This section will describe common word components related to the nervous system. These word components help build definitions for many medical terms. Other common prefixes are described in Chapter 1.3, and common suffixes are described in Chapter 1.5.

Prefixes Related to the Nervous System

• a-: Absence of, without, no, not
• an-: Absence of, without, no, not
• dys-:  Abnormal, difficult, labored
• hemi-: Half
• hyper-: Above, excessive
• inter-: Between
• intra-: Within
• pan-: All, total
• para-: Beside, beyond, around, abnormal
• poly-: Many, much
• post-: After
• pre-: Before
• sub-: Below, under

Word Roots with Combining Vowels Related to the Nervous System

• alges/o: Sensitivity to pain
• cephal/o: Head
• cerebell/o: Cerebellum
• cerebr/o: Cerebrum
• dur/o: Dura mater, hard
• encephal/o: Brain
• esthesi/o: Sensation, sensitivity
• gangli/o: Ganglion
• ganglion/o: Ganglion
• gli/o: Glia, gluey substance
• mening/o: Meninges
• meningi/o: Meninges
• ment/o: Mind
• mon/o: One, single
• myel/o: Spinal cord
• neur/o: Nerve
• phas/o: Speech
• poli/o: Gray matter
• pont/o: Pons (structure in the brain)
• psych/o: Mind
• quadr/i: Four
• radic/o: Nerve root
• radicul/o: Nerve root
• rhiz/o: Nerve root
• thalam/o: Thalamus
• thec/o: Sheath
• vag/o: Vagus nerve

Suffixes Related to the Nervous System

• -al: Pertaining to
• -algia: Pain
• -algesia: Sensitivity to pain
• -cele: Hernia, protrusion
• -cyte: Cell
• -ectomy: Excision, surgical removal, cutting out
• -genic: Producing, originating, causing
• -gram: The record, radiographic image
• -graph: Instrument used to record
• -graphy: Process of recording, radiographic imaging
• -ia: Condition of, diseased state or abnormal state
• -ic: Pertaining to
• -iatrist: Specialist, physician
• -iatry: Specialty, treatment
• -ictal: Seizure, attack
• -itis: Inflammation
• -lepsy: Seizure
• -logist: Specialist who studies and treats
• -logy: Study of
• -lysis: Loosening, dissolution, separating
• -malacia: Softening
• -oid: Resembling
• -oma: Tumor
• -osis: Abnormal condition
• -paresis: Slight paralysis
• -pathy: Disease
• -phasia: Speech
• -plasty: Surgical repair
• -plegia: Paralysis
• -praxia: To perform, action
• -sclerosis: Hardening
• -rrhaphy: Suturing, repairing
• -tomy: Incision, cut into