Unit One Exam

prefix

Word part at the beginning of a medical term that changes the
meaning of the word root.

suffix

word part at the end of the term that changes meaning

Combining form vowel

used to join word parts to ease pronunciation

word root

foundational meaning of a word

Language Rules for Building Medical Terms

1. When combining two combining forms, you keep the combining form vowel.
2. When combining a combining form with a suffix that begins with a consonant, you keep
the combining form vowel.
3. When combining a combining form with a suffix that begins with a vowel, you drop the
combining form vowel.
4. A prefix goes at the beginning of the word and no combining form vowel is used
5. When defining a medical word, start with the suffix first and then work left to right
stating the word parts. You may need to add filler words. As long as the filler word does
not change the meaning of the word you may use it for the purpose of building a
medical vocabulary. Once you start to apply the word in the context of a sentence it will
be easier to decide which filler word(s) to choose.

a-, an-

without; lacking

anemia

ante-

before; forward

antenatal

anti-

against

antibiotic

bi-

two

biceps

brady-

slow

bradycardia

dia-

across; through

diagnosis

dys-

difficult, abnormal bad: painful

dyspnea

endo-

within; inner

endocrine gland

epi-

above; beyond; excessive

epidermis

erythro-

red

erythrocyte

hyper-

above; beyond; excessive

hyperactive

hypo-

under; deficient

hypothyroidism

inter

between

interstitial fluid

intra-

within

intracellular fluid

mal-

bad; abnormal

malignant

melano-

black

melanin

neo-

new

neonate

oligo-

few; little

oliguria

pan-

all; entire

pancytopenia

peri-

around

pericardium

poly-

many; excessive

polyuria

sub-

under

subcutaneous layer

syn-

together

syndrome

tachy-

fast

tachycardia

trans-

across; through

transdermal

-ac

pertaining to

cardiac

-al

pertaining to

spinal

-centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid

thoracentesis

-desis

surgical binding

arthodesis

-ectomy

cut out; surgical removal

mastectomy

-emia

blood condition

anemia

-ia

condition

hemophilia

-ism

condition

hypothyroidism

-itis

inflammation

arthritis

-lysis

break down; destruction; dissolving

hemolysis

-malacia

softening

osteomalacia

-megaly

enlargement

acromegaly

-oid

resembling

rheumatoid

-oma

tumor; mass; fluid collection

angiosarcoma

-osis

condition; abnormal

endometriosis

-pathy

disease

lymphadenopathy

-penia

deficiency; lack of

thrombocytopenia

-pexy

surgical fixation

oophoropexy

-plasia

growth

hyperplasia

-plasty

surgical reconstruction

vertebroplasty

-plegia

paralysis

hemiplegia

-pnea

breathing

sleep apnea

-rrhage

burst forth; excessive bleeding

hemorrhage

-rrhea

flow or discharge

diarrhea

-stomy

surgical creation of an opening

colostomy

-tomy

incision; to surgically cut into

laparotomy

-trophy

growth

hypertrophy

molecule

the chemical building blocks of all body structures

cell

the smallest independently functioning unit of a living organism

tissue

a group of many similar cells (though sometimes composed of a few related types) that work together to perform a specific function

organ

an anatomically distinct body structure of two or more tissue types. Each organ performs one or more specific physiological functions.

prone

lying face down

supine

lying face up

cranial cavity

houses the brain. Protected by the bones of the skulls and cerebrospinal fluid.

spinal cavity

encloses the spinal cord.

thoracic cavity

The more superior subdivision of the anterior cavity, and it is enclosed by the rib cage.
The thoracic cavity contains the lungs and the heart, which are located in the mediastinum.
The diaphragm forms the floor of the thoracic cavity and separates it from the more inferior abdominopelvic cavity.

abdominopelvic cavity

The abdominopelvic cavity is the largest cavity in the body. The abdominal cavity houses the digestive organs, the pelvic cavity, and the reproductive organs.

anterior (ventral)

Describes the front or direction toward the front of the body. The toes are anterior to the foot.

posterior

Describes the back or direction toward the back of the body. The popliteus (back of the knee) is posterior to the patella.

superior

Describes a position above or higher than another part of the body proper. The orbits are superior to the oris.

inferior

Describes a position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal column). The pelvis is inferior to the abdomen.

lateral

Describes the side or direction toward the side of the body. The thumb (pollex) is lateral to the digits.

medial

Describes the middle or direction toward the middle of the body. The hallux (big toe) is the medial toe.

proximal

Describes a position in a limb that is nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body. The brachium is proximal to the antebrachium.

distal

Describes a position in a limb that is farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the
body. The knee is distal to the femur.

superficial

Describes a position closer to the surface of the body. The skin is superficial to the bones.

deep

Describes a position farther from the surface of the body. The brain is deep to the skull.

abdominal

Pertaining to the abdomen. The abdomen contains many vital organs: the stomach, the small intestine (jejunum and ileum), the large intestine (colon), the liver, the spleen, the gallbladder,
the pancreas, the uterus, the fallopian tubes, the ovaries, the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder, and many blood vessels.

gastrointestinal

Refers to the stomach and the intestines. However, the gastrointestinal track refers to the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus.

cheilitis

inflammation of the lip or lips

sialolithiasis

Salivary stones, also called sialolithiasis, are hardened mineral deposits that form in the salivary glands.

stomatitis

Inflammation of the mouth

gingivitis

inflammation of the gums associated with plaque and tarter on the teeth.

glossitis

inflammation of the tongue

celiac disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine.

dyspepsia

upset stomach

gastroenteritis

Inflammation and irritation of the stomach and intestines.

gastritis

inflammation of the stomach

gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Burning feeling that comes from acid made by your stomach moving up into your esophagus.

hernia

When one of your organs pushes through the muscle or tissue that contains it.

hyperemesis

excessive vomiting

peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity.

pyrosis

heartburn

ileus

When your intestine stops making wave-like movements that push broken-down food and waste to the anus and stimulate a bowel movement. Untreated ileus can lead to severe complications such as bowel perforation, infection, and sepsis.

intussusception

A condition in which part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part of the intestine. This telescoping action can block food or fluid from passing thorugh. Intussusception also cuts off the blody supply to the part of the intestine that’s affected.

volvulus

An obstruction (blockage) due to a knotting and twisting of part of the intestines.

appendicitis

An inlammation of the appendix. The appendix is a finger-shaped pouch that sticks out from the colon on the lower right side of the belly, also called the abdomen.

colitis

Inflammation of the colon. It can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding.

diverticulum

A single outpouching of the wall of the large intestine (colon) that forms a sac.

diverticula

Diverticula (plural)are multiple outpouching of the wall of the large intestine (colon) that forms a sac.