1. HTHS 1101 Chapter 1 Introduction to Medical language

2. Medical Terminology Basics History
The foundations of modern medicine stemmed from ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.
Latin was the language of scholars and the language used to disseminate scientific discoveries for centuries.
Most medical terms have their roots in Greek or Latin.
Sometimes acronyms and eponyms are used as well.

3. Medical Terminology Basics Word Parts
Medical terms are comprised of roots, prefixes and suffixes.
The root most often describes the body part, or body substance involved.
The prefixes and suffixes describe what is happening to that body part or substance.
hepatitis
pneumonia
electrocardiogram

4. Medical Terminology Basics Pronunciation
Medical terms can be long and complex
The sounds associated with each part of the term are important to learn
spelled out in the text phonetically
fon-et-ik-al-lee
The emphasis placed on the syllables of the word is also important
the syllable receiving the emphasis is written in capital letters
EM-fah-sis on the SIL-ah-bul

5. Medical Terminology Basics Pronunciation
Term: cardiac
Divide into syllables: car/di/ac
Pronounced as: KAR/dee/ak
Term: cardiology
Divide into syllables: car/di/o/lo/gy
Pronounced as: kar/dee/AW/loh/jee

6. Medical Terminology Basics Word Roots
Roots function like nouns in medical language
Often refer to body parts, organs or fluids
We often add a vowel to make it a combining form
gastr = root for stomach
gastr/o = combining form meaning stomach
Medical terminology roots can be divided into general purpose roots and anatomical roots
The roots/combining forms presented in this chapter are especially important

7. General Purpose Roots plas/o py/o scler/o sten/o troph/o xen/o xer/o
gen/o
hydr/o
morph/o
myc/o
necr/o
orth/o
path/o
phag/o
plas/o
py/o
scler/o
sten/o
troph/o
xen/o
xer/o

8. Anatomical Roots hem/o or hemat/o my/o or muscul/o
arthr/o
cardi/o
enter/o
gastr/o
hepat/o
neur/o
hem/o or hemat/o
my/o or muscul/o
angi/o, vas/o or vascul/o
derm/o, dermat/o or cutane/o
pneum/o, pneumon/o or pulmon/o

9. Suffixes Simple -ia -icle -ism -ole -ium -ule -y -ula
-ac -al -ar -ary -eal -ic -tic -ous
-ia
-ism
-ium -y
-icle
-ole
-ule
-ula

10. Suffixes Complex -algia or -dynia -cele -emia -iasis -itis -lysis
-iatrics -iatry -iatrist -ist -logist -logy
-algia or -dynia
-cele
-emia
-iasis
-itis
-lysis
-malacia
-megaly
-oid
-oma
-osis
-pathy
-penia
-ptosis
-rrhage
-rrhea
-rrhexis
-spasm

11. Suffixes Complex -desis -ectomy -pexy -plasty -rrhaphy -stomy -tomy
-centesis -gram -graph -graphy -meter -metry -scope -scopy
-desis
-ectomy
-pexy
-plasty
-rrhaphy
-stomy
-tomy

12. Common Prefixes tachy- post- re- ab- ad- circum-, peri- dia-
a-, an- anti-, contra- de- ante-, pre- pro- brady-
tachy-
post-
re-
ab-
ad-
circum-, peri-
dia-
e-, ec-, ex-
ecto-, exo-, extra-
en-, endo-, intra-
epi-
sub-
inter-

13. Common Prefixes oligo- pan- poly-, multi- con-, syn-, sym- dys- eu-
bi- hemi-, semi- hyper- hypo- macro- micro- mono-, uni
oligo-
pan-
poly-, multi-
con-, syn-, sym-
dys-
eu-

14. Plurals

15. Word Building
Adding prefixes are easy, you just add them to the beginning of the root or root+suffix.
hyperactive, tachycardia, periumbilical
Suffixes are a bit trickier
A consonant at the end of a root and the beginning of a suffix would sound weird together, so add an ‘”o” to the root.
hepatomegaly, nephropexy, retinopathy
If the suffix starts with a vowel or the root ends in a vowel, you don’t need to add a vowel
antibiotic, scleroderma, orthostatic

16. Making sense of Medical Terms
When reading the word:
Suffix first
Then prefix (if there is one)
Then root or roots
How to translate:
Read the word
Say the word out loud
Break the word into parts (suffix, root, prefix)
Translate the parts
Reassemble the pieces into a statement

17. Making sense of Medical Terms
Translate bradycardia:
Read the word: bradycardia
Say the word: bray/dee/KAR/dee/a
Break the word into parts: brady/card/ia
Translate the parts in order:
suffix: -ia means condition
prefix: brady- means slow
root: card means heart (rate)
Definition: condition of slow heart rate