Outcome 2.3 Medical Terminology — Building, Interpreting, and Communicating Clinical Language

Word root

The core meaning of the term, often a body part or system (e.g., cardi = heart).

Combining form

A word root plus a combining vowel, written with a slash (e.g., cardi/o).

Prefix

Added to the beginning of a term to modify its meaning (e.g., tachy- = fast).

Suffix

Added to the end of a term to indicate a condition, procedure, or specialty (e.g., -itis = inflammation).

Combining vowel

A vowel used to link word parts, often 'o', but can also be 'i', 'a', 'e', or 'u'.

-itis

Suffix meaning inflammation (e.g., tonsillitis, inflammation of tonsils).

-algia

Suffix meaning pain (e.g., neuralgia, nerve pain).

-emia

Suffix meaning blood condition (e.g., anemia, low blood condition).

-oscopy

Suffix meaning visual examination (e.g., colonoscopy, visual exam of colon).

-ectomy

Suffix meaning surgical removal (e.g., appendectomy, removal of appendix).

-otomy

Suffix meaning incision/cutting into (e.g., tracheotomy, incision into the trachea).

hyper-

Prefix meaning above normal, excessive (e.g., hypertension, high blood pressure).

hypo-

Prefix meaning below normal, deficient (e.g., hypoglycemia, low blood sugar).

dys-

Prefix meaning abnormal, difficult, painful (e.g., dyspnea, difficulty breathing).

sub-

Prefix meaning under, below (e.g., subcutaneous, under the skin).

-logy

Suffix meaning study of (e.g., cardiology, study of the heart).

-logist

Suffix meaning specialist (e.g., dermatologist, skin specialist).

singular ending -a

Plural ending changes to -ae (e.g., vertebra → vertebrae).

singular ending -us

Plural ending changes to -i (e.g., bronchus → bronchi).

diagnosis

Singular term referring to the identification of a disease (diagnoses is the plural form).

symptom

Subjective experience reported by the patient (e.g., pain, nausea).

sign

Objective finding observed or measured by a clinician (e.g., fever, rash).

NPO

Abbreviation meaning nothing by mouth (used for pre-procedure instructions).

CBC

Abbreviation for complete blood count, a common laboratory test.

Rx

Abbreviation for prescription or therapy, depending on context.

-centesis

Suffix meaning puncture to remove fluid (e.g., amniocentesis).

dysphagia

Term meaning difficulty swallowing.

PRN

Abbreviation meaning 'as needed' in medical instructions.