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

Common Prefixes Related to the Urinary System

• a-: Absence of, without
• an-: Absence of, without
• dia-: Through, complete
• dys-: Painful, abnormal, difficult, labored
• poly-: Many, much

Common Word Roots With A Combing Vowel Related to the Urinary System

• albumin/o: Albumin
• azot/o: Urea, nitrogen
• blast/o: Developing cell, germ cell
• cyst/o: Bladder, sac
• glomerul/o: Glomerulus
• glyc/o: Sugar
• glycos/o: Sugar
• hydr/o: Water
• lith/o: Stone, calculus
• meat/o: Meatus
• nephr/o: Kidney
• noct/i: Night
• olig/o: Few, scanty
• py/o: Pus
• pyel/o: Renal pelvis
• ren/o: Kidney
• ur/o: Urine, urinary tract
• ureter/o: Ureter
• urethr/o: Urethra
• urin/o: Urine, urinary tract
• vesic/o: Bladder, sac

Common Suffixes Related to the Urinary System

• -al: Pertaining to
• -ary: Pertaining to
• -cele: Hernia, protrusion
• -emia: In the blood
• -esis: Condition
• -gram: The recorded radiographic image
• -graph: Instrument used to record
• -graphy: Process of recording, radiographic imaging
• -iasis: Condition
• -itis: Inflammation
• -lith: Stone
• -lysis: Loosening, dissolution, separating
• -megaly: Enlarged, enlargement
• -oma: Tumor, swelling
• -osis: Abnormal condition
• -pexy: Surgical fixation, suspension
• -ptosis: Drooping, sagging, prolapse
• -rrhaphy: Suturing, repairing
• -scope: Instrument used for visual examination
• -scopic: Pertaining to visual examination
• -scopy: Visual examination
• -stomy: Creation of an artificial opening
• -tomy: Cut into, incision
• -tripsy: Surgical crushing
• -uria: Urine, urination