Word Part | Definition |
µg | microgram |
g | gram |
gait | Manner or style of walking. |
galact/o | milk |
galactorrhea | Inappropriate lactation. |
galactose | One of the two simple sugars in the protein, lactose, found in milk. The other sugar is glucose. |
gallbladder | A reservoir for bile located under the right lobe of the liver. |
gallop | A third heart sound that resembles the sound of a galloping horse. |
gallstone | A hard mass that precipitates in the biliary tract, usually in the gallbladder. |
gam- | marriage, sexual union |
gamete | A mature sex cell. |
ganglion | A structure containing an aggregation of nerve cell bodies located in the peripheral nervous system. |
ganglion cyst | Swelling or tumor on a joint or tendon sheath due to trauma. |
ganglion/o | ganglion |
ganglioneuroma | A benign neoplasm that usually arises from the sympathetic trunk in the mediastinum. |
gangrene | Death and putrefaction of tissue usually due to a loss of blood supply. |
garg | gargle |
gastr/o | stomach |
gastralgia | Pain in the stomach or abdomen |
gastrectomy | Excision of part or all of the stomach. |
gastric | Pertaining to the stomach. |
gastric absorption | Uptake of substances via the stomach. |
gastritis | The painful inflammation of the stomach's lining. |
gastroenteritis | Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. |
gastroenterology | A subspecialty of medicine concerned with diseases of the digestive system and related structures including the esophagus, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. |
gastrointestinal tract | Generally refers to the digestive structures stretching from the mouth to anus, but does not include the accessory glandular organs (liver; biliary tract; pancreas). |
gastroparesis | Chronic delayed gastric emptying. |
gastrostomy | Creation of an artificial external opening into the stomach for nutritional support or gastrointestinal compression. |
gavage | Forced feeding a patient especially through a tube passed into the stomach |
GB | gallbladder |
GC | gonorrhea |
GDM | gestational diabetes mellitus |
ge/o | soil |
gel/o | to freeze, congeal |
gemell/o | twins |
gemin- | double, twin |
-gen | producing, origin |
gen/o | to become, being born, producing |
gene | A unit of inheritance carrying a single trait occupying a certain location on a chromosome. |
-genesis | formation, development |
genetic | Pertaining to reproduction or to birth or origin. |
geni/o | chin |
-genic | producing, origin |
genit/o | reproduction |
genitalia | The male and female reproductive organs. |
genocide | The deliberate annihilation of a national, ethnic, or religious group. |
genome | The complete set of genes in the chromosomes of each cell. The human genome contains an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 genes. |
genomics | The systematic study of the complete DNA sequences (genome) of organisms. |
genotype | The genetic constitution of the individual. |
genu | Knee. |
genu varum | An outward slant of the thigh in which the knees are wide apart and the ankles close together. |
ger/o | old age |
GERD | gastroesophageal reflux disease |
geriatrics | The branch of health care concerned with aging and diseases of the elderly. |
germ | Any microorganism, particularly one that causes disease. |
germination | The early stages of the growth of seeds. The embryonic shoot and embryonic plant roots emerge. |
germinoma | A neoplasm of the germinal tissue of gonads, mediastinum, or pineal region. |
gest/o | to bear |
gestalt | A physical, mental or symbolic configuration where whole differs from, or is greater than, the sum of its parts. |
gestation | The time period of development from fertilization to birth. |
gesture | A movement that helps express a feeling, idea, intention or opinion. |
GFR | glomerular filtration rate |
GH | growth hormone |
GI | gastrointestinal |
giardiasis | An intestinal infection caused by the protozoan Giardia lamblia. It is spread via contaminated food and water and by direct person-to-person contact. |
giga- | billion |
gigant/o | huge |
gigantism | Abnormal growth due to an excess of growth hormone during childhood. |
gingiv/o | gums |
gingiva | Oral tissue surrounding and attached to teeth. Gum. |
gingivitis | Inflammation of gum tissue. |
glabella | The area between the eyebrows immediately above the nose. |
glanders | A chronic bacterial infection of horses occasionally transmitted to humans. |
glandular fever | Infectious mononucleosis. |
glare | A bright, dazzling light which produces discomfort and impairs vision. |
glasgow coma scale | A scale for measuring level of consciousness, especially after craniocerebral injury |
glaucoma | A disease that damages the optic nerve. Often caused by abnormally high pressure in the eye. |
gleason score | A method of classifying malignancy of prostate cancers. |
glenoid cavity | A depression in the lateral angle of the scapula that articulates with the head of the humerus. |
gli/o | glue-like |
-globin | containing protein |
globulin | Any of a class of proteins that are found in blood plasma, milk and muscle that are insoluble in pure water but soluble in dilute salt solutions |
globus | A sphere. A spherical structure. |
glomerul/o | glomerulus |
glomerulus | A small tuft of blood capillaries in the kidney that is an integral part of the nephron, the basic unit of the kidney. |
gloss/o | tongue |
glossitis | Inflammation of the tongue. |
glottis | The vocal apparatus of the larynx, situated in the middle section of the larynx. |
glucagon | A peptide hormone produced in the pancreas that opposes insulin. |
gluco- | relating to glucose |
glucose | Sugar in the blood that supplies energy to cells. |
glyc/o | glucose, sugar |
glycemic index | A numerical system of measuring the rate of blood glucose generation from a particular food item. |
glycemic load | A quantitative value of a measured amount of a specific food that is equal to the glycemic index of that food multiplied by the carbohydrate content of that food. |
glycine | A non-essential amino acid that is a major component of gelatin and silk fibroin. It used therapeutically as a nutrient. |
glycosuria | The appearance of an abnormally amount of glucose in the urine. |
gm | gram |
gnath- | jaw, cheek |
gnos/o | knowledge |
GnRH | gonadotropin-releasing hormone |
goiter | Enlargement of the thyroid gland causing a swelling in the front part of the neck. |
gon- | seed, genital |
gonad/o | sex glands |
gonadal | Pertaining to or arising from a gonad. |
gonads | The sex glands, ovary or testis. |
goni/o | angle |
gonorrhea | A sexually transmitted bacterial disease, mostly seen in young adults. |
gout | Acute arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the joints due to the accumulation of urate crystals. |
GP | general practitioner |
gr | grain |
-grade | step, degree in a scale |
graft | Any tissue or organ for transplantation. |
-gram | recording, metric unit of weight |
gram stain | A method of staining bacteria, which is important in their identification. |
granul/o | small grain |
granulation tissue | A vascular connective tissue formed on the surface of a healing wound, ulcer, or inflamed tissue. It consists of new capillaries and an infiltrate containing lymphoid cells, macrophages, and plasma cells. |
granuloma | A clump of cells that forms when the immune system fights harmful substance but cannot remove it from the body. Often foreign bodies stimulate these cells. |
-graph | instrument that records |
-graphy | process of recording |
grav | gravida |
Graves disease | An immune disease that causes hyperthyroidism. |
gravid/o | pregnancy |
-gravida | pregnant |
gravidity | Pregnant. |
groin | The external junctural region between the lower part of the abdomen and the thigh. |
GSW | gunshot wound |
GTT | glucose tolerance test |
GU | genitourinary |
guaifenesin | An expectorant that also has some muscle relaxing action. It is used in many cough preparations. |
Guillain-Barre syndrome | A disorder in which the immune system attacks the nerves. A rare disease, usually preceded by a viral infection |
gutta | One drop. |
GVHD | graft-versus-host disease |
GXT | graded exercise test |
GYN | gynecology |
gynec/o | woman, female |
gynecology | The branch of medicine dealing with diseases unique to women, especially those of the genital tract and breasts. |
gynecomastia | Non-cancerous swelling of the breast tissue in males due to an imbalance of hormones. Common in pre-adolescence, benign and self-limiting. |
gyno- | woman |
gyr- | ring, circle |