Medical Terminology. Learning a New Language Why? Do not memorize Latin and Greek roots Translation

Medical Terminology

Learning a New Language

Why?Do not memorizeLatin and Greek roots Translation

The Elements of Medical Words

There are four basic elements to medical words:

1. Root word2. Prefix3. Suffix4. Combining vowels

Root WordsLatin or GreekMain partAt least one root.Body part or a body system

Common Root WordsRoot Meaning

aden- gland

andr- male

angi- blood vessel

ather- fat

brachi- arm

carcin- cancer

cardi- heart

carp- wrist

cephal- head

Root Meaning

cervi- neck

chem- chemical

cis- to cut

cnem- lower leg

costa- rib

coxa- hip

cyst- bladder

dent- tooth

dermat- skin

Root Meaning

encephal- brain

enter- small intestine

erythr- red

gastr- stomach

gynec- female

hemat- blood

hist- tissue

hydr- water

immun- immune

Root Meaning

laryng- voice box

leuk- white

mamm- breast

man- hand

morph- shape

nephr-ren-

kidney

neur- nerve

opthalm- eye

osse-oste-

bone

Root Meaning

ot- ear

path- disease

pect- chest

pneum- breathing

pulmon- lung

tarsi- ankle

ur- urine/urinary system

vertebr- spine

PrefixesA prefix is added to the beginning of a root

word.Prefixes add a meaning to the root word,

usually indicating location, number or parts, or a specific time.

Not all medical terms have a prefix.

Common PrefixesPrefix Meaning

a- without, away from

ad- near

an- without, away from

ante- before, in front of

anti- against

auto- self

brady- slow

dys- painful, difficult

endo- within, inner

epi- upon, over

Prefix Meaning

eu- normal, good

hetero- different

homo- same

hyper- over, above

hypo- under, below

infra- under, beneath, below

inter- among, between

intra- within, inside

macro- large

micro- small

Prefix Meaning

neo- new

pan- all

para- beside, beyond, near

per- through

peri- around

post- after

pre- before, in front of

pseudo- false

retro- backwards, behind

sub- below, under

Prefix Meaning

super- above, excess

supra- above

tachy- fast

trans- through, across

ultra- beyond, excess

Number PrefixesPrefix Meaning

bi- two

hemi- half

mono- one

multi- many

nulli- none

poly- many

quad- four

semi- partial, half

tri- three

uni- one

SuffixesA suffix is added to the end of a root word.Suffixes add meaning to the root word and

can describe a condition, disease, or procedure.

All medical terms have a suffix.

Common SuffixesSuffix Meaning

-algia pain

-cele hernia, protrusion

-cise cut

-cyte cell

-dynia pain

-emia blood condition

-gen that which produces

-genesis produces, generates

-genic producing

-ia state, condition

Suffix Meaning

-iasis abnormal condition

-ism state of

-itis inflammation

-logist one who studies

-logy study of

-lysis Destruction

-malacia abnormal softening

-megaly enlargement

-oma tumor, mass

-opsy viewing, to see

Suffix Meaning

-osis abnormal condition

-pathy disease

-penia deficiency

-plasia development, growth

-plasm formation, development

-ptosis drooping

-rrhage excessive, abnormal flow

-rrhea discharge, flow

-rrhexis rupture

-sclerosis hardening

Suffix Meaning

stenosis narrowing

therapy treatment

trophy nourishment, development

Adjective SuffixesTurn root words into complete wordsCan be used as adjectives.Ex: gastr- + -ic = gastric, which means

“pertaining to the stomach”.All adjective suffixes mean “pertaining to”.

Common Adjective Suffixes

–ac

–al

–an

–ar

–ary

–ior

–ory

–ose

–ous

–tic

–eal

–iac

–ic

–ical

–ile

Surgical SuffixesSuffix Meaning

-centesis puncture to withdraw fluid

-ectomy surgical removal

-ostomy surgically create an opening

-otomy cutting into

-plasty surgical repair

Procedural SuffixesSuffix Meaning

-gram record or picture

-graph instrument for recording

-graphy process of recording

-meter instrument for measuring

-metry process of measuring

-scope instrument for viewing

-scopy process of visually examining

Combining VowelsCombining vowels (usually an “o”) are used

to make long terms easier to pronounce.Combining vowels can be used to connect

two root words or a root word and a suffix.

Combining Vowel RulesWhen connecting a root word and a suffix:1. If the suffix begins with a vowel, DO

NOT use a combining vowel.◦Ex: Arthr- + -itis = arthritis

2. If the suffix begins with a consonant, use a combining vowel.◦Ex: Arthr- + -scope = arthroscope

When connecting two root words, always use a combining vowel.◦Ex: Gastr- + enter- + -itis = gastroenteritis

How to “Translate” Medical Terms

Break the long word into its parts.Define each part separately.Put the definitions together.

gastroenterology

gastr / o / enter / o / logy

stomach

combining vowel

small intestine

combining vowel

the study of

“the study of the stomach and small intestine”

Singular and Plural Endings

Since many medical terms come from Latin and Greek, the rules for forming plurals are different from English.

Other words can be turned into plurals by adding “s” or “es”.

Word Ends In Singular Plural

-a Vertebra Vertebrae

-ax Thorax Thoraces

-ex or –ix Appendix Appendices

-is Metastasis Metastases

-ma Sarcoma Sarcomata

-nx Phalanx Phalanges

-on Ganglion Ganglia

-us Nucleus Nuclei

-um Ovum Ova

-y Biopsy Biopsies

Medical Terminology: Breaking Up Isn’t Hard to Do