List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes
Affix Meaning Origin language and etymology Example ( s )
labi- of or pertaining to the lip Latin labia , labium , lip labiodental
lacrim ( o ) - tear Latin lacrima , tear from crying Lacrimal canaliculi
lact ( i ) - , lact ( o ) milk Latin lac , milk lactation
lapar ( o ) - of or pertaining to the abdominal wall , flank Greek λαπάρα ( lapára ) , flank laparotomy
laryng ( o ) - of or pertaining to the larynx , the lower throat cavity where the voice box is Greek λᾰ́ρυγξ , ( lárunx ) , throat , gullet larynx
latero- lateral Latin laterālis , lateral , of or belonging to the side lateral pectoral nerve
lei ( o ) - smooth Greek λεῖος ( leîos ) , smooth leiomyoma
-lepsis , -lepsy attack , seizure Greek λῆψις ( lêpsis ) , seizure epilepsy , narcolepsy
lept ( o ) - light , slender Greek λεπτός ( leptós ) , thin , lean leptomeningeal
leuc ( o ) - , leuk ( o ) - denoting a white color Greek λευκός ( leukós ) , white , bright , pale leukocyte
lingu ( a ) - , lingu ( o ) - of or pertaining to the tongue Latin lingua , tongue , speech , language linguistics
lip ( o ) - fat Greek λίπος ( lípos ) , fat , lard liposuction
liss ( os ) - smooth Greek Λισσός ( Lissós ) , smooth lissencephaly
lith ( o ) - stone , calculus Greek λῐ́θος ( líthos ) lithotripsy
log ( o ) - speech Greek λόγος ( lógos ) dialog , catalog , logos
-logist denotes someone who studies a certain field ( the field of _____-logy ) ; a specialist ; one who treats Greek λογιστής ( logistḗs ) , studier , practitioner ( lit. , accountant ) oncologist , pathologist
-logy denotes the academic study or practice of a certain field ; the study of Greek -λογῐ́ᾱ ( -logíā ) base noun for the study of something hematology , urology
lumb ( o ) - , lumb ( a ) - of or relating to the part of the trunk between the lowest ribs and the pelvis Latin lumbus or lumbaris , loin lumbar vertebrae
lymph ( o ) - lymph Latin lympha , water lymphedema
lys ( o ) - , -lytic dissolution Greek λῠ́σῐς ( lúsis ) , loosen , release , + -ic lysosome
Prefixes and suffixes -- L
This is a list of roots, suffixes, and prefixes used in medical terminology, their meanings, and their etymologies. Most of them are combining forms in New Latin and hence international scientific vocabulary. There are a few general rules about how they combine. First, prefixes and suffixes, most of which are derived from ancient Greek or classical Latin, have a droppable -o-. As a general rule, this -o- almost always acts as a joint-stem to connect two consonantal roots (e.g. + + -logy = arthrology), but generally, the -o- is dropped when connecting to a vowel-stem (e.g. + -itis = arthritis, instead of ). Second, medical roots generally go together according to language, i.e., Greek prefixes occur with Greek suffixes and Latin prefixes with Latin suffixes. Although international scientific vocabulary is not stringent about segregating combining forms of different languages, it is advisable when coining new words not to mix different lingual roots.