Medical Terminology Chapter 1

The Language of Medicine 13th Edition

root

foundation of the word

suffix

word ending

combining vowel

usually o; links the root to the suffix OR the root to another root

dropped

a combining vowel is _____ before a suffix that begins with a vowel

retained

a combining vowel is _____ between two root words, even if the second root begins with a vowel

anatomic position

determines which root goes before the other when a term contains two or more roots

suffix back to the beginning of the term and across

direction for reading the meaning of medical terms

three general rules for medical terminology

1. READ the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the beginning of the term and across.

2. DROP the combining vowel (usually o) before a suffix beginning with a vowel: gastritis, not “gastroitis.”

3. KEEP the combining vowel between two roots: gastroenterology, not “gastrenterology.”

combining form

root + combining vowel

prefix

small part attached to the beginning of a term

important elements of medical terms

1. ROOT: foundation of the term

2. SUFFIX: word ending

3. PREFIX: word beginning

4. COMBINING VOWEL: vowel (usually o) that links the root to the suffix or the root to another root

5. COMBINING FORM: combination of the root and the combining vowel

greek and latin

most medical terms are derived from ____ and ____ roots

adren/o

gland

adenoma

tumor of a gland

-oma

suffix; tumor or mass

-itis

suffix; inflammation

arthr/o

joint

arthritis

inflammation of a joint

bi/o

life

biology

the study of life

-logy

suffix; study of a process or condition

log

root; study

-y

suffix; process or condition

biopsy

process of viewing living tissue under a microscope

-opsy

suffix; process of viewing

carcin/o

cancerous; cancer

carcinoma

cancerous tumor

cardi/o

heart

cardiology

the study of the heart

cephal/o

head

cephalic

“head first” position for the delivery of an infant

-ic, -ical

suffix; pertaining to

cerebrovascular accident (cva)

stroke, occurs when blood vessels are damaged in the cerebrum and blood is prevented from reaching functional areas of the brain

vascul/o

blood vessel

cerebr/o

cerebrum (largest part of the brain)

cerebral

pertaining to the cerebrum

-al, -ac

suffix; pertaining to

cis/o

to cut

incision

process of cutting into

in-

prefix; into

-ion

suffix; process

ex-

prefix; out, outside of, outward

crin/o

to secrete (to form and give off)

endocrine glands

glands that secrete hormes direction within (into) the bloodstream (e.g. thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal)

endo-

prefix; within

exocrine glands

glands that release their secretions (e.g. saliva, sweat, tears, milk) through tubes (ducts) to the outside of the body

cyst/o

urinary bladder; a sac or a cyst (sac containing fluid)

cystoscopy

process of a visual examination of the urinary bladder

-scopy

suffix; process of a visual examination

scop

root; visual examination

cyt/o

cell

cytology

the study of cells

derm/o

skin

dermatitis

inflammation of the skin

hypodermic

under or below the skin

hypo-

prefix; under or below

electr/o

electricity

electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

recording of the electricity of the heart

-gram

suffix; record

encephal/o

brain

electroencephalogram (EEG)

recording of the electricity of the brain

en-

root; in

enter/o

intestines (usually the small intestine)

enteritis

inflammation of the small intestine

erythr/o

red

erythrocyte

red blood cell; carries oxygen in the blood

-cyte

suffix; cell

gastr/o

stomach

gastrectomy

excision or removal of all or part of the stomach

-ectomy

suffix; excision or removal

gastrotomy

the process of cutting the stomach

-tomy

suffix; the process of cutting

tom-

root; to cut

glyc/o

sugar

hyperglycemia

excessive sugar in the blood

hyper-

prefix; excessive, above, or more than normal

-emia

suffix; blood condition

gnos/o

knowledge

diagnosis

state of complete knowledge

dia-

prefix; complete

-sis

suffix; state or condition of

prognosis

knowledge before

pro-

prefix; before, forward

gynec/o

woman; female

gynecology

the study of the female

hemat/o or hem/o

blood

hematology

the study of the blood

hematoma

mass or collection of blood

-oma (in the case of hematoma)

suffix; mass or collection of blood rather than a growth of cells (tumor)

hemoglobin

protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells

-globin

suffix; protein

hepat/o

liver

hepatitis

inflammation of the liver

iatr/o

treatment, physician

iatrogenic

adverse effects that result from treatment by a physician

-genic

suffix; pertaining to producing, produced by, or produced in

leuk/o

white

leukocyte

white blood cells (help the body fight disease)

log/o

study of

dermatology

the study of the skin