Common Medical and Surgical Terms,

Prefixes and Suffixes

Dr. Gerrard Dennis Uy

• Patient History • – a written history of an illness that includes all the

facts of medical significance in the life of the patient.

• Chief complaint • - a concise statement describing the symptom,

problem, condition, diagnosis, physician recommended return, or other factor that is the reason for a medical encounter

• Diagnosis• the determination of the nature of a case of a disease

or the distinguishing of one disease from another

• Symptom• any subjective evidence of disease or of a patient's

condition.

• Sign• any objective evidence of a disease, i.e., such evidence

as is perceptible to the examining physician

• Prognosis• prediction of the probable course and outcome of a

disease.

• Differential diagnosis• The process of weighing the probability of one disease

versus that of other diseases possibly accounting for a patient's illness

• Acute• Of or relating to a disease or a condition with a rapid

onset and a short, severe course

• Chronic• Of long duration. Used of a disease of slow progress

and long continuance.

• Acute abdomen– Medical shorthand for the acute onset of

abdominal pain– potential medical emergency– may reflect a major problem with one of the

organs in the abdomen, such as appendicitis(inflamed appendix), cholecystitis (inflamed gallbladder), a perforated ulcer in the intestine, or a ruptured spleen.

• Acute coronary syndromes– spectrum of conditions involving chest discomfort or

other symptoms caused by lack of oxygen to the heart muscle

– most common symptom prompting diagnosis of ACS is chest pain, often radiating of the left arm or angle of the jaw, pressure-like in character, and associated with nausea and sweating

– usually occurs as a result of one of three problems: ST elevation myocardial infarction (30%), non ST elevation myocardial infarction (25%), or unstable angina (38%)

• Adenitis – is a general term for an inflammation of

a gland or lymph node usually caused by bacterial infections

– swelling of lymph nodes due to growth of lymph cells is called lymphadenopathy

– E.g.: cervical adenitis, mesenteric adenitis

• Aetiology (Etiology)– the science that deals with the causes or origin of

disease, the factors which produce or predispose toward a certain disease or disorder

• Alexia– Complete loss of the ability to read– Usually acquired

• Dyslexia– Disturbance in the ability to read– Usually congenital

• Amaurosis Fugax– A symptom described as a shade coming down over

the eye– A partial or complete loss of sight that is temporary– usually related to atherosclerosis in the blood vessels

that supply the brain– can also occur with excessive acceleration, as in flight.

• Analgesia– Inability to feel pain

• Aneurysm – localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, a vein,

or the heart. – The wall of the blood vessel or organ is weakened

and may rupture.

• Angina pectoris – Chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen

to the heart muscle– The pain is typically severe and crushing, and it is

characterized by a feeling of pressure and suffocation just behind the breastbone

– can accompany or be a precursor of a heart attack

• Prinzmetal angina– Chest pain due to a coronary artery spasm, a

sudden constriction of one of the vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood rich in oxygen

– can be triggered by emotional stress, medicines, street drugs (cocaine) or exposure to cold

– Usually treated with beta-blocker medications and nitroglycerin to open up the coronary arteries.

• Angiogram– An X-ray image of blood vessels– The vessels can be seen because a contrast dye

within them blocks the X-rays from developing an imaging film.

• Anisocoria: – condition in which the left and right pupils of the

eyes are not of equal size.

• Ankylosis – Stiffness or, more often, fusion of a joint– from the Greek word ankylsis, meaning stiffening of a

joint• Aphasia – literally, no speech– may also be used to describe defects in spoken

expression or comprehension of speech• Aphonia– Inability to speak.

• Apnea– The absence of breathing (respiration).

• Aspiration – Removal of a sample of fluid and cells through a

needle– also refers to the accidental sucking in of food

particles or fluids into the lungs• Asthenia– Weakness/Lack of strength.

• Atherosclerosis – process of progressive thickening and hardening

of the walls of medium-sized and large arteries as a result of fat deposits on their inner lining

• Avulsion – tearing away– a nerve can be avulsed by an injury, as can part of

a bone.

• Bell's palsy – paralysis of the nerve that supplies the facial muscles on

one side of the face (the seventh cranial nerve, or facial nerve)

– often starts suddenly– cause may be a viral infection– Treatment includes:

• protecting the eye on the affected side from dryness during sleep • Massage of affected muscles can reduce soreness• Sometimes cortisone medication, such as prednisone is given to

reduce inflammation during the first weeks of illness• The outlook is generally good; the vast majority of patients

recover within weeks or months.

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo(BPPV) – is the most common form of vertigo– characterized by the sensation of motion initiated

by sudden head movements or moving the head in a certain direction

– rarely serious and can be treated.

• Blepharitis – Inflammation of the eyelids

• Bruxism– Grinding and gnashing of the teeth– due to clenching of the teeth other than in chewing

and is associated with forceful lateral or protrusive jaw movements.

• Bulla – a blister more than 5 mm in diameter with thin walls

that is full of fluid.

• Cachexia– General physical wasting with loss of weight and muscle

mass due to a disease– also known as marasmus

• Calculus– Stone– Latin word which means “pebble”

• Callus– A localized firm thickening of the upper layer of skin as a

result of repetitive friction. – hard new bone substance that forms in an area of bone

fracture. Bony callus is part of the bone repair process.

• Chorea– Ceaseless rapid complex body movements that look

well coordinated and purposeful but are, in fact, involuntary.

• Claudication– Intermittent claudication, or pain and cramping in the

lower leg is caused by inadequate blood flow to the leg muscles

• Colitis– Inflammation of the colon (large intestine)

• Conjunctivitis– Inflammation of the membrane covering the

surface of the eyeball

• Colitis– Inflammation of the colon (large intestine)

• Cyst– A closed sac or capsule, usually filled with fluid or

semisolid material.

• Decubitus ulcer – A bed sore, a skin ulcer that comes from lying in one

position too long so that the circulation in the skin is compromised by the pressure, particularly over a bony prominence such as the sacrum (sacral decubitus).

• Deep vein thrombosis – A blood clot within a deep vein, typically in the thigh

or leg. – The blood clot (thrombus) can break off as an

embolus and make its way to the lung, where it can cause lung problems

• Diuresis – The increased formation of urine by the kidney

• Dysuria – Pain during urination, or difficulty urinating.

Dysuria is usually caused by inflammation of the urethra, frequently as a result of infection

• Ectopic– In the wrong place, out of place

• Edema– The swelling of soft tissues as a result of excess

fluid accumulation.• Effusion– Too much fluid, an outpouring of fluid

• Emesis– Vomiting.

• Enuresis – Involuntary urination

• Excision – Surgical removal, as in the excision of a tumor

• Exudate – A fluid rich in protein and cellular elements that oozes out

of blood vessels due to inflammation and is deposited in nearby tissues

• Transudate – is a fluid that passes through a membrane which filters out

much of the protein and cellular elements and yields a watery solution

• Fistula – An abnormal passageway in the body– The fistula may go from the body surface into a

blindpouch or into an internal organ or go between two internal organs

• Folliculitis – An infection of the hair follicles of the skin

• Fracture– A break in bone or cartilage

• Gait – A manner of walking

• Glaucoma– common eye condition in which the fluid pressure

inside the eyes rises because of slowed fluid drainage from the eye

• Glossitis– Inflammation of the tongue.

• Goiter– A noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland

• Gout– Condition characterized by abnormally elevated

levels of uric acid in the blood, recurring attacks of joint inflammation (arthritis), deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in and around the joints, and decreased kidney function and kidney stones

• Hematemesis – Bloody vomit

• Hematochezia – Bright red blood in the stool, usually from the lower

gastrointestinal tract -- the colon or rectum -- or from hemorrhoids

• Hematoma– A localized swelling that is filled with blood caused by a break in

the wall of a blood vessel– may be spontaneous, as in the case of an aneurysm, or caused

by trauma– The blood is usually clotted or partially clotted, and it exists

within an organ or in a soft tissue space

• Hematuria – Blood in the urine – may or may not be accompanied by pain, but it is always

abnormal and should be further investigated– Painful hematuria can be caused by a number of disorders,

including infections and stones in the urinary tract– Painless hematuria can also be due to many causes,

including cancer• Hemiparesis – Weakness on one side of the body

• Hemiplegia– Paralysis on one side of the body.

• Hemoptysis– Spitting up blood or blood-tinged sputum from the

respiratory tract– occurs when tiny blood vessels that line the lung

airways are broken

• Hepatoma: – Cancer originating in the liver, in liver cells. – More often called hepatocarcinoma or

hepatocellular carcinoma

• Hernia– A general term referring to a protrusion of a tissue

through the wall of the cavity in which it is normally contained

• Iatrogenic – Due to the activity of a physician or therapy

• Idiopathic– Of unknown cause– Any disease that is of uncertain or unknown origin

may be termed idiopathic

• Ileus– Obstruction of the intestine due to its being paralyzed– The paralysis does not need to be complete to cause

ileus, but the intestine must be so inactive that food cannot pass through it, which leads to blockage of the intestine

• Incision– A cut that is purposely made– When making an incision, a surgeon is making a cut.

• Incontinence– The inability to control excretions, to hold urine in the

bladder, or to keep feces in the rectum• Infarct– An area of tissue death that is due to a local lack of

oxygen• Kyphosis– Outward curvature of the spine, causing a humped

back– Treatment includes physical therapy and wearing a

back brace, and in some cases surgery

• Ligament– A tough band of connective tissue that connects

various structures, such as two bones• Lordosis: – Inward curvature of the spine– The spine is not supposed to be absolutely straight, so

some degree of curvature is normal– When the curve exceeds the usual range, it may be

due to musculoskeletal disease or simply to poor posture

• Macule– A circumscribed change in the color of skin that is

neither raised nor depressed– Macules are completely flat and can only be

appreciated by visual inspection and not by touch

• Malaise– A vague feeling of discomfort, one that cannot be

pinned down but is often sensed as 'just not right.'

• Maneuver, Valsalva – A maneuver in which one tries with force to exhale with

the windpipe closed, impeding the return of venous blood to the heart

• Melena– Stool that is stained black by blood pigment or dark blood

products• Metastasis– The process by which cancer spreads from the place at

which it first arose as a primary tumor to distant locations in the body.

• Muscular dystrophy– One of a group of genetic diseases characterized by

progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal or voluntary muscles which control movement

• Myalgia– Pain in the muscles or within muscle tissue

• Necrosis– The death of living cells or tissues

• Neoplasia– Abnormal new growth of cells

• Neuralgia– Pain along the course of a nerve

• Neuropathic pain– Chronic pain resulting from injury to the nervous

system– The injury can be to the central nervous system (brain

and spinal cord) or the peripheral nervous system (nerves outside the brain and spinal cord).

• Nosocomial– Originating or taking place in a hospital, acquired

in a hospital, especially in reference to an infection

• Nuchal– Referring to the back of the neck (nape)

• Odynophagia: – Pain on swallowing food and fluids, a symptom

often due to disease of the esophagus

• Oliguria– Less urination than normal

• Otalgia– Ear pain; earache

• Palliation– To palliate a disease is to treat it partially and

insofar as possible, but not cure it completely

• Percutaneous– Through the skin

• Phantom limb syndrome– The perception of sensations, often including pain,

in an arm or leg long after the limb has been amputated

• Phlebitis– Inflammation of a vein

• Prophylaxis– The prevention of disease

• Prosthesis– An artificial replacement of a part of the body,

such as a tooth, a facial bone, the palate, or a joint

• Ptosis– Downward displacement

• Purpura– Hemorrhage (bleeding) into the surface of the skin– The area of skin with purpura is greater than 3

millimeters in diameter

• Pustule– A pustule is a small collection of pus in the top layer

of skin (epidermis) or beneath it in the dermis

• Pyuria– Pus in the urine

• Radiculopathy: – Any disease of the spinal nerve roots and spinal

nerves– Radiculopathy is characterized by pain that seems

to radiate from the spine, extending outward to cause symptoms away from the source of the spinal nerve root irritation

– Causes of radiculopathy include deformities of the discs between the vertebrae

• Sciatica– Pain that results from irritation of the sciatic nerve and

typically radiates from the buttock to the back of the thigh – Maybe caused by a herniated disc

• Scoliosis– Lateral (sideways) curving of the spine

• Sepsis– The presence of bacteria (bacteremia), other infectious

organisms, or toxins created by infectious organisms in the bloodstream with spread throughout the body

• Spasm– A brief, automatic jerking movement– A muscle spasm can be quite painful, with the muscle

clenching tightly• Spasticity– A state of increased tone of a muscle (and an increase

in the deep tendon reflexes)• Spondylosis– Degeneration of the disc spaces between the

vertebrae.

• Subluxation– Partial dislocation of a joint

• Syncope– Partial or complete loss of consciousness with

interruption of awareness of oneself and ones surroundings

• Tachypnea– Abnormally fast breathing.

• Tachycardia– A rapid heart rate, usually defined as greater than

100 beats per minute

• Torticollis– The most common of the focal dystonias, a state

of excessive or inadequate muscle tone in the muscles in the neck that control the position of the head.

• Ulcer• A lesion that is eroding away the skin or

mucous membrane

Prefixes

• Dys- ( as in dyspnea, dysphagia, dystonia)• Difficulty in doing something

• Contra- (as in contralateral, contraception)• Against, or opposite of

• Hyper- (as in hypertension, hyperemia)• Over, above, excessive, or above normal

• Hypo- (as in hypoglycemia, hypotonia)• low, under, beneath, down, or below normal

• Hemi- (as in hemiplegia, hemiparesis)• Half

Suffixes• -emia (as in anemia, hyperemia)

• Pertaining to the blood• -algia

• Pain – derived from the greek work Algos• arthralgia (joint pain)• cephalgia (headache)• Fibromyalgia• mastalgia (breast pain)• myalgia (muscle pain)• neuralgia (nerve pain).

• -centesis (as in thoracentesis)• Surgical punture for drainage

• -megaly (as in hepatomegaly)• enlargement

Surgical Prefixes

• angio- : related to blood vessels• arthr- : related to a joint• encephal- : related to the brain• hepat- : related to the liver• lapar- : related to the abdominal cavity• mammo- and masto-: related to the breast• nephro- : related to the kidney• Cranio- : related to the cranium, which is the top

portion of the skull

Surgical Prefixes

• gastro- : related to stomach • colono- : related to large intestine colon • cysto- : related to the bladder• oophor- : related to the ovary• orchid- : related to the testicle• Cholangi- : related to a bile duct

Surgical Suffixes

• -ectomy (as in appendectomy)• Surgical removal of an organ/appendage/lesion

• -otomy (as in episiotomy)• surgical incision

• -ostomy (as in tracheostomy, colostomy)• surgically creating a hole (a new "mouth" or "stoma")

• oscopy (as in endoscopy, colposcopy)• viewing of, normally with a scope

Surgical Suffixes

• -plasty (as in rhinoplasty, arthroplasty)• plasty formation, plastic repair

• -rrhaphy (as in herniorrhaphy)• suturing in place

• For the next meeting, read on Cardinal Manifestations of Disease : PAIN

• Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine 17th edition