1 Introduction to Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology at a Glance Studying medical terminology is like learning a new language Basic rules for building terms will help you both build and translate many different words You must be able to put words together or build words from their parts Like piecing together a puzzle

Understanding Medical Terms It is impossible to memorize all of the thousands of medical terms You can distinguish the meaning of many different words by analyzing the word parts Word roots Combining forms Prefixes Suffixes

Basic Word Parts Word root is the fundamental meaning of the term Prefixes and suffixes modify the word root Combining vowels connect other word parts Always exceptions to rules

Medical Terms Are Built from Word Parts Word Part Example cardiogram (record of the heart) pericardium (around the heart) carditis (inflammation of the heart) cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease) Word root Prefix Suffix Combining form

Word Root Foundation of the term General meaning of word Often gives body system or part cardi = heart gastr = stomach neur = nerve

Combining Vowels Created by adding a vowel (usually) the letter “0” to he end of a word root Used When Connecting two roots The root is joined to a suffix that begins with a consonant Do not use if the suffix begins with a vowel: Arthritis not Arthroitis

Combining Form Typically used to write word roots Also use the word root/combining vowel format cardi/o - heart arthr/o - joint gastr/o - stomach aden/o – gland carcin/o – cancer cardi/o – heart chem/o – chemical cis/o – to cut dermat/o – skin enter/o – small intestine gynec/o – female hemat/o – blood hydr/o – water immun/o – immunity laryng/o – voice box nephr/o – kidney neur/o – nerve ophthalm/o – eye ot/o – ear path/o – disease pulmon/o – lung rhin/o – nose

Suffix Attached to the end of a term Adds meaning such as: condition -algia = pain disease -itis = inflammation procedure -ectomy = surgical removal All medical terms must have a suffix Only mandatory word part Usually indicate procedure, condition, disorder, or disease

Double R Suffixes Can be a little confusing -rrhage/rrhagia – sudden, severe bleeding -rrhaphy – suturing – surgical suturing -rrhea - flow or discharge (of body fluids) -rrhexis – means rupture

Surgical Suffixes -centesis puncture to withdraw fluid -ectomy surgical removal -ostomy surgically create an opening -otomy cutting into -pexy surgical fixation -plasty surgical repair

Procedural Suffixes -gram record or picture -graph instrument for recording -graphy process of recording -meter instrument for measuring -metry process of measuring -scope instrument for viewing -scopy process of visually examining

Prefix Added to the front of a term Adds meaning such as: location of organ sub- = below number of parts mono- = one time (frequency) post- = after -pericardium -polynueritis -prenatal Not all medical terms have a prefix

Number Prefixes bi- two hemi- half mono- one multi- many nulli- none poly- many primi- first quadri- four semi- partial, half tetra- four tri- three

Word Building Putting together several parts to form a variety of terms to convey the necessary information Begins with knowing the meaning of the various word parts in order to select the correct ones Always remember the rules regarding the location of each word part

Word Building For example: Combine to form the term: hypo- = below or under derm/o = meaning the skin -ic = meaning pertaining to Combine to form the term: Hypodermic Meaning: pertaining to under the skin

Interpreting Medical Terms Term to be translated gastroenterology Divide the term into its word parts gastr / o / enter / o / logy

Interpreting Medical Terms Define each word part gastr = stomach o = combining vowel, no meaning enter = small intestine -logy = study of Combine the meanings of the word parts study of the stomach and small intestine

Spelling Only one correct way to spell a term Changing one letter can change the meaning of a word abduction (moving away) versus adduction (moving towards) ileum (small intestine) versus ilium (hip bone)

Same Sounds Spelled Differently Sounds like si psy psychiatry cy cytology Sounds like dis dys dyspepsia dis dislocation

Singular and Plural Endings Many medical terms come from Greek or Latin words Rules for forming plurals for these languages are different from English Plural of atrium is atria, not atriums Other words will use English rules Plural of ventricle is ventricles

General Rules for Plurals Word Ends In -a -ax -ex or -ix -is -ma -nx -on -um -us -y Singular vertebra thorax appendix metastasis sarcoma phalanx ganglion ovum nucleus biopsy Plural vertebrae thoraces appendices metastases sarcomata phalanges ganglia ova nuclei biopsies See p13, Table 1.9

Abbreviations Commonly used to save time Can be confusing If you are concerned about confusion, spell out the term Do not use your own personal abbreviations

Pop Quiz – Chapter 1

Pop Question 1 Which of the following is NOT one of the four basic word parts used to build a medical term? A. Prefix B. Combining Root C. Suffix D. Word Root

Answer 1 Which of the following is NOT one of the four basic word parts used to build medical terms? Prefix Combining root Suffix Word root

Pop Question 2 Which of the following combinations is used to make a combining form? Prefix + suffix Prefix + word root Word root + suffix Word root + combining vowel

Answer 2 Which of the following combinations is used to make a combining form? Prefix + suffix Prefix + word root Word root + suffix Word root + combining vowel

Pop Question 3 A combining vowel is NOT used: Between two word roots When the suffix begins with a vowel When the suffix begins with a consonant Between a prefix and word root

Answer 3 A combining vowel is NOT used: Between two word roots When the suffix begins with a vowel When the suffix begins with a consonant Between a prefix and word root

Pop Question 4 The combining form for skin is: Dermat/o Gastr/o Cardi/o Nephr/o

Answer 4 The combining form for skin is: Dermat/o Gastr/o Cardi/o Nephr/o

Pop Question 5 The combining form hemat/o means: Stomach Small intestines Blood Nose

Answer 5 The combining form hemat/o means: Stomach Small intestines Blood Nose

Pop Question 6 Which medical terminology word part gives information about location or time? Word root Prefix Combining form Suffix

Answer 6 Which medical terminology word part gives information about location or time? Word root Prefix Combining form Suffix

Pop Question 7 Which prefix means painful, difficult, or abnormal? Eu- Anti- Dys- Retro-

Answer 7 Which prefix means painful, difficult, or abnormal? Eu- Anti- Dys- Retro-

Pop Question 8 Which prefix means the opposite of brady-? Tachy- Pre- Trans- Neo-

Answer 8 Which prefix means the opposite of brady-? Tachy- Pre- Trans- Neo-

Pop Question 9 Which prefix means within or inside? Inter- Infra- Intra- Infer-

Answer 9 Which prefix means within or inside? Inter- Infra- Intra- Infer-

Pop Question 10 Which of the following is NOT information given by suffixes? Condition Disease Number Procedure

Answer 10 Which of the following is NOT information given by suffixes? Condition Disease Number Procedure

Pop Question 11 Which suffix has the same meaning as -algia? -dynia -cise -ectasis -malacia

Answer 11 Which suffix has the same meaning as -algia? -dynia -cise -ectasis -malacia

Pop Question 12 What is the meaning of the suffix -stenosis? Enlarged Hardening Narrowing Destruction

Answer 12 What is the meaning of the suffix -stenosis? Enlarged Hardening Narrowing Destruction

Pop Question 13 Which surgical suffix means to remove? -ectomy -ostomy -plasty -otomy

Answer 13 Which surgical suffix means to remove? -ectomy -ostomy -plasty -otomy

Pop Question 14 Which of the procedural suffixes means an instrument for recording? -gram -scope -graph -metry

Answer 14 Which of the procedural suffixes means an instrument for recording? -gram -scope -graph -metry

Pop Question 15 The correct plural for the medical term thorax is: Thoraxae Thoraxes Thoraces Thoraxia

Answer 15 The correct plural for the medical term thorax is: Thoraxae Thoraxes Thoraces Thoraxia

Pop Question 16 The use of abbreviations in medical charts is usually discouraged. True False

Answer 16 The use of abbreviations in medical charts is usually discouraged. True False