Word Parts and Structural Terms
Combining Forms
adenoid/o: adenoid/pharyngeal tonsil
alveol/o: alveolus
atel/o: incomplete
bronchi/o: bronchus
bronch/o: bronchus
capn/o: carbon dioxide
diaphragmat/o: diaphragm
epiglott/o: epiglottis
hem/o: blood
laryng/o: larynx
lob/o: lobe of lung
muc/o: mucus
nas/o: nose
orth/o: straight
ox/i, ox/o: oxygen
pharyng/o: pharynx
phon/o: sound, voice
phren/o: diaphragm
pleur/o: pleura
pneum/o: lung, air
pneumat/o: lung, air
pneumon/o: lung, air
pulmon/o: lung
py/o: pus
rhin/o: nose
sept/o: septum/dividing wall
sinus/o: sinus
spir/o: breathing
thorac/o: thorax, chest
tonsill/o: tonsil
trache/o: trachea
Prefixes
a-/an-: absence of
dys-: painful, abnormal, difficult, labored
endo-: within, inside
eu-: normal, healthy
hemi-: half
pan-: all
poly-: many
sub-: under, below
tachy-: rapid
Suffixes
-al: pertaining to (adjective)
-algia: pain (noun)
-ar, -ary: pertaining to (adjective)
-cele: hernia (noun)
-centesis: surgical puncture to aspirate fluid (noun)
-ectasis: expansion (noun)
-ectomy: excision (noun)
-gram: the record, radiographic image (noun)
-graph: instrument used to record (noun)
-graphy: process of recording (noun)
-ia: condition of, diseased state, abnormal state (noun)
-iasis: condition (noun)
-itis: inflammation (noun)
-logist: specialist or physician who studies and treats (noun)
-logy: study of (noun)
-meter: instrument for measuring (noun)
-metry: process of measuring (noun)
-oma: tumor (noun)
-osis: abnormal condition (noun)
-pathy: disease (noun)
-pexy: surgical fixation (noun)
-plasty: surgical repair (noun)
-pnea: breathing (noun)
-rrhea: flow, discharge (noun)
-scope: instrument used for visualization (noun)
-scopy: process of viewing, visualization (noun)
-spasm: involuntary muscular contraction (noun)
-stomy: creation of an artificial opening (noun)
Structural Terms Built from Word Parts
adenoidal: pertaining to the adenoid/pharyngeal tonsil
alveolar: pertaining to one or more alveoli
bronchial: pertaining to one or more bronchi
bronchoalveolar: pertaining to the bronchi and alveoli
cardiopulmonary: pertaining to the heart and lungs
diaphragmatic: pertaining to the diaphragm
endotracheal: pertaining to within the trachea:
interpleural: pertaining to between the pleura (space between the pleural membranes)
laryngeal: pertaining to the larynx
lobar: pertaining to a lobe of a lung
mediastinal: pertaining to the mediastinum
mucous: pertaining to mucus
pharyngeal: pertaining to the pharynx
phrenic: pertaining to the diaphragm
pleural: pertaining to the pleura
pulmonary: pertaining to one or both lungs
respiratory: pertaining to the act of breathing
thoracic: pertaining to the chest
tonsillar: pertaining to one or more tonsils
tracheal: pertaining to the trachea