Chapter 1: Introduction to Medical Terminology & Word Parts

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering medical term word components, classification rules, pronunciation symbols, prefixes, word roots, suffixes, and analyzed term definitions.

Prefix

A word part located at the beginning of a medical term that modifies or alters the meaning of the word root by describing number, position, direction, time, or negation.

Word Root

The foundational meaning and essential core of a medical term that refers to a body part or body system.

Suffix

A word part located at the end of a medical term that changes its meaning, typically indicating a procedure, condition, or disease.

Combining Vowel

A vowel (usually the letter "o") used to connect word parts together to ease pronunciation.

Combining Form

A word component formed by joining a word root with a combining vowel (e.g., hepat/o).

Eponym

A non-component medical term, condition, procedure, or disease named after a person (e.g., Parkinson's disease).

Acronym

A non-component medical term formed from initial letters and pronounced as a single word (e.g., AIDS, MRSA).

Initialism

A non-component term formed from initial letters where each letter is pronounced individually (e.g., UTI).

Modern Language Terms

Non-component medical terms derived from modern spoken English (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder).

Anatomical Terms

A functional category of medical terms referring to body structure, direction, or movement (e.g., medial).

Disease & Disorder Terms

A functional category of medical terms referring to structural or functional deviations with signs and symptoms (e.g., bronchopneumonia).

Diagnostic/Procedural Terms

A functional category of medical terms referring to processes used to identify a condition or injury (e.g., transrectal ultrasound).

Therapeutic Terms

A functional category of medical terms referring to treating or curing a disease (e.g., nebulizer).

Decoding Sequence

The standard rule for defining a medical term: start with the suffix first, then move to the beginning of the term.

3-Step Breakdown Method

A method to decode medical terms: 1) Analyze (insert slashes and label components), 2) Define (state isolated component meanings), and 3) Build Definition (assemble from suffix to start).

Combining Vowel Rule: WR + Suffix (Consonant)

Use a combining vowel when connecting a word root to a suffix that begins with a consonant (e.g., arthr/o/pathy).

Combining Vowel Rule: WR + Suffix (Vowel)

Do NOT use a combining vowel when connecting a word root to a suffix that begins with a vowel (e.g., hepat/ic).

Combining Vowel Rule: WR + WR

ALWAYS use a combining vowel when connecting two word roots, even if vowels exist at the junction (e.g., oste/o/arthr/itis).

Combining Vowel Rule: Prefix + WR

NEVER use a combining vowel between a prefix and a word root (e.g., sub/hepat/ic).

Macron

A straight line symbol placed above a vowel indicating a long or strong vowel sound (e.g., prō-rāt).

Breve

A u-shaped mark placed above a vowel indicating a short vowel sound (e.g., měd-i-cǎl).

Capital Letters in Pronunciation

Capital letters used in pronunciation guides to signal primary emphasis during spoken pronunciation (e.g., di-BRED).

a-, an-

Prefix meaning absence of, without, or not.

ab-

Prefix meaning away from or take away.

ad-

Prefix meaning towards, or to near.

anti-

Prefix meaning opposing or against.

brady-

Prefix meaning slow.

dys-

Prefix meaning bad, painful, or difficult.

hyper-

Prefix meaning active, excessive, or beyond.

hypo-

Prefix meaning below, beneath, or deficient.

intra-

Prefix meaning within.

peri-

Prefix meaning around.

poly-

Prefix meaning many or excessive.

sub-

Prefix meaning under.

tachy-

Prefix meaning rapid or fast.

Arthr/o

Combining form meaning joint.

Cardi/o

Combining form meaning heart.

Encephal/o

Combining form meaning brain.

Gastr/o

Combining form meaning stomach.

Hemat/o, hem/o

Combining forms meaning blood.

Hepat/o

Combining form meaning liver.

Lith/o

Combining form meaning stone.

My/o

Combining form meaning muscle.

Nephr/o

Combining form meaning kidney.

Neur/o

Combining form meaning nerve.

Oste/o

Combining form meaning bone.

Ot/o

Combining form meaning ear.

Path/o

Combining form meaning disease.

Pneum/o

Combining form meaning lungs.

Rhin/o

Combining form meaning nose.

-ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -eal, -ic, -ior, -ous

Suffixes meaning pertaining to.

-algia, -dynia

Suffixes meaning pain.

-centesis

Suffix meaning surgical withdrawal of fluid.

-cyte

Suffix meaning cell.

-ectomy

Suffix meaning surgical removal or excision.

-itis

Suffix meaning inflammation.

-logy

Suffix meaning study of.

-megaly

Suffix meaning enlargement.

-opathy, -pathy

Suffixes meaning disease or abnormality.

-plasty

Suffix meaning surgical reconstruction or repair.

-rrhea

Suffix meaning discharge.

-scopy

Suffix meaning process of visual examination.

-stomy

Suffix meaning artificial surgical opening.

-tomy

Suffix meaning process of incision, or cutting into.

Gastropathy

Disease of the stomach.

Osteocyte

Bone cell.

Otitis

Inflammation of the ear.

Hepatomegaly

Enlargement of the liver.

Rhinoplasty

Surgical repair of the nose.

Osteoarthropathy

Disease of the bone and joint.

Osteoarthritis

Inflammation of bone and joint.

Intravenous

Pertaining to within a vein.