Medical Word Building – Chapter 1
Specialized language used by health-care providers. Medical Terminology Specialized language used by health-care providers. Medical words consist of some or all of the following elements (word parts): Word root (WR) Combining Form (CF) Suffix Prefix
Word Root (WR) Foundation of a medical word that contains its main meaning. Usually derived from Latin or Greek language. Most medical words contain at least one WR. hepat in hepat/itis tonsill in tonsill/ectomy gastr in gastr/oma laryng in laryng/itis 3
Combining Form (CF) Created when a WR is combined with a vowel, known as a combining vowel. Combining vowel usually an o, but sometimes an i or an e. Difficulty pronouncing certain combinations of WRs requires insertion of a vowel. No meaning of its own but enables two or more word elements to be connected. 4
Combining Form Examples mamm/o in mamm/o/gram psych/o in psych/o/logy laryng/o in laryng/o/spasm hepat/o in hepat/o/megaly 5
Suffix Word element at the end of a word. Changes the meaning of a medical word. Contained in most medical words. Usually an indication of a pathology, condition, symptom, therapeutic or diagnostic procedure, or part of speech. Pedagogical Note: Throughout the textbook, when suffixes stand alone, they are highlighted blue; when prefixes stand alone, they are highlighted pink; and when word roots and CFs stand alone, they are boldface. Pedagogical Note: Throughout the textbook, when suffixes stand alone, they are highlighted blue; when prefixes stand alone, they are highlighted pink; and when word roots and CFs stand alone, they are boldface. 6
Suffix -ectomy in append/ectomy -itis in appendic/itis -scope in bronch/o/scope -oma in gastr/oma Pedagogical Note: Throughout the textbook, a hyphen precedes a suffix that stands alone. Pedagogical Note: Throughout the textbook, a hyphen precedes a suffix that stands alone. 7
Prefix Word element at the beginning of a word. Many are the same as those used in the English language. Changes the meaning of a medical word. Not contained in all medical words. Usually an indication of a number, time, position, measurement, direction, or negation. 8
Prefix hyper- in hyper/tension hemi- in hemi/plegia inter- in inter/cost/al Pedagogical Note: Throughout the textbook, a hyphen follows a prefix that stands alone Pedagogical Note: Throughout the textbook, a hyphen follows a prefix that stands alone. 9
Three steps for defining medical words Define the suffix first. 2. Define the first part of the word (WR, CF, or prefix). 3. Define the middle part of the word (WR or CF). 10
gastr/itis: oste/o/arthr/itis: poly/neur/itis: Pedagogical Note: In the order shown above, these are examples of words with a WR + Suffix; CF + WR + Suffix; and Prefix + WR + Suffix. Discussion can focus on the different combinations of these elements. You may wish to add more slides with various types of examples to tailor the presentation to meet your individual classroom needs. 11
gastr/itis: inflammation of the stomach 2. oste/o/arthr/itis: inflammation of the bone and joint 3. poly/neur/itis: inflammation of many nerves Pedagogical Note: Questions only are presented on the first slide. Questions with answers (in red) are presented on the following slide. For testing purposes, you may wish to use only the question slides. 12 12
4. append/ectomy: 5. gastr/ectomy: 6. mast/ectomy: Pedagogical Note: Questions only are presented on the first slide. Questions with answers (in red) are presented on the following slide. For testing purposes, you may wish to use only the question slides. 16 16
4. append/ectomy: excision of the appendix 5. gastr/ectomy: excision of the stomach (either all or partial) 6. mast/ectomy: excision of a breast Pedagogical Note: Questions only are presented on the first slide. Questions with answers (in red) are presented on the following slide. For testing purposes, you may wish to use only the question slides. 17 17
Three rules for building medical words Rule 1: WR links a suffix that begins with a vowel. Rule 2: CF (root + o) links a suffix that begins with a consonant. Rule 3: CF (root + o) links a root to another root to form a compound word. Rule 3 holds true even if the next root begins with a vowel, as in gastr/o/intestin/al. 19
1 INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMED LEARNING AND MEDICAL WORD BUILDING Building Medical Words Exercise Determine which of the three rules for building medical words applies to the following terms. arthr/itis gastr/o/intestin/al hepat/o/cyte Pedagogical Note: Discussion can focus on the different combinations of the three rules. You may wish to add more slides with various types of examples to tailor the presentation to meet your individual classroom needs. 20
Pronunciation Pronunciation guidelines are located in the back of the textbook. Pronunciation Help table is located at the end of the “Word Elements” and “Pharmacology” tables in each body system chapter. Diacritical marks and capitalization are used to aid pronunciation of terms throughout the text and to help you understand pronunciation marks used in most dictionaries. 21
Pronunciation Pronunciation tools: Visit the Medical Language Lab (MLL). Visit DavisPlus Online for audio recordings. 22
Surgical Suffixes - centesis Surgical puncture (remove fluid) -desis binding/fixation -ectomy excision/removal -lysis separation, destruction, loosening 23
Thoracentesis
Ankle Arthrodesis
Surgical Suffixes - pexy fixation (of an organ) - plasty surgical repair - rrhapy suture - stomy forming an opening
Rhinoplasty Rhino – nose -plasty – surgical repair
Tracheostomy Trache/o – trachea/windpipe - stomy – form an opening
Surgical Suffixes - tripsy crushing Lith/o/tripsy crushing of stones Lith/o - stone
Diagnostic Suffixes - gram record/writing - graph instrument for recording - graphy process of recording - meter instrument for measuring
Diagnostic Suffixes - metry act of measuring - scope instrument for viewing - scopy visual examination
Term with diagnostic suffixes electr/o/cardio/gram (ECG, EKG) gram – record, writing electr/o – electricity cardio – heart Meaning: record of electricity through the heart. This test allows diagnosis of cardiac abnormalities Pedagogical Note: Throughout this chapter, all medical terms are broken down into their basic word elements to reinforce the word building rules. 32
Pathological Suffixes -algia, -dynia pain -cele hernia, swelling -ectasis dilation, expansion -edema swelling
Neuralgia Neur/aglia – pain in the nerves
Pathological Suffixes - emesis vomiting - emia blood condition -iasis abnormal condition - itis inflammation
GASTR / ITIS
Dermatitis
Pathological Suffixes - lith stone, calculus - malacia softening - megaly enlargement - oma tumor, mass
Pathological Suffixes - osis abnormal condition - pathy disease - penia decrease, deficiency - phobia fear
Acrophobia – fear of heights
Pathological Suffixes - plegia paralysis - rrhage, rrhagia bursting forth - rrhea discharge, flow - rrhexis rupture
Pathological Suffixes - stenosis hardening - toxic poison - trophy nourishment, development
Shorter noun suffixes er one who -ia condition -ist ________________ -ole little, small -ule little, small - -us structure, substance -y condition, process
Adjective suffixes -al pertaining to -ar, ary pertaining to -ac, iac pertaining to -al pertaining to -ar, ary pertaining to -eal pertaining to -genic pertaining to producing, produced by or in
Adjective Suffixes -ic, ical pertaining to -oid resembling -ose pertaining to, full of -ous pertaining to -tic pertaining to
2. Noun suffixes -esis, -ia, and -ism mean: condition 1 INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMED LEARNING AND MEDICAL WORD BUILDING Define Adjectives and Nouns 1. Adjective suffixes -ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -ic, -ile, and -ous mean: pertaining to 2. Noun suffixes -esis, -ia, and -ism mean: condition 3. Noun suffixes -ician and -ist mean: specialist 4. Noun suffix -iatry means: medicine; treatment 46 46
1 INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMED LEARNING AND MEDICAL WORD BUILDING Singular Words to Plural Forms Suffix changes when a word is modified from a singular to a plural form. diagnosis to diagnoses bronchus to bronchi deformity to deformities pleura to pleurae Pedagogical Note: Discussion can focus on reinforcing the rules for changing terms from plural to singular form. Also, you can review the meaning of the various word elements in each term. You can also review the rules for singular and plural forms by going over the material on the back inside cover of the textbook and encouraging your students to use it as a reference. 47
Prefixes Word element placed at the beginning of a word. Changes the meaning of the word. Not contained in all medical terms. ff Most prefixes same as in the English language. Pedagogical Note: Discussion can focus on the similarity of prefixes used in a medical term and those in the English language. Students can cite examples of prefixes in the English language. An early discussion of this type helps them feel confident in their ability to absorb the information in this chapter. 48
Common Prefixes a-, an- without, not ante- before anti- against bi- two
Common Prefixes circum-, peri- around dia-, trans- through, across dipl-, diplo- double
Apnea a- -pnea: breathing
antibiotic anti- against bi/o - life -tic – pertaining to Pertaining to against (germ) life Inhibits the growth of microorganisms
Bilateral bi- later/o - side -al – pertaining to
Common Prefixes dys- bad, painful, difficult Dyspnea:
Common Prefixes endo-, intra- _________________ hemi- _________________ homo-, homeo- _________________ hyper- _________________ hypo- _________________
Endotracheal endo-: trache/o -al Pertaining to within the trachea
Hypoglycemia hypo- glyc/o -emia Decreased blood sugar
Hyperglycemia hyper- glyc/o -emia High blood sugar
Common Prefixes macro- _________________ micro- _________________ mono-, uni- _________________ post- _________________ pre-, pro- _________________
insomniac in-: somn/o: -iac: Pertaining to not sleeping
Somnombutalist
Post partum post- -partum After birth
Common Prefixes primi- first retro- backward, behind sub- Below super- upper, above supra- above, excessive, superior
sublingual sub- lingu -al
Common Prefixes tachy- fast brady- slow ante- before See pages 548 – 557 Glossary of Medical Word Elements
Terms Tachycardia: Bradycardia: Tachypnea: Bradypnea: Apnea: