Medical Terminology Introduction

 Medical language  Majority of terms are based in Latin or Greek  Ex: herpes – based on the Greek work herpo meaning “creep along”. Herpes is used to describe the skin condition because it seems to “creep along” the skin.

Most medical terms can be broken down into one or more word parts. Most medical terms can be broken down into one or more word parts. –Roots –Prefixes –Suffixes –Linking or combining vowels

WORD ROOTS WORD ROOTS Are the meaning or base of the term Are the meaning or base of the term Every medical term has at least one word root Every medical term has at least one word root –Ex: hepatitis – hepat is the word root and means liver –Ex: hepatitis – hepat is the word root and means liver.

SUFFIX SUFFIX Attached to the end of the word root to modify its meaning. Attached to the end of the word root to modify its meaning. –Ex: Hepatic – ic (meaning “pertaining to”) is the suffix.

PREFIX PREFIX Attached to the beginning of a word root to modify its meaning. Attached to the beginning of a word root to modify its meaning. –Ex: subhepatic – sub (meaning “under”) is the prefix.

RULES RULES Part of the word Part of the word Usually is an “o” Usually is an “o” Used between two word roots Used between two word roots Used between a word root and a suffix to ease pronunciation Used between a word root and a suffix to ease pronunciation

RULES RULES All prefixes must go at the beginning of the word All prefixes must go at the beginning of the word All suffixes must go at the end of the word All suffixes must go at the end of the word All words must have a suffix All words must have a suffix The combining vowel which is usually an “o” should be dropped when combining with a suffix that begins with a vowel. The combining vowel which is usually an “o” should be dropped when combining with a suffix that begins with a vowel.

Word Analysis HEMATOLOGY  HEMATO/LOGY Root Suffix Root Suffix (blood) (Study of)  When you analyze a medical term, begin at the end of the word.  The ending of a word is called a suffix.  All medical terms contain suffixes.

Word Analysis HEMATOLOGY  HEMAT/O/LOGY Root Suffix Root Suffix (blood) (Study of) Combining Vowel Vowel Root + combining vowel + suffix  Start at the suffix  Logy = Study of  Then go back to the beginning of the word.  Hemat = blood  Analysis (put it together)  Study of blood

Word Analysis BIOLOGIST  BIO/LOGIST Root Suffix Root Suffix (Life) (Specialist in) Root + suffix  Start at the suffix  Logist = specialist in (the study of)  Go to the beginning  Bio = life  Analysis  Specialist in (the study of) life

Word Analysis CARDIOGRAM  CARDI/O/GRAM Root Suffix Root Suffix (heart) (record) Root + suffix Root + suffix  Start at the suffix  Gram = record  Go the to beginning  Cardio = heart  Analysis  Record of the heart

Word Analysis ELECTROCARDIOGRAM  ELECTRO/CARDIO/GRAM Root Root Suffix Root Root Suffix (electricity) (heart) (record) Root + root + suffix Root + root + suffix  Start at the suffix  Gram = record  Go the to beginning  Electro = electricity  Cardio= heart  Analysis  Record of the electricity in the heart

Word Analysis Roots  Cardio = heart  Gastro = stomach  Hemato = blood  Dermato = skin Suffix  -logy = study of  -logist = specialist  -gram = record  -ac = pertaining to  -itis = inflammation CARDIOLOGY  CARDIO/LOGY  Study of the heart CARDIOLOGIST  CARDIO/LOGIST  Specialist in the heart HEMATOLOGIST  HEMATO/LOGIST  Specialist in blood

Word Analysis Roots  Cardio = heart  Gastro = stomach  Hemato = blood  Derma = skin Suffix  -logy = study of  -logist = specialist  -gram = record  -ac = pertaining to  -itis = inflammation CARDIAC  CARDI/AC  Pertaining to the heart What’s different?  The combining vowel is dropped when the suffix begins with a vowel.

Word Analysis Roots  Cardio = heart  Gastro = stomach  Hemato = blood  Dermato = skin Suffix  -logy = study of  -logist = specialist  -gram = record  -ac = pertaining to  -itis = inflammation DERMATITIS  DERMAT/ITIS  Inflammation of the skin

Word Analysis Roots  Cardi/o = heart  Gastr/o = stomach  Hemat/o = blood  Dermat/o = skin Suffix  -logy = study of  -logist = specialist  -gram = record  -ac = pertaining to  -itis = inflammation GASTRITIS  GASTR/ITIS  Inflammation of the stomach

Word Analysis Roots  Cardi/o = heart  Gastr/o = stomach  Hemat/o = blood  Enter/o = intestines Suffix  -logy = study of  -logist = specialist  -gram = record  -ac = pertaining to  -itis = inflammation GASTROENTEROLOGY  GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGY  Study of the stomach and intestines  2 root words = OK  2 CV = OK  Between roots the combining vowel is not dropped, even if the second root begins with a vowel.

Word Analysis Roots  Electr/o = electicity  Encephal/o = brain  Gastr/o = stomach Suffix  -logy = study of  -logist = specialist  -gram = record  -ac = pertaining to  -itis = inflammation ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM  ELECTR/O/ENCEPHAL/O/GRAM  Record of the electricity in the brain

Word Analysis Prefix  a word-part attached to the beginning of the term

Word Analysis Prefix  Brady = slow  Tachy = fast Root  Cardi/o = heart Suffix  -ia = condition / disease BRADYCARDIA  BRADY/CARD/IA  Condition of a slow heart

Word Analysis Prefix  Brady = slow  Tachy = fast Root  Cardi/o = heart Suffix  -ia = condition / disease TACHYCARDIA  TACHY/CARD/IA  Condition of a fast heart

Word Analysis - Review  Root = gives the essential meaning of the term  Suffix = the word ending  Prefix = a small part added to the beginning of a term  Combining vowel = connects roots to suffixes and roots to other roots  Combining form = combination of the root and a combining vowel

Word Analysis - Rules  Read the meaning of medical words from the suffix, then to the beginning of the word and across  Drop the combining vowel before a suffix that starts with a vowel  Keep the combining vowel between roots, even if the root begins with a vowel

Expectations  Every week you will be given new prefixes, roots, or suffixes to learn.  You will need to be able to give the meaning the medical terms created from that list  You will need to be able to give the medical term if you are given the meaning  Spelling is important!