Suffix

-ary

General Terminology Card

1

Word Building Example:

maxillary arteryBreakdown:

(maxill-ary)Origin, external carotid; branches, deep auricular, anterior tympanic, middle meningeal, inferior alveolar, masseteric, deep temporal, buccal, posterior superior alveolar, infraorbital, descending

palatine, artery of pterygoid canal, sphenopalatine.

pertaining to, relating to

Card

2General Terminology

bacteri/o

Combining Form

Word Building Example:

bacteriophageBreakdown:

(bacterio-phage)A virus with specific affinity for bacteria, found in association with nearly all groups of bacteria.

bacterium

Gastrointestinal System Card

3

cirrh/o

Combining Form

Word Building Example:

cirrhosisBreakdown:

(cirrho-sis)Liver disease characterized by diffuse damage to hepatic parenchymal cells, with nodular regeneration, fibrosis, and disturbance of normal architecture; associated with failure in the function of hepatic cells and interference with blood flow in the liver, frequently resulting in jaundice, portal hypertension, ascites, and ultimately biochemical and functional signs of hepatic failure.

orange/yellow

Card

4

dacry/o

The Senses

Combining Form

Word Building Example:

dacryoadenitisBreakdown:

(dacryo-aden-itis)Inflammation of the lacrimal gland.

tears, lacrimal sac or duct

General Terminology

Musculoskeletal System

-desis

Card

5

Suffix

Word Building Example:

spondylosyndesisBreakdown:

(spondylo-syn-desis)A surgical procedure to accomplish bony ankylosis between two or more vertebrae.

binding, stabilizing, fixation of a bone or joint, tie together

dors/i, dors/o

Card

6

Combining Form

General Terminology

Musculoskeletal System

Word Building Example:

dorsiflexionBreakdown:

(dorsi-flexion)Turning upward of the foot or toes or of the hand or fingers.

back, back portion, toward the back

gingiv/o

Gastrointestinal System Card

7

Combining Form

Word Building Example:

gingivitisBreakdown:

(gingiv-itis)Inflammation of the gingiva as a response to bacterial plaque on adjacent teeth; characterized by erythema, edema, and fibrous enlargement of the gingiva without resorption of the underlying alveolar bone.

gingivae, gums of the mouth

Card

8Blood and the Immune System

-globin, -globulin

Suffix

Word Building Example:

hemoglobinBreakdown:

(hemo-globin)The red respiratory protein of erythrocytes.

name for family of proteins

Nervous System & Mental Health

Suffix

-mania

Card

9

abnormal love for, morbid impulse toward

Word Building Example:

megalomaniaBreakdown:

(megalo-mania)A type of delusion in which the afflicted person considers himself or herself possessed of greatness. lawyer, physician, clergyman, 2. Morbid verbalized overevaluation of oneself or of some aspect of oneself.

Prefix

General Terminology

mega-, megalo-

Card

10

Word Building Example:

megalocorneaBreakdown:

(megalo-cornea)Congenital anomaly with an enlarged anterior segment of the eye.

large, abnormally large

Combining Form

Nervous System & Mental Health

mening/o

Card

11

any membrane, specifically, one of the membranous coverings of the brain and spinal cord

Word Building Example:

meningitisBreakdown:

(mening-itis)Inflammation of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord.