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2.3 Word Roots

As already mentioned, the root gives the essential meaning of a medical term.

The tables below list some of the most common roots, their meaning, and an example of a medical term that uses the root. Illustrations, key concept textboxes, and review questions at the end of chapter are included to help you better understand the roots. It is very important that you become familiar with all of them so you can understand medical terminology. Making flashcards and reviewing them  is very important when learning this new language.

Table 2.1. Roots
ROOT MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
adeno gland adenoma
aero air anaerobe
appendic appendix appendicitis
arthro joint arthritis
angio vessel angioplasty
arterio artery arteriosclerosis
athero plaque atherosclerosis
broncho bronchial tube bronchitis
carcino cancer carcinoma
cardio heart cardiology
carpo wrist carpals
cephalo head cephalic
normal knee and knee with osteoarthritis
Figure 2.1

Key Concept

Figure 2.1 shows a normal knee and a knee that has osteoarthritis. If you break this term apart, it means “inflammation” (-itis) of the “bone” (osteo) and “joint” (arthro). Note that the combining vowel is dropped because the suffix starts with a vowel.

Table 2.2. Roots  
ROOT MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
cerebro head cerebrospinal
chondro cartilage chondroma
chole bile cholemesis
cholecysto gallbladder cholecystectomy
colo colon colectomy
costo ribs intercostal
cranio skull craniotomy
cysto bladder cystoscopy
derma skin dermopathy
encephalo brain encephalitis
entero intestines enteritis
gastro stomach hemigastrectomy
gingivo gums gingivitis
glyco sugar hyperglycemia
gyne woman gynecology
hepat liver hepatitis
hemo or hemato blood hemoglobin
herni hernia herniorrhaphy
hystero uterus hysterectomy

 

Different types of hysterectomy. Partial, total and radical types
Figure 2.2

Key Concept

Figure 2.2 shows the different types of hysterectomy. This term includes the root hystero, meaning “uterus,” and the suffix -ectomy, meaning “removal” or “excision.” A hysterectomy is a common medical procedure done in a hospital, and the type completed will vary depending on the needs or condition of the patient.

Table 2.3. Roots  
ROOT MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
laparo abdomen laparotomy
laryngo voice box laryngitis
lipo fat liposuction
litho stone lithotripsy
nephro or reno kidney nephrology or renal
neuro nerve neuralgia
oophor ovary oophorectomy
osteo bone osteoarthritis
phlebo vein phlebotomy
pulmono lung pulmonary
procto anus and rectum proctology
rhino nose rhinorrhea
thoraco chest thoracic
tonsillo tonsil tonsillitis
tracheo trachea tracheotomy
veno vein intravenous
vertebr vertebra verbroplasty

 

Laparotomy scar
Figure 2.3

Key Concept

A form of laparotomy scar (from an open procedure) is shown in Figure 2.3. This term has the suffix -tomy, which means “to cut” and the root laparo, meaning “abdomen.”

 

Attribution

Unless otherwise indicated, material on this page has been adapted from the following resource:

Sturdy, L., & Erickson, S. (2022). The language of medical terminology. Open Education Alberta. https://pressbooks.openeducationalberta.ca/medicalterminology/, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

 

Image Credits

(Images are listed in order of appearance)

Osteoarthritis by BruceBlaus, CC BY-SA 4.0

Hysterectomy by BruceBlaus, CC BY-SA 4.0

Exploratory Laparotomy Scar (02) by jessica raphaela, CC BY-SA 2.0

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