Medical Terminology Foundations: Word Construction, Pathology, and Anatomy

What is the primary origin of medical terminology?

Medical terminology is largely based on Greek and Latin.

What are the main components of a medical term?

Word root, combining vowel, combining form, prefix, and suffix.

What does the word root 'hepat/o' refer to?

Liver.

What does the combining form 'gastr/o' mean?

Stomach.

What is the purpose of a combining vowel in medical terminology?

To make medical words easier to pronounce and connect word elements.

How can you break down the term 'dermatitis'?

It can be divided into 'dermat' (skin) and '-itis' (inflammation).

What does the suffix '-algia' mean?

Pain.

What does the suffix '-ectomy' indicate?

Excision or surgical removal.

What is the meaning of the prefix 'hypo-'?

Below or deficient.

What does the prefix 'tachy-' signify?

Rapid.

What does the combining form 'cyt/o' refer to?

Cell.

What does the suffix '-oma' denote?

Tumor.

What does the prefix 'inter-' mean?

Between.

What does the combining form 'muscul/o' refer to?

Muscle.

What is the meaning of the suffix '-itis'?

Inflammation.

What does the prefix 'mono-' signify?

One.

What does the prefix 'poly-' mean?

Many or much.

What does the suffix '-rrhexis' indicate?

Rupture.

What does the prefix 'sub-' mean?

Under or below.

What does the combining form 'dermat/o' refer to?

Skin.

What does the suffix '-megaly' mean?

Enlargement.

What does the combining form 'nephr/o' refer to?

Kidney.

What does the suffix '-pnea' refer to?

Breathing.

What does the prefix 'pre-' mean?

Before.

What does the combining form 'stomat/o' refer to?

Mouth.

What does the suffix '-pathy' mean?

Disease.

What does the prefix 'retro-' indicate?

Backward or behind.

What is the common plural pattern for words ending in -y?

Change -y to -ies.

What is the plural form of 'nucleus'?

Nuclei.

What does 'anatomical position' refer to?

The body standing erect, head and eyes facing forward, upper extremities at the sides, palms facing forward, and lower extremities directed forward.

What does the combining form 'anter/o' mean?

Front.

What does 'poster/o' refer to?

Back or behind.

What is the meaning of 'dors/o'?

Back.

What does 'proxim/o' indicate?

Near or nearest.

What does 'dist/o' mean?

Far or farthest.

What does 'later/o' refer to?

Side.

What does 'caud/o' mean?

Toward the tail or lower portion.

What is the thoracic cavity?

The cavity containing the chest organs.

What is the function of connective tissue?

Supports, binds, protects, stores, and transports substances.

What does 'chrom/o' refer to?

Color.

What does 'cyan/o' mean?

Blue.

What does 'erythr/o' refer to?

Red.

What does 'jaund/o' mean?

Yellow.

What does 'poli/o' refer to?

Gray.

What is edema?

Swelling caused by an abnormal accumulation of fluid within tissues.

What does inflammation indicate?

The body's response to injury, irritation, or infection.

What is sepsis?

A serious pathological condition associated with infection and the body's response to it.

What is gangrene?

Tissue death that occurs when tissue does not receive adequate blood flow or becomes severely infected.

What are adhesions?

Abnormal fibrous bands that connect tissues or structures that would normally remain separated.

What is a perforation?

An opening or hole that penetrates through the wall of a structure.

What does the term febrile mean?

Relating to or characterized by fever.

What is the importance of understanding word construction in medical terminology?

It helps to determine the meaning of a medical term by breaking it down into its components.

What are the four major tissue categories?

Epithelial tissue, connective tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue.

What is the significance of the diaphragm in anatomy?

It forms an important boundary between the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

What does the combining form 'hist/o' mean?

Tissue.