1. Medical Terminology: The Language of Medicine

2. Word Parts: Roots

3. Medical Terminology
Language in the medical field is more extensive than the languages in many other fields.
Rapid advances in science and technology continually add new terms. In addition, many medical terms are formed from Greek or Latin words.
It is critical for all health care workers to have a strong knowledge of medical terms in order to perform their jobs well.
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Medical Terminology
Language in the medical field is more extensive than the languages in many other fields. Like other languages, medical language is constantly changing, but it does so at a quicker pace. Rapid advances in science and technology continually add new terms. In addition, many medical terms are formed from Greek or Latin words.
It is critical for all health care workers to have a strong knowledge of medical terms in order to perform their jobs well. One way to gain this knowledge is through the study of word parts. Understanding the parts is the key to learning medical terminology.

4. Word Parts A word root is the basic meaning of a term.
A prefix is placed at the beginning of a term.
A suffix is placed at the end of a term.
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Word Parts
Medical terms are divided into these parts:
A word root is the basic meaning of a term.
A prefix is placed at the beginning of a term.
A suffix is placed at the end of a term.
In the terms shown at left, the word roots are shown in blue, the prefixes in green, and the suffixes in yellow.

5. Medical Dictionaries
By breaking words into parts, it is often possible to figure out the meaning of a word, even if you have not seen the word before.
However, it is a good idea to check the definition in a medical dictionary to make sure it is correct.
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Medical Dictionaries
By breaking words into parts, it is often possible to figure out the meaning of a word, even if you have not seen the word before. However, it is a good idea to check the definition in a medical dictionary to make sure it is correct.
Not all medical terms are built from the common word parts. They may come from a variety of sources. Sometimes word parts are combined in new ways to create new meanings. And some terms have more than one meaning. For example, based on word parts, “lithotomy” means a surgical incision to remove a stone. This same word also refers to a certain type of examination position for a patient.

6. Word Roots The root acts as the foundation of a word.
In medical terms, it often indicates a body part.
All medical terms must have one or more word roots.
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Word Roots
The root acts as the foundation of a word. In medical terms, it often indicates a body part. All medical terms must have one or more word roots.

7. Word Parts: Suffixes and Prefixes

8. Suffixes
A suffix is added to the end of a word root to complete the term.
Suffixes usually describe what is happening to the word root. They often indicate a procedure, condition, disorder, or disease.
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Suffixes
A suffix is added to the end of a word root to complete the term. Suffixes usually describe what is happening to the word root. They often indicate a procedure, condition, disorder, or disease.

9. Prefixes
A prefix is added to the beginning of a word root to change its meaning.
Prefixes describe, modify, or limit the term. They often indicate time, number, or location.
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Prefixes
A prefix is added to the beginning of a word root to change its meaning. Prefixes describe, modify, or limit the term. They often indicate time, number, or location.

10. Combining Word Parts
A word root cannot stand alone; a suffix is always required. But not all medical terms have prefixes.
Combining vowels- vowels that are added between word parts to make the term easier to pronounce.
Combining form – the word root plus the combining vowel.
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Combining Word Parts
Word parts are combined to form medical terms. A word root cannot stand alone; a suffix is always required. But not all medical terms have prefixes.
In certain cases, vowels are added between word parts to make the term easier to pronounce. These vowels are called combining vowels. The most common one is “o.”
Combining vowels may be used between a word root and a suffix or between two word roots. The word root plus the combining vowel is called a combining form. Below are rules for using combining vowels.
Do use a combining vowel:
When the suffix begins with a consonant.
Anytime two or more word roots are joined.
Don’t use a combining vowel:
When the suffix begins with a vowel.
Between a prefix and a word root.

11. Combining Word Parts (continued)
Do use a combining vowel:
When the suffix begins with a consonant.
Anytime two or more word roots are joined.
Don’t use a combining vowel:
When the suffix begins with a vowel.
Between a prefix and a word root.
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Combining Word Parts
Word parts are combined to form medical terms. A word root cannot stand alone; a suffix is always required. But not all medical terms have prefixes.
In certain cases, vowels are added between word parts to make the term easier to pronounce. These vowels are called combining vowels. The most common one is “o.”
Combining vowels may be used between a word root and a suffix or between two word roots. The word root plus the combining vowel is called a combining form. Below are rules for using combining vowels.
Do use a combining vowel:
When the suffix begins with a consonant.
Anytime two or more word roots are joined.
Don’t use a combining vowel:
When the suffix begins with a vowel.
Between a prefix and a word root.

12. Decoding Terms
Decoding a term means to break it into its word parts to figure out the meaning.
Use these steps to decode a medical term:
Start by defining the suffix.
Then define the prefix, if there is one.
Then define the word root(s) or combining form(s).
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Decoding Terms
Decoding a term means to break it into its word parts to figure out the meaning. Use these steps to decode a medical term:
Start by defining the suffix.
Then define the prefix, if there is one.
Then define the word root(s) or combining form(s).
Below are some examples of how to decode medical terms.
Transneural
The suffix al means “pertaining to.”
The prefix trans means “across or through.”
The root neur means “nerves.”
Transneural means “pertaining to across or through the nerves.”
Cardiology
The suffix logy means “study of.”
There is no prefix in this term.
The combining form cardio means “heart.”
Cardiology is the “study of the heart.”
Osteoarthritis
The suffix itis means “inflammation of.”
The combining form osteo means “bones.”
The root arthr means “joints.”
Osteoarthritis is the inflammation of the bones and joints.

13. Abbreviations

14. Abbreviations
Abbreviations are shortened forms of words, usually just letters.
It is the responsibility of the health care workers at each agency to learn and follow the abbreviation policies used at their place of employment.
When workers are unsure about the meaning of an abbreviation, it is best to follow this rule to be safe: “When in doubt, spell it out.”
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Abbreviations
Medical terms may be long and complex. Abbreviations are shortened forms of words, usually just letters. They are often used to communicate medical information more quickly. Many abbreviations may even be strung together to give sets of orders. Health care workers are expected to know common abbreviations.
It is critical to be very careful when using abbreviations. They can sometimes lead to confusion because the same abbreviation may have more than one meaning. Also, different abbreviations may be used in different sites. For example, while there is a trend toward removing periods from most abbreviations, some agencies choose to use them.
It is the responsibility of the health care workers at each agency to learn and follow the policy used at their place of employment. When workers are unsure about the meaning of an abbreviation, it is best to follow this rule to be safe: “When in doubt, spell it out.”

15. Anatomic References

16. Body Direction
Health care workers need to be able to clearly identify areas of the body. They must do so in order to correctly apply treatments, injections, and diagnoses.
Such directional terms are based on anatomical position. In this position, the body is upright and facing forward, with the arms at the sides and the palms toward the front.
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Body Direction
Health care workers need to be able to clearly identify areas of the body. They must do so in order to correctly apply treatments, injections, and diagnoses. Traditional directions, such as north and east, do not work well for this purpose. Instead, other directional terms have been created that describe the relationship of one body part to another.
Such directional terms are based on anatomical position. In this position, the body is upright and facing forward, with the arms at the sides and the palms toward the front.

17. Body Planes
Body planes are imaginary lines drawn through the body. They separate the body into sections and are used to create directional terms.
The three body planes are:
Transverse
Midsagittal
Frontal
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Body Planes
Body planes are imaginary lines drawn through the body. They separate the body into sections and are used to create directional terms. The three body planes are:
Transverse
Midsagittal
Frontal

18. Transverse Plane and Related Directional Terms
The transverse plane is horizontal and divides the body into a top half and a bottom half.
Body parts above other parts are called superior.
Body parts below other body parts are called inferior.
Two other terms related to this plane also refer to direction.
Cranial refers to body parts toward the head.
Caudal refers to body parts toward the lower end of the spine or feet.
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Transverse Plane and Related Directional Terms
The transverse plane is horizontal and divides the body into a top half and a bottom half.
Body parts above other parts are called superior.
Body parts below other body parts are called inferior.
For example, the hips are superior to the knees, but they are inferior to the shoulders.
Two other terms related to this plane also refer to direction.
Cranial refers to body parts toward the head.
Caudal refers to body parts toward the lower end of the spine or feet.

19. Midsaggital Plane and Related Directional Terms
The midsaggital plane is also known as the median plane or the midline.
The midsaggital plane is vertical and divides the body into equal right and left halves.
Body parts toward this plane are called medial.
Body parts away from this plane are called lateral.
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Midsaggital Plane and Related Directional Terms
The midsaggital plane is also known as the median plane or the midline. It is vertical and divides the body into equal right and left halves.
Body parts toward this plane are called medial.
Body parts away from this plane are called lateral.
For example, the eyes are medial to the ears, but they are lateral to the nose.

20. Frontal Plane and Related Directional Terms
The frontal plane is also known as the coronal plane.
The frontal plane is vertical. It divides the body into front and back sections.
Body parts toward the front section are called ventral, or anterior.
Body parts toward the back section are called dorsal, or posterior.
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Frontal Plane and Related Directional Terms
The frontal plane is also known as the coronal plane. Like the midsagittal plane, the frontal plane is also vertical. However, it divides the body into front and back sections.
Body parts toward the front section are called ventral, or anterior.
Body parts toward the back section are called dorsal, or posterior.
For example, the toes are on the ventral part of the foot, while the heel is on the dorsal part of the foot.

21. Other Directional Terms
Two other terms are used to describe the location of a body part in relation to the point of attachment, or point of reference.
Body parts toward the point of attachment are called proximal.
Body parts distant from this point are called distal.
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Other Directional Terms
Two other terms are used to describe the location of a body part in relation to the point of attachment, or point of reference. They are mostly used to describe the location of the extremities, or arms and legs, in relation to the main trunk of the body.
Body parts toward the point of attachment are called proximal.
Body parts distant from this point are called distal.
For example, when describing the wrist and elbow in relation to the shoulder, the elbow is proximal while the wrist is distal.

22. Body Cavities
Body cavities are spaces within the body that contain vital organs.
The two major cavities in the body are the dorsal and ventral cavities.
The dorsal cavity is a long, continuous cavity located on the back of the body.
The ventral cavity is located on the front side of the body.
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Body Cavities
Body cavities are spaces within the body that contain vital organs.
The two major cavities in the body are the dorsal and ventral cavities.
The dorsal cavity is a long, continuous cavity located on the back of the body.
The ventral cavity is located on the front side of the body.

23. Dorsal Cavity The dorsal cavity is divided into two sections:
The cranial cavity contains the brain.
The spinal cavity contains the spinal cord.
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Dorsal Cavity
The dorsal cavity is divided into two sections, the cranial and spinal cavities.
The cranial cavity contains the brain.
The spinal cavity contains the spinal cord.

24. Ventral Cavity The ventral cavity is divided into three sections:
The thoracic cavity contains the trachea, esophagus, bronchi, lungs, heart, and major blood vessels. It is also known as the chest cavity.
The abdominal cavity contains the stomach, small intestine, most of the large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen.
The pelvic cavity contains the reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum.
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Ventral Cavity
The ventral cavity is divided into three sections, the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities.
The thoracic cavity contains the trachea, esophagus, bronchi, lungs, heart, and major blood vessels. It is also known as the chest cavity. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.
The abdominal cavity contains the stomach, small intestine, most of the large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen.
The pelvic cavity contains the reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum.

25. Small Body Cavities The orbital cavity contains the eye structures.
The nasal cavity contains the parts that form the nose.
The oral cavity, or buccal cavity, contains the teeth and the tongue in the mouth.
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Small Body Cavities
In addition to the cranial cavity, the skull includes other smaller cavities.
The orbital cavity contains the eye structures.
The nasal cavity contains the parts that form the nose.
The oral cavity, or buccal cavity, contains the teeth and the tongue in the mouth.

26. Abdominal Regions: Quadrants
Because the abdominal cavity is so large, it helps to divide it into regions.
One method of division results in quadrants, or four regions:
Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
Left lower quadrant (LLQ)
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Abdominal Regions: Quadrants
Because the abdominal cavity is so large, it helps to divide it into regions. Regions can be used to describe where an organ, injury, or pain is located.
One method of division results in quadrants, or four regions. The regions are named as follows:
Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
Left lower quadrant (LLQ)

27. Abdominal Regions: Nine Regions
Another method of dividing the abdominal cavity results in nine regions:
Epigastric – above the stomach
Umbilical – near the umbilicus
Hypogastric – below the stomach
Left Hypochondriac – below the ribs, left side
Right Hypochondriac – below the ribs, right side
Left Lumbar – near the waist, left side
Right Lumbar – near the waist, right side
Left Iliac – near the hips, left side
Right Iliac – near the hips, right side
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Abdominal Regions: Nine Regions
Another method of dividing the abdominal cavity results in nine regions.
The central regions are named as follows:
Epigastric (above the stomach)
Umbilical (near the umbilicus, or belly button)
Hypogastric, or pelvic (below the stomach)
The names of the regions on either side of the central regions are always preceded by either “left” or “right.” The side regions are named as follows:
Hypochondriac (below the ribs)
Lumbar (near the waist)
Iliac, or inguinal (near the hips)