1. What is Medical Terminology?

2. Why learn Medical Terminology?
Medical terms convey the greatest amount of information with the least confusion and most precision.
The foundation of medical terms is Greek and Latin
It is impossible to learn all medical terms, but it is possible to figure out their meaning through learning basic word parts.

3. Etymology
Etymology: The science of the origin and development of words
Indicates the origin and
historical development of
a term
Helps decipher words with
Latin and Greek origins

4. Types of Med Terms Eponyms Acronyms Abbreviations
Words named after people
EX: Parkinson’s disease; named after English physician Dr. James Parkinson
Acronyms
Modern language terms that stand for longer phrases
EX: HIV, SIDS
Abbreviations
Shortened forms of words
Many common abbreviations, but ach medical facility has their own list of approved medical terms

5. Basic Word Parts: Roots
The glue that holds all medical terms together
Main part/foundation of the word
A combining vowel, usually an “o” or an “I” joins the root with a prefix, suffix or another root.

6. Basic Word Parts: Combining vowels
Vowels that bridge word roots with another root, prefix or suffix. Are not used if the word root or suffix begins with a vowel.
EX: Encephal(o) (root meaning brain)
encephalitis
Itis means: inflammation of
Since itis starts with an “I” a combining vowel is not needed
Encephalogram
“gram” is a suffix meaning tracing or record; -gram does not start with a vowel so it needs the combing vowel “o”

7. Basic Word Parts: Prefixes
Appear at the beginning of words
Tell “how, why, where, when, how much, how many, position, direction, time or status”
Give us a clue of what to expect in a word’s meaning
Serve to further define the word root

8. Basic Word Parts: Suffixes
Appear at the ends of words
Tell us what’s happening with a specific body part or system
Entail what is wrong with patient or the procedure used to diagnose or fix it

9. Combining Form Cardi/o/gram; underlined is combing form
The combination of a word root with the combining vowel
Cardi/o/gram; underlined is combing form

10. Analysis GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGY Root root suffix combining vowels
Learning to divide words into basic elements will help you to interpret them.
Basic elements: roots, suffixes, prefixes, combining vowels
GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGY
Root root suffix
combining vowels
Gastroenterology = the study of the intestines and stomach

11. Rules to remember
Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the first part of the word
Drop the combining vowel (usually o) before a suffix beginning with a vowel
Gastric not gastroic
Retain the combining vowel between two roots in a word

12. Spelling is ESSENTIAL
Many words are pronounced alike but are spelled differently and have entirely different meanings
Examples
Ileum-part of the small intestines
Ilium-part of the pelvic or hip bone

13. Pronunciation is also important
Words spelled correctly but pronounced incorrectly may be misunderstood
Examples
Urethra (yoo-ree thruh) is the urinary tract tube leading from the urinary bladder to the external surface
Ureter (yoo-ree-ter) is one of the two tubes leading from the kidney to the urinary bladder