Basic Medical Terminology 1

Introduction

Medical words are used daily media doctors, nurses working life

Examples arthritis hepatitis anemia

Useful to learn medical terminology

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

Lecture Schedule

Lecture 1 Introduction Word Structure and Analysis Suffixes

Lecture 2 Prefixes Enlarging your medical vocabulary

Introduction to Medical Terminology

Introduction

Most medical terms come from Greek language

diagnosis, surgery Latin languages

anatomical names

Many sound mysterious but can be easily worked out

Word Structure

All words have a word rooteg: trans/port

ex/port Compound words

words with 2 or more rootseg: grand-father

fire-fighter

Word Structure

Vowel 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

Word Structure

Suffix attached to root eg: practition-er

Medical terms like jigsaw puzzle divided into several parts

Example HEMATOLOGY

HEMAT / O / LOGY

Word Analysis 1st 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” Combining

vowel

Root

(“blood”)

Suffix

(“study of”)

HEMAT/O/LOGY

Word Analysis

HEMAT / O / LOGY

the study of blood

Root Combining vowel

Suffix

(“blood”) (“study of”)

suffix “gram” - a record

1st root “electr” - electricity

2nd root “cardi” - heart

combining vowel “o” -connects roots with suffix

Root SuffixRoot

Electr/o/cardi/o/gram

Word Analysis

Electrocardiogram record of the electricity in the heart

combining form combining vowel + root eg: cardi/o

heart eg: electr/o

electricity

Gastr/o/enter/o/logy

Suffix logy

1st combining form gastr/o

2nd combining form enter/o

study of the stomach and intestines

Root SuffixRoot

Gastr/o/scope suffix scope

instrument to visually examine combining form gastr/o

stomach instrument to visually examine the stomach

Word Analysis

Gastr/ic suffix

adjective: pertaining to combining vowel is dropped when suffix begins

with a vowel root

stomach pertaining to stomach

Word Analysis

Cardi/ac suffix

adjective: pertaining to combining vowel dropped

root heart

pertaining to the heart

Word Analysis

Word Analysis

Enter/itis suffix

inflammation combing vowel dropped

root intestines

inflammation of the intestines

Suffixes

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

Diagnostic Suffixes

-algia pain eg: neuralgia

arthralgia -itis

inflammation eg: arthritis

carditis

Diagnostic Suffixes

-ia a state or condition eg: bradycardia

pneumonia -osis

abnormal condition eg: neurosis

Diagnostic Suffixes

-iasis condition, formation of presence of stone (lith-) eg: nephrolithiasis

-genic origin, producing eg: neurogenic causes

pathogenic bacteria

Diagnostic Suffixes

-emia condition involving blood eg: anemia

septicemia, bacteremia -megaly

enlargement eg: acromegaly

hepatomegaly, cardiomegaly

Diagnostic Suffixes

-oma tumor, swelling eg: breast adenoma

-oid being like, resembling eg: uterine fibroid

-lysis break down, loosening eg: hemolysis

Procedural Suffixes

describe medical procedures looking into body parts types of surgical repair removal of body part

examples -ectomy -otomy -scopy

Procedural Suffixes

-ectomy excision of, removal of may or may not remove entire organ eg: tonsillectomy

hepatectomy -otomy

a surgical incision eg: craniotomy, laparotomy

Procedural Suffixes

-centesis surgical puncture with a needle eg: amniocentesis

thoracocentesis -scopy

insertion of an instrument to visualize eg: gastroscopy, cystoscopy

Procedural Suffixes -plasty

surgical correction, plastic repair

eg: hip arthroplasty -ostomy

operation to create opening (stoma)

eg: colostomy

Other Suffixes

do not fit into either category -logy

study of eg: biology

cardiology -form

shape eg: deformed

Other Suffixes

-gram, -graph a written record eg:

electrocardiogram polygraph machine

measures several parameters

Other Suffixes

-graphy process of recording eg: photography

Review

Root word gives essential meaning of term

Suffix word end

Combining vowel connects root to suffix /other roots

Combining form combination of root and combining vowel

QUIZ TIME

 1. All words have aA. root B. vowel

C. prefix

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

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

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 + itisB. micr + scopyC. dermat + logy

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

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

10. In the word “ physiology”, the suffix is

A. phy

B. physio

C. logy

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Divide each of the following words into their component parts

Word Root word Combining Vowel SuffixCardiologist

Biology

Mammogram

Bronchoscopy

Arthritis

Inguinal

Pneumonia

Oncologist

Cardi o logist

Bi o logyMamm o gramBronch o scopy

Inguin - al

Pneumon - ia

Onc o logist

Arthr - itis