Medical Terminology Morphemes

Med-Term Morphemes

A- without or lack ofa/men/orrhea without or lack of/monthly/flow
AB-
away (away from)ab/norm/al away (away from)/normal or regular/refers to ab/ducens away/draw or lead
-ABLE
capable of or ability toerg/able work/capable of related term(s): -IBLE
ABORT/IO-
to miscarry (natural or induced)abort/ion to miscarry (natural or induced)/procedure of or process of (discharge of the embry/o 'early' or fet/us 'young' deliberate or not)
ABRUPT/IO-
to tear away fromabruptus placentae to tear away from (separate quickly) / cake
ABSCESS
a going awayabscess a going away (tissue disintegration & displacement: 'Staph' infection forming pus)
ACNE
pointedAcne/form pointed/shape (ACNE is a bacterial inflammation of the hair follicle and sebaceous 'oil' gland. Similar infections may cause acne or form lesions)
ACOUST/I-
hearingacoust/ic hearing/refers to related term(s): AUDI-
ACR/O-
extremities, height, and pointedacro/megal/y extremities/enlarged/refers to acro/phob/ia height/fear/refers to acr/om/ial extremity/shoulder/refer to (lateral triangle spine-like projection of shoulder blade forming the point of shoulder & articulating with clav/icle 'key little' or collarbone)
ACTIN/O-
sun, ray, radiumactino/myco/sis sun, ray, radium/fungus/condition (growth)
Printable Flash Cards:
ACU-
sharpacu/ity sharp/process of (seeing sharply or clearly) acute quick, sudden, sharply
-AC
refers to, pertains to, or state ofcardi/ac heart/refers to, pertains to, or state of related term(s): -AL, -AR, -ARY, -ATE, -EUM, -IAC, -IC, -ICAL, -ILE, -IS, -IUM, -ORY, -OUS, -UM, -US
AD-
near or besidead/ren/al near or beside/kidney/refers to (the ad/ren/al gland is located on top of kidney)
ADEN/O-
glandaden/ectomy gland/removal (the following are common glands: lymph nodes, oil, sweat, and endocrine)
ADIP/O-
fatadip/oma fat/tumor (adip/oma is also known as lip/oma) related term(s): steato-, lipo-
AER/O-
air or gasaero/cele air or gas/distension of cavity