1. Veterinary Terminology TM
The
Building Blocks
Suffix
Root
Prefix
Combining Form
Veterinary Terminology TM

2. Veterinary Terminology TM
Prefixes
A-, an-
Without,lack of, not
Anemia: lack of blood
Asymptomatic: without symptoms
Anti-
Against, opposing
Antibiotic: against microbial life
Brady-
Abnormally slow
Bradycardia: abnormally slow heart rate
De-
Down, from
Dehydrate: remove water from
Decay: break down
Dys-
Difficulty
Dyspnea: difficulty breathing
Hyper-
Excessive, abnormally high
Hyperthermia: abnormally high body temperature
Hypo-
Insufficient, abnormally low
Hypothermia: abnormally low body temperature
Mal-
Bad, poor
Malocclusion: poor positioning of the teeth
Poly-
Many, much, multiple
Polyuria: producing much urine
Tachy-
Abnormally fast
Tachycardia: abnormally fast heart rate
Veterinary Terminology TM

3. Suffixes -cyte Cell Erythrocyte: red blood cell -ectomy
To surgically remove
Lobectomy: to surgically remove a lobe
-emia
Blood Condition
Leukemia: Abnormal blood cell count
-pnea
Breathing
Tachypnea: abnormally fast breathing
-itis
Inflammation
Arthritis: inflammation of the joints
-logy
Study of
Biology: the study of life
-oma
Tumor
Carcinoma: cancerous tumor
-penia
Deficiency of
Leukopenia: deficiency of white blood cells
-scope
Instrument for examining
Microscope: instrument for examining minute objects
-tomy
Cutting, incision
Cystotomy: cutting into the urinary bladder

4. Veterinary Terminology TM
Roots
Cardi/o
KAHR-dee-oh
Heart
Cephal/o
SEH-fal-loh
Head
Dent/i, dent/o
DEHN-tee, DEHN-toh
Teeth
Mamm/a, mamm/o
MAM-mah, MAM-moh
Mammary gland
Nas/o
NAZ-zoh
Nose
Ophthalm/o
Afh-THAL-moh
Eye
Ot/o
OH-toh
Ear
Steth/o
STETH-oh
Chest
Thorac/o
THOR-ah-koh
Thorax
Trache/o
TRAY-kee-oh
Trachea
Veterinary Terminology TM

5. Veterinary Terminology TM
Prefixes 2
Ep, Epi-
On, upon
Epidermal: Pertaining to the outermost skin layer
Eu-(yoo)
Normal, well, good
Eupnea: Normal or good breathing
Iso-
Same, Equal
Isothermic: Of or relating to a change taking place at a constant temperature
Multi-
Many, much
Multicellular: Many cells
Neo-
New
Neonatal: Of or relating to newborn children or mammals.
Pan-
All
Panarthritis: All joint inflamation
Peri-
Around
Periodontal: Around teeth
Post-
After
Postoperative: After surgery
Uni-
One
Unicellular: Single cell
Veterinary Terminology TM

6. Suffixes 2 -al, -ic, -ac, -ous Pertaining to
Thermic: Pertaining to heat
Dermal: Pertaining to skin
Hydrous: Pertaining to water
-graphy
Recording of
Radiography: Process of taking radiographs
-ist
Specialist
Cardiologist: Heart specialist
-lysis
Destruction of
Erythrolysis: Destruction of red blood cells
-megaly
Abnormally large
Hepatomegaly: Enlarged liver
-natal
Birth
Postnatal: After birth
-oxia
Oxygen
Hypoxia: Low oxygen
-phagia
Eating, Swallowing
Malphagia: Difficulty eating/swallowing
-spasm
Involuntary contraction
Cardiospasm: Failure of cardiac sphincter to relax
-toxin
Poison
Entrotoxin: Toxin made by microorganisms in intestines

7. Roots 2 Abdomin/o Ab-DAH-mi-noh Stomach Copr-o KAH-proh Feces Cyan/o
SY-a-noh
Blue
Derm/o, Dermat/o
DER-moh, DER-mah-toh
Skin
Enter/o
EHN-teh-roh
Intestines
Erythro/o
Eh-RI-throh
Red blood cell
Gingiv/o
JIN-ji-voh
Gums
Hept/o
Heh-PA-toh
Liver
Hydr/o
HY-droh
Water
Peritone/o
PAIR-i-toh-NEE-oh
Peritoneum
Ur/o
Yoo-roh
Urinary system

8. Latin (scientific) Adjectives
Common Name
Latin Name
Latin Adjective
Dog
Canis
Canine
Cat
Felis
Feline
Horse
Equus
Equine
Cattle
Bos
Bovine
Sheep
Ovis
Ovine
Goat
Capra
Caprine
Pig
Sus
Porcine
Bird
Avis
Avian
Mouse
Mus
Murine
Rat
Rattus