SUFFIX
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGIES AND The suffix is found at the terminal portion or at
ABBREVIATION the end of the term.
It also denotes the meaning to the root word.
ROOT WORDS
–megaly = enlargement
The root word is the main part of the medical term
that denotes the meaning of the word. – uria = urine
– emia = blood
– ostomy = to make an opening
colo – colon
or mouth
phlebo – vein
– itis = inflammation
hemat – blood
– blast = young
aero – air
– cidal = killing of
cardio – heart
– poiesis = formation
myo – muscle
– meter = measure
arterio – artery
– ectomy = surgical removal
cyto – cell
– emia = blood condition
arthro – joint
– pathy = diseases
heap / hepato – liver
– penia = deficiency
pyo – pus
– oma = tumor, growth
cranio – skull
– tome = cutting instrument
thrombo – clot
pyro – fever
nephro – kidney RULES
osteo – bone
mast – breast If the suffix starts with a consonant, a
combining vowel needs to be used (usually the
PREFIX letter O).
The combining vowel does not change the
The prefix is found at the beginning of the term meaning of the root word and is added in order to
and it shows how meaning is assigned to the word. make the pronunciation of the word easier.
The combining vowel is added between the root
a- /an- = without/ absence word and the suffix.
o hyper- = meaning increased/ above Examples:
Hemat + logy = hematology (study of
poly- = many
blood)
pre- = before Phlebo + tomy = phlebotomy (the process
iso- = same of cutting into vein using a needle)
micro- = small The plural form of medical terms is made by
changing the end of the word and not by simply
macro- = large adding S, which follows the rule for irregular
intra- = inside/ within nouns
pseudo- = false
mono- = one
nano- = billionth
hypo- = decreased
anaero- = without oxygen
homo- = same, like
cryo- = cold
neo- = new
MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS DOB = Date of Birth
A/G ratio = Albumin-globulin ratio DVT = Deep vein thrombosis
ABG= Arterial blood gas Dx = Diagnosis
ACP = Acid phosphatase E. coli = Escherichia coli
ACTH = Adrenocorticotropic hormone EBV = Epstein Barr Virus
ADH = Antidiuretic hormone EDTA = Ethylenediamine tetraacetic
AFB = Acid fast bacilli acid
AFP = Alpha fetoprotein ELISA = Enzyme – linked
AIDS = Acquired immunodeficiency immunosorbent assay
syndrome Eos = Eosinophil
ALL = Acute lymphocytic leukemia ER = Emergency room/Estrogen
ALT = Alanine aminotransferase receptor
ALP = Alkaline phosphatase ESR = Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
AML = Acute myelogenous leukemia FBS = Fasting blood sugar
ANA = Antinuclear antibody FDA = Food and Drug Administration
AST = Aspartate aminotransferase Fe = Iron
Bands =Banded neutrophil FS = Frozen section
Bili (T/D) = Bilirubin (Total/Direct) FSH = Follicle stimulating hormone
BT = Bleeding FTA = Fluorescent treponemal
BUA= Blood uric acid antibody
BUN = Blood Urea Nitrogen GFR = Glomerular filtration rate
Bx = Biopsy GH = Growth hormone
C & S = Culture and Sensitivity GI = Gastrointestinal
Ca = Calcium Glu = Glucose
CBC = Complete blood count GTT = Glucose tolerance test
CDC = Centers for Disease Control H & H = Hematocrit and Hemoglobin
and Prevention HCG = Human chorionic gonadotropin
Chol = Cholesterol Hct = Hematocrit
CK = Creatine kinase HDL = High density lipoprotein
Cl = Chloride Hgb = Hemoglobin
CLL = Chronic lymphocytic leukemia HIV = Human immunodeficiency virus
CML = Chronic myelogenous leukemia hpf = High – power field
CMV = Cytomegalovirus HPV = Human papilloma virus
CPD = Continuing professional HSV = Herpes simplex virus
development HTN = Hypertension
CSF = Cerebrospinal fluid ICU = Intensive care unit
DI = Diabetes insipidus IDDM = Insulin dependent diabetes
DIC = Disseminated intravascular mellitus
coagulation IM = Intramuscular
Diff. = Differential count IUD = Intrauterine device
DM = Diabetes mellitus IV = Intravenous
IVF = In vitro fertilization PTT = partial thromboplastin time
K = Potassium Px = Physical examination
KS = Kaposi’s sarcoma QC = quality control
LDH = Lactate dehydrogenase QA = quality assurance
LDL = Low density lipoprotein RA = Rheumatoid arthritis
LH = Luteinizing hormone RBC = Red blood cell
LP = Lumbar puncture retic = Reticulocyte count
lpf = Low power field RF = Rheumatoid factor
lymphs = Lymphocytes Rh = Rhesus (monkey) factor
MCH = Mean corpuscular hemoglobin RHD = Rheumatic heart disease
MCHC = mean corpuscular RIA = Radioimmunoassay
hemoglobin RPR = Rapid plasma regain
concentration segs = Segmented neutrophils
MCV = mean corpuscular volume SGOT = Serum glutamic oxaloacetic
MI = Myocardial infarction transaminase
Mono = Monocytes SGPT = Serum glutamic pyruvic
MS = Multiple sclerosis transaminase
Na = Sodium SLE= Systemic Lupus erythematosus
neg. = Negative SpG = Specific gravity
NM = Nuclear medicine stat = Immediately
NPO = Nothing by mouth STI = Sexually transmitted infection
NSS = Normal saline solution T & C = Type and crossmatch
O & P = Ova and Parasites T3 test = Triiodothyronine test
OCP = Oral contraceptive pills T4 test = Thyroxine test
OGCT = Oral glucose challenge test TB = Tuberculosis
OGTT = Oral glucose tolerance test TFT = Thyroid function test
OSHA = Occupational Safety and TIBC = Total iron binding capacity
Health tPA = Tissue plasminogen activator
Administration Trig. = Triglycerides
Pap smear = Papanicolaou’s smear TSH = Thyroid stimulating hormone
PCP = Pneumocystis carinii TSS = Toxic shock syndrome
pneumonia Tx = Treatment
PID = Pelvic inflammatory disease U/O = Urinary output
PKU = Phenylketonuria U/A = Urinalysis
PMN = Polymorphonuclear leukocyte UTI = Urinary tract infection
PBS = Peripheral blood smear UV = Ultraviolet
PPBS = Postprandial blood sugar VD = Venereal disease
PPD = Purified protein derivative VDRL = Venereal disease research
PSA = Prostatic specific antigen laboratories
PTH = Parathyroid hormone VLDL = Very low density lipoprotein
PT = Prothrombin time WBC = White blood cell
WNL = Within normal limits
X – match = Crossmatch
OTHERS
DOH = Department of Health
CHED = Commission on Higher
Education
AIDs = Autoimmune disorders/
diseases
AMI = Acute Myocardial Infarction
2PPBS = 2 hours Postprandial
Blood Sugar
AFS = Acid Fast Stain
PCQACL = Philippine Council for
Quality
Assurance in the Clinical
Laboratories
IU = International Unit
BAP = blood agar plate
