Medical Terminology
Unit 1
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Identify the three types of word parts found in
medical terms
Define the commonly used prefixes, word roots and
suffixes
Discuss the rules for combining medical terms
Recognize the importance of correctly spelling
medical terms
Recognize how to change a medical term to its plural
form.
Recognize the importance of using correct
abbreviations for medical terms
Differentiate between terms and word parts that
look-alike or sound-alike
Acquire strategies for using a medical dictionary
Define basic medical terms
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 Learning
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Medical Terminology is easy
Know definitions of word roots (combining forms “/o”)
Know definitions of prefixes
Know definition of suffixes
Understand how to put word parts together
Know how to define medical terms
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 Word
Roots
 Suffixes
 Prefixes
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 Also
known as combining forms
 Foundation of most medical terms
 Contain basic meaning of the word
 Usually indicate body part involved
 Cannot stand alone

Suffix must be added
 Some
indicate color
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 Ot/o
– Ear
 Hepat/o – Liver
 Rhin/o – Nose
 Oste/o - Bone
 Cardi/o – Heart
 My/o – Muscle
 Neur/o - Nerve
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 Must
be added to all words
 Rules for using combining vowels apply
 Always added to end of word root
 Indicate
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Procedure
Condition
Disorder
Disease
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A
prefix always comes before word Root
 Usually indicates
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Location
Time
Number
Status
 Changes
the meaning of the word
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 Added
between root & suffix or between two
word roots
 Make it easier to say medical term
 Most common vowel is “o”
 Combining
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Form Examples
Cardi/o
Leuk/o
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 Combining
Vowel is NOT used when the suffix
begins with vowel (a,e,i,o,u)
 Root
Suffix
Neur/o
-itis
=
Neuritis
 itis
begins with ‘i’ (vowel)
 Combining vowel not used – o is dropped
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

Combining vowel is used when the suffix begins
with consonant
Root
Neur/o
Suffix
-plasty =
Neuroplasty
Combining Vowel ‘o’ is used
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
Combining vowel is always used when joining two or
more roots

Root
Root
Suffix
gastr/o enter/o -itis =
Gastroenteritis
Roots gastr/o & enter/o are added together
 Combining vowel ‘o’ used
Root enter/o & suffix -itis
 Combining vowel not needed-suffix starts with vowel
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A prefix does not require the use of a combining vowel.
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The prefix is added to the front of the first word root
Prefix
word root
suffix
pericardi/o
-centesis = pericardiocentesis
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
No combining form is used after the prefix peri, but is used
after the word root cardi/o, because the suffix –centesis
starts with a consonant.
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 Completes
term by changing root to an
adjective form
 ac
- al - ar - ary - eal - ical - ial
 ic - ine - ior - ory - ous - tic
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Noun endings
 Completes
term by changing root to noun
form.
a
- e - um - us - y – ia – ism
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 -osis
and -esis
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 Describes
specific disease conditions
 algia
- dynia - itis - malacia
 megaly - necrosis - sclerosis
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 Identify
procedure performed on body part
 -centesis
/ -ectomy / -graphy
-gram / -plasty / -scopy
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 -rrhage

& -rrhagia
A bursting forth, An abnormal excessive fluid
discharge or bleeding

Hemorrhage- Loss of large amount of blood in a short
time
 -rrhea

Abnormal flow or discharge of body fluids

Diarrhea-abnormally frequent loose watery stool
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 -rrhaphy

To suture or stitch
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Myorrhaphy- To suture a muscle wound
 -rrhexis
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Rupture

Myorrhexis- Rupture of a muscle
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Knowing meaning of WORD Parts helps in figuring out meaning
of a term
Separate term into word Parts
Example: prenatal
Prefix
prebefore

Root
nat/o
birth
Suffix
-al
pertaining to
Begin your definition with the suffix, follow with the prefix and
then the word root.
Definition: pertaining to the time before birth
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otorhinolaryngology
Root
Root
Root
Suffix
ot/o rhin/o
laryng/o -ology
ear
nose
throat
study of
Definition: study of the ears, nose & throat


tonsillectomy
Root
Suffix
tonsill/o
-ectomy
tonsil
Surgical removal of
Definition: surgical removal of tonsils
Remember to start you definition first with the suffix, then
the prefix (if one) and finally the word root.
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 Used
to assist with term definition
 Helps to master correct use of terms
 Helps to determine correct meaning of word
 Helps to identify correct spelling of term
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 Write
term down
 Could be alternate spelling for same sound
 Sounds Like
May begin with
EX
F
F
flatus
PH
phlegm
J
G
gingivitis
J
jaundice
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Sounds Like
K
May begin with
C
CH
K
QU
Example
crepitus
cholera
kyphosis
quadriplegia
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Sounds Like
S
Z
May begin with
C
PS
S
X
Z
Example
cytology
psychologist
serology
xeroderma
zygote
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Singular ending
Plural ending
example
-a
-ae
Bursa
Bursae
-ex or –ix
-ices
Appendix
Appendices
-is
-es
Diagnosis
Diagnoses
-itis
-itides
Arthritis
Arthritides
-nx
-nges
Phalanx
phalanges
-on
-a
Ganglion
Ganglia
-us
-I
Alveolus
Alveoli
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 Spell
all Medical Terms accurately
 Changing
just one letter can completely change
meaning
 Could
mean life or death to patient
 Example:
ileum (part of small intestine) or
ilium (part of pelvis)
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Used as a medical shorthand
 Can lead to confusion & errors
 Caution when using or translating them
 BE
Below elbow & Barium enema
 Be familiarwith institution guidelines
 “When it doubt…write it out. (write out
the words if you think there could be any
misinterpretation of an abbreviation.

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 Sign

Evidence of disease


- Fever, Cough
Observed by Patient & Other
Objective: Evaluated & Measured by others
 Symptom
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Felt by patient only - Headache / Pain
Subjective: Evaluated by Patient only
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 Syndrome
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Set of Signs & Symptoms
Occur together
Part of a Specific Disease
Examples


Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fatigue Syndrome
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 Diagnosis

Identification of the disease


Congested Heart Failure / Appendicitis
Upper Respiratory Disease / Hepatitis B
 Differential
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Diagnosis
Attempt to diagnosis which of several possible
diseases all producing same symptoms
Hepatitis A, B, or C
 Prognosis

Prediction or Forecast of the probable course or
outcome of disease
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 Acute
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Rapid Onset / Severe Course / Short Duration

Appendicitis / Upper Respiratory Infection
 Chronic
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Long duration / Usually controlled

Hypertension / Diabetes / Cardiac Disease
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 Remission
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Partial or Complete Disappearance of Symptoms
of disease without a cure
Usually Temporary
Leukemia / Cancer
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
Named for Condition
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
 Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
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Eponym (EP-oh-nim)
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Named: Person who Discovered-Described it
Ex: Alzheimer’s Disease: Neurologist
Acronym
Word formed by using initial letter(s) of compound term

Ex:
LASER
Light
Amplification by
Stimulated
Emission of
Radiation
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Confusing Medical Terminology
 Arteri/o
= Artery
 Ather/o = Plaque or Fatty Substance
 Arthr/o = Joint
 Ileum
= Part of Small Intestine
 Ilium = Part of the Hip Bone
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 Infection
= Invasion of body by pathogenic
organism, local or systemic
 Inflammation = Local response to injury or
destruction of tissue
 Laceration
= Torn, Ragged wound
 Lesion = Pathological change of tissue due to
injury or trauma
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 Mucous
(adj.) = Specialized membranes that
line body cavities
 Mucus (n.) = Substance secreted by the
mucous membranes
 Myc/o
= Fungus
 Myel/o = Bone Marrow or Spinal Cord
 My/o = Muscle
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 -ologist
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
Radiologist-MD reads X-Rays
Cardiologist- MD treats conditions of heart
 -ology
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
= Specialist
= Study of
Radiology – Study of X-Ray therapy
Cardiology – Study of the Heart conditions
Neonatology – Study of newborn conditions
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 -ostomy
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Tracheostomy – Creating opening in Trachea
Colostomy – Creating an opening in Colon
 -otomy
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= Creation of artificial opening
= Surgical Incision
Thoracotomy – Incision in Chest cavity
Colotomy - Incision into Colon
***these two word parts are VERY commonly
confused. Take extra time to memorize these
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 Palpation-
to examine the patient with one’s
hands
 Palpitation- a pounding or racing heart
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 Prostate
= Male Gland under the urinary
bladder
 Prostrate = To collapse or lying Flat
 Supination
= Rotation of arm with palm of
hand forward
 Suppuration = Formation or discharge of pus
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 Suturing
= Act of closing a wound or incision
by stitching
 Ligation = Act of binding or tying off blood
vessels or ducts
 Triage
= Medical Screening of patients to
determine priority of need
 Trauma = Wound or Injury
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 Viral
= Pertaining to a virus
 Virile
= Possessing masculine traits
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 Hypotension:
low blood pressure
 Hypertension: high blood pressure
 Addiction: a strong dependence on a drug or
substance.
 Edema: Excessive build-up of fluid
 Intramuscular: within the muscle
 Phalanx: Finger or toe (plural phalanges)
 Gerontology: study of aging (old age)
 Gerontologist: specialist in the treatment of
aging individuals.
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The End
There is no substitute for daily
preparation! Review your flashcards
every day.
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