a-

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.

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.

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

• 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.

• -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).

• -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.

• 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.

• sten/o

• Meaning: Narrowing

• Example: Stenocardia - a condition of chest pain caused by the narrowing of blood vessels to the heart.

• 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.

alges/o

• Meaning: Sensitivity to pain

• Example: Analgesic – a medication that reduces or eliminates pain.

• cephal/o

• Meaning: Head

• Example: Cephalalgia – a headache.

• cerebr/o

• Meaning: Brain, cerebrum

• Example: Cerebrospinal – relating to the brain and spinal cord.

• cerebell/o

• Meaning: Cerebellum (part of the brain)

Example: Cerebellitis – inflammation of the cerebellum.

• concuss/o

• Meaning: To shake violently

• Example: Concussion – a violent shaking of the brain, often due to injury.

• crani/o

• Meaning: Skull

• Example: Craniotomy – a surgical incision into the skull.

• dur/o

• Meaning: Dura mater (outermost layer of the meninges)

• Example: Subdural – located beneath the dura mater.

• encephal/o

• Meaning: Brain

• Example: Encephalopathy – a disease of the brain.

• esthesi/o

• Meaning: Sensation, feeling

• Example: Anesthesia – loss of sensation, typically induced for medical procedures.

• gangli/o, ganglion/o

• Meaning: Ganglion (a cluster of nerve cell bodies)

• Example: Ganglioneuroma – a tumor of a nerve ganglion.

• hydr/o

• Meaning: Water, fluid

• Example: Hydrocephalus – an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain.

• lob/o

• Meaning: Lobe

• Example: Lobectomy – surgical removal of a lobe of the brain.

• ment/o

• Meaning: Mind, chin

• Example: Dementia – a decline in mental abilities, typically due to disease or injury.

• mening/o, meningi/o

• Meaning: Meninges (membranes covering the brain and spinal cord)

• Example: Meningitis – inflammation of the meninges.

• mon/o

• Meaning: One, single

• Example: Monoplegia – paralysis of one limb.

• myel/o

• Meaning: Spinal cord, bone marrow

• Example: Myelitis – inflammation of the spinal cord.

• neur/o, neur/i

• Meaning: Nerve

• Example: Neurology – the study of the nervous system.

• phas/o

• Meaning: Speech

• Example: Paraphasia – a condition in which a person substitutes incorrect words, sounds, or non-words in their speech.

• poli/o

• Meaning: Gray matter (of the brain or spinal cord)

• Example: Poliomyelitis – an infectious disease affecting the gray matter of the spinal cord.

• pont/o

• Meaning: Pons (a part of the brainstem)

• Example: Pontocerebellar – relating to the pons and cerebellum.

• psych/o

• Meaning: Mind

• Example: Psychiatry – the study and treatment of mental illness.

• radic/o, radicul/o, rhiz/o

• Meaning: Nerve root

• Example: Radiculodynia – pain caused by irritation or injury to the nerve roots.

• vag/o

• Meaning: Vagus nerve (a cranial nerve)

• Example: Vagotomy – surgical cutting of the vagus nerve.

• 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.

• AD (Alzheimer's Disease)

• Definition: Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that leads to memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. It primarily affects older adults and is the most common cause of dementia.

• ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)

• Definition: ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventually respiratory failure.

• ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

• Definition: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness that interfere with daily functioning or development.

• CP (Cerebral Palsy)

• Definition: Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, or posture, caused by damage to the developing brain, typically before or at birth.

• CSF (Cerebrospinal Fluid)

• Definition: Cerebrospinal fluid is the clear fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord, providing cushioning and acting as a medium for nutrient and waste exchange.

• EEG (Electroencephalogram)

• Definition: An EEG is a diagnostic test that records electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp, often used to detect seizures, brain disorders, or sleep disturbances.

• ICP (Intracranial Pressure)

• Definition: Intracranial pressure refers to the pressure inside the skull and brain. Elevated ICP can result from head injury, brain swelling, or other neurological conditions and can lead to serious complications if not managed.

• LOC (Level of Consciousness)

• Definition: Level of consciousness refers to a person's state of awareness, ranging from full alertness to deep coma. It is often used to assess a patient's neurological function after injury or illness.

• LP (Lumbar Puncture)

Definition: A lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, is a medical procedure in which a needle is inserted into the lower back to collect cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic testing, often used to diagnose conditions like meningitis or 

• MS (Multiple Sclerosis)

• Definition: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, leading to damage to the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers, causing symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and difficulty with coordination.

• OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

• Definition: OCD is a mental health disorder characterized by recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that a person feels driven to perform to reduce anxiety.

• PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

• Definition: PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is characterized by flashbacks, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

• Sz (Seizure)

• Definition: A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain that can cause changes in behavior, movements, feelings, or consciousness. Seizures can vary in severity and are often associated with epilepsy.

• TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack)

• Definition: A TIA, or mini-stroke, occurs when there is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain, causing stroke-like symptoms that resolve within a few minutes to hours without permanent damage.