1.2 Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology:
A Short Course
PHR-1093
Saturday, January 15th, 2021

Basic Word Structure
Chapter 1
Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Learning Objectives
1. Divide medical terms into their component parts

2. Analyze, pronounce, and spell medical terms using
common combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes
Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 3

Important Word Parts
► Root: The essential meaning of the term

► Suffix: Word ending
► Prefix: Small part added to the beginning of
the term
► Combining Vowel: Connects roots to suffixes
and roots to other roots
► Combining Form: The combination of the
root and the combining vowel

General Rules
► Read the meaning of medical terms from the
suffix back to the beginning of the term and
then across
► Drop the combining vowel before a suffix
beginning with a vowel: gastritis not gastroitis
► Keep the combining vowel word roots:
gastroenterology not gastrenterology

Word Division
Example:
ELECTR/O/CARDI/O/GRAM means record of
electricity in the heart
ELECTR: 🡺root
O: 🡺combining vowel
CARDI:🡺root
O:🡺combining vowel
GRAM:🡺suffix

Word Division (Cont.)
Example:
SUB/GASTR/IC means pertaining to under the
stomach
SUB:🡺prefix (under)
GASTR:🡺root (stomach)
IC:🡺suffix (pertaining to)

Combining Forms
► aden/o gland
► arthr/o joint
► bi/o life
► carcin/o cancer, cancerous
► cardi/o heart

Combining Forms (Cont.)
► cephal/o gland
► cerebr/o cerebrum, largest part of the brain
► cyst/o urinary bladder
► cyt/o cell
► derm/o skin

► dermat/o skin
► electr/o electricity
► encephal/o brain
► enter/o intestines
(often the small
intestines)

► erythr/o red
► gastr/o stomach
► gnos/o knowledge
► gynec/o woman, female
► hem/o blood

► hemat/o blood
► hepat/o liver
► lapar/o abdomen
► leuk/o white
► nephr/o kidney

► neur/o nerve
► onc/o tumor
► ophthalm/o eye
► oste/o bone
► path/o disease

► psych/o mind
► ren/o kidney
► rhin/o nose
► sarc/o flesh
► thromb/o clotting

Suffixes
► - al pertaining to
► - algia pain
► - cyte cell
► - ectomy cutting out; removal, excision

Suffixes (Cont.)
► - emia blood condition

► - globin protein
► - gram record
► - ia condition
► - ic pertaining to

Suffixes (Cont.)
► - ism condition, process

► - itis inflammation
► - logist specialist in the study of
► - logy study of

Suffixes (Cont.)
► - oma tumor, mass

► - opsy process of viewing
► - osis abnormal condition
► - scope instrument to visually examine

Suffixes (Cont.)
► - scopy process of visual examination

► - sis state of
► - tomy process of cutting into (incision)

Prefixes
► a-, an- no, not

► aut- self
► dia- complete, through
► dys- bad, painful, difficult, abnormal
► endo- within

Prefixes (Cont.)
► exo- outside
► hyper- excessive, more than normal, too
much
► hypo- below, less than normal, under
► peri- surrounding

Prefixes (Cont.)
► pro- before, forward

► re- back
► retro- behind
► sub- below, under
► trans- across, through

Medical Scramble
1. Pertaining to the heart

DACCIRA
2. Nerve pain
UGARENLAI
3. Deficiency of hemoglobin causes this

condition
IMEANA

Medical Scramble (Cont.)
4. Study of cells
GLYCOTOY
5. Infants are often born in this position…

head first!
PCLAHIEC
6. Inflammation of a gland
NIDIEAST

⬤Bonus Term: Malignant diagnosis

CRNMOACIA

Questions?
Organization of the Body
Chapter 2

Learning Objectives
1. Name the body systems and their functions.

2. Identify body cavities and specific organs within them.
3. List the divisions of the back.
4. Identify three planes of the body.
5. Analyze, pronounce, and spell new terms related to organs
and tissues in the body.

Organization of the Body
► Cells
► Individual units found in all parts of the human body
► Tissues
► Similar cells grouped together to do a specific job
► Organs
► Structures composed of several kinds of tissue
► Systems
► Groups of organs working together to perform
complex functions

Body Systems

Body Cavities and Organs
► Cranial
► Thoracic
► Abdominal
► Pelvic
► Spinal

Divisions of the Spinal Column
► Cervical (neck) region

► Thoracic (chest) region
► Lumbar (loin or waist) region
► Sacral (sacrum or lower back) region
► Coccygeal (coccyx or tailbone) region

Planes of the Body

Combining Forms
► abdomin/o abdomen
► anter/o front
► bronch/o bronchial tubes
► cervic/o neck of the body or neck
(cervix) of the uterus

► chondr/o cartilage
► coccyg/o coccyx, tailbone
► crani/o skull
► epitheli/o skin, surface tissue
► esophag/o esophagus

► hepat/o liver
► lapar/o abdomen
► laryng/o larynx (voice box)
► later/o side
► lumb/o loin or waist

► lymph/o lymph (clear fluid in tissue

spaces and lymph vessels)
► mediastin/o mediastinum (space between the
lungs)

► pelv/o pelvis (bones of the hip)

► peritone/o peritoneum (membranes
surrounding the abdomen)
► pharyng/o pharynx (throat)

► pleur/o pleura
► poster/o back, behind
► sacr/o sacrum (five fused bones in
the lower back)
► spin/o spine (backbone)

► thorac/o chest
► trache/o trachea (windpipe)
► vertebr/o vertebra (backbone)

Medical Scramble
1. Female endocrine organ

ROAVY
2. Space below the diaphragm
EBMAOND
3. Pertaining to the chest
HCIRAOCT

4. Hip region
LEPVSI
5. Throat
RPYXNAH
6. Windpipe
ACETHRA

Bonus Term: A procedure necessary for brain surgery

RMOCOIYNTA

Suffixes
Chapter 3

Learning Objectives
1. To identify and define useful diagnostic and procedural

suffixes.
2. To analyze, spell, and pronounce medical terms that
contain diagnostic and procedural suffixes.
3. To apply medical terms in real-life situations.

Suffixes
► Suffixes are divided into two groups:

►Diagnostic suffixes describe disease conditions or
their symptoms
►Procedural suffixes describe procedures used in
patient care

Diagnostic Suffixes
-algia condition of pain, pain

-emia Blood condition
-ia Condition

Diagnostic Suffixes (Cont.)
-itis Inflammation
-megaly Enlargement
-oma Tumor, mass

-osis Condition, abnormal condition

-pathy Disease condition

-rrhea Flow, discharge

-rrhage or Excessive discharge of blood
-rrhagia

-sclerosis Hardening
-uria Condition of urine

Diagnostic Suffixes
—Adjective Suffixes
► Each of these means “pertaining to”
►-al or -eal
►-ar
►-ary
►-ic

Procedural Suffixes
-centesis Surgical puncture to remove fluid

-ectomy Removal, resection, excision

Procedural Suffixes (Cont.)
-gram Record
-graphy Process of recording

-lysis Separation, breakdown, destruction

-plasty Surgical repair or surgical correction

-scopy Process of visual examination

-stomy Opening

-therapy Treatment
-tomy Incision, to cut into

Medical Scramble
1. Suffix meaning enlargement

GAYMLE
2. Suffix meaning separation, breakdown
SYSIL
3. Holding back blood from an area of the body
HASEIMIC

4. Ear pain
TAILOGA
5. Benign tumor of muscle
YMOAM
6. Sharp, sudden, severe
TUECA

Bonus Term: Tumor of bone marrow

(Hint: It affects MULTIPLE areas of bone marrow tissue)
YLMOAME

Chapter 4
Prefixes

Learning Objectives
1. Identify and define common prefixes used in medical terms.

2. Analyze, spell, and pronounce medical terms that contain
prefixes.

Prefixes
a-, an- no, not, without

ab-away from
ad-toward, near
ana- up, apart
ante- before, forward

Prefixes (Cont.)
anti- against
bi- two, both
brady- slow
con- with, together

Prefixes (Cont.)
dia- complete, through

dys- bad, painful, difficult,
abnormal

Prefixes (Cont.)
ec-out, outside
endo- within, in, inner
epi- above, upon
ex-out
extra- outside of

Prefixes (Cont.)
hemi- half
hyper- excessive, too much, above
hypo- deficient, too little, below

Prefixes (Cont.)
in- in, into

inter- between
intra- within
mal- bad
meta- change, beyond

Prefixes (Cont.)
neo- new
para- beside, near, along the side of
peri- surrounding
poly- many, much

Prefixes (Cont.)
post- after, behind

pre- before
pro- before, forward
pros- before, forward

Prefixes (Cont.)
quadri- four
re- back, behind
retro- back, behind
sub- under, less than
syn- with, together

Prefixes (Cont.)
tachy-fast
trans- across, through
tri-three
ultra- beyond
uni- one

Additional Medical Terms
► Adrenal Glands: Endocrine glands located above each kidney

► Antibiotic: Destroys or inhibits the growth of microorganisms
such as bacteria
► Antigen: Foreign substance, such as bacteria and viruses

Additional Medical Terms (Cont.)
► Bradycardia: Slow heartbeat

► Congenital Anomaly: An irregularity in a structure or
organ that an infant is born with
► Dialysis: Removing harmful waste products from the body
with an artificial kidney machine (dialysis machine)

► Ectopic Pregnancy: An abnormal pregnancy when the embryo

implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes, but
sometimes on an ovary or in the abdominal cavity
► Parathyroid Glands: Four endocrine glands located on the dorsal side
of the thyroid gland that function separately from the thyroid gland
► Prolapse: To fall or slide forward, often used to describe an organ,
such as a prolapsed uterus

► Retroperitoneal: Pertaining to behind the peritoneum;

the kidneys and adrenal glands are retroperitoneal organs
► Syndrome: A group of signs or symptoms that commonly
occur together and indicate a particular disease or
abnormal condition
► Subcutaneous: Lower layer of the skin composed of fatty
tissue

► Tachycardia: Condition of fast, rapid heartbeat

► Transurethral: When an instrument passes through the
urethra
► Ultrasonography: A diagnostic technique using ultrasound
waves to produce an image or photograph of an organ or
tissue

Medical Scramble
1. Harmless, not cancerous

INGBNE
2. Painful urination
SYRADIU
3. Pertaining to a newborn
LEOATNAN

4. SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)

NEAAP
5. Organs shrink in size
PYARTOH

Bonus Term: Foreign protein that causes an immune response

(HINT: This protein is often part of bacteria and viruses and
evokes production of antibodies.)
GIENNAT

Chapter 5
Medical Specialists and Case Reports

Learning Objectives
1. Describe the training process of physicians.

2. Identify medical specialists and describe their specialties.
3. Identify combining forms used in terms that describe
specialists.
4. Decipher medical terminology as written in case reports.

Residency Programs
Residency Definition
► Anesthesiology Administration of agents
capable of bring about a
loss of sensation
► Dermatology Diagnosis and treatment of

skin orders
► Emergency Care of patients requires

Medicine sudden and immediate
action
Residency Programs (Cont.)
Definition
Residency Programs
► Family Practice Primary care of all members

of the family on a continuing
basis
► Internal medicine Diagnosis and treatment of

usually complex nonsurgical
disorders in adults
► Ophthalmology Diagnosis and treatment of

eye disorders
► Pathology Diagnosis of the cause and
nature of disease
84

Residency Programs (Cont.)
Residency Programs Definition
► Pediatrics Diagnosis and treatment of

children’s disorders
► Psychiatry Diagnosis and treatment of

disorders of the mind
► Radiology Diagnosis using x-ray studies
► Surgery Treatment by manual

(SURG) means hand or
operative methods

Medical Specialties Defined
Specialist Description
► Allergist Treats hypersensitivity
reactions
► Cardiologist Treats heart disease

► Geriatrician Treats diseases of old age
Diagnoses and treats

► Oncologist malignant and benign tumors

Medical Specialties Defined
(Cont.)
Specialist Description
► Pathologist Diagnoses disease by analysis of
cells
► Radiation oncologist Treats disease with high-energy

radiation
► Urologist Treats and performs surgery on

the urinary tract and male
reproductive system

Combining Forms
► cardi/o heart
► col/o colon, large intestine
► dermat/o skin
► endocrin/o endocrine glands
► enter/o intestines

► esthesi/o sensation
► gastr/o stomach
► ger/o old age
► gynec/o woman, female
► hemat/o blood

► iatr/o treatment
► laryng/o voice box
► lymph/o lymph
► nephr/o kidney
► neur/o nerve

► nos/o disease
► obstetr/o midwife
► odont/o tooth
► onc/o tumor
► ophthalm/o eye

► opt/o eye
► optic/o eye
► orth/ostraight
► ot/o ear
► path/o disease

► ped/o child
► psych/o mind
► pulmon/olung
► radi/o x-rays
► rect/o rectum

► rheumat/o flow, fluid

► rhin/o nose
► thorac/o chest
► ur/o urinary tract
► vascul/o blood vessels

Medical Terms per Specialty
Cardiology Gynecology
angina dysmenorrhea
anticoagulant hysterectomy
diuretic leiomyomas
hypertension menorrhagia
ischemia sonogram
antiarrhythmic fibroids

Medical Terms per Specialty
(Cont.)
Orthopedics Radiology
callus anterior
femur infiltrate
fibula lateral
fixation mediastinal
fracture posterior

Medical Scramble
1. Medical specialty treating pregnant women

STBSCORIET
2. Inflammation of the ear
TIOSIT

3. Branch of medicine that uses operative methods

GYSRUER
4. Pertaining to tumors
CGNEOINCO
5. Pertaining to treating children
TIEPRDCIA

6. Study of disease
LAPGOHYTO
7. New opening of the colon to the outside of the body
OLMYSOCOT

Bonus Term: Abnormal condition of the mind

SCOSYIPHS

Questions?
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What are the main components used to analyze medical terms?

What are the main components used to analyze medical terms?

What are some examples of combining forms provided in the text?

What are some examples of combining forms provided in the text?

Medical Terminology:

Saturday, January 15th, 2021

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

1. Divide medical terms into their component parts

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 3

► Root: The essential meaning of the term

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 4

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 5

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 6

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 7

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 8

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 9

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 10

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 11

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 12

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 13

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 14

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 15

► - emia blood condition

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 16

► - ism condition, process

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 17

► - oma tumor, mass

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 18

► - scopy process of visual examination

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 19

► a-, an- no, not

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 20

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 21

► pro- before, forward

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 22

1. Pertaining to the heart

3. Deficiency of hemoglobin causes this

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 23

5. Infants are often born in this position…

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 24

⬤Bonus Term: Malignant diagnosis

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 25

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

1. Name the body systems and their functions.

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 28

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 29

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 30

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 31

► Cervical (neck) region

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 32

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 33

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 34

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 35

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 36

► lymph/o lymph (clear fluid in tissue

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 37

► pelv/o pelvis (bones of the hip)

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 38

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 39

Copyright © 2018 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 40