Intro to Medical Terms and Suffixes Basic Word Building Intro to Medical Terms and Suffixes

LEARNING OBJECTIVES IDENTIFY the three types of medical terms. EXPLAIN the differences between prefixes, suffixes, word roots, and combining vowels. FORM combining forms. EXPLAIN how to analyze (building and interpreting) medical terms. DESCRIBE how to pluralize medical terms. UNDERSTAND how to pronounce medical terms.

INTRODUCTION OF MED TERM Surrounds us in our daily lives Doctor's office Talking with friends Reading the newspaper Listening to television

INTRODUCTION OF MED TERM Healthcare professions use it because: It is an efficient method of conveying specific and important information. Each term has a precise meaning. Detailed information can be shared with just a few words.

Origin of Med Terms Built from Latin and Greek word parts Cardiology and tonsillectomy Eponyms - based on a person's name Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease Modern English words Irritable bowel syndrome

Course Perspective Gain ability and confidence through using terms over and over. Become a permanent part of your professional vocabulary.

Elements of Medical Terms Word Roots Suffixes Prefixes Combining Vowels

Word Roots Are the foundation of most medical terms and gives the essential of the term. Typically refers to a body structure, organ, or system.

Word Root Examples Root Meaning Cardi- heart Electr- electricity Carcin- cancer Gastr- stomach Hepat- liver Rhin- nose Cephal- head Arthr- joint Myo- muscle Oste- bone

Suffixes Found at the end of the medical term and supports the “root” by adding specific meaning to the term. All medical terms must have a suffix. They indicate conditions, diseases, surgical procedures, and diagnostic procedures. As well as medical specialities/personnel, and converting word roots into adjectives.

Examples of Suffixes Suffix Meaning Term -ectomy Gastrectomy -itis surgical removal of Gastrectomy -itis inflammation of Arthritis -megaly enlarged Hepatomegaly -logy study of Cardiology -gram a record or picture of Electrocardiogram -pathy disease of Myopathy See Page 13 – 19 for the different suffixes

Prefixes Found at the beginning of the term. Help to indicate diseases, abnormal conditions directions, body positions, numbers, or times. Modifies word root or suffix Hypertrophy = excessive development Dystrophy = abnormal development Atrophy = lack of development

Prefix Examples Prefix Meaning Term inter- between Intervertebral between the vertebrae a- without Apnea without breathing dys- abnormal, difficult, or painful Dysuria painful urination sub- below, underneath Subcutaneous below the skin bi- two Bilateral two sides post- after Postsurgical after surgery See pg 28 - 31

Combining Vowel Almost always an “o” that has no meaning. Reasons for usage To connect word parts and make medical terms easier to spell and pronounce. Placement Between a word root and suffix Between two roots Never between a prefix and word root

Combining Vowel Examples Between Word Root & Suffix If suffix begins with a vowel, combining vowel is not necessary. Arthr + -itis = arthritis Arthroitis is not correct If suffix begins with a consonant, use combining vowel Rhin + -plasty = rhinoplasty Hepat + -megaly = hepatomegaly

Combining Vowel Examples Between Two Word Roots Use a combining vowel, even if the second word root begins with a vowel Gastr + enter + -logy = gastroenterology Gastrenterology is not correct

Combining Form Consist of word root and its combining vowel. Its not another category of word part because it consists of two other word parts. Standard way to write word roots because it makes them easier to pronounce

Combining Form Examples

Analyzing Medical Terms Don't panic when you see a new medical term. The meaning of individual word parts will give you information necessary to understand at least the basic meaning of the term.

Deconstructing medical terms Step 1 Divide the word into its word parts Step 2 Define each word part Step 3 Put the meaning together to see what the term is describing.

Deconstruction Term: dysmenorrhea dys / men / o / rrhea Meaning parts: Use slashes to divide the term into its word parts. dys / men / o / rrhea Meaning parts: dys- = prefix meaning abnormal, painful men = word root meaning menstruation o = combining vowel, no meaning -rrhea = suffix meaning flow

What does the term mean? How to interpret the information: Start from the end of the word (suffix) back to the beginning (prefix) and then to your root word. dys / men / o / rrhea abnormal or painful menstrual flow Remember the idea is to not memorize but figuring the term out from its component parts.

Building Medical Terms Select word parts that help convey the meaning needed. Remember that not all possible combinations of word parts will build actual medical terms. Pg 6

Pronouncing Medical Terms

Pronouncing Medical Terms