• brady-

• Meaning: Slow

• Example: Bradycardia – a slow heart rate (below 60 beats per minute).

• endo-

• -
  • Meaning: Inside, within
•  
  • Example: Endocarditis – inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.

• epi-

• -
  • Meaning: Upon, over, on top
•  
  • Example: Epicardium – the outer layer of the heart.

• hyper-

• -
  • Meaning: Excessive, above normal
•  
  • Example: Hyperlipidemia – elevated levels of lipids in the blood.

• hypo-

• 
  
  • Meaning: under or below
•  
  • Example: orthostatic hypotension – low blood pressure that occurs upon standing up.

• peri-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Around
  • Example: Pericardium – the membranous sac that contains the heart

• tachy-

• -
  • Meaning: Fast
•  
  • Example: Tachycardia – a fast heart rate (over 100 beats per minute).

• -crasia

• 
  
  • Meaning: A mixture or blending (often used in relation to blood)
  • Example: Dyscrasia – an abnormal condition of the blood.

• -emia

• 
  
  • Meaning: Blood condition
  • Example: Ischemia – a condition where the blood supply to a part of the body, often the heart, is restricted or reduced.

• -ectomy

• 
  
  • Meaning: Surgical removal
  • Example: Atherectomy – removal of plaque from an artery.

• -graphy

• 
  
  • Meaning: Process of recording
  • Example: Electrocardiography – recording the electrical activity of the heart.

• -itis

• 
  
  • Meaning: Inflammation
  • Example: Myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle.

• -lysis

• 
  
  • Meaning: Destruction, breakdown
  • Example: Thrombolysis – the breakdown of a blood clot.

• -megaly

• 
  
  • Meaning: Enlargement
  • Example: Cardiomegaly – enlargement of the heart.

• -osis

• 
  
  • Meaning: Abnormal condition
  • Example: Arteriosclerosis – hardening of the arteries.

• -penia

• 
  
  • Meaning: Deficiency
  • Example: Leukopenia – a deficiency of white blood cells.

• plasty

• 
  
  • Meaning: Surgical repair
  • Example: Valvuloplasty – surgical repair of a heart valve.

• -rrhage

1. 
   
   • Meaning: Bursting forth, excessive flow
   • Example: Hemorrhage – excessive bleeding (in a short amount of time).

• stasis

• 
  
  • Meaning: Stopping, controlling
  • Example: Hemostasis – stopping of blood flow.

• -cytosis

• 
  
  • Meaning: Condition of cells
  • Example: Thrombocytosis – an abnormal increase in the number of platelets.

• angi/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Vessel (usually blood or lymph)
  • Example: Angioplasty – a procedure to mechanically widen a narrowed or blocked blood vessels.

• aort/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Aorta
  • Example: Aortostenosis– narrowing of the aorta.

• arteri/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Artery
  • Example: Arteriogram– an xray of an artery.

• ather/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Fatty plaque
  • Example: Atheroma– a fatty deposit or plaque within the wall of an artery.

• capillar/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Capillaries (the smallest blood vessels)
  • Example: capillaroscope – an instrument used to examine capillaries.

• cardi/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Heart
  • Example: Cardiomyopathy – the general term for diseases that affect the heart muscle.

• chrom/o, chromat/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Color
  • Example: Hemochromatosis – a condition where excess iron is stored in the body, affecting skin color.

• erythr/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Red
  • Example: Erythrocyte – a red blood cell.

• hem/o, hemat/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Blood
  • Example: Hemoglobin– a protein in red blood cells.

• isch/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Restriction, deficiency
  • Example: Ischemic– a condition or process involving restricted blood flow to a part of the body.

• leuk/o

• Meaning: White
• Example: Leukocyte – a white blood cell.

• my/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Muscle
  • Example: Myocardium – the muscular tissue of the heart.

• phleb/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Vein
  • Example: Phlebotomy – the process of making an incision into a vein, typically to draw blood.

• scler/o

Meaning: Hardening

Example: Sclerotherapy – a treatment method used to harden and close off abnormal or damaged blood vessels such as varicose veins.

• scler/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Hardening
  • Example: Sclerotherapy – a treatment method used to harden and close off abnormal or damaged blood vessels such as varicose veins.

• thromb/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Clot
  • Example: Thrombosis – formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel.

• valvul/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Valve
  • Example: Valvulopathy – a disease or disorder affecting the heart valves.

• vas/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Vessel
  • Example: Vasospasm – A sudden constriction of a blood vessel.

• ven/o

• 
  
  • Meaning: Vein
  • Example: Venous – related to the veins.

• A-fib (Atrial Fibrillation)

• 
  
  • Definition: A-fib is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can lead to poor blood flow. The atria (upper chambers of the heart) beat chaotically, which can increase the risk of stroke and heart-related complications.

• AED (Automated External Defibrillator)

• 
  
  • Definition: An AED is a portable device that can detect life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and deliver an electrical shock to restore normal heart rhythm, typically used during sudden cardiac arrest.

• CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft)

• )
  • Definition: CABG is a surgical procedure that improves blood flow to the heart by using a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body to bypass a blocked coronary artery, restoring oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart muscle.

• CAD (Coronary Artery Disease)

• 
  
  • Definition: CAD is the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries due to the buildup of plaque, reducing blood flow to the heart. It is the most common cause of heart attacks.

• Card cath, CC (Cardiac Catheterization)

• 
  
  • Definition: Cardiac catheterization is a procedure used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions by inserting a thin tube (catheter) into the heart through blood vessels, often used to examine blockages or perform treatments like angioplasty.

• CVI (Chronic Venous Insufficiency)

• )
  • Definition: CVI occurs when veins in the legs don’t allow blood to flow back properly to the heart, causing blood to pool in the veins. This can lead to symptoms such as swelling, varicose veins, and skin changes.

• EKG, ECG (Electrocardiogram)

• 
  
  • Definition: An EKG (or ECG) is a test that measures the electrical activity of the myocardium to detect abnormalities in heart rhythm, structure, or function.

• HTN (Hypertension)

• 
  
  • Definition: Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood against artery walls is too high, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems.

• ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator)

)

• Definition: An ICD is a device implanted in the chest or abdomen to monitor heart rhythm and deliver shocks if dangerous arrhythmias are detected, preventing sudden cardiac arrest.

• MI (Myocardial Infarction)

)

• Definition: A myocardial infarction, or heart attack, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle. This is often caused by a blockage in one or more coronary arteries.

• PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease)

• 
  
  • Definition: PAD is a condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, commonly the legs. It can cause leg pain and increase the risk of heart disease or stroke.

• PVD (Peripheral Vascular Disease)

• 
  
  • Definition: PVD is a circulation disorder that affects blood vessels outside the heart and brain, often causing reduced blood flow to the arms and legs, leading to pain or cramping.

• Tpa (Tissue Plasminogen Activator)

• 
  
  • Definition: Tpa is a clot-dissolving medication used in the treatment of stroke or heart attack by breaking down blood clots that obstruct blood flow to vital organs.

• TST (Treadmill Stress Test)

• 
  
  • Definition: A TST is a diagnostic test that involves walking on a treadmill while monitoring heart activity to assess how the heart functions during physical stress.

• V-fib (Ventricular Fibrillation)

• Definition: V-fib is a life-threatening arrhythmia in which the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) quiver instead of pumping blood effectively, often leading to cardiac arrest.

• a-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Without
•  
  • Example: Aphasia – a condition characterized by the complete loss of ability to speak or understand language.

• an-

• Meaning: Without, not

• Example: Anencephaly – a condition where a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp is absent.

• dys-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Difficult, painful, abnormal
•  
  • Example: Dysphasia – difficulty speaking.

• hemi-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Half
  • Example: Hemiparesis – weakness on one side of the body.

• hyper-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Excessive, above normal
  • Example: Hyperreflexia – exaggerated reflexes.

• in-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Not, inward
  • Example: Insomnia – inability to sleep.

• inter-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Between
  • Example: Interneuron – a neuron that transmits signals between other neurons.

• intra-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Within, inside
  • Example: Intracranial – located or occurring within the skull.

• pan-

• Meaning: All, entire
• Example: Panhypopituitarism – decreased function of all pituitary hormones, affecting the nervous system.

• para-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Beside, abnormal
  • Example: Paraplegia – paralysis of the lower half of the body.

• para-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Beside, abnormal
  • Example: Paraplegia – paralysis of the lower half of the body.

• para-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Beside, abnormal
  • Example: Paraplegia – paralysis of the lower half of the body.

• poly-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Many
  • Example: Polyneuropathy – damage or disease affecting multiple nerves.

• post-

• 
  
  • Meaning: After
  • Example: Postictal – the state following a seizure.

• pre-

• 
  
  • Meaning: Before
  • Example: Presynaptic – relating to the area before a synapse.

• sub-

• Meaning: Under, below
• Example: Subdural – located beneath the dura mater, a membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

• -algia

• 
  
  • Meaning: Pain
  • Example: Neuralgia – nerve pain.

• -cele

• 
  
  • Meaning: Hernia, swelling
  • Example: Meningocele – hernial protrusion of the meninges.

• -cyte

• 
  
  • Meaning: Cell
  • Example: Gliocyte – a glial cell.

• -ectomy

• 
  
  • Meaning: Surgical removal
  • Example: Ganglionectomy – surgical removal of a ganglion.

• -genic

• 
  
  • Meaning: Producing, originating, or causing
  • Example: Myogenic – originating in muscle tissue but affecting the nervous system.

• -gram

• 
  
  • Meaning: Record or image
  • Example: Myelogram – an imaging record of the spinal cord.

• -graph

• 
  
  • Meaning: Instrument used to record
  • Example: Electroencephalograph – an instrument for recording brain activity.

• -graphy

• 
  
  • Meaning: Process of recording
  • Example: Myelography – imaging of the spinal cord.

• -iatrist

• 
  
  • Meaning: Specialist in treatment
  • Example: Psychiatrist – a specialist in treating mental disorders.

• -iatry

• 
  
  • Meaning: Field of medicine, treatment
  • Example: Psychiatry – the medical field focusing on mental health.

• -itis

• 
  
  • Meaning: Inflammation
  • Example: Encephalitis – inflammation of the brain.

• -lepsy

• • 
    
    • Meaning: Seizure
    • Example: Epilepsy – a condition characterized by recurrent seizures.

• -logist

• 
  
  • Meaning: Specialist in a field of study
  • Example: Psychologist – a specialist in the study of the mind and behavior.

• -malacia

• 
  
  • Meaning: Abnormal softening
  • Example: Encephalomalacia – softening of the brain tissue.

• -mania

• 
  
  • Meaning: Madness or excessive preoccupation
  • Example: Pyromania – excessive preoccupation with fire (can involve neurological or psychiatric evaluation).

• -mania

• 
  
  • Meaning: Madness or excessive preoccupation
  • Example: Pyromania – excessive preoccupation with fire (can involve neurological or psychiatric evaluation).

• -oid

• 
  
  • Meaning: Resembling or like
  • Example: Myeloid – resembling or related to the spinal cord or bone marrow.

• -oma

• 
  
  • Meaning: Tumor, swelling
  • Example: Glioma – a tumor of glial cells.

• -pathy

• 
  
  • Meaning: Disease
  • Example: Radiculopathy – a disease or disorder affecting a nerve root.

• -phobia

• 
  
  • Meaning: Fear
  • Example: Agoraphobia – fear of open or public spaces, related to mental health.

• -rrhaphy

• 
  
  • Meaning: Suturing or stitching
  • Example: Myelorraphy – suturing of the spinal cord.

• -tomy
  • =

• 
  
  • Meaning: Cutting or surgical incision
  • Example: Neurotomy – surgical incision into a nerve.

• -tropic

• 
  
  • Meaning: Having an affinity for, influencing
  • Example: Psychotropic – substances that affect mental activity, behavior, or perception.