Chapter 3 Medical Terminology

Community Bio

-cele

hernia

example: rectocele — a condition in which weakened muscles in your pelvis cause your rectum to sag against your vaginal wall

-centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid

example: amniocentesis — a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the amniotic sac to extract amniotic fluid for testing or treatment

-coccus

berry-shaped bacteria

example: streptococcus — is a large genus of spherical, gram-positive bacteria that tend to grow in chains or pairs

-dynia

pain

example: pleurodynia: pain in the lungs

-ectomy

excision, removal

example: laryngectomy — a surgical procedure to remove part or all of the larynx (voice box)

-genesis

condition of producing, forming

example: pathogenesis — the biological process by which a disease or disorder originates and develops in the body

-graph

instrument for recording

example: electroencephalograph — a medical test that records the electrical activity of your brain using small, metal discs (electrodes) attached to your scalp

-graphy

process of recording

example: angiography — a medical imaging test that uses X-rays and a special contrast dye to look inside your blood vessels (arteries and veins)

-lysis

breakdown, destruction, seperation

example: hemolysis — the breakdown or destruction of red blood cells

-malacia

softening

example: osteomalacia — a metabolic bone disease that means "soft bones"

-megaly

enlargement

example: splenomegaly — an abnormal enlargement of the spleen

-osis

condition, usually abnormal

example: necrosis — the localized death of living tissue caused by factors outside the cell

-pathy

disease condition

example: cardiomyopathy — diseases of the heart muscle (myocardium) that make it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body

-penia

deficiency

example: erythropenia — a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells

-phobia

fear

example: acrophobia — an intense, irrational, and persistent fear of heights

-plasia

development, formation, growth

example: achondroplasia — without cartilage formation

-plasty

surgical repair

example: angioplasty — a medical procedure used to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels

-ptosis

drooping, sagging, prolapse

example: blepharoptosis — a medical condition in which the upper eyelid sags or falls lower than its normal position

-sclerosis

hardening

example: arteriosclerosis — hardening of the arteries

-stasis

stopping, controlling

example: hemostasis — the body's natural physiological process that stops bleeding and repairs a damaged blood vessel

-stomy

opening to form a mouth (stoma)

example: colostomy — a surgical procedure that creates an opening (called a stoma) from the colon (large intestine) through the abdominal wall so that stool and gas can exit the body without passing through the rectum

-therapy

treatment

example: hydrotherapy — the use of water—in pools, hot tubs, baths, or via jets and ice packs—to help treat physical symptoms, relax muscles, and support recovery

-trophy

development, nourishment

example: atrophy — the decrease in the size, mass, or number of cells in a body part, tissue, or organ after it has reached a normal size

-er

one who

example: radiographer — a licensed healthcare professional who operates specialized medical imaging equipment to capture internal body pictures

-ia

condition

example: leukemia — a type of cancer that affects the body's blood-forming tissues

-ole

little, small

example: arteriole — a very small blood vessel

-ule

little, small

example: venule — a very small blood vessel in the microcirculation

-um, -ium

structure, tissue

example: pericardium — a thin, fluid-filled sac that encloses the heart and the roots of the major blood vessels

-us

structure, substance

example: mucus — a thick, slippery, gel-like fluid produced by the mucous membranes that line various parts of the body

-ar, -ary

pertaining to

example: tonsillar — relating to or affecting the tonsils

-genic

pertaining to producing, produced by or in

example: carcinogenic — causing cancer or tending to produce cancer

-oid

resembling

example: cuboid — having a cube-like shape (e.g., the cuboid bone in the foot)

-ous

pertaining to

example: mucous — relating to, resembling, containing, or secreting mucus

-tic

pertaining to

example: necrotic — living tissue—in either animals, humans, or plants—that is dead or dying as a result of disease, injury, trauma, or a loss of blood supply

erythrocytes

red blood cells

leukocytes

white blood cells

thrombocytes

clotting cells/platelets

Where are erythrocytes formed? Thrombocytes?

in bone marrow

What is the function of erythrocytes?

To carry oxygen from lungs to all body cells (important protein: hemoglobin)

What is the function of thrombocytes?

To clot the blood after an injury

What are the two main categories of leukocytes?

granulocytes and mononuclear leukocytes

What are the three types of granulocytes?

eosinophils (present in allergic reactions), basophils (play a role in inflammation, and neutrophils (important disease-fighting cells)

What are the two types of mononuclear leukocytes?

lymphocytes (fight disease by producing antibodies), and monocytes (engulf and destroy cellular debris)