Terms are built from word parts Remember the meanings of the word parts Build terms from the word parts and spell them correctly Differentiate word parts that look alike Understand positional – directional terminology

Medical terminology vocabulary is a collection of word parts. Three main word parts: 1. Prefixes - Describe in terms of quantity, location or state 2. Combining Forms - Subject of the term (what the term is about). Many of them are related to Anatomy. They contain two parts: Word Roots Combining Vowels 3. Suffixes – Give information whether the word describes body part, disease or procedure

Medical Term – Microbiology Prefix – Micro, which means ‘small’ Suffix – Logy, which means ‘study of’ Combining Form – Bio, the root word, which means ‘life’ and ‘o’, the combining vowel. Microbiology is the study of small life Dictionary definition: the study of small organisms

1. Suffix – ectomy = removal, excision, resection E.g.: hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) Hyster/o+ectomy Surgical removal of the uterus 2. Suffix – stomy = new opening E.g.: gastrostomy (new opening of the stomach) Gastr/o+stomy Surgical creation of an artificial opening into the stomach

Analyzing or Decoding the Words CARD ??? C heck for word parts, A ssign meanings, R everse the meaning of the suffix to the front, and D efine the term. E.g.: GASTROSCOPY 1.Check for word parts Gastro (combining form) + Scopy (suffix) 2. Assign meaning Gastro(stomach) + Scopy (the process of viewing) 3.Reverse the position of the suffix and put it in the beginning of the word Scopy+gastro 3.Define the term – The process of viewing the stomach

Combining FormsSuffixes Arthr/o (joint)-algia (pain) Gastr/o (stomach)-ectomy (removal) Hepat/o (liver)-scope (instrument to view) Nephr/o (kidney)-itis (inflammation) Ophthalm/o (eye)-plasty (surgical repair) Ot/o (ear)Scopy (process of viewing) Rhin/o (nose)-tomy (incission)

Should I Keep or Drop the Combining Vowel????? If the suffix starts with a vowel, DROP the vowel of the combining form. Arthr/o(joint)+algia(pain) Arthroalgia Arthralgia If the suffix starts with a consonant, KEEP the vowel of the combining form. Rhino (nose)+ plasty (surgical repair) Rhinoplasty Remember All depends on the suffix!!!!

The issues of ‘right’ and ‘left’ are extremely important. Divide the abdominal region into 4 quadrants Quad = four 1.Right upper quadrant 2.Left upper quadrant 3.Right lower quadrant 4.Left lower quadrant

Proximal means ‘near’ or ‘close’ Distal means ‘far’ Two ways to look at the proximal and distal terms. 1.Beginning (proximal) and ending of (distal)an organ Proximal end of esophagus Distal end of esophagus When proximal and distal are used to describe locations on the arms and legs - keep the definitions of near and far in mind. Look at the point of reference to the attachment which is where your arms and legs are attached to your body. Your arms are attached at your shoulders, your legs are attached at your hips.