Introduction to Medical Language - Practice Flashcards

Flashcards created from Chapter 1: Introduction to Medical Language notes covering origins, pronunciation, root words, suffixes, prefixes, and translation rules.

What are the primary purposes of medical language for health care professionals?

Medical language allows health care professionals to be clear, communicate quickly, and provide comfort to patients.

What are the two main ancient languages from which medical language originates?

Greek and Latin.

Besides Greek and Latin, what are three other word sources for medical terminology?

Eponyms (e.g., Lou Gehrig's disease), acronyms (e.g., MRI), and modern languages such as English, German, and French.

How is syllable emphasis indicated in the medical language pronunciation guide?

Emphasis is placed by writing the syllable in ALL CAPS.

What are the terms used for the last, almost-last, and third-to-last syllables of a medical word?

The Ultima is the last syllable, the Penult is the almost-last syllable, and the Antepenult is the syllable just before the penult.

On which syllable is the pronunciation emphasis usually placed in medical terms?

Emphasis is usually placed on the third-to-last syllable (the antepenult).

What three basic word parts are used to build medical terms?

Root, suffix, and prefix.

What role do roots play in medical terminology?

Roots function like nouns in the language of medicine.

What does the root gen/o mean?

Creation or cause.

What does the root hydr/o mean?

Water.

What does the root morph/o mean?

Shape, form.

What does the root myc/o mean?

Fungus.

What does the root necr/o mean?

Death.

What does the root orth/o mean?

Straight.

What does the root path/o mean?

Disease.

What does the root phag/o mean?

Eat.

What does the root plas/o mean?

Formation.

What does the root py/o mean?

Pus.

What does the root scler/o mean?

Hard.

What does the root sten/o mean?

Narrowing.

What does the root troph/o mean?

Development.

What does the root xen/o mean?

Foreign.

What does the root xer/o mean?

Dry.

Into what two main groups are suffixes divided?

Simple suffixes and complex suffixes.

What are the three categories of simple suffixes?

Adjective suffixes, noun suffixes, and diminutive suffixes.

What do simple adjective suffixes usually mean?

Pertaining to.

What is the function of a simple diminutive suffix?

It transforms a term's meaning to a smaller version.

What word parts combine to form the complex suffix -tomy, and what does -tomy mean?

It combines the root tom/o (meaning to cut) and the suffix -y (meaning process or procedure) to mean a cutting procedure.

What is the meaning of the complex suffix -algia?

Pain.

What is the meaning of the complex suffix -cele?

Hernia.

What is the meaning of the complex suffix -malacia?

Abnormal softening.

What is the meaning of the complex suffix -megaly?

Enlargement.

What is the difference between -rrnage, -rrhea, and -rrhexis?

-rrhage means excessive flow, -rrhea means flow, and -rrhexis means rupture.

What complex suffixes refer to instruments used in medical testing?

-graph (instrument used to produce a record), -meter (instrument used to measure), and -scope (instrument used to look).

What complex suffixes refer to processes of testing?

-graphy (process of recording), -metry (process of measuring), and -scopy (process of looking).

What is the plural form of a singular medical term ending in -ax?

-aces (for example, thorax becomes thoraces).

What is the plural form of a singular medical term ending in -is?

-es (for example, neurosis becomes neuroses).

What is the plural form of a singular medical term ending in -us?

-i (for example, nucleus becomes nuclei).

What are the five categories of prefixes mentioned in the lecture?

Negation prefixes, time or speed prefixes, direction or position prefixes, size or quantity prefixes, and general prefixes.

What do the speed prefixes brady- and tachy- mean?

Brady- means slow, and tachy- means fast.

What is the difference between the directional prefixes ab- and ad-?

Ab- means away, while ad- means toward.

What do the prefixes hyper- and hypo- mean?

Hyper- means over, and hypo- means under.

What is a combining form?

A combining form is a root plus a combining vowel.

What is the most common combining vowel?

The letter 'o'.

When should a combining vowel NOT be used when joining a root to a suffix?

Do not use a combining vowel when joining a root to a suffix that begins with a vowel.

What order should be followed when reading word parts of a medical term?

Read the suffix first, then the prefix (if there is one), and then the root or roots.

What are the five steps to translate a medical term?

1. Read the word. 2. Say the word out loud. 3. Break the word into parts (suffix, root, prefix). 4. Translate the parts. 5. Reassemble the pieces into a statement.