EMT-B Medical Terms

Compound

A word formed from two or more whole words

Root

Foundation of a word that is not a word that can stand on its own

Combining form

A word root with an added vowel that can be joined with other words

Broncho/ Pulmo

Lungs

Cardi

Heart

Gastro

Stomach

Hepat

Liver

Neur

Nerve

Nas

Nose/nasal

Or

Mouth/ Oral

Pneumo

Air or lungs

Ab

Away from

Ad

Toward or near

ante

Before

Brady

Slow/ below normal

Conta

Against

Dys

Difficult or painful

Hyper

Above normal

Hypo

Below normal/ low

Inter

Between

Peri

Around

Poly

Many

Post

After

Pre

Before

Super/ Supra

Above or in excess

Tachy

Above normal/ rapid

Uni

One

-ac

Pertaining to

-algia

Pain

-emisis

Vomiting

-itis

Inflammation

-ology

Study of

-plegia

Paralysis

-pnea

Breathing

-rrhea

Discharge

-spasm

Contraction

-al

Pertaining to

-ist

One who specializes in

Prefix

Word part added to the beginning of a root word to modify or qualify it's meaning.

Suffix

Word part added to the end of a root or word to complete its meaning.

Anatomy

The study of body structure

Physiology

The study of body function

Anatomic position

The standard reference position for the body in the study of anatomy. In this position

Plane

A flat surface formed when slicing through a solid object

Midline

An imaginary line drawn down the center of the body

Medial

Toward the midline of the body

Lateral

To the side

Bilateral

On both sides

Unilateral

Limited to one side

Mid axillary line

A line drawn vertically middle of the armpit to the ankle

Anterior

The front of the body or body part

Posterior

The back of the body or body part

Ventral

Referring to the front of the body. A synonym for anterior.

Dorsal

Referring to the back of the body or the back of the hand or foot. A synonym for posterior.

Superior

Toward the head

Inferior

Away from the head

Proximal

Closer to the torso

Distal

Farther away from the torso

Torso

The trunk of the body

Palmar

Referring to the palm of the hand

Plantar

Referring to the sole of the foot

Mid clavicular

The line through the center of each clavicle

Abdominal quadrants

Four of the abdomen used to pinpoint the location of a pain or injury.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Liver

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Liver

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Right kidney

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

Left kidney

Supine

Lying on the back

Prone

Lying face down

Recovery position

Lying on the side. Also known as lateral recumbent position.

Fowler position

A sitting position.