Medical Word Parts

Introduction

Many medical terms consist of two or three word parts with linking vowels. Understanding frequently used word parts can be very helpful in learning medical terms.

Prefixes

Medical terms may begin with a prefix. Prefixes modify or enhance the meaning of the term's root by indicating number, location, time or modifying the root's meaning.

Suffixes

Suffixes can modify the meaning of the word, often in very important ways.

Roots

Medical terms always have at least word root. The root provides the core meaning of the term.

An Example

We can break down 'myocarditis' into three parts which will clarify the meaning of this term.

The prefix 'myo' means muscle, followed by the root 'card' which means heart and then the suffix 'itis' means inflammation.

So word parts provide the meaning of myocarditis: inflammation of the heart muscle.

Alphabetical Listing of Word Parts

A B C D E F

G H I J K L

M N O P Q R

S T U V W X

Y Z

Word Part List By Body System

Cardiovascular Digestive Directional Endocrine Eyes And Ears General Integumentary Lymphatic Muscular Nervous Reproductive Skeletal Urinary