Science, especially medicine, is permeated with Latin and Greek terms. Latin names are used for every part of the body; and since the Greeks are the founders of modern medicine, Greek terms are common in medical terminology, as well.
Latin and Greek roots
This table represents some common Latin and Greek roots used in anatomy and physiology:
| English Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| angi(o)– | vessel | angiogram |
| arthr(o)– | joint | arthritis |
| bronch– | air passage | bronchitis |
| calc(i)– | calcium | calcify |
| card(i)– | heart | cardiovascular |
| cili– | small hair | cilia |
| corp– | body | corpus luteum |
| crani– | skull | cranium |
| cut(an)– | skin | cutaneous |
| gastr(o)– | stomach, belly | gastric |
| gluc(o)– | sweet, sugar | glucosa |
| hemat(o)– | blood | hematology |
| hist(o)– | webbing (tissue) | histology |
| hyster(o)– | womb | hysterectomy |
| lig– | to bind | ligament |
| osteo– | bone | osteoblast |
| pleur– | side, rib | pleural cavity |
| pulm(o)– | lung | pulmonary |
| ren– | kidney | renal |
| squam– | scale, flat | squamous |
| thorac– | chest | thoracic |
| vasc– | vessel | vascular |
Latin and Greek prefixes and suffixes
This table represents some common Latin and Greek prefixes and suffixes you should know when studying anatomy and physiology:
| English Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a(n)– | without, not | anaerobic |
| aut(o)– | self | autonomic |
| dys– | bad, disordered | dysplasia |
| ec–, ex(o)–, ect– | out, outside | exoskeleton |
| end(o)– | within, inside, inner | endometrium |
| epi– | over, above | epidermis |
| hyper– | excessive, high | hyperextension |
| hypo– | deficient, below | hypothalamus |
| inter– | between, among | interoceptor |
| intrañ | within, inside | intraocular |
| iso– | equal, same | isotope |
| meta– | beside, after | metacarpus |
| ortho– | straight, correct | orthopedic |
| para– | beside, near, alongside | parathyroid |
| peri– | around | pericardium |
| sub– | under | subcutaneous |
| trans– | across, beyond, through | transplant |
| –blast | -to sprout, to make, to bud | chloroblast |
| –clast | to break, broken | osteoclast |
| –crine | -to release, to secrete | endocrine |
