Introduction to Medical Terminology Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary cards covering medical terminology word parts, prefixes, suffixes, procedures, abbreviations, and pluralization rules.

Word Root

The foundation of a word that gives it meaning, typically describing the part of the body or organ involved.

Combining Form

A word root combined with a vowel (often an “o”) to allow a suffix beginning with a consonant to be added easily.

Prefix

A word part added to the beginning of a term to influence meaning, usually indicating location, time, number, or status.

Suffix

A word part added to the end of a word root that usually indicates a procedure, condition, disorder, or disease.

alg(o)-, alge-, algesi(o)-

Pain

arthr(o)-

Joint

bacteri(o)-

Bacteria

blephar(o)-

Eyelid

cerebr(o)-

Cerebrum

cyan(o)-

Blue

dermat(o)-, derm(o)-

Skin

erythr(o)-

Red

gluc(o)-

Sugar, glucose

leuk(o)-

White

melan(o)-

Black

myel(o)-

Spinal cord

ophthalm(o)-

Eye

pancreat(o)-

Pancreas

phon(o)-

Voice

poli(o)-

Gray

Peri-

Around

Epi-

Above

Poly-

Many

Hemi-

Half

Endo- / Intra-

Inside

Exo- / Extra-

Outside

ab-

To move away (from)

ad-

To move toward

dys-

Abnormal, difficult

eu-

Normal, good

hyper-

Excessive, above normal

hypo-

Below normal

pre-

Before

post-

After

tachy-

Fast

brady-

Slow

-megaly

Enlargement

-algia

Pain and suffering

-itis

Inflammation

-ectomy

Surgical removal

-um

A noun ending

-ac / -al

Adjective endings

-cele

Abnormal protrusion

-emesis

Vomiting

-lysis

Destruction

-malacia

Softening

-necrosis

Tissue death

-osis

Abnormal condition

-oma

Tumor

-pathy

Disease, suffering

-ptosis

Sagging or drooping

-sclerosis

Abnormal hardening

-stenosis

Abnormal narrowing

-centesis

Surgical puncture

-gram

A record

-graphy

The process of recording

-ostomy

Surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body surface

-otomy

Cutting or surgical incision

-plasty

Surgical repair

-scopy

Visual examination

-rrhage, -rrhagia

Bleeding (sudden, severe flow)

-rrhaphy

Surgical suturing

-rrhea

Flow (of body fluids)

-rrhexis

Rupture

Abbreviation

A shortened form of a word or phrase, also called a contraction or short form.

Acronym

A word formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word.

Symbol

One or more letters and/or numbers representing an object, function, or process.

a.c.

Before meals

ad lib

As desired, as needed

bid, b.i.d.

Twice a day

BP

Blood pressure

bpm

Beats per minute

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

Fe

$Fe$ (iron)

g

$g$ (gram)

h.s.

At bedtime (hour of sleep)

NPO, npo

Nothing by mouth

p.c.

After meals

p.o.

By mouth, orally

PRN, prn

Whenever necessary

qid, q.i.d.

Four times a day

tid, t.i.d.

Three times a day

Eponym

A term or word based on or derived from a person's name.

Antonyms

Words opposite in meaning to another.

Synonyms

Words or phrases that have exactly or nearly the same meaning as another.

Thesaurus

A collection of words, terms, or phrases that have the same or opposite meaning.

Plural of -a (e.g., vertebra)

-ae (e.g., vertebrae)

Plural of -is (e.g., diagnosis)

-es (e.g., diagnoses)

Plural of -um (e.g., serum)

-a (e.g., sera)

Plural of -us (e.g., thrombus)

-i (e.g., thrombi); note exceptions like viruses and sinuses

home(o)-

same, like, or alike

colp(o)-

vagina

-desis

surgical binding or fixation

ker(a)-

hard tissue or cornea

gastr(o)-

stomach

-pnea

referring to breathing or respiration

cost(o)-

ribs

inter-

between

cholecyst(o)-

gallbladder

nephr(o)-

kidney