Tackling The Veterinary Terminology: Roots (encephalo-)

Remember the Spelling Bee? Big words are easier to tackle when you understand how they're put together. Veterinary terms are composed in the same way. Just like with other words, the main parts of a veterinary term are a prefix, a root, and a suffix. The difference is that they typically come more directly from Greek or Latin.

The root word usually describes a body part involved. 

encephal(o)- [ɛnˌsɛfəˈləʊ] - inside of head

Typically this term is used to mean brain, though the direct meaning is inside of head. If somebody head straw for brains, the word would still apply. Brain actually has its own proper word (cerebro).

Encephalopathy, for example, means a disorder or a disease of the brain.

Canine brain. Illustration John Yesko

Related articles:

Veterinary Suffixes (-itis)
Veterinary Suffixes (-oma) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-pathy)  
Veterinary Suffixes (-osis) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-iasis) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-tomy) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-ectomy)  
Veterinary Suffixes (-scopy) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-emia)
Veterinary Suffixes (-penia)
Veterinary Suffixes (-rrhea) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-cyte) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-blast) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-opsy)
Veterinary Suffixes (-ac/-al)

Veterinary Prefixes (hyper-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (hypo-)
Veterinary Prefixes (pyo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (myo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (myelo-)
Veterinary Prefixes (spondylo-)
Veterinary Prefixes (cardio-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (cervic-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (osteo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (fibro-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (broncho-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (hemo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (brady-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (tachy-)
Veterinary Prefixes (hepat-)
Veterinary Prefixes (gastr-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (laryng-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (anti-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (endo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (exo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (epi-)

Veterinary Roots (cardi(o)-)
Veterinary Roots (cephal(o)-) 
Veterinary Roots (arthr(o)-)