What does mast mean in medical terms?

mast

Meaning: breast

Type: Word root · Body system: Whole Body & General Terms

A word root is the core of a word; prefixes and suffixes attach around it. On this page: what mast means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.

Example words using mast

mastitis
mast (breast) + -itis (inflammation) = inflammation of the breast
mastectomy
mast (breast) + -ectomy (surgical removal) = surgical removal of breast tissue
mastopexy
mast (breast) + -pexy (surgical fixation) = surgical fixation or lifting of the breast

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.