1.  Importance  Gives you a better understanding of the equipment  Allows you to discuss equipment problems with the user  Helps you locate "unknown" equipment during routine preventive maintenance inspections

2.  Structure of Medical Terminology  Language is standardized  Most often based on Greek or Latin terminology - always means the same thing  Assures a universal understanding of words  Constructs words systematically  Root Word - usually the organ or system being discussed - the anatomical part  Example: Cardi - Heart

3.  Prefixes - used in conjunction with the root word to add specific meaning  Example: Peri - Around  Suffixes - also used to lend even more meaning to the root word - usually a condition  Example: Itis - Inflammation  Compound Words - Two or more roots words joined together  Example: Histo (tissue) and Ology (the study of) - Histology - the study of tissue, or Angio (vessel) and Gram (a recording) - Angiogram - the recording of a vessel

4.  Word endings - vary depending on how the word is used - allow one basic word to be used many ways  UM or IUM makes the word a noun; Example: Gastrium (stomach)  AL would make the word an adjective; Example: Cardial (heart)  AC or IC simply means the word pertains to an item; Example: Hepatic (pertaining to the liver)

5. Terms  Words dealing with anatomy MY - Muscle; Example: Myocardium - heart muscle NEPHER - Kidney; Example: Nephitis - inflammation of the kidney NEUR - Nerve; Example: Neurology - the study of nerves OPTHALM - Eye; Example: Opthalmalgia - a pain (ALGIA) in the eye DERMAT - Skin; Example: Dermatitis - inflammation of the skin

6.  CYT - Cell  Erythrocyte - a red (ERYTHRO) blood cell  Leukocyte - a white (LEUKO) blood cell  Macrocytes and Microcytes would be large (MACRO) and small (MICRO) cells respectively  CEPHAL - Head  Encephaloma is a tumor (OMA) inside (EN) the head  Hydroencephalic means excess water (HYDRO) in the head

7.  ARTHR – Joint  Example: Arthroplasty is the repair (PLAST) of a joint  THORAX – Chest  Example: Pneumothorax - air (PNEUMO) trapped in the chest  CYST - Bladder or any sac filled with fluid  Example: Cystoplasty - the repair of the bladder  Words dealing with a condition  CARCIN - Cancer; Example: Carcinoma - a cancerous tumor

8.  MEGAL - Large; Example: Megaloblast - a large stem cell (BLAST)  EMIA - Blood; Example: Leukemia - a condition dealing with white blood cells  PSYCH - Mind; Example: Psychology - the study of the mind  CYAN - Blue; Example: Cyanosis - a condition of blueness

9.  Common prefixes HYPER - Above; Example: Hyperactive HYPO - Below; Example: Hypodermic - below the skin SUPRA - Above; Example: Supracostal - above the ribs (COSTAL) INFRA - Below / Beneath; Example: Infracostal - below the ribs BRADY - Slow; Example: Bradycardia - slow heartbeat TACHY - Fast; Example: Tachycardia - fast heartbeat A or AN - Without; Example: Apnea - without breath (PNEA)

10.  Common suffixes  OSIS - a condition  PENIA - a decrease in  Example: Thrombopenia - a decrease in platelets (THROMBO)  ECTOMY - Excision, from the root word TOME (to cut)  Example: Nepherectomy  OTOMY - Incision, from the root word tome  Example: Nepherotomy