Medical Terminology

Learning a New Language Why? Do not memorize Latin and Greek roots Translation

The Elements of Medical Words There are four basic elements to medical words: 1.Root word 2.Prefix 3.Suffix 4.Combining vowels

Root Words Latin or Greek Main part At least one root. Body part or a body system

Common Root Words RootMeaning aden-gland andr-male angi-blood vessel ather-fat brachi-arm carcin-cancer cardi-heart carp-wrist cephal-head RootMeaning cervi-neck chem-chemical cis-to cut cnem-lower leg costa-rib coxa-hip cyst-bladder dent-tooth dermat-skin

RootMeaning encephal-brain enter-small intestine erythr-red gastr-stomach gynec-female hemat-blood hist-tissue hydr-water immun-immune RootMeaning laryng-voice box leuk-white mamm-breast man-hand morph-shape nephr- ren- kidney neur-nerve opthalm-eye osse- oste- bone

RootMeaning ot-ear path-disease pect-chest pneum-breathing pulmon-lung tarsi-ankle ur-urine/urinary system vertebr-spine

Prefixes A prefix is added to the beginning of a root word. Prefixes add a meaning to the root word, usually indicating location, number or parts, or a specific time. Not all medical terms have a prefix.

Common Prefixes PrefixMeaning a-without, away from ad-near an-without, away from ante-before, in front of anti-against auto-self brady-slow dys-painful, difficult endo-within, inner epi-upon, over

PrefixMeaning eu-normal, good hetero-different homo-same hyper-over, above hypo-under, below infra-under, beneath, below inter-among, between intra-within, inside macro-large micro-small

PrefixMeaning neo-new pan-all para-beside, beyond, near per-through peri-around post-after pre-before, in front of pseudo-false retro-backwards, behind sub-below, under

PrefixMeaning super-above, excess supra-above tachy-fast trans-through, across ultra-beyond, excess

Number Prefixes PrefixMeaning bi-two hemi-half mono-one multi-many nulli-none poly-many quad-four semi-partial, half tri-three uni-one

Suffixes A suffix is added to the end of a root word. Suffixes add meaning to the root word and can describe a condition, disease, or procedure. All medical terms have a suffix.

Common Suffixes SuffixMeaning -algiapain -celehernia, protrusion -cisecut -cytecell -dyniapain -emiablood condition -genthat which produces -genesisproduces, generates -genicproducing -iastate, condition

SuffixMeaning -iasisabnormal condition -ismstate of -itisinflammation -logistone who studies -logystudy of -lysisDestruction -malaciaabnormal softening -megalyenlargement -omatumor, mass -opsyviewing, to see

SuffixMeaning -osisabnormal condition -pathydisease -peniadeficiency -plasiadevelopment, growth -plasmformation, development -ptosisdrooping -rrhageexcessive, abnormal flow -rrheadischarge, flow -rrhexisrupture -sclerosishardening

SuffixMeaning stenosisnarrowing therapytreatment trophynourishment, development

Adjective Suffixes Turn root words into complete words Can be used as adjectives. Ex: gastr- + -ic = gastric, which means “pertaining to the stomach”. All adjective suffixes mean “pertaining to”.

Common Adjective Suffixes –ac –al –an –ar –ary –ior –ory –ose –ous –tic –eal –iac –ic –ical –ile

Surgical Suffixes SuffixMeaning -centesispuncture to withdraw fluid -ectomysurgical removal -ostomysurgically create an opening -otomycutting into -plastysurgical repair

Procedural Suffixes SuffixMeaning -gramrecord or picture -graphinstrument for recording -graphyprocess of recording -meterinstrument for measuring -metryprocess of measuring -scopeinstrument for viewing -scopyprocess of visually examining

Combining Vowels Combining vowels (usually an “o”) are used to make long terms easier to pronounce. Combining vowels can be used to connect two root words or a root word and a suffix.

Combining Vowel Rules When connecting a root word and a suffix: 1.If the suffix begins with a vowel, DO NOT use a combining vowel. ◦ Ex: Arthr- + -itis = arthritis 2.If the suffix begins with a consonant, use a combining vowel. ◦ Ex: Arthr- + -scope = arthroscope When connecting two root words, always use a combining vowel. ◦ Ex: Gastr- + enter- + -itis = gastroenteritis

How to “Translate” Medical Terms Break the long word into its parts. Define each part separately. Put the definitions together.

gastroenterology gastr / o / enter / o / logy stomach combining vowel small intestine combining vowel the study of “the study of the stomach and small intestine”

Singular and Plural Endings Since many medical terms come from Latin and Greek, the rules for forming plurals are different from English. Other words can be turned into plurals by adding “s” or “es”.

Word Ends InSingularPlural -aVertebraVertebrae -axThoraxThoraces -ex or –ixAppendixAppendices -isMetastasisMetastases -maSarcomaSarcomata -nxPhalanxPhalanges -onGanglionGanglia -usNucleusNuclei -umOvumOva -yBiopsyBiopsies

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