1. Basic Medical Terminology 1

2. Introduction Medical words are used daily Examples
media
doctors, nurses
working life
Examples
arthritis
hepatitis
anemia
Useful to learn medical terminology

3. Objectives Enable you to understand the common medical terms
Allow you to explore and learn the vocabulary of the medical field
Equip you with knowledge useful for daily work in the health care setting

4. Lecture Schedule Lecture 1 Lecture 2 Introduction
Word Structure and Analysis
Suffixes
Lecture 2
Prefixes
Enlarging your medical vocabulary

5. Introduction to Medical Terminology

6. Introduction Most medical terms come from Many sound mysterious
Greek language
diagnosis, surgery
Latin languages
anatomical names
Many sound mysterious
but can be easily worked out

7. Word Structure eg: trans/port ex/port words with 2 or more roots
All words have a word root
eg: trans/port
ex/port
Compound words
words with 2 or more roots
eg: grand-father
fire-fighter

8. Word Structure Vowel Combining form often added to a root word
allows formation of a compound word
makes pronunciation easier
Combining form
word root + vowel
eg: therm/o/meter
micr/o/scope

9. Word Structure Suffix Medical terms Example attached to root
eg: practition-er
Medical terms
like jigsaw puzzle
divided into several parts
Example
HEMATOLOGY
HEMAT / O / LOGY

10. Word Analysis HEMAT/O/LOGY 1st step 2nd step 3rd step
look at end of the word
suffix
2nd step
look at beginning
root word
gives meaning of term
3rd step
combining vowel
usually consists of vowel “o”
HEMAT/O/LOGY
Suffix
(“study of”)
Root
(“blood”)
Combining vowel

11. Word Analysis the study of blood HEMAT / O / LOGY Suffix Root
Combining vowel
Suffix
(“blood”)
(“study of”)

12. Electr/o/cardi/o/gram
Root
Suffix
suffix
“gram” - a record
1st root
“electr” - electricity
2nd root
“cardi” - heart
combining vowel
“o” -connects roots with suffix

13. Word Analysis Electrocardiogram combining form
record of the electricity in the heart
combining form
combining vowel + root
eg: cardi/o
heart
eg: electr/o
electricity

14. Gastr/o/enter/o/logy
Root
Suffix
Suffix
logy
1st combining form
gastr/o
2nd combining form
enter/o
study of the stomach and intestines

15. Word Analysis Gastr/o/scope suffix scope combining form gastr/o
instrument to visually examine
combining form gastr/o
stomach
instrument to visually examine the stomach

16. Word Analysis Gastr/ic suffix root pertaining to stomach
adjective: pertaining to
combining vowel is dropped when suffix begins with a vowel
root
stomach
pertaining to stomach

17. Word Analysis Cardi/ac suffix root pertaining to the heart
adjective: pertaining to
combining vowel dropped
root
heart
pertaining to the heart

18. Word Analysis Enter/itis suffix root inflammation of the intestines
combing vowel dropped
root
intestines
inflammation of the intestines

19. Suffixes

20. Suffixes attached to the end of root words to further its meaning
2 groups
those that describe diagnoses
describe condition of patient
those that describe procedures

21. Diagnostic Suffixes -algia -itis pain eg: neuralgia arthralgia
inflammation
eg: arthritis
carditis

22. Diagnostic Suffixes -ia -osis a state or condition eg: bradycardia
pneumonia
-osis
abnormal condition
eg: neurosis

23. Diagnostic Suffixes -iasis -genic condition, formation of
presence of stone (lith-)
eg: nephrolithiasis
-genic
origin, producing
eg: neurogenic causes
pathogenic bacteria

24. Diagnostic Suffixes -emia -megaly condition involving blood eg: anemia
septicemia, bacteremia
-megaly
enlargement
eg: acromegaly
hepatomegaly, cardiomegaly

25. Diagnostic Suffixes -oma -oid -lysis tumor, swelling
eg: breast adenoma
-oid
being like, resembling
eg: uterine fibroid
-lysis
break down, loosening
eg: hemolysis

26. Procedural Suffixes describe medical procedures examples
looking into body parts
types of surgical repair
removal of body part
examples
-ectomy
-otomy
-scopy

27. Procedural Suffixes -ectomy -otomy excision of, removal of
may or may not remove entire organ
eg: tonsillectomy
hepatectomy
-otomy
a surgical incision
eg: craniotomy, laparotomy

28. Procedural Suffixes -centesis -scopy surgical puncture with a needle
eg: amniocentesis
thoracocentesis
-scopy
insertion of an instrument to visualize
eg: gastroscopy, cystoscopy

29. Procedural Suffixes -plasty -ostomy
surgical correction, plastic repair
eg: hip arthroplasty
-ostomy
operation to create opening (stoma)
eg: colostomy

30. Other Suffixes do not fit into either category -logy -form study of
eg: biology
cardiology
-form
shape
eg: deformed

31. Other Suffixes -gram, -graph a written record eg: electrocardiogram
polygraph machine
measures several parameters

32. Other Suffixes
-graphy
process of recording
eg: photography

33. Review Root word Suffix Combining vowel Combining form
gives essential meaning of term
Suffix
word end
Combining vowel
connects root to suffix /other roots
Combining form
combination of root and combining vowel

34. QUIZ TIME

35. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
 1. All words have a
A. root
B. vowel
C. prefix

36. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 2. The root in the medical term “tonsillitis” is
A. itis
B. sill
C. tonsill
3. “Fasciotomy” is an example of a
A. simple word
B. compound word
C. combining word

37. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 4. When you analyze a medical term, begin at the
A. beginning of the word
B. middle of the word
C. end of the word
5. Adding a vowel to a root results in a
A. prefix
B. combining form
C. complex word

38. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
6. Which of the following can be used to divide words into their word parts?
A. /
B. =
C. …
7. Which of the following combinations do not need a combining vowel?
A. dermat + itis
B. micr + scopy
C. dermat + logy

39. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 8. Combining forms
A. are always used to end a medical term
B. are never connected to a suffix
C. are never used to end a medical term
9. The word gastroduodenoscopy has
A. 1 root
B. 2 roots
C. 3 roots

40. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 10. In the word “ physiology”, the suffix is
A. phy
B. physio
C. logy

41. Divide each of the following words into their component parts
Word Root word Combining Vowel Suffix
Cardiologist
Biology
Mammogram
Bronchoscopy
Arthritis
Inguinal
Pneumonia
Oncologist
Cardi o logist
Bi o logy
Mamm o gram
Bronch o scopy
Arthr itis
Inguin al
Pneumon ia
Onc o logist