Unit 1 Flashcards

Medical Terminology

The language that helps healthcare professionals communicate and summarize their observations clearly, concisely, and effectively with each other

Origin of most root words

Greek and Latin

Root Word

central part of a medical word

combining vowel

vowel attached at end of root word to make the word easier to say

What is the most common combining vowel

"o"

combining form

root word + combining vowel

what would be the combining form of the root word "dermat"

dermat/o

What does a prefix typically indicate?

location, time or number

What does a suffix typically indicate?

condition, disease, diagnostic, or surgical treatment or therapeutic remedy

Direction for reading a medical term

suffix -> prefix (if present) -> root word

cardi/o

heart

gastr/o

stomach

enter/o

small intestine

arthr/o

joint

identify the following root word in the term: cardiology

cardi

what is the combining form of the term: gastroenteritis

gastr/o

Identify the prefix in the following term: hypoglycemia

hypo-

identify the suffix in the following term: gastritis

-itis

neur/o

nerve

cost/o

rib

can a combining vowel go between a prefix and root word?

No

Does a word need a combining vowel if the suffix begins with a vowel?

No

-itis

inflammation

-algia

pain

-emia

blood condition

-logy

study of

-tomy

process of cutting/incision

cerebr/o

brain

an illness or injury characterized by rapid onset, severe symptoms, and short duration; may require medical care

acute

abnormal condition in which the immune system produces antibodies against its own tissues

autoimmune

illness or injury characterized by long duration and slow progression

chronic

condition present at birth and may be the result of either genetic or environmental factors

congenital

period of gradual recovery after illness or injury

convalescene

having a weakening or fatiguing effect

debilitating

disease that is ongoing and restricted to a specific population, group, or area of land

endemic

injury or condition that originates within the body

endogenous

sudden, widespread outbreak of a disease within a population, group, or area of land

epidemic

injury or condition that originates outside of the body

exogenous

Inherited or passed on

from one's biological

parents.

genetic

Condition in which the body reacts with an exaggerated immune response to an antigen, a harmful substance or perceived by the body to be harmful (i.e. allergies)

hypersensitivity

infection or disease that arises as a complication of medical or surgical intervention

iatrogenic

A disease that has an unknown etiology or cause

idiopathic

pertaining to a reaction between an antigen and an antibody, a protein that the body makes in response to an antigen

immunological

capable of causing an infection

infectious

Marked by inflammation or caused by inflammation

inflammatory

A condition or disease caused by a temporary deficiency in blood flow to an organ or tissue

ischemic

a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness

malaise

used to describe cancers that tend to spread, get progressively worse, and become life threatening

malignant

disorder that interferes with normal metabolism, the chemical processes involved in converting food to energy and in sustaining life

metabolic

beyond standing still (spread of cancer beyond its borders)

metastasis

A new, abnormal growth that may be cancerous or noncancerous

neoplastic

Infection acquired in a hospital setting, not present upon admission

nosocomial

relating to chemical processes in the body that occur after ingesting food

nutritional

pathogen that does not normally cause a disease unless the immune system is in a weakened state

opportunistic

disease that spreads over most of the world (i.e. COVID-19)

pandemic

for prevention

prophylaxis

set of signs or symptoms that occur together as part of a disease process

syndrome

A disease for which there are treatments but no cure

terminal

aur/o

ear

caud/o

tail

cephal/o

head

cervic/o

neck

cutane/o

skin

hem/o

blood

lip/o

fat

nephr/o

kidney

oste/o

bone

path/o

disease

glyc/o

sugar or glucose

nephr/o

kidney

my/o

muscle

or/o

mouth

pulmon/o

lungs

rhin/o

nose

nas/o

nose

sarc/o

connective tissue/flesh

thorac/o

chest

-ac,-al,-ic

pertaining to

-ine

substance

-gen

substance that produces

-ectomy

surgical removal/excision

-ia

condition

-oma

tumor/mass

-osis

abnormal condition

-cyte

cell

-stomy

surgical opening

-um

structure, tissue, thing

a-, an-

without

inter-

between

peri-

around, surrounding

ante-

before

endo-

in/within

intra-

within/into

ultra-

beyond/excess

0700

7:00 AM

1300

1:00 PM

NPO

nothing by mouth

WNL

within normal limits

Rx

prescription

OTC

over the counter