Intro To Medical Language

Medical language

allows for clear, concise, and consistent communication locally, nationally, and internationally. It enables everyone involved in medicine/healthcare to perform more accurately/efficiently for the patients benefit

osteoarthritis

inflammation of the bone and joint

Terms build from word parts

Greek and Latin (prefixes, word roots, suffixes)

eponyms

terms derived from a name or place (think noun)

Acronyms

terms formed from the first letter of a phrase

Modern language

terms from the English language, which are often descriptive of technology and/or procedures

Terms NOT built from word parts

• eponym

• acronym

• modern language

Hepatitis

Greek and Latin word parts

AIDS

acronym

robotic surgery

modern language

Alzheimer Disease

eponym

oste/o/arthr/itis

• greek and latin

• built from word parts

prefix

attached to the beginning of a medical term to modify its meaning

word root

fundamental meaning of a medical term— the core of the word

combining vowel

used to ease pronounciation—usually an “o” (if it has a 2nd word root)

suffix

attatched to the end of a medical term to modify its meaning

-itis

inflammation

hepat

liver

intra

within

onc/

cancer

what is hepatitis

inflammation of the liver

arthr

joint

/ic

pertaining to

-pathy

disease

-megaly

enlargement

-ous

pertaining