Basic Medical Terminology

11,000+ medical words with pronunciation guides and plain-English definitions

Medical terminology does not have to be intimidating. Every medical word is built from the same small set of Latin and Greek parts — roots, prefixes, and suffixes — and once you learn those parts, you can decode thousands of terms you have never seen before.

Whether you are a nursing student preparing for your first terminology exam, a patient trying to understand a diagnosis, or a caregiver navigating a loved one's medical records, this page is your starting point.

Start With the Building Blocks

Medical words are assembled from parts. Learn the parts, decode any word.

Medical PrefixesWord beginnings — hypo-, hyper-, brady-, tachy-Medical SuffixesWord endings — -itis, -ectomy, -logy, -plasty Medical AbbreviationsShorthand — PRN, NPO, BID, STAT, IV Medical Root WordsCore meanings — cardi, derm, neur, hepat

How Medical Words Are Built

Almost every medical term follows the same formula: prefix + root + suffix. The root tells you what body part or system is involved. The prefix modifies it — adding meaning about location, number, or condition. The suffix tells you what is happening — whether it is a disease, a procedure, a test, or a measurement.

Take "myocarditis" as an example. The root my/o means muscle. The root cardi/o means heart. The suffix -itis means inflammation. Put it together: inflammation of the heart muscle. No memorization required — just pattern recognition.

The same logic applies to procedures. "Appendectomy" breaks into appendic (appendix) + -ectomy (surgical removal). "Colonoscopy" breaks into colon/o (colon) + -scopy (visual examination). Once you know the suffix, you know what category of procedure or test you are dealing with before you even look it up.

Conditions & Diseases

View all →

Morton's NeuromaA thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to the toes, most co…Sacral Insufficiency FractureA stress fracture through the sacrum caused by normal forces on weakened bone, t…Tarlov CystA perineural (sacral root) cyst formed by an outpouching of the meningeal sheath…Patellofemoral Pain SyndromePain around the front of the knee (the patella or kneecap) where it meets the th…Popliteal CystA fluid-filled cyst (also called a Baker's cyst) that forms behind the knee due …Volkmann's ContractureA serious complication of untreated compartment syndrome of the forearm in which…Mazabraud SyndromeA rare combination of fibrous dysplasia of bone and intramuscular myxomas occurr…Peripheral NeuropathyDamage to the peripheral nerves (outside the brain and spinal cord) causing weak…Anterior Shoulder InstabilityA condition in which the humeral head repeatedly dislocates or subluxates anteri…Haglund's DeformityA bony enlargement of the back of the heel bone where the Achilles tendon attach…ChondrolysisThe rapid breakdown and loss of articular cartilage within a joint, most commonl…Synovial HemangiomaA rare benign vascular tumor arising within the synovial lining of a joint, most…

Anatomy

View all →

SpondylolisthesisA condition where one vertebra slips forward relative to the one below it. It mo…Calcaneal SpurA bony outgrowth (osteophyte) on the underside of the calcaneus (heel bone), vis…ScoliosisAn abnormal lateral (sideways) curve of the spine that also involves rotation of…SpondylolysisA stress fracture or defect in the pars interarticularis (the narrow bridge of t…Pes PlanusFlat foot — a condition where the medial longitudinal arch of the foot is absent…LordosisAn inward (concave) curve of the spine. While the cervical and lumbar curves are…SupinatorA deep forearm muscle that supinates (rotates palm upward) the forearm. It is th…Transversus AbdominisThe deepest of the abdominal muscles with horizontal fibers that act like a cors…Obturator ExternusA deep hip muscle covering the outer surface of the obturator foramen that exter…FrontalisThe flat muscle of the forehead that raises the eyebrows and creates horizontal …Inguinal LigamentA fibrous band running from the anterior superior iliac spine to the pubic tuber…Oblique ArytenoidA laryngeal muscle that assists the transverse arytenoid in closing the posterio…

Procedures

View all →

Endotracheal IntubationA procedure in which a tube is inserted through the mouth, past the vocal cords,…Extracorporeal Membrane OxygenationA life support technique that circulates blood outside the body through an artif…NeuronavigationA computer-assisted surgical technique that uses pre-operative imaging (MRI or C…Intraoperative MRIThe use of magnetic resonance imaging during a surgical procedure to provide rea…Cortical MappingA technique used during brain surgery where electrical stimulation is applied to…Deep Brain StimulationA neurosurgical procedure that implants electrodes into specific brain regions a…Awake CraniotomyA type of brain surgery where the patient is kept awake and responsive during pa…NeuroplastyA surgical or minimally invasive procedure that frees scar tissue and adhesions …

Diagnostic Tests

View all →

Repetitive Nerve StimulationA type of nerve conduction study that delivers a series of repeated electrical p…ThoracentesisA procedure in which a needle is inserted through the chest wall into the space …CystoscopyA procedure in which a thin, flexible tube with a camera (cystoscope) is inserte…UreteroscopyA procedure in which a thin scope is passed through the urethra and bladder up i…SerologyThe laboratory study of blood serum (the clear fluid portion of blood) to detect…Coagulation PanelA group of blood tests that measure how well and how quickly the blood clots. It…Complete Blood CountA common blood test, often called a CBC, that measures the different types of ce…ElectrophoresisA lab technique that uses an electric current to separate proteins, DNA, or othe…

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to start learning medical terminology?▾

Start with the building blocks, not individual words. Learn the 10 most common suffixes first: -itis (inflammation), -ectomy (surgical removal), -logy (study of), -plasty (surgical repair), -scopy (visual examination), -gram (record or image), -emia (blood condition), -osis (abnormal condition), -pathy (disease of), and -otomy (surgical incision). With just these 10 endings, you can decode hundreds of medical terms immediately.

Do nursing students need to memorize all medical terms?▾

No — and trying to memorize every term is the wrong approach. Nursing programs teach medical terminology through word structure: learn the roots, prefixes, and suffixes, and you can decode any new term you encounter throughout your career. Focus on the 30 most common prefixes, 25 most common suffixes, and the major body system roots (cardio, neuro, gastro, nephro, hepato, pulmon) and you will be well prepared.

What does NPO mean in medical terminology?▾

NPO stands for "nil per os," which is Latin for "nothing by mouth." When a patient is designated NPO, they cannot eat or drink anything — not even water. This is required before surgeries, certain procedures, and some diagnostic tests to prevent complications from anesthesia or to get accurate test results.

How are medical terms built from word parts?▾

Most medical terms are combinations of a root word, a prefix, and/or a suffix. For example: "gastroenteritis" breaks down into gastr/o (stomach) + enter/o (intestine) + -itis (inflammation) = inflammation of the stomach and intestines. "Electrocardiogram" breaks down into electr/o (electrical) + cardi/o (heart) + -gram (record) = electrical record of the heart. Once you see the pattern, you can decode almost any medical term.

Explore More Medical Terminology

Medical Abbreviations Medical Suffixes Medical Prefixes Common Medical Terms Medical Root Words