1. Medical Language
What did you say?

2. Medical language is used by all members of the healthcare team.
It is essential to develop the knowledge of medical language.

3. Medical Language
Dr. Smith enters the nurse’s station and begins to dictate notes that say: Mrs. Jones needs to have an exploratory laparotomy, but he suspects he will end up doing a bilateral salpingoophorectomy. And before the surgery he wants a CXR, EKG, CBC and ABG done, stat. You suddenly feel thankful that Mrs. Anderson spent so much time teaching you medical terminology.

4. Medical Language
It is nearly impossible for even the most experienced healthcare professional to be familiar with every medical term.
Knowledge of prefixes, suffixes, and root words is essential.
It is vital that every healthcare professional be familiar with commonly used medical terminology.
A medical dictionary is an excellent reference for unfamiliar terms.

5. Word Parts/Building Blocks
Most medical terms are formed by a combination of basic word parts.
An understanding of how these parts work together makes interpreting medical language easier.
So lets get started!

6. Word Parts/Building Blocks
Prefixes – usually indicate location, time, or number and come at the beginning of a word
Suffixes – usually indicate the procedure, disease, or condition and come after the root word
Root Words – usually indicate the part of the body involved
Combining Vowel :
1. usually “o”
2. attached to the root word
3. makes medical terms easier to pronounce
4. is NOT used a when suffix begins with a vowel
5. IS used when suffix begins with a consonant

7. Word Parts/Building Blocks
Prefix Root Word +Suffix = Medical Term
many nerves inflammation = inflammation of many nerves
Combining Vowel
1. usually “o”
2. attached to the root word
3. makes medical terms easier to pronounce
4. is NOT used a when suffix begins with a vowel
5. IS used when suffix begins with a consonant
POLYNEURITIS
POLY
NEUR/O
ITIS

8. Common Medical Prefixes
a-, an- negative, without
dys- painful, difficult
ab- away from
dors- back
ad- towards
endo- inside
anti- against
epi- above, upon
ante- before
hemi- half
bi- two, both
hyper- excessive, above, more than
brachy- short
hypo- decrease, below, less
brady- slow

9. Common Medical Prefixes
inter- between, among
para- beside or below
peri- around
intra- within, inside
poly- many
macro- large, big
mal- bad
post- after
sub- below
micro- small
super- above
neo- new
tachy- fast

10. Common Medical Suffixes
-algia (painful)
-osis (abnormal condition)
-asthenia (weakness)
-ostomy (surgical opening)
-cele (hernia)
-otomy (surgical incisión)
-centesis (surgical puncture)
-orrhea (flow)
-ectomy (removal)
-pathy (disease)
-itis (inflammation/infection)
-plasty (surgical repair)
-gram (picture)
-rrhaphy (suture)
-malacia (abnormal softening)
-sclerosis (abnormal hardening)
-megaly (enlargement)
-scope (instrument to view)
-necrosis (death of tissue)
-stenosis (narrowing)
-ology (study of)

11. Common Medical Root Words
acro extremities
cervi/c neck
aden gland
chrondr/o cartilage
angi/o vessel
col/o large intestines/colon
arteri/o aterio
cost/o ribs
arthr/o joint
cyst/o sac/bladder
brachi arm
cyte cell
cardi/o heart
enter/o small intestines
carp wrist
gastr/o stomach
cerebr/o brain
hemo/hemat blood

12. Common Medical Root Words
hepat liver
medial middle
hyster/o uterus
myel/o spinal cord/bone marrow
lapar abdomen
my/o muscle
laryng larynx (voice box)
nas/o nose
latero side
nephr/o kidney
lip/o fat
neur/o nerve
mamm/o breast
mast/o breast

13. Common Medical Root Words
oophor ovary
rhino nose
oste/o bone
salpingo fallopian tube
ot/o ear
tend/o tendon
plegia paralysis
thorac chest
pneum/o lung/air
trachi trachea (wind pipe)
procto rectum

14. Medical Abbreviations
Just as in the English language, occasionally we use abbreviations to expedite writing orders and notes.
Many of the abbreviations come from diagnostic testing, such as laboratory tests and different types of x-rays.
Many of the therapy units have also adopted common abbreviations.

15. Medical Abbreviations
ASAP – as soon as possible
FBS – fasting blood sugar
ABG’s– arterial blood gases
GI – gastrointestinal
AC – before meals
ICU – Intensive Care Unit
Amb – ambulate or to walk
Pt – patient
BP – blood pressure
PT – physical therapy
BS – blood sugar, bowel sounds, breath sounds
ROM – range of motion
Stat – now
CBC – complete blood count
TPR – temperature, pulse, and respiration
CXR – chest x-ray
DNR – do not resuscitate
VS – Vital signs
EKG – electrocardiogram
W/C – wheel chair

16. WHEW!