INTRODUCTION TO SCIENTIFIC TERMINOLOGY

INTRODUCTION TO
SCIENTIFIC TERMINOLOGY

The purpose of this document is to introduce root words and their definitions. These words play a vital role in Biology because many scientific terms are based on these words. Because these root words are Greek or Latin in origin, their meanings have remained consistent throughout time. By becoming familiar with root words and their definitions you can determine general meanings of many terms by simply applying these root word definitions. For example, the root word "inter" means between. Knowing this you could easily define the word "intercellular" as "between cells."

The following pages contain a list of common root words, their meaning and an example of each one used in a scientific word. You can also use additional resources, such as the Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms by Donald J. Borrow. Use this, in addition to the notes and textbook, to help you complete Unit 1 quiz.

LIST OF ROOT PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES

Root
Definition
Example
A (an) without Abiotic
Adip
Fat
Adipose
Aer-
Aerobic
Air
Ailment
Food
Hyperailmentation
Alb-(alba)
White
Quercus alba
Arbor
Tree-like
Arbor day
Arachnid
Spider
Arachnophobia
Amin (Amino)
NH2
Amino acid
Amyl
Starch
Amylase
An-
Without
Anaerobic
Ana-
Up
Anabolism
Angio-
A vessel
Angiogram
-angium
Container
Sporangium ante before
Antebrachium
Anti
Against
Antibiotic
Api
Tip
Apex
append to hang something
Appendicular
Arche
Old (female)
Archegonium
-ase an enzyme
Lipase
Aud to hear
Auditory
Auto-
Self
Autotroph
Ax-
An axis
Axial
Bi
Two
Binary
Bio-
Life
Biochemistry
blast to form
Chrondroblast
Brady slow Bradypnea
Carbo
Containing carbon
Carbohydrate
Cardi
Heart
Cardiopulmonary
Cata-
Down
Catabolism
-cele tumor (cyst) blastocele Centr-
A point
Centromere
cephal head cephalothorax chiasm a cross optic chiasma
Chloro
Chlorophyll
Chloroplast
chondr
cartilage