Chapter 5: Medical Terminology

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the components of medical terms, directional and positional terminology, and anatomic movement based on Chapter 5 of the AAOS Twelfth Edition.

Word root

The main part or stem of a word that conveys the essential meaning and frequently indicates a body part.

Prefix

A part of a medical term that appears at the beginning of a word and usually describes location or intensity.

Suffix

A part of a medical term that appears at the end of words and usually indicates a procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech.

Combining vowels

A vowel (most commonly an o, but also i or e) used to connect a word root to a suffix starting with a consonant or to another word root.

-phasia

A suffix meaning speaking.

-phagia

A suffix meaning eating or swallowing.

Dys-

A prefix meaning difficult, painful, or abnormal.

Cardio

A word root meaning heart.

Pulmon

A word root meaning lungs.

Superior

A directional term meaning nearer to the head.

Inferior

A directional term meaning nearer to the feet.

Lateral

Refers to body parts that lie farther from the midline (outer).

Medial

Refers to body parts that lie closer to the midline (inner).

Proximal

A term describing a position closer to the trunk.

Distal

A term describing a position farther from the trunk or nearer to the free end of the extremity.

Superficial

Means closer to or on the skin.

Deep

Means farther inside the body/tissue and away from the skin.

Ventral

Refers to the belly side or the anterior surface of the body.

Dorsal

Refers to the spinal side or the posterior surface of the body.

Anterior

The front surface of the body.

Posterior

The back surface of the body.

Palmar surface

The front region of the hand (the palm).

Plantar surface

The bottom of the foot (the sole).

Apex (apices)

The tip(s) of a structure.

Flexion

The bending of a joint.

Extension

The straightening of a joint.

Adduction

Motion toward the midline.

Abduction

Motion away from the midline.

Bilateral

Relating to both sides of the midline.

Unilateral

Relating to only one side of the body.

Prone

The anatomic position of lying face down.

Supine

The anatomic position of lying face up.

Fowler position

Semi-reclining with the head elevated.

Semi-Fowler

An anatomic position where the patient sits at a $45$-degree angle.

High-Fowler

An anatomic position where the patient sits at a $90$-degree angle.

Nephropathy

A medical term meaning disease of the kidney (nephr/o/pathy).

Dysuria

A medical term meaning painful urination (dys/ur/ia).

Hyperemesis

A medical term meaning excessive vomiting (hyper/emesis).

Analgesic

A medical term meaning pertaining to no pain (an/alges/ic).

Bronchi

The plural form of the word bronchus.