Chapter 1

The Anatomy of Medical Terms

Roots

The constant foundation of a medical term
Greek or Latin
1+ roots in all terms
there can be more than one root that have the same meaning

Combining Forms (Pulmon/o)

A root plus a combining vowel (root=pulmon, combining vowel=o, Pulmon/o )
Combining forms can be attached to another root or combining form

Suffix

-an element added to the end of a root or combining form
-changes the meaning of the word
-if it begins with a constant it must follow with a combining vowel
-different suffix can have the same meaning

Combining vowel

Can be any vowel and it is sep

hem/o/pmeum/othorax

Greek
hem- blood
pneum - air or lung
thorax - chest
hemopneumonothorax = presence of air and blood in the thoracic cavity
pneumonothorax = air in the pleural cavity

pulmon/o-logy

The study of the structure, function, and diseases of the lungs.
pulmon= lung (Latin)
-logy = study of

pulmon/ary

pulmon = lung (LATIN)
-ary = pertaining or relating to

Pneumon-ia
Pneumonitis

inflamation of the lung parenchyma (tissue)
Pneumon = air (Greek)
-ia = condition of (suffix)
-itis =inflamation

pneumothorax

collapsed lung caused by abnormal collection of air in the pleural space
pneumo = air or lung
-thorax = chest cavity

Respir-ation

The process of breathing
Respir= to breath
-ation= a process

bronch-itis

inflammation of the bronchial tubes
bronch = bronchus
-itis = inflammation

Respir-atory

Process of breathing
Respir = to breath
-atory = pertaining to

Pulmon/o-logist

Specialist in treating the disorders of the lung
pulmon = lung
-logist = one who studies, specialist

parenchyma

Greek to pour in
the specific functional cell of a gland or organ(e.g., the lung)that are supported by the connective tissue framework

bronchoscope
(bronch/o-scope)

endoscope used for bronchoscopy
-scope = instrument used for viewing

bronch/o-scopy

Examination of the interior of the tracheobronchial tree with an endoscope
-scopy = to examine, view

Prefix

-element added to the beginning of a root or combining form
- usually indicare time, number, size, location

Natal

Nat= birth or born
-al=pertaining to
prenatal = before birth
postnatal = after birth

peri-natal

pertaining to around the time of birth (before, during, or after)
peri = around

later-al

pertaining to the side of the body
later = side
-al = pertaining to

uni-lateral

pertaining to one side of the body
prefix uni= pertaining to one side of the body
bi=two (bilateral)

gastr -ic

pertaining to the stomach
gastr = stomach
-ic = pertaining to

epigastric

pertaining to above the stomach
epi- above

hypo-gastric

pertaining to below the stomach
hypo- below

-cyte

Cell
macro - large (macrocyte = large cell)
micro - small (microcyte = small cell)

macrocyt -ic

pertaining to a macrocyte
-ic = pertaining to

cardi/o-logist

suffix -logist meaning one who studies and is a specialist in
cardi- heart

my/o/cardi-al

pertaining to the heart muscle
suffix -al = pertaining to
root cardi = heart
my = muscle

my/o-cardi-um

structure of the heart muscle
-um = structure
my = muscle
cardi=heart

cardiomyopathy

disease of the heart muscle
cardi = heart
my = muscle
-pathy = disease

ischemia

blockage of blood flow
suffix -emia = blood condition
root -isch - block

myocardial ischemia

blockage of blood to the heart muscle

diagnosis (diagnoses plural)

complete knowledge of an abnormal condition ( symptoms + results of one or more procedures)
dia = complete
-gnosis = knowledge of an abnormal condition

prognosis

a forecast of the probable course and outcome of a disease
pro- before
-gnosis = knowledge of an abnormal condition

Diagnostic

pertaining to or establishing a diagnosis
dia =complete
gnose - recognize an abnormal condition
-tic = pertaining to

Therapeutic

A treatment for fa disorder or diseases
therapy = a treatment

electrocardiogram

record of the electrical signals of the heart
combining form electr/o = electricity
cardi/o = heart
suffix -gram = record

infarct

an area of cell death resulting from blockage of its blood supply
in = in
-farct = area of dead tissue

ischemic

pertaining to a blockage of blood flow
-emic = pertaining to a condition of the blood
isch = block

infarction

sudden blockage of an artery
in = in
-farct = area of dead tissue
-ion = action, condition

plural of
-a

-ae
armpit ex.
axilla —> axillae

plural of
-ax

-aces
chest ex.
thorax —> thoraces

plural of
-en

-ina
ex.
lumen —> lumina

plural of
-ex (cortex)

-ices (cortices)

plural of
-is (diagnosis) (epididymis)

-es (diagnoses)
-ides (epididymides)

plural of
-ix (appendix)

-ices
(appendices)

plural of
-ma (carcinoma)

-mata
(carcinomata)

plural of
-on (ganglion)

-a
(ganglia)

plural of
-um (septum)

-a
(septa)

plural of
-us (viscus)

-era
(viscera)