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Medical Terms
Medical Terminology
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Overview
Medical terminology is a language in itself. Learning medical terminology can initially
seem like studying a strange new language. Once you understand some of the basic ruls
as to how medical terms are formed using word building, it will become much like piecing together a puzzle.
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Overview Rather than setting out to memorize
thousands of words and phrases, you will analyze medical terms and begin to build a vocabulary or word parts.
Learning the meanings of basic medical word parts will provide important tools and shortcuts for mastering this language of medicine, but the process of mastering medical terminology still requires significant amount of memorization.
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Overview
Most medical terms follow the general rule that there is a word root – fundamental meaning for the word, prefixes and suffixes – modify the meaning of the word root, and sometimes a combining vowel – connect other word parts.
The parts combine to form a complete term that conveys a specific idea.
There are always exceptions to every rule, however.
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The Origins of Our Medical Language
We owe most of the development of early medical language to the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Hippocrates (460 – 370 BC) and other early Greek anatomists dissected cadavers and attempted to treat disease in living humans.
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The Origins of Our Medical Language
They named body structures using terms familiar to them. For example – they thought of the thyroid
gland as shaped like a shield and named it with the Greek word for shield, thyreos.
The eardrum looked to them like a tambourine, and they named it accordingly, with the Greek word tympanon, which is the source for our term tympanic membrane.
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The Origins of Our Medical Language
During the Roman Empire, Latin became the dominant language, and many new anatomy terms used Latin words. For example, the term bowel (intestine) originated
from the Latin botulus, meaning sausage. In ancient times as now, sections of animal intestines
were used as sausage casings.
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The Origins of Our Medical Language
Over subsequent centuries, German, French, and English researchers and physicians tended to dominate medicine in the Western world and gave names based in those languages to new discoveries about the body, diseases, and therapies.
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The Origins of Our Medical Language
For example: The old English drogge gave us the word drug. French terms yielded fontanel (the soft spot in an
infant’s skull), and tourniquet (a band pressed against an artery to stop bleeding).
Trendelenburg position (a position in which the body is placed with the legs/feet higher than the head) is named after the German physician who first used it.
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The Origins of Our Medical Language
The result is a medical language that is 90% Greek and Latin in origin, with influences of several other cultures.
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Medical Terminology
There are three areas you must concentrate on when you learn a new word element or medical term: PronunciationPronunciation SpellingSpelling MeaningMeaning
Each of these are essential to the correct use and understanding of medical terminology.
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Word Roots
Each body system has a set of word roots. For example, many terms used to describe the
cardiovascular system (the heart and blood vessels) derive from the roots cardi- (heart) and angi- (vessel).
Many terms relating to the respiratory system (the lungs and airways) use the roots pneum- (air or lung), pulmon- (lung), or bronch- (airway).
Many words related to the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and nerves) are formed from roots neur- (nerve) or cerebr- (brain).
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Word Roots
Sometimes two or three roots have the same meaning. You will use one root word in some contexts, and
a different root word in other contexts. When there are two or more roots with the same
meaning, they are not interchangeable – certain roots make specific words. Example: Kidney = “ren” (Latin) and “nephr” (Greek).
Why do we have more than one root with the same meaning? Because medical terminology grew in several places
at once.
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Word Roots
Not all roots are associated with a specific body system.
Some roots are used more broadly and can be applied to any body system.
These terms may be used to describe something (adjectives or adverbs) or name something (nouns).
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Common Anatomical Roots
Twelve body systems make up the human body:
1. Integumentary
2. Skeletal
3. Muscular
4. Nervous
5. Endocrine
6. Cardiovascular
7. Lymphatic/Immune
8. Respiratory
9. Digestive
10. Urinary
11. Male Reproductive
12. Female Reproductive
These systems work together to perform all the necessary functions of life.
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Common Anatomical RootsRoot Meaning
Body As A Whole
bi/o Life
cephal/o Head
cervic/o Neck
cyt/o Cell
hist/o; histi/o Tissue
lip/o Fat
path/o Disease
viscer/o Internal organs
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Common Anatomical Roots
Root Meaning
Integumentary System
cil/o; pil/o Hair
derm/o; dermat/o; cutane/o Skin
onych/o; ungu/o Nail
Skeletal System
arthr/o Joint
chondr/o Cartilage
oste/o Bone
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Common Anatomical Roots
Root Meaning
Muscular System
my/o; muscul/o Muscle
tend/o; tendin/o Tendon
Nervous System, Ears, Eyes
cerebr/o; encephal/o Brain
myel/o Spinal cord; Bone marrow
neur/o Nerve
ophthalm/o; ocul/o Eye
ot/o Ear
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Common Anatomical Roots
Root Meaning
Endocrine System
aden/o Gland
adren/o Adrenal gland
pituitar/o Pituitary gland
thyroid/o Thyroid gland
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Common Anatomical Roots
Root Meaning
Cardiovascular System
angi/o; vascul/o; vas/o Vessel
arteri/o Artery
cardi/o Heart
hem/o; hemat/o Blood
ven/o; phleb/o Vein
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Common Anatomical Roots
Root Meaning
Lymphatic and Immune Systems
lymphaden/o Lymph gland; node
lymphangi/o Lymph vessel
splen/o Spleen
tonsill/o Tonsil
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Common Anatomical Roots
Root Meaning
Respiratory System
bronch/o Bronchus
laryng/o Larynx; Voice box
naso; rhin/o Nose
pharyng/o Pharynx; Throat
pneum/o; pneumon/o Lung
thorac/o Chest
tracheo/o Trachea; Windpipe
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Common Anatomical Roots
Root Meaning
Digestive Systemabdomin/o Abdomen
col/o Colon; Large Intestine
enter/o Small Intestine
esophag/o Esophagus
gastr/o Stomach
gloss/o; lingu/o Tongue
hepat/o Liver
or/o; stomat/o Mouth
pharyng/o Pharynx, Throat
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Common Anatomical Roots
Root Meaning
Urinary Systemcyst/o Bladder
ren/o; nephr/o Kidney
ureter/o Ureters
urethr/o Urethra
Male Reproductive Systemorchid/o; test/o Testicle; Testis
prostat/o Prostate
vas/o Vas Deferens
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Common Anatomical Roots
Root Meaning
Female Reproductive System
colp/o; vagin/o Vagina
gynec/o Female
mast/o; mamm/o Breast
oophor/o; ovari/o Ovary
salping/o Fallopian/Uterine Tube
hyster/o Uterus
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Combining Forms
Add a connecting or combining vowel to a root word creates a word part called a combining form.
Connecting forms make medical terms easier to spell and pronounce.
They can also connect a root with another root when more than one root is used to form a term. For example: Musculoskeletal.
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Combining Forms
In addition, a combining vowel may be used to join a word root and a suffix. The most commonly used combining vowel is “o”. The second most common is “i”.
Note that when combining forms are shown in medical terminology lists, there is usually a slash separating the root and the connecting vowel. For example, carcin/o, abdomin/o, cardi/o.
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Combining FormsDescribing Colors
Why learn combining forms about colors? We use them in many areas of medicine.
Dermatologists apply them to skin lesions, cytologists use them to discuss various cell types, and all physicians use them to describe various conditions.
Cyan/o blue cyanosis Erythr/o red erythrocytosis, erythroderma Leuk/o white leukocyte Melan/o black melanocyte Xanth/o yellow xanthochromia
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Suffixes
The language of medicine uses a large number of suffixes (at the end of words). Every medical term must have a suffix.
Many medical terms are formed by adding a suffix to a root or combining form.
Pay particular attention to the spelling of suffixes since changing a single letter may change the meaning. For example, -logy and –logist.
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Suffixes
Two or more suffixes can have the same meaning. For example, suffixes meaning “related to” or
“pertaining to”: -ac (cardiac) -ic (pelvic) -al (caudal) -ose (cellulose) -ar (vascular) -ous (callous) -e (melanocyte) -ry (secretory) -eal (congeal) -tic (arthritic)
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Suffixes
Suffixes indicating a condition or process: -emia (anemia) -ia (insomnia) -ism (aneurism) -itis (phlebitis) -lysis (hemolysis) -oma (sarcoma) -osis (keratosis) -y (ambulatory)
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Suffixes Suffixes indicating form, size, and formation:
-cle = small (auricle) -ole = small (arteriole) -ule = small (pustule) -ula = small (fistula) -megaly = enlargement (hepatomegaly) -penia = abnormal reduction (cytopenia) -form = shape or resembling (vermiform) -asis = formation, presence of (lithiasis) -plasia = formation (achondroplasia) -trophy = development (dystrophy) -poiesis = formation (hematopoiesis)
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Suffixes
Suffixes describing diagnostic procedures (identifying what the problem is): -gram = record (arteriogram) -graph = record, instrument (electrocardiograph) -graphy = process of recording (amniography) -meter = measure or measurement (sphygmometer) -metry = process of measuring (spectrometry) -scope = instrument used for viewing (arthroscope) -scopy = process of viewing with an instrument
(colonoscopy)
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Suffixes
Suffixes indicating therapeutic procedures (curing or treating the problem): -centesis = puncture to withdraw fluid
(abdominocentesis) -desis = stablization or binding (arthrodesis) -iatric = treatment (geriatric) -plasty = repair (angioplasty) -rrhaphy = suturing (hepatorrhaphy) -stomy or –ostomy = creating an artificial opening
(traceostomy) -tomy = cut or incision (keratotomy) -tripsy = crushing (lithotripsy)
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Suffixes
Suffixes beginning with two Rs are referred to as the “Double RRs”. -rrhage / -rrhagia = bleeding, bursting forth,
abnormal or excessive flow -rrhaphy = surgical suturing to close a wound -rrhea = flow or discharge -rrhexis = rupture
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Prefixes
A prefix is a word part that comes before the root or combining form and usually begins the term.
Prefixes often give an indication of direction, location, number of parts, time, or orientation.
Not every medical term will have a prefix. There can be several prefixes associated
with one meaning. A few prefixes have more than one related
meaning.
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Prefixes Prefixes related to
numbers or amounts: uni- = one, single (unilateral) mono- = one
(mononucleosis) bi- = two, both (bilateral) di- = two (diplegia) ambi- = both (ambivalent) tri- = three (trivalent) quadra- = four (quadraplegic) tetra- = four (tetralogy) pan- = all (pandemic) poly- = many (polycythemia)
multi- = many, several (multiphasic)
mega- = large, excessive (megaloblasts)
olig- = few, scant (oliguria) micro- = very small (microtension) hemi- = half (hemisphere) semi- = part of a whole
(semifluent) a- = without (anemia) an- = without (anaerobic) tachy- = fast (tachicardial) brady- = slow (bradicardial)
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Prefixes Prefixes that indicate position/direction:
ad- = toward, near (adhere) ab- = away from (absolve) anti- = against (anticoagulant) contra- = against (contraindicated) circum- = around (circumcision) peri- = around (peritectomy) de- = not, from, down (descending) dia- = across, through (diagonal) trans- = across, through (transverse) dis- = separate, apart (distal) epi- = upon, above (epiglottis) para- = along, beside (parathyroid)
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Prefixes Prefixes that indicate amount or position/direction:
Prefix Meaning: Amount
Example: Meaning:Position/Direction
Example:
hyper- more, excessive hypertensive above hyperflexion
hypo- less, deficient hypoglycemic below hypodermic
infra- less than infrasonic under, below infrared
sub- less than subnormal under, below substernal
meta- change metastasize behind metacarpus
super- excessive, more supernumerary above superimpose
supra- excessive, outside supraliminal beyond suprarenal
ultra- excessive ultramodern beyond ultraviolet
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Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Example:
Time
Example:Position/Direction
per- through permanent percutaneous
post- after postsurgical posterior
pre- before precursor preaxial
re- again, back revive recline
retro- backward, behind retrospective retrobulbular
Prefixes that indicate time or position/direction:
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Prefix + Suffix
Medical terms can also be built by combining a prefix directly with a suffix (without a word root). For example, dystrophy (DIS troh fee), which
means abnormal development, is built from the prefix dys- (meaning abnormal) and the suffix –trophy (meaning development).
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Word Building
Word building consists of putting together several word elements to form a variety of terms.
Remember to break down every word into its components (prefix, word root/combining form, and suffix) when you are learning medical terminology.
Figure out how the word is formed from its components.
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Med Term Tip
To gain a quick understanding of a term, read the term from the end of the world (or the suffix) back to the beginning (the prefix), and then pick up the word root.
For example, pericarditis reads inflammation (-itis) surrounding (peri-) the heart (cardi/o) this gives us the meaning – “inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart”.
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Pronunciation
You will hear different pronunciations for the same terms depending on where people were born or educated.
As long as it is clear which term people are discussing, differing pronunciations are acceptable.
If you have any doubt about the term being discussed, ask for the term to be spelled.
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Pronunciation
In the medical workplace, you will need to pronounce medical terms clearly and correctly so that others understand you precisely.
Be particularly attentive to your pronunciation if you are speaking on the phone, recording a voicemail message, or dictating for someone else to transcribe.
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Pronunciation
Hints: Ch sounds like k.
Chyme, Cholecystectomy, Chronic. Ps sounds like s.
Psychiatric, Psychology, Psoriasis. Pn sounds like n.
Pneumonia, Pneumatic. C sounds like a soft s when it comes before e, i,
and y. Cycle, Cytoplasm, Centrifuge.
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Pronunciation
G sounds like j when it comes before e, i, and y. Giant, Gestation, Generic, Gyration.
I sounds like “eye” when added to the end of a word to form a plural. Glomeruli, Villi, Alveoli, Bacilli.
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Forming Plurals
In medical terminology, plural words can be confusing.
Some plural terms are formed based on Greek and Latin rules, while others are formed using English language rules.
Unfortunately, the rules are not applied consistently. Whenever you are uncertain of the correct plural
form of a term, consult your medical dictionary.
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Forming Plurals
English usually forms plurals by adding s or es to the singular form. The plural of vein is veins.
Latin and Greek words form plurals by adding an ending based on the ending of the singular form.
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Forming Plurals
For example: Singular words ending in a add the letter e to create
the plural form. Stria (singular) = Striae (plural).
Singular words ending in um replace the um with an a to create the plural form. Diverticulum (singular) = Diverticula (plural).
Words ending in nx change the nx to nges in the plurals. Larynx (singular) = Larynges (plural).
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Frequently Used Plural FormsSingular Ending Plural
Apex -ex/-ices Apices
Appendix -ix/ices Appendices
Bacterium -ium/-ia Bacteria
Biopsy -y/-ies Biopsies
Condyloma -a/-ata Condylomata
Diagnosis -is/-es Diagnoses
Fungus -us/-i Fungi
Ganglion -on/-a Ganglia
Thorax -ax/-aces Thoraces
Phalanx -nx/-ges Phalanges
Ovum -um/-a Ova
Vertebra -a/-ae Vertebrae
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Sound-a-likes
The correct spelling of a word can be critical in patient care.
In some instances, two or more words may sound alike but be spelled differently and have different meanings.
The difference in even one letter can make a dramatic difference in meaning.
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Sound-a-likes
For example: Ilium (a pelvic bone) and Ileum (the terminal
portion of the small intestine). Osteal (bony or bonelike) and Ostial (relating to
an ostium, an opening). Viscous (sticky) and Viscus (a hollow,
multilayered, walled organ such as the heart).
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Guessing at Meanings
Even when you are able to guess at the meaning of a term on the basis of word parts that make it up, you must always double check for accuracy, because some terms have more than one meaning. For example:
Lithotomy = surgical incision for the removal of a stone. Lithotomy is also the name of an examination position
in which the patient is lying on the back with the feet and legs raised and supported in stirrups.
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Spelling
Whenever you are uncertain about the spelling of a term, consult a reliable medical dictionary or other reference book.
If you are not sure how to spell a drug name, look it up in the Physicians’ Desk Reference or a similar drug reference book.
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Summary
If you have any doubt about the meaning or spelling of a word, llok it up in your medical dictionary.
Medical personnel who have been practicing in their profession for many years still need to look up a few words.
The student who is just learning medical terminology probably needs to look up words even more frequently.