GREEK COMPOUND WORDS A) Greek names for anatomical structures genitive stem
 (nom. sg. In brackets) English translation example English translation 1. aden- (aden) gland adenoma benign epithelial tumour having a glandular origin and structure 2. angi- (angeion) vessel angiographia radiographic visualization of blood vessels 3. arthr- (arthron) joint arthritis arthrosis synarthrosis inflammation of the joint degenerative disease of the joint immovable articulation in which the bones are united by intervening fibrous connective tissues 4. cardi- (kardia) heart endocardium pericardium inner wall of the heart muscle sac-like membrane that surrounds the heart 5. cephal- (kefale) head diencephalon metencephalon interbrain posterior part of the brain 6. cheil- (cheilos) lip cheilorrhaphia chirurgical suture of the lip 7. cheir- (cheir) hand cheirospasmus spasm of hand muscles 8. chondr- (chondros) cartilage perichondrium synchondrosis connective tissue membrane around the cartilage cartilaginous joint between two immovable bones 9. colp- (kolpos) vagina colporrhagia vaginal bleeding 10. cyst- (kystis) bladder urocystis cholecystis urinary bladder gall bladder 11. cyt- (kytos) cell erythrocytus leucocytus red blood cell white blood cell 12. dactyl- (daktylos) finger syndactylia congenital fusion of fingers/toes 13. derm-a-t- (derma) skin ectoderma entoderma the outermost of the three primary cell layers of an embryo the innermost of the three primary cell layers of an embryo 14. episi- (epision) pubic region episiotomia incision of the perineum to avoid tearing during parturition 15. gloss-/glott- (glossa/glotta) tongue glossoschisis bifid or cleft tongue 16. gon- (gony) knee gonarthrosis degenerative disease of the knee joint 17. hyster- (hystera) womb hysterectomia surgical removal of the womb 18. mast- (mastos) breast mastectomia surgical removal of the breast 19. metr- (metra) womb endometrium parametrium mucous membrane that lines the womb connective tissue and fat adjacent to the uterus 20. my-o- (mys) muscle myoma benign tumour composed of muscle tissue 21. myel- (myelos) bone marrow, spinal cord myelopathia disease of bone marrow or the spinal cord 22. nephr- (nefros) kidney nephrolithiasis presence of kidney stones in the kidney 23. neur- (neuron) nerve neuritis inflammation of the nerve 24. odont- (odus) tooth parodontosis periodontium degenerative disease of the tissue adjacent to the tooth supporting structures of the teeth (including the cement, periodontal ligament, bone of the alveolar process and gums) 25. om- (omos) shoulder omalgia pain in the shoulder 26. oophor- (ooforon) ovary oophorectomia surgical removal of the ovary 27. ophthalm (ofthalmos) eye ophthalmia inflammation of the eye 28. oste- (osteon) bone osteogenesis formation and development of bony tissue 29. ot- (us) ear otitis inflammation of the ear 30. phleb- (fleps) vein phlebotomia surgical incision into the vein 31. phys- (fyesthai) growth apophysis diaphysis usually bony projection or protuberance, as on the vertebra the shaft of a long bone 32. pneum-/pneumon (pneumon) lung pneumonia inflammation of lungs 33. pod- (pus) foot podalgia pain in the foot 34. rhin- (rhis) nose rhinitis inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane 35. salping- (salpinx) oviduct/ fallopian tube salpingorrhaphia suture of the fallopian tube 36. somat- (soma) body somaticus related to the body 37. splanchn- (splanchnon) internal organ splanchnopathia disease of internal organs 38. spondyl- (spondylos) vertebra spondyloschisis congenital fissure of the vertebra 39. stomat- (stoma) mouth stomatorrhagia bleeding from the mouth B) Greek names for body fluids and other substances genitive stem
 (nom. sg. in brackets) English translation example English translation 40. haem-/haemat-/-aem- (haima) blood haemorrhagia haematoscopia hyperglycaemia bleeding laboratory examination of the blood excess of sugar in the blood 41. hydr- (hydor) water, liquid hydrothorax excess of serous fluid in the pleural cavity 42. lip- (lipos) fat lipoma benign tumour composed of fat cells 43. lith- (lithos) stone cholecystolithos gallstone in the gallbladder 44. py- (pyon) pus pyophtalmia inflammation of the eye with pus secretion 45. pyr- (pyr) fire hyperpyrexia extremely elevated temperature 46. ur- (uron) urine urologia branch of medicine dealing with the urinary system C) Greek names for physiological/pathological states and processes genitive stem
 (nom. sg. in brackets) English equivalent example English equivalent 47. aesth- (aisthesis) to feel, perceive anaesthesia dysaesthesia loss of pain sensation induced by drugs disagreeable, atypical sensation 48. -algia (algos) pain cephalalgia headache 49. -lithiasis (lithos) stones nephrolithiasis presence of kidney stones in the kidney 50. -lysis (lysis) relaxation, decomposi-tion spasmolysis relaxation of spasms 51. -odynia (odyne) pain mastodynia pain in the breast 52. -pathia (pathos) unspecified disease psychopathia any disease of the mind 53. -penia (penia) lack, shortage leucocytopenia lack of white blood cells 54. -phobia (fobos) fear claustrophobia abnormal fear of being in narrow or enclosed spaces 55. -plasia (plassein) formation, development hyperplasia abnormal increase in cells in a tissue or organ 56. -plegia (plege) paralysis, palsy gastroplegia paralysis of gastric smooth muscles 57. -pnoe (pnoe) to breathe eupnoe dyspnoe apnoe normal breathing laboured or difficult breathing transient cessation of breathing 58. -ptosis (ptosis) falling down metroptosis downward displacement of the uterus 59. -rrhagia (rhegnynai) bleeding enterorrhagia bleeding from the intestine 60. -rrhoea (rhoe) flow, discharge pyorrhoea otorrhoea discharge of pus inflammatory discharge from the ear 61. -schisis (schisis) cleft, division cheiloschisis cleft lip 62. -spasmus (spasmos) spasm bronchospasmus bronchial spasm 63. stas (stasis) standing astasia venostasis inability to stand abnormal slowing or stoppage of the flow of blood in a vein 64. ton- (tonos) tension, pressure hypertonia hypotonia high blood pressure low blood pressure 65. -troph- (trofe) to nourish eutrophia dystrophia atrophia normal/good nutrition defective/faulty nutrition decrease in the size of an organ or tissue D) Greek names for quality and quantity features genitive stem
 (nom. sg. in brackets) English translation example English translation 66. brady- (bradys) slow bradypnoe abnormally slow breathing 67. crypt- (kryptos) hidden cryptogenes of unknown or obscure origin 68. di- (dis) twice diplegia paralysis of the identical part on both sides of the body 69. erythr- (erythros) red erythroderma abnormal redness of the skin 70. -genes (gignesthai) having the origin in something haematogenes produced by, derived from, or originating in the blood 71. hemi- (hemi-) half hemiplegia paralysis affecting only one side of the body 72. is- (isos) same isogenes having the same origin 73. leuc- (leukos) white leucoderma white patches on the skin due to absence of pigment 74. macr- (makros) big, long macroscopia examination with the naked eye 75. malac- (malakos) soft, tender osteomalacia softening of bones 76. megal- (megas) large megalocardia abnormal enlargement of the heart 77. melan- (melas) black melanoma malignant, usually skin tumour composed of melanocytes 78. micr- (mikros) small microscopia investigation by use of a microscope 79. mon- (monos) one monoplegia paralysis of a single limb 80. necr- (nekros) dead necrosis death of living tissue 81. neo- (neos) new neoplasma abnormal growth of new tissue such as a tumour 82. olig- (oligos) rare, not numerous oliguria diminished urine production 83. pan- (pas) whole, all panplegia paralysis of the whole body 84. poly- (polys) numerous polyarthritis inflammation of several joints 85. pseud- (pseudes) false pseudoanaemia false anaemia 86. scler- (skleros) hard sclerosis hardening or thickening of organs, tissues and vessels 87. tachy- (tachys) rapid tachypnoe abnormally rapid breathing 88. therm- (thermos) warm hypothermia abnormally low body temperature 89. tetra- (tettares) four tetraplegia paralysis of all four limbs 90. tri- (treis) three triceps having three heads E) Greek names for medical interventions and examinations genitive stem
 (nom. sg. in brackets) English translation example English translation 91. -ectomia (ektome) excision, removal cholecystectomia surgical excision of the gallbladder 92. -graphia (grafein) recording, image hysterographia graphic recording of the strength of uterine contractions in labour 93. -metria (metron) measurement pupillometria measurement of the diameter or width of the pupil of the eye 94. -plastica (plastike techne) plastic operation otoplastica plastic surgery of the ear 95. -scopia (skopein) examination ophthalmoscopia examination of the eye by means of the ophthalmoscope 96. -stomia (stoma) opening tracheostomia creation of an opening into the trachea through the neck 97. -therapia (therapeia) therapy chemotherapia use of chemical agents in the treatment of a disease 98. -tomia (tome) incision, cutting tympanotomia incision of the tympanic membrane EXERCISES glandula manus vagina labium digitus uterus medulla auris nasus viscera cartilago pes splanchna cheilos rhis (rhin-) chondros cheir myelos dactylos us (ot-) aden pus (pod-) hystera kolpos 1. Match Latin names for anatomical structures with their corresponding Greek equivalents: 2. Give Latin equivalents to the Greek terms: mys____________________ osteon ___________________ arthron ____________________ spondylos ____________________ gony ____________________ stoma ____________________ soma ____________________ kefale ____________________ angeion ____________________ fleps ____________________ kardia ____________________ nefros ____________________ kystis ____________________ glotta ____________________ mastos ____________________ derma ____________________ 3. Analyse the structure of the following terms. Translate the terms: Example: hypoglycaemia: hypo-glyc-aem-ia = abnormally low concentration of glucose in the blood compound word analysis translation cephalalgia cholecystolithiasis myodystrophia neuropathia cardiophobia palatoschisis encephalodysplasia hydrorrhoea rhinorrhagia pancreatolysis nephroptosis pyodermatitis hypopyrexia haemostasis 4. Give Greek terms to the English definitions/equivalents. Use one-word terms only: ___________________________________ bleeding from the stomach ___________________________________ stomach ache ___________________________________ spasm of the stomach ___________________________________ downward displacement of the stomach ___________________________________ inflammation of the stomach ___________________________________ loss of tone in the stomach musculature ___________________________________ unspecified disease of the stomach ___________________________________ paralysis of the stomach 5. Match the words in the left column with their opposites in the right column: brady leukos oligos megalos skleros hemi- melanos malakos pan tachy poly mikros 6. Form terms from the given words with the corresponding meaning. Do not change the order of the words: erythros + kytos + lysis ___________________________________ breaking down of red blood cells isos + hydor + haima ___________________________________ normal amount of liquids in vessels oligos + daktylos ___________________________________ presence of fewer than five digits on a hand or foot pseudo + tumor
 ___________________________________ abnormality that resembles a tumour poly + neuron + pathos ___________________________________ disease of several nerves 7. Use expressions in the box to form compound words with the corresponding meaning. tomia ectomia stomia graphia plastica therapia stomosis scopia metria A. ___________________________: measurement of dimensions of the head 
 B. ___________________________: treatment of a disease by means of ionizing radiation 
 C. ___________________________: surgical formation of an opening through the abdominal wall 
into the stomach 
 D. ___________________________: surgical excision of the gallbladder 
 E. ___________________________: endoscopic examination of the colon 
 F. ___________________________: surgical repair of a defect of the lip 
 G. ___________________________: surgical incision of the appendix H. Electro-___________________________: recording of electrical impulses produced by the brain 
activity (EEG) 
 I. ___________________________: surgical connection of two parts of the intestine