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
endocardium
endo- (inner) + cardi (heart) + um (structure) = the inner lining of the heart
endocrine
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.