1. MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

2. Why is medical terminology so important?

3. MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY Universal language for all health care workers
Better understanding when reading charts/care plans
Makes reporting/recording easier & faster
Ex. Patient complains of lower left quadrant pain and has nausea and vomiting = Pt. c/o LLQ pain & N/V
To understand medical terminology we have to:
Analyze words by dividing them into parts
Prefix
Root word
Suffix
Relate the terms to the structure and function of the body

4. PREFIX A prefix is a word element placed at the beginning of a word.
Prefixes are always combined with other word elements, never alone.
It usually indicates time, direction or number/amount.
HYPER = above normal
HYPO = below normal
THEREFORE:
HYPERTENSION = above normal blood pressure
HYPOTENSION = below normal blood pressure

5. ROOT A root word contains the basic meaning of the word.
It can be combined with prefixes, suffixes or other root words to form a medical term.
A root word usually indicates a body part, and is the foundation of the term.
The combining vowel, usually “o” links the root to the suffix or to another root word. It is then called a “combining form”.
This combining vowel is only used when the suffix or root word that it’s being linked to begins with a consonant.
ARTHR = joint (root word)
SCOPY = examination using a scope (suffix)
THEREFORE:
Arthr/o/scopy = examination of a joint using a scope

6. ROOT TRY THIS Gastr – stomach It is – inflammation = ??
End – within (root)
Scope – examination with a scope (suffix)
= End/o/scope – to examine within the body using a scope
Electr – electricity (root)
Cardi – heart (root)
Gram – record (suffix)
= Electr/o/cardi/o/gram
TRY THIS
Gastr – stomach
It is – inflammation
= ??

7. SUFFIX
A suffix is placed at the end of a word and is combined with a prefix or root word.
They are never used alone.
Suffixes usually indicate a procedure, condition or disease.
RHIN (O) = nose (root word)
PLASTY = surgical repair or reshaping (suffix)
THEREFORE:
RHIN/O/PLASTY = surgical repair or reshaping of the nose

8. LET’S TRY SOME PREFIXES ROOT SUFFIX Hypo = Peri = Pre = Hyper = Post =
Tachy =
Brady =
ROOT
Cardio =
Laryngo =
Oto =
Endo =
Gastro =
Myo =
Arthro =
SUFFIX
Ectomy =
Otomy =
Algia =
Rrhea =
Ologist =
Rrhage =
Necrosis =

9. DIRECTIONAL TERMS 4 REGIONS OF THE ABDOMEN Left upper quadrant
Right upper quadrant
Left lower quadrant
Right lower quadrant

10. DIRECTIONAL TERMS DIVISIONS OF THE BACK Cervical – Neck region (C1-C7)
Thoracic – Chest region (T1-T12)
Lumbar – Waist region (L1-L5)
Sacral – Region of the sacrum (S1-S5)
Coccygeal – Region of the coccyx
The numbers indicate the number of vertebrae in each division

12. DIRECTIONAL TERMS
Distal – far from the beginning of a structure or point of attachment
Proximal – near the beginning of a structure or point of attachment
Anterior (ventral) – located at or toward the front of the body or body part
Medial – relating to or located at or near the middle or midline of the body or body part
Posterior (dorsal) – located at or toward the back of the body or body part
Lateral – relating to or located at the side of the body or body part
Superior – above another structure
Inferior- below another structure