Chapter 2 Medical Word Elements

Suffix

word part that comes at the end of the medical term

Prefix

word part that comes at the beginning of the medical term

Combining Form

joining a word root with a combining vowel

Word Root

main stem, or primary meaning of a word

Combining Vowel

used to make the medical term easier to pronounce

Abbreviation

used to save time and simplify speaking, reading, and writing of medical terms

Acronyms

abbreviations formed by using the first letter of each word

Symbols

used to save time and space when documenting

Documenting

writing in the patient's chart and a written communication with medical professionals

Pathology Terms

refer to diseases and disorders of all body systems

-iatrics, -iatry

Field of medicine

-iatrist, -ician, -ist

specialist

-logist, -iologist

specialist in the study of

-logy, -ology

study of

-centesis

surgical puncture

-cidal, -cide

destroying, killing

-desis

surgical fixation of bone or joint, binding, tying together

-dilation

widening, stretching, expanding

-ectomy

excision, surgical removal

-graphy

process of recording

-metry

measurement

-pexy

surgical fixation

-plasty

surgical repair

-rraphy

suture, suturing

-scopy

visual examination

-therapy

treatment

-tomy

cutting into, incision

-tripsy

crushing

SOAP Note

Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan

SOAP (S)

Subjective, data include what the patient said

SOAP (O)

Objective, data include information that can be observed, measured, quantified

SOAP (A)

Assessment, medical professional synthesizes subjective and objective information such as goals, expectations, and progress

SOAP (P)

Plan, write what you will do to help the patient progress towards treatment goals such as continuing plan of care or making adjustments or additional consultations

-acusia, -acusis, -cusis

hearing

-algesia, -algesic, -algia, -dynia

pain

-dipsia

thirst

-esthesia

sensation

-opia, -opsia, -opsis, -opsy

vision, view of

-osmia

smell, odor

-phobia

fear

-phoria

feeling

-clasis, -clast

to break

-ectasis

dilation, expansion

-emesis

vomiting

-gen, -genesis, -genic, -genous

creating, producing

-kinesia, -kinesis

movement

-lysis

destruction

-pause, -stasis

cessation, stopping

-phage, -phagia

Eating, swallowing

-phasia

speech

-rrhage, -rrhagia

bursting forth

-rrhea

flow, discharge

-rrhexis

rupture

-spasm

sudden involuntary contraction

-uresis

urination

-cele

Hernia

-constriction

Narrowing

-cytosis

Condition of cells

-derma

Skin

-edema

Swelling

-gravida

Pregnant woman

-ia, -ism

Condition

-iasis

Pathological condition or state

-itis

Inflammation

-lepsy, -leptic

Seizure

-lith

Stone

-malacia

Softening

-megaly

Enlargement

-necrosis

Tissue death

-oid

Resembling

-oma

Tumor

-osis

Abnormal condition

-oxia

Oxygen

-paresis

Slight or partial paralysis

-partum, -tocia

Childbirth, labor

-pathy

Disease

-penia

Deficiency

-pepsia

Digestion

-phonia

Voice

-plasia, -plasm

Formation, growth

-plastic

Pertaining to formation or growth

-plegia

Paralysis

-plegic

Pertaining to paralysis

-pnea

Breathing

-pneic

Pertaining to breathing

-ptosis

Drooping, prolapse

-salpink

Uterine (fallopian) tube

-sclerosis

Hardening

-static

Not in motion, at rest

-stenosis

Narrowing, stricture

-thorax

Chest

-trophy

Nourishment, growth

-uria

Urine

-graph

Recording instrument

-meter

Measuring instrument

-scope

Viewing instrument

-tome

Cutting instrument

-cyte, -cytic

Cell

-gram

Record

-ole, -ule

Small