MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY EXAM 4 (Prefixes, Combining Form, and Suffixes)

hypo-

below, under, deficient

hyper-

above, excessive

pan-

all, total

para-

around, beside, beyond, abnormal

syn-

joined, together

acr/o

extremities, height

aden/o

gland

adren/o

adrenal glands 2

adrenal/o

adrenal glands

calc/i

calcium

cortic/o

cortex, outer layer of a body organ

dips/o

thirst

glyc/o

sugar

endocrin/o

endocrine

kal/i

potassium

natr/o

sodium

parathyroid/o

parathyroid gland

pituitar/o

pituitary gland

thyr/o

thyroid gland

thyroid/o

thyroid gland

-al

pertaining to

-drome

run, running together

-ectomy

excision, cut out

-emia

in the blood

-ia

conditon of, abnormal state, diseased state

-ism

state of

-itis

inflammation

-logist

specialist or physician who studies and treats

-logy

study of

-megaly

enlarged, enlargement

-oid

resembling

-oma

tumor

-pathy

disease

-plasia

condition of, formation, development, growth

-tomy

incision, cut into

Acromegaly

a rare disorder caused when abnormally high levels of GH trigger the growth of bones, cartilage, and body tissues.

Addison’s Disease

a rare disorder that causes low blood glucose levels and low blood sodium levels.

Cushing’s Syndrome

characterized by high blood glucose levels and the accumulation of lipid deposits on the face and neck.

Gigantism

a disorder in children caused when abnormally high levels of GH prompt excessive growth in the body.

Hirsutism

a symptom of excessive production of androgens, causing hair growth in women where they typically do not have hair growth.

Hyperthyroidism

a condition marked by excessively high levels of thyroid hormones.

Hypothyroidism

a condition marked by low levels of thyroid hormones.

Graves’ Disease

a disorder of the thyroid gland, resulting in hyperthyroidism.

Diabetes Insipidus

a condition caused by a lack of or hyposecretion of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

Diabetes (Mellitus)

a condition marked by a disorder of the pancreas, resulting in high levels of glucose in the blood.

Type 1 diabetes

occurs when the body mounts an autoimmune response against the pancreas cells that produce insulin.

Type 2 diabetes

occurs when the body does not utilize the insulin the body produces, causing unstable blood sugar levels.

Gestational diabetes

occurs in pregnant women who do not have a history of diabetes.

thyroid specialist

an endocrinologist whose sub-specialty is focused on the treatment and disorders of the thyroid gland such as hypothyroidism (too low secretion) and hyperthyroidism (too high secretion).

diabetes specialist

an endocrinologist whose sub-specialty is focused on the treatment of diabetic conditions.

Thyroid Scan

a procedure used to check the size, shape, and position of the thyroid.

Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test

a procedure used to check the function of the thyroid.

Blood Serum Testing

are used to determine the concentration and presence of various endocrine hormones in the blood, including TSH, T₄, and T_3.

Endocrine Surgical Procedures

Most of the surgeries and procedures performed with the endocrine system involve the removal of a gland or an incision into the gland. Hormone replacement treatment is required afterwards.

Adenosis

A disease or abnormal change in a gland.

Adrenalectomy

Excision of one or both adrenal glands.

Autocrine

A chemical that elicits a response in the same cell that secreted it.

Endocrine gland

A ductless gland that releases secretions directly into surrounding tissues and fluids.

Endocrine system

Cells, tissues, and organs that secrete hormones as a primary or secondary function and play an integral role in normal bodily processes.

Endocrinologist

A doctor who has special training in diagnosing and treating disorders of the endocrine system.

Endocrinology

A specialty in the field of medicine that focuses on the treatment of endocrine system disorders.

Epinephrine

A hormone that causes the breakdown of glycogen into glucose; also known as adrenaline.

Exocrine system

Cells, tissues, and organs that secrete substances directly to target tissues via glandular ducts.

Glycemia

Sugar in the blood.

Histamine

A vasodilator involved in the inflammatory response.

Hormone

Secretion of an endocrine organ that travels via the bloodstream or lymphatics to induce a response in target cells or tissues in another part of the body.

Hypercalcemia

Excessive calcium in the blood.

Hyperglycemia

Abnormally high blood glucose levels.

Hyperkalemia

Higher-than-normal blood potassium levels.

Hypocalcemia

Abnormally low blood levels of calcium.

Hypoglycemia

Low blood glucose levels.

Hypokalemia

Abnormally decreased blood levels of potassium.

Hyponatremia

Lower-than-normal levels of sodium in the blood.

Hypopituitarism

State of deficient pituitary gland activity.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that are made by nerve cells and used to communicate with other cells, including other nerve cells and muscle cells.

Norepinephrine

A chemical in the body that can act as a neurotransmitter and a hormone.

Panhypopituitarism

A rare condition in which the pituitary gland stops making most or all hormones.

Paracrine

Cellular signaling in which a factor secreted by a cell affects other cells in the local environment.

Parathyroidectomy

Surgery to remove one or more parathyroid glands.

Permeability

Property of membranes and other structures to permit passage of light, heat, gases, liquids, metabolites, and mineral ions.

Polydipsia

Condition of excessive thirst.

Proliferation

The multiplication or increase in number.

Syndrome

A set of symptoms or conditions that occur together and suggest the presence of a certain disease or an increased chance of developing the disease.

Synthesis

A chemical reaction that results in the synthesis (joining) of components that were formerly separate.

Thyroidectomy

Excision of all or part of the thyroid gland.

Thyroiditis

Inflammation of the thyroid gland.

Endocrine glands ...

secrete chemical messengers that travel in the bloodstream

Chemical signaling that affects neighboring cells is called

paracrine

Graves disease is ...

a condition marked by a disorder of the thyroid gland, resulting in hyperthyroidism.

In the endocrine system ...

hormones are secreted into the extracellular fluid

a-

absence of, without

an-

absence of, without 2

dia-

through, complete

dys-

painful, abnormal, difficult, labored

poly-

many, much

albumin/o

albumin

azot/o

urea, nitrogen

blast/o

developing cell, germ cell

cyst/o

bladder, sac

glomerul/o

glomerulus