MEDICAL MEDICAL TERMINOLOGYTERMINOLOGY

The Language of the Health The Language of the Health ProfessionProfession

ORIGIN OF MEDICAL ORIGIN OF MEDICAL TERMSTERMS

75% of medical 75% of medical terms are based terms are based on either Greek or on either Greek or Latin words.Latin words.

WORD ROOTWORD ROOT A root is the A root is the

foundation or foundation or basic meaning of basic meaning of a medical term.a medical term.

Usually indicates Usually indicates a body parta body part

cardi - heartcardi - heart hepat- liverhepat- liver neur - nerveneur - nerve nephr - kidneynephr - kidney cyt- cellcyt- cell

PREFIXPREFIX

endo - withinendo - within peri- around / peri- around /

surroundingsurrounding pro - beforepro - before mega - largemega - large dys- abnormal, dys- abnormal,

painful, difficultpainful, difficult

The prefix is The prefix is used at the used at the beginning of a beginning of a medical term medical term (before the word (before the word root)root)

Prefixes Prefixes describe, describe, modify, or limit modify, or limit the term.the term.

SUFFIXSUFFIX

A suffix is the word A suffix is the word ending that follows ending that follows the word root and the word root and changes its changes its meaning.meaning.

Often indicates the Often indicates the procedure, procedure, condition, condition, disorder, or disorder, or disease.disease.

-itis - -itis - inflammationinflammation

-logy - the study -logy - the study ofof

-ectomy- surgical -ectomy- surgical removalremoval

-scopy- process of -scopy- process of visually visually examiningexamining

Combining FormsCombining Forms

Combining form consists of the word Combining form consists of the word root and a connecting vowel to make root and a connecting vowel to make it easier to pronounce and attach it easier to pronounce and attach another word root or suffix.another word root or suffix.

Combining form for heart is cardi/o Combining form for heart is cardi/o (eg. cardiogram)(eg. cardiogram)

Combining form for nerves is neur/o Combining form for nerves is neur/o (eg. neurology)(eg. neurology)

Basic Rules for the Basic Rules for the Connecting VowelConnecting Vowel

The connecting vowel is not used The connecting vowel is not used when the suffix begins with a when the suffix begins with a vowel. (neuritis)vowel. (neuritis)

The combining vowel is used when The combining vowel is used when the suffix begins with a consonant. the suffix begins with a consonant. (neurology)(neurology)

Decoding Medical TermsDecoding Medical Terms

①① Define the suffixDefine the suffix

②② Define the prefixDefine the prefix

③③ Define the word rootDefine the word root

④④ Combine the definitions to decode the Combine the definitions to decode the medical term or phrasemedical term or phrase

CardiologyCardiology

-logy – suffix -logy – suffix means the study means the study ofof

Cardio - root Cardio - root means heart.means heart.

Cardiology - the Cardiology - the study of the heart.study of the heart.

NephritisNephritis

-itis – suffix means -itis – suffix means inflammationinflammation

Nephr – word root Nephr – word root means kidneymeans kidney

Nephritis means Nephritis means inflammation of inflammation of the kidneythe kidney

Break down and define the Break down and define the following medical terms.following medical terms.

pericarditispericarditis

leukocyteleukocyte

hepatitishepatitis

neuropathyneuropathy

use your use your textbook, pg. textbook, pg. 150 – 151 for 150 – 151 for helphelp

pericarditispericarditis -itis - suffix meaning -itis - suffix meaning

inflammationinflammation

peri – prefix meaning peri – prefix meaning aroundaround

cardi– word root meaning cardi– word root meaning heartheart

Pericarditis means Pericarditis means inflammation around the inflammation around the heartheart

leukocyteleukocyte

leuko- prefix leuko- prefix meaning whitemeaning white

cyte – word root cyte – word root meaning cellmeaning cell

leukocyte means leukocyte means white cellwhite cell

hepatitishepatitis -itis – suffix -itis – suffix

meaning meaning inflammationinflammation

hepat – word root hepat – word root meaning livermeaning liver

hepatitis - means hepatitis - means inflammation of the inflammation of the liverliver

neuropathyneuropathy

-pathy – suffix meaning -pathy – suffix meaning disease conditiondisease condition

neuro – word root meaning neuro – word root meaning nerve(s) nerve(s)

neuropathy means a neuropathy means a disease pertaining to the disease pertaining to the nervesnerves

THE ENDTHE END