Medical Terminology - Introduction

Vocabulary flashcards covering medical terms, word parts, prefixes, and root words based on the lecture notes.

Medical Terminology

A special vocabulary based mainly on Greek and Latin words used by healthcare professionals for effective and accurate communication.

( consistent and uniform throughout the world ) ( vast and is always expanding. )

Prefix

The beginning part of a word that usually helps figure out size, color, shape, location, direction, and amount.

Root

The middle part of a word that usually helps determine which part of the body it relates to.

Suffix

The ending part of a word that can help describe size, shape, or color, and indicates what the problem actually is.

Combining Vowel

A vowel added between a root and a suffix or another root beginning with a consonant to aid in pronunciation. Neur + o + logy

AN-, A-

Prefix meaning without or lack of

anemia

lack of red blood cells

AB-

Prefix meaning away from

abnormal

away from the normal

AD-

Prefix meaning near or toward

adrenal gland

gland near to the kidney

BI-

Prefix meaning two or both

bilateral Wilm's

tumor in both kidneys

DYS-

Prefix meaning difficult or painful

dysfunction

not working properly

ECTO-

outside

ectopic pregnancy

outside the uterine cavity

ENDO-

inside or within

endoscope

an instrument to look inside the body cavities or organs

EPI-

upon

epidermis

the outer layer of skin

HYPER-

excessive, above, fast, elevated, overproducing, or high energy

hyperglycaemia

excessive blood sugar levels

HYPO-

beneath, below, slow, low, under-producing, or low energy

hypodermic

injection below the skin

INTER-

between, together, or during

intercostal

between the ribs

INTRA-

within or inside

intravenous

into a vein

PARA-

beside, about, or near

parathyroid

beside the thyroid gland

PERI-

around, about, or surround

pericardium

membrane around the heart

PRE-

before

prenatal

before birth

POST-

after

post surgical stage

stage after surgery

SUB-

under or below

submucosa

tissue below mucus membrane

SYN-

together with

syndrome

group of symptoms occurring together

Macro-

large .

Micro-

small size.

Megalo- or Megaly-

abnormally large size.

Tachy-

rapid.

Brady-

slow.

Extra-

Prefix meaning outside, excess, or beyond.

Trans-

Prefix meaning across, beyond, or through.

BLAST-

Root word meaning germ or immature cell (e.g., blastoma = a cancer made of immature cells).

CARCINO-

Root word meaning cancer (e.g., carcinogenic = cancer causing).

CARDIO-

Root word meaning heart (e.g., cardiotoxicity = toxicity to the heart).

CYTO-

Root word meaning cell (e.g., cytotoxic = toxic to the cell).

DERMA- / Derm

Root word meaning skin (e.g., dermatitis = inflammation of the skin).

HISTIO-

Root word meaning tissue (e.g., histology = study of tissue).

HEPATI- / Hepato

Root word meaning liver (e.g., hepatoblastoma = liver cancer).

MALIGN-

Root word meaning bad (e.g., harmful malignant = growing, spreading).

NEPHRO- / Neph

Root word meaning kidney (e.g., nephrotoxic = harmful to the kidneys).

NEURO-

Root word meaning nerves (e.g., neuroblast = an immature nerve cell).

ONCO-

Root word meaning mass or tumor (e.g., oncology = the study of cancer).

OSTEO- / Oste(o)

Root word meaning bone or bony tissue (e.g., osteosarcoma = bone cancer).

PAED-

Root word meaning child (e.g., pediatric oncology = study of childhood cancer).

SARCO-

Root word meaning tissue (e.g., sarcoma = tumor of bone, muscle, or connective tissue).

TOXO-

Root word meaning poison (e.g., toxicology = study of poisons).

Myo

Root word referring to muscle.

Angi(o)

Root word referring to blood vessels.

Ven(o) or Phleb(o)

Root words referring to veins.

Rhino

Root word referring to the nose.

Cranio

Root word referring to the skull.

Opthalmo or oculo

Root words referring to the eye.

Oto

Root word referring to the ear.

Thromb(o)

Root word referring to a blood clot.

Mamm(o)

Root word referring to the breast.

Colo

Root word referring to the large intestine.

Gastro

Root word referring to the stomach.

Ileo

Root word referring to the small intestine.

Thorac(o)

Root word referring to the chest.

Pneumo or pleuro

Root words referring to the lung.