Medical Terminology, Body Organization, and Diagnostic Imaging

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering medical term roots, prefixes, suffixes, body systems, oncology, diagnostic imaging, and anatomical directions.

Medical language

Specialized language used in healthcare

Medical term

Word used to describe the human body, conditions, procedures, or treatments

Word root

Core/foundation of a medical term

Suffix

Word part at the end; modifies meaning

Prefix

Word part at the beginning; modifies meaning

Combining vowel

Vowel connecting word parts, usually o

Combining form

Word root + combining vowel

Eponym

Term named after a person

Acronym

Term made from first letters of words

Modern-language term

Term taken from modern language

Latin/Greek term

Term originating from Latin or Greek

Cell

Basic unit of living things

Cell membrane

Forms boundary of cell

Cytoplasm

Gel-like fluid inside cell

Nucleus

Contains genetic material/control center

DNA

Genetic material

Chromosome

Structure containing DNA/genes

Tissue

Group of similar cells performing a function

Organ

Multiple tissue types working together

Organ system

Organs working together

Body system

Group of organs performing major body functions

Integumentary system

Skin, hair, nails, glands; protection

Skeletal system

Bones/cartilage; support and protection

Muscular system

Muscles; movement

Nervous system

Brain, spinal cord, nerves; communication/control

Endocrine system

Hormone-producing glands

Cardiovascular system

Heart/blood vessels; circulation

Lymphatic/immune system

Defense against infection/disease

Respiratory system

Breathing/gas exchange

Digestive system

Digestion and nutrient absorption

Urinary system

Removes wastes and regulates fluids

Reproductive system

Reproduction

Body cavity

Space containing internal organs

Dorsal cavity

Posterior cavity containing brain/spinal cord

Cranial cavity

Contains brain

Spinal cavity

Contains spinal cord

Ventral cavity

Anterior cavity containing internal organs

Thoracic cavity

Chest cavity

Abdominopelvic cavity

Abdominal + pelvic cavities

Abdominal cavity

Contains many digestive organs

Pelvic cavity

Contains bladder, reproductive organs, rectum

aden/o

Gland

angi/o

Vessel

arteri/o

Artery

arthr/o

Joint

cardi/o

Heart

cephal/o

Head

cervic/o

Neck

cyt/o

Cell

derm/o

Skin

epitheli/o

Epithelium

gastr/o

Stomach

hemat/o

Blood

hist/o

Tissue

-ac/-al/-ar/-ary/-ic/-ous

Pertaining to

-cyte

Cell

-gen

Producing/origin

-genesis

Production/origin

-logy

Study of

-megaly

Enlargement

my/o

Muscle

neur/o

Nerve

organ/o

Organ

system/o

System

viscer/o

Internal organs

a-/an-

Without/not

ante-

Before

dia-

Through/complete

dys-

Bad, painful, difficult, abnormal

hyper-

Above/excessive

hypo-

Below/deficient

inter-

Between

intra-

Within

peri-

Around

pre-

Before

Oncology

Study of tumors/cancer

Oncologist

Cancer specialist

Tumor

Abnormal mass/growth

Neoplasm

New abnormal growth

Benign

Noncancerous; does not invade/spread

Malignant

Cancerous; can invade/spread

Cancer

Uncontrolled abnormal cell growth

Carcinoma

Cancer arising from epithelial tissue

Sarcoma

Cancer arising from connective/supporting tissue

Metastasis

Spread of cancer to another location

Metastasize

To spread cancer

Carcinoma in situ

Cancer that has not invaded surrounding tissue

Staging

Determining extent/spread of cancer

TNM system

Tumor, nodes, metastasis

M0

No distant metastasis

M1

Distant metastasis present

carcin/o

Cancer

onc/o

Tumor

sarc/o

Flesh/connective tissue

-oma

Tumor/mass

-plasia

Formation/development

-plasm

Formation/growth

-stasis

Stopping/controlling

Chemotherapy

Drugs used to treat cancer

Radiation therapy

Radiation used to destroy cancer cells