Medical Terminology Chp 1

Medical words are composed of what 4 elements?

word root, combining form, suffix, prefix

In medical terminology, what does a suffix indicate?

a procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech

What does a prefix indicate?

number, time, position, negation

3 rules of word building

Rule 1: A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel.

Rule 2: A combining form (root + o) links a suffix that begins with a consonant.

Rule 3: A combining form (root + o) links a root to another root to form a compound word, even if the second root begins with a vowel.

plural of suffix -is (ex. diagnosis)

-es (ex. diagnoses)

plural of suffix -us (ex. bronchus)

-i (ex. bronchi)

plural of suffix -y (ex. deformity)

-ies (ex. deformities)

plural of suffix -a (ex. pleura)

-ae (ex. pleurae)

plural of suffix -ax (ex. thorax)

-aces (ex. thoraces)

plural of suffix -en (ex. lumen)

-ina (ex. lumina)

plural of suffix -ma (ex. carcinoma)

-mata (ex. carcinomata)

plural of suffix -on (ex. ganglion)

-a (ex. ganglia)

plural of suffix -um (ex. bacterium)

-a (ex. bacteria)

plural of suffix -ix (ex. appendix)

-ices (ex. appendices)

plural of suffix -ex (ex. apex)

-ices (ex. apices)

-centesis | thoracentesis

surgical puncture

-clasis | osteoclasis

surgical fracture

-desis | arthrodesis

binding, fixation

-ectomy | appendectomy

excision, removal

-lysis | hemolysis

separation, destruction, loosening

-pexy | nephropexy

fixation of an organ

-pepsia | dyspepsia

digestion

-plasty | rhinoplasty

surgical repair

-rrhaphy | herniorrhaphy

suture

-stomy | colostomy

forming an opening/mouth

-tome | microtome

instrument to cut

-tomy | laparotomy

incision

-tripsy | lithotripsy

crushing

-gram | electrocardiogram

record, writing

-graph | electrocardiograph

instrument for recording

-graphy | angiography

process of recording

-meter | spirometer

instrument for measuring

-metry | spirometry

act of measuring

-scope | otoscope

instrument for examining

-scopy | colonoscopy

visual examination

-algia, -dynia | myalgia & mastodynia

pain

-cele | hydrocele

hernia, swelling

-ectasis | bronchiectasis

dilation, expansion

-edema | lymphedema

swelling

-emesis | hyperemesis

vomiting

-emia | anemia

blood condition

-iasis | cholelithiasis

abnormal condition

-itis | dermatitis

inflammation

-lith | nephrolith

stone, calculus

-malacia | osteomalacia

softening

-megaly | cardiomegaly

enlargement

-oma | lipoma

tumor

-osis | cyanosis

abnormal condition, increase

-pathy | neuropathy

disease

-penia | leukopenia

decrease, deficiency

-phobia | claustrophobia

fear

-plegia | cardioplegia

paralysis

-rrhage, -rrhagia | hemorrhage & menorrhagia

bursting forth

-rrhea | diarrhea

discharge, flow

-rrhexis | angiorrhexis

rupture

-stenosis | aortic stenosis

narrowing, stricture

-toxic | hepatotoxic

poison

-tocia | dystocia

birth

-trophy | hypertrophy

nourishment, development

-al, -ac, -ar, -ary, -ic, -ile, -ous | neural, cardiac, muscular, pulmonary, gastric, febrile, & venous

indicative of an adjective

-esis, -ia, -ism | diuresis, tachycardia, hyperthyroidism

indicative of a condition

-ician, -ist | pediatrician & perfusionist

indicative of a specialist

-iatry | psychiatry

indicative of a medicine or treatment

a-, an- | atypical & anuria

without, not

circum-, peri- | circumoral & pericardial

around

dia-, trans- | diaphoresis & transdermal

through, across

dipl-, diplo- | diplopia & diploid

double

endo-, intra- | endocardium & intravenous

in, within

homo-, homeo- | homograft & homeostasis

same

hypo- | hypoglycemia

under, below, deficient

macro- | macrocyte

large

micro- | microcyte

small

mono-, uni- | monocyte, unilateral

one

post- | postoperative

after, behind

pre-, pro- | preoperative & prognosis

before, in front of

primi- | primigravida

first

retro- retroperitoneal

backward, behind

super- | superficial

above, over, excessive, or beyond normal