal- bad

-malacia softening

mamm/o breast

-mania state of mental disorder, frenzy

mast/o breast

3971_App A_548-557 13/02/14 11:21 AM Page 552