Genu
Do you know what the word "genu" means? It means knee. So when you say genuflect, it means bending ones knee to the ground, in worship or as a sign of respect. There are two terms in medicine using the word genu-: genu-varum and genu-valgum. Genu-varum is another word for bowleg and is used when the knee is bowed inward. Genu-valgum is another word for knock knee: The legs form the shape of "X" and the lower leg deviates outward.
Scopy
Many medical terms ends with the word "-scopy". -scopy indicates viewing and observing. Medical terms ending with it are procedures for examination and viewing the different body parts. Devices ending with -scope are tools and gadgets used in this regard. For example laryngoscopy is viewing larynx and laryngoscope is the specific device for this purpose; colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and rectoscopy are all terms used for viewing different parts of large bowel; and arthroscopy is looking inside joints such as the knee and the ankle.
Valgum/Varum
Valgum or valgus is when a limb or part of limb deviates outward; varum or varus is when it bends inward, toward the midline . So cubitus-valgus is when the elbow is angled outward and genu-varum is when the knee is angled inward causing a bowleg. Hallux-valgus is a kind of foot deformity in which the first toe is bent outward leading to functional disability and foot pain. There are more professional terms such as coxa vara in hip or less prevalent pathologies such as heel valgus.
Megalo
Megalo is an English word for great. When it combines with other words it transfers the concept of something large or great. For example megalopolis is a large and populated city or megalomania is a delusion of having power and domination over others. In medicine it is used as a suffix meaning “irregular enlargement” of an organ or a body part: splenomegaly is a large spleen, hepatomegaly is when liver is enlarged for any reason, and cardiomegaly is a big heart.
Arachno
Αράχνη is a Greek word for spider. You can pronounce it as aráchni. Arachnophobia is an anxiety disorder that refers to the intense fear of spiders. A word with common use in medicine is arachnoid. There are three layers (the dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater) that surround the brain and the spinal cord. Arachnoid is the "spider's web" in the middle of the dura mater and the pia mater. With arachnoid come the words arachnoiditis which means inflammation of this layer, subarachnoid hemorrhage referring to the bleeding underneath this layer, and arachnoid cysts which are cyst formations around arachnoid layer.
Pulmonary, Cardiac, Hepato, Renal
Both Greek and Latin languages have deep roots in the medical terminology. Internal body organs such as the lungs, heart, liver, or kidney all have equivalent words in medicine with Latin and Greek roots. The word Pulmonary is used for anything related to lungs. Cardiac relates to the heart and heart problems. Cardia, the upper opening of the stomach, bears the same Greek origin. Hepato is like a prefix used for concepts related to the liver, such as hepatomegaly for a large liver, hepatocytes for liver cells, and hepatitis for liver inflammation. Renal is for anything related to the kidney.
Phobe/Phile
The Greek word, φόβος or simply pronounced fóvos, means fear and apprehension. It is mostly used in psychology as a phobia to describe an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. Arachnophobia (fear of spiders), agoraphobia (fear of open spaces), claustrophobia (fear of closed spaces), and zoophobia (fear of animals) are some examples of phobias. The suffix -phobe is used in other branches of medicine to show aversion and dislike. -phile is an antonym for -phobe meaning affinity and liking for something. For example hemophilia is a congenital disease. Patients with hemophilia have a propensity to bleed (hemorrhage).
Gyne/Andro
I knew gynecology as a branch of medicine dealing with diseases specific to women, especially those affecting the reproductive system. But I never imagined what the word gyne- means. The greek word γυναίκα (pronounced gynaíka) means woman and that is why this branch of medicine is called gynecology. There are other English words that use the Greek root word gyne. For example the word misogyny means dislike of women or the word androgynous means partly male and partly female in appearance. As you see in the word androgynous, andro is another Greek word that means man or male (άνδρας). In medical terminology the prefix Andro is used to convey this meaning such as in words androgen and android.
Baja
Baja (baahaa) California is a state in Mexico, South of the state of California in the U.S. Baja is a Spanish word for fall or inferior. Baja has also an application in medical terminology. Patella or kneecap is the small bone in front of the knee. Patella Baja is an abnormally lower than normal patella which can be associated with pain and complication. On the other hand, a higher than normal patella is called Patella Alta. So California can be called Alta California in contrast to the Baja California of Mexico!
a-/an-
"A" and "An" can mean "no" and "not" in medical terminology too. It is fascinating. for example, asystole is the most serious form of cardiac arrest when there is no cardiac function anymore; anhidrosis (literally meaning no sweating) is the inability to sweat normally; anaerobic are exercises that don't use air and oxygen for metabolism; and anemia which is the combination of prefix an- and the Greek word emia (αίμα) is a condition in which the blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells (lack of enough blood cells).