Unit 1: Core Rules, Prefixes, Suffixes, Anatomy, and Abbreviations

Vocabulary flashcards covering core rules, prefixes, suffixes, combining forms, anatomy terms, and common abbreviations from Unit 1 medical terminology notes.

Medical terminology

A standardized language used by healthcare professionals.

Word root

The foundation of a medical term; usually identifies the body part or basic meaning.

Combining form

A word root plus a combining vowel, written with a slash.

Combining vowel

A vowel—usually o—used to connect word parts and ease pronunciation.

Prefix

Word part placed at the beginning; modifies location, direction, number, time, size, or status.

Suffix

Word part placed at the end; often indicates a condition, disease, procedure, or specialty.

How to define a term

Start with the suffix, then move to the beginning and work left to right.

Combining-vowel rule 1

Use a combining vowel to join a root to a suffix that begins with a consonant.

Combining-vowel rule 2

Usually drop the combining vowel before a suffix beginning with a vowel.

Combining-vowel rule 3

Usually keep the combining vowel between two word roots, even if the second root begins with a vowel.

Eponym

A disease, structure, test, or procedure named for a person.

Non-eponym

A descriptive medical term rather than a person's name.

Anatomical position

Standing upright, facing forward, arms at sides, palms forward, feet forward.

Spelling matters

A small spelling change can alter the meaning of a medical term.

a-, an-

without; not

ante-

before; in front of

anti-

against

brady-

slow

tachy-

fast

dys-

bad; painful; difficult; abnormal

endo-

within; inner

exo-

out; outward

extra-

outside

infra-

below

inter-

between

intra-

within

peri-

around

post-

after; behind

pre-

before

sub-

below; under

supra-

above

hyper-

above normal; excessive

hypo-

below normal; deficient

bi-

two

uni-

one

poly-

many; much

-ectomy

surgical removal

-otomy

incision into

-ostomy

surgically created opening

-itis

inflammation

-algia

pain

-megaly

enlargement

-oma

tumor; mass

-osis

abnormal condition

-pathy

disease

-emia

blood condition

-uria

urine condition

-scopy

visual examination

-scope

instrument for visual examination

-logy

study of

-logist

specialist

-graphy

process of recording or imaging

-graph

instrument used to record

-gram

record or picture

col/o

colon; large intestine

cyan/o

blue

erythr/o

red

chlor/o

green

leuk/o

white

melan/o

black; dark

cardi/o

heart

gastr/o

stomach

neur/o

nerve

oste/o

bone

my/o

muscle

derm/o, dermat/o

skin

hemat/o, hem/o

blood

cephal/o

head

Supine

Lying on the back, face up.

Prone

Lying on the abdomen, face down.

Anterior / ventral

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior / dorsal

Toward the back of the body.

Superior / cranial

Above; toward the head.

Inferior / caudal

Below; toward the feet.

Medial

Toward the midline.

Lateral

Away from the midline.

Proximal

Nearer the trunk or point of origin.

Distal

Farther from the trunk or point of origin.

Superficial

Near the body surface.

Deep

Farther from the body surface.

Ipsilateral

On the same side.

Contralateral

On opposite sides.

Sagittal plane

Divides the body into right and left portions.

Frontal / coronal plane

Divides the body into anterior and posterior portions.

Transverse / horizontal plane

Divides the body into superior and inferior portions.

Oblique plane

Cuts the body at an angle.

Cranial cavity

Contains the brain.

Spinal / vertebral cavity

Contains the spinal cord.

Thoracic cavity

Contains lungs and mediastinum; heart lies in pericardial cavity.

Abdominal cavity

Contains many digestive organs.

Pelvic cavity

Contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum.

Dorsal cavity

Includes cranial and spinal cavities.

Ventral cavity

Includes thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Thoracic

Chest region.

Lumbar

Lower back region.

Umbilical

Area around the navel.

Right upper quadrant (RUQ)

Patient's upper right abdomen.

Left upper quadrant (LUQ)

Patient's upper left abdomen.

Right lower quadrant (RLQ)

Patient's lower right abdomen.

Left lower quadrant (LLQ)

Patient's lower left abdomen.