Important Medical Terminology

ante

before, in front of

hypo

under, below

Anterior (ventral)

front of the body

Medial

Toward the midline of the body

dysphagia

difficulty swallowing with risk of aspiration

glucosuria

sugar in the urine

thrombus

blood clot

Osteomyelitis

inflammation of the bone and bone marrow

Dyspnea

difficulty breathing

cyanosis

bluish discoloration of the skin

agoraphobia

fear of open spaces

Schizophrenia

a psychological disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and/or diminished, inappropriate emotional expression

hemorrhage

excessive bleeding

suffix

A word or letter placed after the root.

olig

scanty

osteo

bone

hirsutism

excessive hair growth

alopecia

hair loss

pediculosis

infestation with lice

pediculosis capitis

head lice

pediculosis pubis

pubic lice

pediculosis corporis

an infestation with body lice

Tachypnea

rapid breathing

bradypnea

slow breathing

Tachycardia

rapid heart rate

Bradycardia

slow heart rate

Hypertension

high blood pressure

hypotension

low blood pressure

sphygmomanometer

instrument used to measure blood pressure

-ostomy

surgical opening

colostomy

creation of an artificial opening into the colon

prefix

a syllable or word that comes before a root word to change its meaning

vas(o)

blood vessel

stomat(o)

mouth or opening

cyst

bladder, sac

hem(a), hem(o), hemat(o)

blood

-phagia

swallowing, eating

-trophy

growth, development

atrophy

absence of growth or development

-uria

urine

hematuria

blood in the urine

nocturia

excessive urination at night

oliguria

scanty urination

-itis (suffix)

inflammation

a

absence

Angina

chest pain

Rigor mortis

stiffness or rigidity of skeletal muscles that occurs after death

Emphysema

a condition in which the air sacs of the lungs are damaged and enlarged. The most common cause of the illness is smoking.

Emesis

Synonym for Vomitus. The act of vomiting.

Cystitis

inflammation of the bladder caused by infection.

Renal calculi

Kidney stones