What does endo- mean in medical terms?
endo-
Meaning: inside, within
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what endo- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using endo-
endoscopy
endo- (inside) + scopy (visual examination) = visual examination of the inside of the body
endo- (inside) + scopy (visual examination) = visual examination of the inside of the body
endocardium
endo- (inner) + cardi (heart) + um (structure) = the inner lining of the heart
endo- (inner) + cardi (heart) + um (structure) = the inner lining of the heart
endocrine
endo- (within) + crine (to secrete) = secreting internally, into the bloodstream
endo- (within) + crine (to secrete) = secreting internally, into the bloodstream
Shortened forms
Charts and notes shorten long terms — see the Medical Abbreviations guide for the short forms you will meet in real records.
Please note: This section teaches the language of medicine — what word parts mean and how terms are built. It is an educational reference, not medical advice. For the meaning of a word in your own medical record, ask the clinician who wrote it.