In this flashcard set, you’ll find a list of prefixes, which describe the color of medical words, with their definitions and example words.
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#1 albin(o)- or alb-
The medical prefix term albin(o)- or alb- means "white".
Example Word: albin/ism
Word Breakdown: albin- is a prefix that means "white", and -ism is a suffix that means "condition".
Definition: Albinism is a condition of lacking pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes, resulting in a white appearance.
#2 chlor(o)-
Chlor(o)- is a medical prefix term that pertains to the color "green".
Word Example: chlor(o)/phyll
Word Breakdown: Chlor(o)- is a prefix that means "green" and -phyll is a suffix that pertains to leaves or leaf structures.
Definition: Chlorophylls are green pigments produced by plants and other photosynthetic organisms such as cyanobacteria.
#3 cirrh(o)-
cirrh(o)- is a medical prefix term that pertains to color "yellow".
Example Word: cirrh(o)/sis
Word Breakdown: Cirrh(o)- is a prefix that refers to "yellow", and -sis is a suffix that means "condition of".
Definition: A condition known as cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver becomes scarred and permanently damaged, manifested by a "yellow" discoloration of the skin and eyes.
#4 cyan(o)-
Cyan(o)- is the medical prefix term for color "blue".
Example Word: cyan(o)/sis
Word Breakdown: Cyan(o)- is a prefix that means "blue", -sis is a suffix that pertains to "condition of".
Definition: A cyanosis is a condition characterized by a blue discoloration of the skin or mucous membrane caused by a lack of oxygen.
#5 eosin(o)-
Eosin(o)- is a medical prefix term that means "red".
Example Word: eosin(o)/phil
Word Breakdown: Eosin(o)- is a prefix that means "red", -phil is a suffix that pertains to a "affinity for", "attraction" or "to love".
Definition: Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell (WBC), a part of the immune system that fights parasites and certain infections.
#6 erythr(o)-
Erythr(o)- is the medical prefix term for color "red".
Example Word: erythr(o)/cyte
Word Breakdown: Erythr(o)- is a prefix that means "red", -cyte is a suffix that pertains to a "cell".
Definition: The erythrocyte is also known as the "red blood cell".
#7 glauc(o)
Glauc(o)- is a medical prefix term that means "gray; opaque".
Example Word: glauc(o)/ma
Word Breakdown: Glauc(o)- is a prefix that means "grey; opaque", and -ma is a suffix that means "condition of".
Definition: The condition of glaucoma is caused by an increase in intraocular pressure that causes the affected eye to appear gray.
#8 jaund(o)-
jaund(o)- is the medical prefix term for color "yellow".
Example Word: jaund/ice
Word Breakdown: jaund- is a prefix that means "yellow" and -ice is a suffix that means "pertaining to".
Definition: The term 'jaundice' refers to a yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, or eyes.
#9 leuk(o)
Leuk(o)- is a medical prefix term that means "white".
Example Word: leuk(o)/cyte
Word Breakdown: Leuk(o)- is a prefix that means "white", and -cyte is a suffix that means "cell".
Definition: Known as white blood cells, leukocytes are a cellular component of the blood that protects the body from infection and disease.
#10 melan(o)-
melan(o)- is the medical prefix term for color "black".
Example Word: melan/oma
Word Breakdown: melan- is a prefix that means "black", -oma is a suffix that pertains to "tumor".
Definition: A melanoma is a dark-pigmented, usually malignant tumor that arises from a melanocyte.
#11 poli(o)-
Poli(o)- is a medical prefix term that means "gray".
Example Word: poli(o)/myel/itis
Word Breakdown: Poli(o)- is a prefix that means "gray", myel in this medical term is a word root that means "spinal cord" and -itis is a suffix that means "inflammation".
Definition: Poliomyelitis is an inflammation that affects the gray matter of the spinal cord.
#12 porphyr-
Porphyr- is the medical prefix term for color "purple".
Example Word: porphyr/opsin
Word Breakdown: Porphyr- is a prefix that means "purple", opsin is a word root that pertains to a "retina proteins that sense light".
Definition: Porphyropsin refers to any of a group of purple carotenoid pigments found in fish retinas, similar to rhodopsin.
#13 purpur-
purpur- is the medical prefix term for color "purple".
Example Word: purpur/a
Word Breakdown: purpur- is a prefix that means "purple", -a is a noun ending suffix with no specific meaning.
Definition: A purpura is a condition characterized by red or purple spots on the skin.
#14 rhod(o)-
rhod(o)- is a medical prefix term that means "red".
Example Word: rhod/opsin
Word Breakdown: rhod- is a prefix that means "red", opsin is a word root that pertains to a "retina proteins that sense light".
Definition: Rhodopsin is a red protein found in the rods of the retina.
#15 rubro- or rubri-
The medical prefix term rubro- or rubri- means "red".
Example Word: rubri/cyte
Word Breakdown: Rubri- is a prefix that means "red", -cyte is a suffix that pertains to a "cell".
Definition: A rubricyte is an immature red blood cell with a nucleus.
#16 xanth(o)-
Xanth(o)- is the medical prefix term for color "yellow".
Example Word: xanth(o)/phobia
Word Breakdown: Xanth(o)- is a prefix that means "yellow", -phobia is a suffix that pertains to "irrational fear".
Definition: Xanthophobia is an intolerance to yellow light.
