Health Science 1 - Unit 6: Intro to Med Term

What parts are medical terms divided into?

word root, suffix, and prefix

Where should you double check the meaning of a word?

a medical dictionary

what does a root word usually indicate

a body part

seb

Sebaceous glands

Cutane, dermat, derm

Skin

Hidr

Sweat glands

Pil

hair

Oste, oss, ost

bones

Chondr

Cartilage

Arthr

joints

Myel

bone marrow

Fasci

Fascia

My

muscles

Ten, Tend, Tendin

Tendons

Encephal

brain

Acoust, Ot

ears

Ocul, Ophtalm

eyes

Neur

nerves

Myel

Spinal Cord

Arteri

Arteries

Hem, Hemat

blood

Card, Cardi

heart

Phleb, Ven

veins

Capill

Capillaries

Splen

Spleen

Lymph

Lymph

Thym

Thymus

Tonsil

Tonsils

Laryng

Larynx

Pneum, Pneumon

lungs

Nas

nose

Pharyng

Pharynx

Trache

Trachea

Sinus

Sinuses

Esophag

Esophagus

Col

Large Intestine

Hepat

liver

Or

mouth

Pancrat

Pancreas

Enter

small intestine

Gastr

Stomach

Nephr, Ren

Kidneys

Ureter

Ureters

Urethra

Urethra

Cyst, Vesic

Urinary Bladder

Adren

Adrenals

Gonad

Gonads

Parathyroid

Parathyroid Glands

Pineal

Pineal

Pituit

Pituitary

Thyroid

Thyroid

Orch, Orchid,
Test, Testicul

Testicles

Oophor, Ovari

Ovaries

Hyster, Metr,
Metri, Uter

Uterus

What is a suffix? What does it usually indicate?

A suffix is added to the end of a word root to complete the term. It often describes what is happening to a word root. They often indicate a procedure, condition, disorder, or disease.

What is the rule for word roots, suffixes, and prefixes when combining word parts

A word root cannot stand alone; a suffix is always required. But not all medical terms have prefixes

What is a combining vowel? What is the most common one?

A combining vowels are vowels that are added between word parts to make the term easier to pronounce.

The most common one is O.

What are the rules for using a combining vowel?

Use a combining vowel when the suffix begins with a consonant or anytime two or more word roots are joined. Do not use a combining vowel when the suffix begins with a vowel or between a prefix and a word root.

What are the steps to decoding a medial term

First define the suffix, then define the prefix, finally define the word roots or combining forms

\-al

Pertaining to

\-ase

Enzyme

\-blast

Budding

\-centesis

Surgical Puncture

\-cidal

Causing Death

\-clast

Broken

\-crit

To Separate

\-cyte

cell

\-ectomy

Excision or Surgical Removal

\-emia

Blood Condition

\-emesis

Vomiting

\-gen, -genesis,
\-genic

Producing

\-glia

Glue

\-gram

Something Written

\-ia

Condition of, Diseased or Abnormal State

\-iac, -ic, -ior

Pertaining to

\-ism

State of

\-itia, -itis

Inflammation

\-logy

study of

\-lyte

Dissolvable

\-lytic

Destroy; Reduce

\-mania

Madness or Insane Desire

\-megaly

Enlargement

\-meter

Instrument Used to Measure

\-odia

Smell

\-ologist

One who Studies and Practices

\-oma

Tumor or Swelling

\-opia

Vision

\-opsy

to view

\-orrhea

Flow, Excessive Discharge

\-orrhexis

Rupture

\-osis

Abnormal Increase in Production

\-ostomy

Creation of an Artificial Opening

\-otomy

Cutting

\-oxia

Oxygen

\-pathy

Disease

\-sclerosis

Hardening

\-scope

Instrument Used for Visual Examination

\-scopy

Visual Examination

\-sepsis

Infection

\-spasm

Sudden Involuntary Muscle Contraction