1. The Language of the Health Profession
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
The Language of the Health Profession

2. ORIGIN OF MEDICAL TERMS
75% of medical terms are based on either Greek or Latin words.
Break the words down into small pieces

3. Parts Beginning (prefix) Middle (root) Ending (suffix)
Often about size, shape, colour, direction, amount
Middle (root)
Often relates to the part of the body
Ending (suffix)
Can be about size, shape, colour, problem

4. Transesophageal Echocardiogram For example Trans + esophagi + eal

5. Common prefixes PREFIX MEANING OSTEO(O) BONE MYO OR SARCO MUSCLE NEURO
NERVE
DERM
SKIN
ANGI(O)
BLOOD VESSELS
VEN(O) OR PHLEB(O)
VEIN
CARDIO
HEART
RHINO
NOSE
NEPH
KIDNEY
HEPAT(O)
LIVER

6. Common prefixes PREFIX MEANING CRANIO SKULL OPTHALM OR OCULO EYE OTO
EAR
THROMB(O)
BLOOD CLOT
MAMM(O)
BREAST
COLO
LARGE INTESTINE
GASTRO
STOMACH
ILEO
SMALL INTESTINE
THORAC(O)
CHEST
PNEUMO OR PLEURO
LUNG

7. SIZE MATTERS
MACRO – (large)
MICRO – (small)
MEGALO – or – megaly
(large / enlarged)

8. (high / elevated/above)
RATES
HYPER –
(high / elevated/above)
HYPO –
(low / reduced / below)
TACHY –
(rapid / fast)
BRADY –
(slow / reduced)

9. COLOURS
LEUK WHITE
ERYTH RED
CYAN BLUE
CHLORO GREEN

10. WHERE? ENDO – OR INTRA – (within) INTER – (between) PERI – (around)
TRANS –
(across)
EXTRA –
(outside)

11. Tests and Procedures PREFIX MEANING ECHO - USING ULTRASONIC WAVES
ELECTRO -
USING ELECTRICITY
ECTOMY
REMOVAL OF
GRAM
PICTURE
GRAPH(Y)
PROCESS OF MAKING AN IMAGE
OTOMY
MAKING A CUT IN
SCOPY
USING AN INSTRUMENT FOR VIEWING
STOMY
CREATING AN OPENING

12. PROBLEMS PREFIX MEANING DYS - NOT WORKING PROPERLY MAL - BAD EMIA
BLOOD CONDITION
ITIS
INFLAMMATIN
-OSIS
CONDITION OR DISEASE
PATHY
DISEASE

13. DECODING MEDICAL TERMS
Define the suffix
Define the prefix
Define the word root
Combine the definitions to decode the medical term or phrase

14. PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER
Hypercholesterolemia
Elevated blood cholesterol
Dermatitis
Inflammation of the skin
Colostomy
Creating an opening in the colon

15. TRY THESE!! Carditis Cardiomyopathy Echocardiography Colitis Hepatitis
Gastritis
Nephrectomy
Transesophageal echocardiogram