CONCORDE CAREER COLLEGE, PORTLANDST110

Introduction to Medical Terminology

Objectives

List the three basic word components.Identify and define word roots.Recite and apply the rules for combining

multiple roots into a compound word.

Objectives

Identify word parts and their role in forming medical terms

Analyze unfamiliar termsDefine commonly used prefixes, word roots,

combining forms, and suffixes

Objectives

Pronounce medical terms correctlyRecognize the importance of spelling

medical terms correctlyCorrectly use abbreviationsRecognize, define, spell, and pronounce

medical terms

Word Components

Important Terms:Anatomy

The study of the structure or morphology of the body and how the body parts are organized

Physiology The study of the functions of body parts, what

they do and how they do it.Pathophysiology

The study of the diseases of the body.

Word Parts

Four Types Word Roots- The foundation of medical terms.

Usually describes part of the body Combining Forms- /o Prefixes- Beginning of the word Suffixes- Added to the end of a complete word

Word Components

Word Roots The basic foundation of a word to which components

are added Use the word derm, dermat, derma Add/Subtract components to form larger words

Hypodermic Dermatologist Dermabrasion

Word Root

Usually describe body part involved heminephroplastyMay also indicate color

Examples: cyan/o, erythr/o cyanosis erythrocyteMy/o - _______Poli/o ________

Word Components

Combining Form When a word root is combined with a vowel Helps in pronunciation so the word will flow Most of the time the vowel is an “o”, but sometimes “i”

Dermatology Dermatoplasty

Prefixes

Added to beginning of word

Usually indicates location, time, or number heminephroplasty

Some can be similar in spelling, but opposite in meaning

Prefixes

Pre- Dys-Peri- Anti-Post- Ab-Dys-Hyper-Hypo-Brady-Tachy-

Suffixes

Added to the end of a word root

Usually indicates procedure, condition, disorder or disease

tonsillitistonsillectomy

Can mean pertaining to, abnormal condition

Also used as a noun, to indicate pathology, or relate to the type of procedure

Suffixes

Can be used as noun endings Name of person, place or thing

In medical terminology, suffixes can change the word root into a noun. EX. Cranium

Crani- skull Um- Single noun ending

Appendix A

Suffixes

“Pertaining to” Adjective- describes or defines a thing

In medical terminology, suffixes can change the word root into an adjective EX. Cardiac

Cardi – Heart Ac- pertaining to

Suffixes

Abnormal condition or disease EX gastrosis

Gastro- Stomach Osis- Abnormal Condition or disease

Suffixes

Related to pathology Study of all aspects of diseases.

Path - Disease Ology – Abnormal Condition or disease

Describe specific disease conditions Gastralgia

Gastr - Stomach Algia – Pain and Suffering

Common Medical Common Surgical

-osis:-ac:-algia:-itis:-malacia:-necrosis:-stenosis:

-otomy-ectomy-plasty-ostomy- rrhaphy-pexy-lysis-scopy-graphy-desis

Suffixes

“Double R” Suffixes

rrhage - ____________

rraphy - ____________

rrhea - ____________

rrhexis - ____________

How Can I Determine the Meaning of a Word Just by Looking At It?

Take the term apart

Guess

Use a medical dictionary

Use additional resources

Word Structure Rules

A prefix is placed at the beginning of the word (always) Anuria Endocardium

A suffix is placed at the end of the word root (always) Cardiology Carditis

More than one word root in a word creates the need for combining vowels to connect the roots. This creates combining forms used in compound words. Hematologist Cytology

Word Structure Rules

Compound words are usually composed in this order:combining form + word root + suffix-leuk/o/cyt/osis

Defining a medical word usually begins with defining the suffix first and continuing to read backwords through the word as you define it. Cardiomegaly

Word Structure Rules

When a medical word has a prefix, the definition of the word usually begins with defining the suffix first, the prefix second and the root(s) last.

When a medical word identifies body systems or parts, the definition of the word usually begins with defining the suffix first, then defining the organs in the order in which they are studied in the particular body system.

Using a Medical Dictionary

Spelling If you don’t know how to spell the word, sound it out

and write it down If that doesn’t work, look for alternative spellings

based on the beginning sound

Spelling

ACCURACY is extremely important

Changing just one or two letters can change the entire meaning of a word Example: “ileum” is a part of the small intestine, and

“ilium” is part of the hip bone

nephrectomy root suffix nephr/ectomy kidney/surgical removal of

The surgical removal of the a kidney

nephroplasty root cv suffix nephr/o/plasty kidney/surgical repair

Surgical repair of a kidney

gastroenteritis

root cv root suffix

gastr/o/enter/itis

stomach / small intestine /inflammation of Inflammation of the stomach & small intestine

Singulars and Plurals

There are unusual rules for changing a singular word into a plural one

The rules are foreign to us because most medical terms are of Greek or Latin origins

The Rules

If a word ends in “a”, the plural will have an “e” added. Ex. Bursa to bursae

If it ends in “ex” or “ix”, change it to “ices” Ex. Appendix becomes appendices

If the term ends in “um”, change it to an “a” Ex. Ovum changes to ova

See table 1.9 (MTHP) for the others pg. 13

Don’t Panic!!!!

All of these rules may seem overwhelming, but they will soon become second nature

If in doubt, look for the plural form in a medical dictionary

Abbreviations

Frequently used as a short-hand method of writing long and complex words or phrases

Some can be confusing, so watch out! Example: BE means “below elbow” and “barium

enema” A patient would be UPSET if these two terms

were confused!

Basic Terms

SignSymptomSyndromeDiagnosisPrognosisAcuteChronicremission

Review

What are the four types of word parts?

Review

What are the four types of word parts?

Word roots, combining forms, suffixes, prefixes

Review

What does a word root usually describe?

Review

What does a word root usually describe?

The body part involved

Review

Where is a suffix added to a word?

Review

Where is a suffix added to a word?

At the end of a root word

Review

What are some examples of “Double R” suffixes?

Review

What are some examples of “Double R” suffixes?

-rrhaphy, -rrhage, -rrhea, -rrhexis

Review

What part of the root word are prefixes added to?

Review

What part of the root word are prefixes added to?

The beginning of the word

Review

Is accuracy important when spelling a medical term?

Review

Is accuracy important when spelling a medical term?

ABSOLUTELY!!!

Review

What are some examples of basic medical terms?

Review

What are some examples of basic medical terms?

Sign, symptom, syndrome, acute, chronic…

Introduction to Medical Terminology: Prefixes

CONCORDE CAREER COLLEGE, PORTLANDST110

Objectives

Identify and define prefixesRecite and apply the rules for combining a

prefix to a root word

Prefixes

Prefixes are attached directly to the beginning of a word Endocardium Dysuria

The meaning of a prefix will not change from word to word A-always means absence of Bi-always means two or double

Prefixes that Express Numbers-

indicate one, two or three or single, half, double

Bi-Hemi-Milli-Mono-Nulli-Primi-

Quadri-Semi-Tetra-Tri-Uni-

Prefixes that Express Measurement-

indicate quantity or excessive or below conditions

Hyper-Hyp-Hypo-Multi-Poly-

Prefixes that Express Position and/or Direction-

describe a locationAb-Ad-Ambi-Ante-Circum-De-Dia-Ecto-

Endo-Epi-Ex-Extra-Hypo-In-Infra-Inter-

Position/Direction Continued

Intra-Juxta-Meso-Para-Peri-Pre-Pro-

Retro-Sub-Supra-Trans-

Prefixes and Combining Forms to Express Color-

colors of reactions, infections, body fluids

Alb-Albin/oChlor/oCirrh/oCyan/oEosin/oErythr/oGlauc/o

Jaund/oLeuk/oMelan/oPoli/oPurpur/oRube-Xanth/o

Prefixes to Express Negatives-

not, without, lack of or against

A-An-Ana-Anti-Contra-

Dis-Im-In-Non-

Introduction to Medical Terminology: Suffixes &

Pleural

CONCORDE CAREER COLLEGE, PORTLANDST110

Objectives

Identify and define suffixes

Recite and apply the rules for combining a suffix to a root word

Recite and apply the rules for changing from singular to plural word forms

Objectives

Demonstrate word-building skills by effectively using accurate written and verbal communication

Identify abbreviations for medical terms

Identify and define medical specialties and specialists by recognizing the basic word components

Objectives

Identify and define medical conditions by recognizing the basic word components

Identify and define diagnostic and surgical procedures and the instruments used by recognizing the basic word components

Suffix Rules

1. When a suffix begins with a consonant, a combining vowel is used with the word root that attaches to the suffix

• Example- abdominopelvic abdomin + o +pelv(ic)

Suffix Rules

1. When a suffix begins with a vowel, the word root attaches directly to the suffix without the aid of a combining vowel

• Example- dorsal dors + al

Suffix Rules

1. When defining a medical term, begin the definition by defining the suffix first

• Example- gastritis

Plural Words-changing from singular to plural

A. Change the –a to –ae • pleura pleurae• vertebra vertebrae• ampulla ampullae

Plural Words

A. Change the –ax to –aces• thorax thoraces

Plural Words

A. Change the –is to –es crisis crises diagnosis diagnoses prognosis prognoses

Plural Words

A. Change –ix, -ex, -yx to –ices• appendix appendices• index indices• coccyx coccices

Plural Words

A. Change the –on to –a• ganglion ganglia• phenomenon phenomena

A. Change the –um to –a• bacterium bacteria• datum data• epithelium epithelia

Plural Words

Plural Words

A. Change the –us to –i• thrombus thrombi• bronchus bronchi• coccus cocci

Plural Words

A. Change the –ma to –mata • stoma stomata• fibroma fibromata• sarcoma sarcomata

Noun Suffixes

These suffixes make a word into a noun (person, place or thing)

-a -ate -e -emia-er -esis -e -ia-iatry -ion -ism -ist-ole -osis -tion -ula-ule -um -us -y

Adjective Suffixes

These describe the word root they are attached to. (The red chair.)

-ac -al -ar -ary-eal -ic -ical -ile-oid -ory -ous -tic

Specialties and Specialists

These are the most common-ician -iatrics-iatry -iatrist-ian -ist-logist -logy

Instruments and Procedures

Performed in a medical office, out-patient or hospital

-centesis -clasis -desis-ectomy -gram -graph-graphy -ize -lysis-meter -metry -pexy-plasty -rrhaphy -scope-scopy -stomy -tomy-tripsy