PREFIXES AND SUFIXES USED IN BIOLOGY

COMMENLY USED PREFIXES AND SUFIXES IN BIOLOGY

The following list is by no means complete, but it may help in understanding some difficult terminology. The following abbreviations are used ; Gr., for the Greek ; L., for the Latin.

A

• a-or an- (Gr., without or absent), asexual, without sex anaerobe organism that lives without free oxygen.
• ab- (L., away from or without), aboral, away from the mouth
• ad- (L., toward, upon, or equal), adrenal , relating to the kidney; adduct, to draw one part towards another.
• ae (L., plural ending of singular Latin nouns ending in a)alga and algae (p1.)
• acr, acri-, acis (Gr-akris) Outermost top, point, tip
• actin-actino (Gr., ktis-ray)
• aer-(Gr, air), aerobe , organism that requires free air.
• alb (L., white), albino , organism exhibiting no pigment.
• algia (Gr., pain), neuralgia , pain in a nerve.
• ambi- (L., both), ambidextrous , being able to use eitherhand.
• ambly (Gr., ambulus, dull, dim) e.g. amblypoda, rangeextinct animals of the Eocene period.
• amphi- (Gr., on both sides), Amphibia , class of vertebrateanimals living in water and on land.
• amyl- (L., starch), amylase enzyme that changes starch to sugar.
• ana- (Gr., back or again), anabolism , building-up processof metabolism.
• angio- (Gr., enclosed), angiosperm , plant with enclosed or protected seeds.
• ante- (L., before in time or space), antedorsal , placed before dorsal.
• anti- (Gr., opposed or opposite), antitoxin , antibody opposed to or neutralizing a toxin.
• antho- (Gr., anthos = flower), Anthozoa-flower-like coelenterates.
• antr- (L., cavity), antrum , cavity of a bone.
• apo- (Gr., away or separate), apodeme , ingrowth from the exo-skeleton of most arthropods.
• aqua- (L., water), aquatic , living in water.
• arch- (Gr., early or chief), archenteron , early digestive tract or enteron ; Archeozoic , earliest era of geologic history.
• areol- (L., space), areolar , containing minute spaces.
• arthr- (Gr., joint), Arthropoda , phylum of invertebrateanimals with jointed appendages or feet.
• asco- (Gr., sac or bag), Ascomycetes , class of sac-bearing fungi.
• -ase (suffix designating an enzyme), protease enzyme that acts on proteins.
• aster- (Gr., star), Asteroidea , class of echinoderms resembling stars.
• auto- (Gr., self), autosynthesis , self-building up.
• axo, ax, axio, axon (Gr., axine-axis)-pertaining to an axis.

B

• bactér- (Gr., baktron , a stick), bacteria , rod-shaped organisms.
• basi- (Gr., base) basidiospore , spore formed at the baseof a basidium.
• bi (Gr., base), bilateral , similar on both sides.
• bio- (Gr., life), biology , science of life.
• blast- (Gr., bud or young), blastoderm , primitive germlayer. .
• brachy- (Gr., short), brachydactyly , abnormal shortness of the digits.
• brady (Gr., boadus, slow)
• brevis (L., short), adductor brevis , short adductor muscle.
• bryo- (Gr., moss), bryophyte , plant of the phylum comprising the mosses.

C

• caec- (L., blind), cecum , ( caecum ), blind pouch.
• calci- (L., lime), calcareous , containing lime.
• -carp (Gr., fruit), pericarp , wall around the plant ovary.
• cata- (Gr., down), catabolism , breaking-down process of metabolism.
• cauda- (L., tail), caudal , relating to a tail. cay— (L., hollow), vena cava , hollow vein.
• ceno- (Gr., recent), Cenozoic , recent era of geologic history.
• centr- (L., center), centrosome , Léntre of activity during mitosis.
• cephalo— (Gr., head), cephalic , relating to, or toward the head.
• chior- (Gr., green), chlorophyll, green colouring matter of plants.
• -chondro (Gr., green), mitochondria , small, granular parts of protoplasm.
• chondro- (Gr., cartilage), chondrocranium , part of the cranium developing from cartilage.
• chrom- (Gr., color), chromatophore , colour-bearing cell.
• -cide (L., kill), insecticide , agent that kills insects.
• cili (L., eyelash), cilia , minute, hair-like processes.
• circum- (L., around), circumoesophageal , around the oesophagus.
• cloaca (L., sewer), cloaca , outlet for excretions. cnido- (Gr., nettle), cnidoblast , nettle cell of certain animals.
• coel- (Gr., hollow), coelom ( celom ), hollow body cavity.
• coeno- (Gr., common), coenosarc , common tissue in certain animals.
• coleo- (Gr., sheathed), Coleoptera , order of sheathedinsects, such as beetles.
• corn- (L., together), commensalism , living together.
• con- (L., cone), conifer , cone-bearing tree ; or (L., with), concretion , something that has grown together.
• cotyl- (Gr., cup shaped), cotyledon , cup-shaped seed leaf.
• creta- (L., chalk), Cretaceous , chalk period of geologic times.
• cyan- (Gr., blue), Cyanophyta ,phylum of blue-green algae.
• cyst- (Gr., sac), cyst, pouch or sac.
• cyt- (Gr., cell), cytology , branch of biology studying cell structure and function.

D

• de- (L., off), degenerate , to lose generative ability, dehydration.
• dendr- (Gr., brush or tree), dendrite , tree-like structure of a nerve cell.
• derrn- (Gr., skin), dermis , part of the skin.
• di- (Gr., twice), diploblastic , possessing two germ layers ; dicotyledon , plant possessing two cotyledons.
• dis- (L., away), distal , away from the point of origin.
• -dont (Gr., odontos, tooth) or Thecodont.
• dors- (L., back), dorsal , pertaining to the back.
• dura- (L., tough), duramater, tough, outer covering of the brain and spinal cord.

E

• e- (L., out of, without), egest , to pass outside.
• ec- (Gr., house or environment), ecology , study of the habitats of an organism.
• ecto- (Gr., outside), ectoderm , outer layer of cells.
• -ectorny (Gr., cut), appendectomy , removal of the appendix.
• -emia (Gr., blood), anaemia, blood deficiency.
• en- (Gr., in or within), encyst, to cover with a membranous cyst.
• endo- or ento- (Gr., within), endoderm , inner layer of cells.
• eo- (Gr., dawn, or early), Eocene , early geologic period.
• epi- (Gr., upon), epidermis , epithelial layer upon the dennis.
• equi- (L., horse), Equisetineae , class to which the horsetails belong.
• eu- (Gr., good or well), eugenic , being fitted for the production of good offspring.
• ex- (Gr., external), exoskeleton , external skeleton. EXOCRINE GLANDS
• extra- (L., beyond), extracellular , beyond or outside the cell.

F

• -fer (L., to bear), Porifera , phylum comprising pore- bearing sponges. .
• flu- (L., thread), filiform , thread-like.
• flex- (L,. bend), flexor , muscle that bends joints.
• -form (L., shape), uniform , all one shape.

G

• gam- (Gr., marriage), gamete , reproductive cell.
• gastr- (Gr., stomach), gastric , pertaining to the stomach.
• -gen (Gr., to produce), pathogenic , capable of causing disease.
• geo- (Gr., earth), geology , science of the earth.
• -gest (Gr., to bear or hold), ingest, to take in.
• -glea (Gr., jelly), mesoglea, middle, jelly-like layer in certain animals.
• glyc- (Gr., sweet or carbohydrate), glycogen animal starch.
• gono- (Gr., seed or reproduction), gonad , organ of reproduction.
• gymn- (Gr., naked), gymnosperm, class of seed plants whose seeds are not enclosed in an ovary.

H

• haem- (Gr., blood), haemoglobin, (haemoglobin), substance in the blood.
• hemi- (Gr., half), hemisphere , one half of a sphere.
• hepat- (Gr., liver), hepatic, pertaining to the liver.
• hetero- (Gr., other or different), heterogeneous , consisting of different constituents.
• hex- (Gr., six), hexagonal , six sided.
• homo- (Gr., same), homogeneous , of a similar kind.
• hyal- (Gr., glass), hyaline, something that is transparent or glass-like.
• hydr- (Gr., water), dehydrate , to remove water.
• hymen- (Gr., membrane), Hymenoptera , order of insects with membranous wings.
• hyper- (Gr., above), hypersensitive , especially sensitive.
• hypo- (Gr., under), hypoglossal, situated under the tongue.

I

• in- (L., in, into, not, without), invaginate , to infold one part within another.
• infra- (L., below), infraorbital , below the orbit.
• inter- (L., between), intercellular , between cells.
• intra- (L., inside), intracellular , within a cell.
• iso(Gr., equal), isothermic , having equal temperatures.
• -itis (Gr., inflammation), appendicitis , inflammation of the appendix.

 

l

• labi- (L., lip), labium, lip.
• lac- (L., milk), lactose , milk sugar.
• later- (L., side), lateral , relating to the side.
• -lemma (Gr., covering), neurilemma , covering of a nerve.
• lepi- (Gr., scale), Lepidoptera , order of insects with scale wings.
• leuko- (Gr., white), leukocyte , white blood cell. lip- (Gr., fatty), lipoid , fatty substance.
• -log (Gr., study), zoology , study of animals.Branches of biology
• luci- (L., light), luciferin , light-producing material.
• lysis (Gr., destroy), bacteriolysis , desçruction of bacteria.

M

• macro- (Gr. , large), macronucleus , large nucleus.
• mal- (Gr., bad), malnutrition , bad nutrition.
• mega- (Gr., large), megaspore , large spore.
• mens- (L., table), commensalism , eating at a common source of food.
• -mere (Gr., part), micromere , small part
• meso- (Gr., middle), mesoderm , middle cellular layer.
• meta- (Gr., after), metaphase , later phase of mitosis.
• micro- (Gr., small), micronucleus , small nucleus.
• miii- (Gr., thousand), millipede , animal with a “thousand” legs.
• mio- (Gr., less), Miocene , less recent period in geologichistory. S
• mito- (Gr., thread), mitosis , cell division with the formation of thread-like structures.
• mono- (Gr., one), monograph, , something written about one subject.
• morph- (Gr., form), morphology , study of form.
• multi- (L., many), multi coloured , of many colours.
• muta- (L., to change), mutation , abrupt hereditary change.
• myco- (Gr., fungus), mycology , study of fungi.
• myxo- (Gr., slime), Myxomycophyta , phylum comprising the slime moulds.

N

• nema- (Gr., thread), nematocyst , thread-like structure of coelenterates.
• neo- (Or., young or recent), Neotropical , constituting a recent biogeographic region in the tropics.
• nephro- (Gr., kidney), iiephridium , tubular excretory organ.
• non- (L., not), non-irritant , not irritating.
• noto- (Gr. notos, The back), e.g. notochord.
• nuc- (L., kernel or centre), nucleus , central portion of a cell.

O

• octo- (L., eight), octopus , animal with eight appendages.
• oedo- (Gr., swollen), edema (oedema), swollen condition.
• -oid (Gr., like), amoeboid ( amoeboid ), like an Amoeba.
• oligo- (Gr., few or little), oligotrichous , having few cilia.
• -oma(Gr., swelling or tumor), carcinoma , malignant growth (cancer).
• omni- (L., omnis-all) e.g. omnivore.
• 00- (Gr., egg), oogenesis , formation and development of an egg.
• or- (L., mouth), oral , pertaining to the mouth.
• ortho- (Gr., straight), Orthoptera , order of insects with straight wings.
• Os- (Gr., bone), osseQus , pertaining to bone. ovi- (L., egg), ovum , egg.oviparous mammals

P

• pakiio- (Gr., ancient), palaeontology , study of ancient life.
• para- (Gr., beside), parapodia , appendages beside others.
• path- (gr., disease), pathogenic , capable of causing disease.
• ped- (L., feet), pedal , pertaining to the foot.
• peri- (Gr., around), peristome , region around an opening or mouth.
• phaeo- (Or., dark or brown), Phaeophyta , phylum of brown algae.
• phago- (Or., to eat), phagocyte , cell that eats or destroys.
• phor- (Or., to bear), sporophore , part of a sporophyte that bears spores.
• photo- (Or., light), photosynthesis , formation of carbohydrates in the presence of light.
• -phil! (Or., loving), thermophile , heat-loving organism.
• phyco- (Or., alga, or seaweed), Phycomycetes , alga like fungus.
• -phyll (Or., leaf), mesophyll , middle part of a leaf.
• physio- ( Or., nature), physiology , study of the nature or function of living matter.
• -phyte (Or., plant), sporophyte , spore-bearing plant.
• -pkism (Or., formed), ectoplasm , outer region of the cell cytoplasm.
• plot)?- (Or., nat), Platyhelminthes, phylum of Flatworms.
• pijo- (Or., more), Pliocene , more recent geologic period.
• poly- (Or., many), Polymorphous , having many for iris.
• post- (L., after), postnatal , after birth.
• -porous (Or., foot), octopus , animal with eight feet or appendages.
• pre- (L. before), prenatal , before birth.
• pro- (Or., before), prostomium , portion ofthe head situated before the mouth of certain worms and molluscs.
• proto- (Or., first of essential), protoplasm , essential material of all plant and animal cells.
• prox- (L., nearest), proximal , nearest.
• pseudo- (Or., false), pseudopodia , false feet.
• -ptero (Or., wing), Diptera , order of insect with two wings.

R

• re- (I. ., again or back), regenerate , to form again.
• ren- (I.., kidney), renal , pertaining to the kidney. rept- (I. ., creeping), reptile , creeping animal.
• retro- (I. ., backward), retrolingual , backward from the tongue.
• rhabdo (Or., rhabdos-rod), e.g. rhab, possessing straight rod-like intestine.
• rhizo- (Or., root), Rhizopoda , subclass of animals with root-like appendages.
• rhodo- (Or., red), Rhodophyta , phylum of red algae.
• roti- (I.., wheel), rotifer , animal with a wheel-like structure on its head.

S

• -sare (Or., flesh), ectosarc , outer flesh or layer of protoplasm.
• schizo- (Or., to divide), Schizomycophyta , phylum of fission fungi (bacteria).
• scler- (Or., hard), sclerotic , hard.
• -scope (Or., see) microscope , instrument enabling one to see minute ‘objects.
• -see! (I. ., to cut), dissect , to cut.
• -semi- (L., half), semicircle , half of a circle.
• sept- (L., wall), septum , partition.
• set- (L., bristle), seta , bristle-like structure.
• sinu- (L., hollow), sinus , hollow cavity.
• soma- (Gr., body), somatoplasm , protoplasm of the body.
• spor- (Gr., seed), spore , reproductive structure.
• stoma- (Gr., opening), stoma , opening, such as is found in leaves.
• sub- (Gr., under), submaxillary , under the maxilla.
• super- (L., over or above), superior , higher, upper, or above.
• supra- (L., above), suprarenal , above the kidney .
• sym- (Gr., together), symbiosis , living together.
• syn- (Gr., together), synapsis , association or union.

T

• taxo-, taxi-, taxis (Gr., taxis-arrangement).
• telo- (Gr., complete or end), telophase , end stage of cell division.
• terato- (Gr., marvel, or monster),teratology, study ofmonstrosities or deviations from the normal.
• tetra- (Gr., four), tetrapod , something that has four feet.
• -thec (Gr., case), spermatheca , sperm-case.
• thermo- (Gr., heat), thermotropism , reaction to heat.
• thigmo- (Gr., contact), thigmotropism , reaction to contact.
• -tome (Gr., to cut), microtome , instrument to cut small sections.
• toxi- (Gr., poison), toxin , poison.
• trans- (Gr., across), transfer , to carry across.
• ,.j (Gr., three), trilobed , having three lobes.
• tricho- (Gr., hair), trichocyst , hair-like structure.
• trop- (Gr., reaction), tropism , reaction to stimuli.

U

• ultra- (L., beyond), ultramicroscopic, so small that it is beyond the microscope.
• uni- (L, one), unilateral , on one side.
• -ur (Gr., tail, Anura , animals without tails.

V

• vas- (L., vessel), vas deferens , vessel to transmit male sex cells.
• ventr- (Gr., belly), ventral , pertaining to the lower or belly side.
• ti- (L., to turn), Vorticella , animal that turns as it moves.

X

• xantho- (Gr., xanthos, yellow) : eg. xanthophyll, yellowpigment.
• xiphi- (Gr., xiphos, a sword) : e.g. xiphiosura, king crabs the hind part bearing a long tail spine
• xen-, xeno- (Gr., xen-strange-different)
• xero- (Gr., xeros-dry) e.g. xerophyte e.g. climatic plant

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