Principal Root Word

• medical terms

  combination of two or more parts
• root


  essential component of a word
• angiodema


  root at the beginning of a word
• encephalic


  root in the middle of a word
• scleroderma

  root at the end of a word
• phototherapy

  combination of roots
• angi


  means vessel
• cephal


  means head
• derm


  means skin
• photo

  means light
• therapy

  means treatment
• prefix


  appear at the beginning
• suffix


  appear at the end
• prefix


  attached to the beginning of a root
• suffix 


  attached to the end of a root
• gastroscopy


  means endoscopic examination of the stomach
• splenomegaly

  means abnormal enlargement of the spleen
• macula

  maculae
• adenoma


  adenomata
• glomerulus


  glomeruli
• pelvis


  pelves
• ileum


  part of the intestinal tract
• ilium


  pelvic bone
• eponym


  a medical term that's derived from the name of a person
• addison's disease

  • a syndrome resulting from insufficient production of hormones from the cortex of the adrenal gland
• alzheimer's disease 


  a type of irreversible dementia
• cushing's syndrome

  • a syndrome resulting from the production of excess cortisol from the adrenal cortex
• parkinson's disease

  • a progressive degeneration of the nervous system that causes weakness, rigidity, and tremors
• stokes-adams syndrome


  a heart condition characterized by sudden loss of consciousness
• bartholin's glands


  located in the female perineum
• cowper's glands 


  located beneath a portion of the male urethra
• wernicke's center


  a speech center in the brain
• aphasia


  language disorder after a stroke
• wernicke's aphasia (fluent aphasia)


  a type of aphasia with poor comprehension
• allen's test


  a test for occlusion of radial or ulnar arteries
• Belsey Mark IV operation


  a procedure to correct gastroesophageal reflux
• heimlich maneuver


  a technique for removing foreign objects from the airway of a choking victim
• foley catheter


  is an indwelling urinary catheter
• hickman catheter


  is a central venous catheter inserted for long-term use
• malecot catheter


  is a tube used for gastrostomy feedings