Chapter 1 Medical Terminology

cyan/o

Blue

cyanosis

Blue discoloration of the skin caused by inadequate oxygen in the blood.

erythr/o

Red

erythrocyte

A mature red blood cell.

leuk/o

White

leukocyte

A white blood cell.

melan/o

Black

melanosis

Abnormal deposits of black pigment in body tissues or organs.

poli/o

Gray

poliomyelitis

A viral infection affecting the gray matter of the spinal cord.

-cyte

Cell

-osis

Abnormal condition or disease

-itis

Inflammation

neur/o

Nerve

-plasty

Surgical repair

neuroplasty

Surgical repair of a nerve.

-rrhaphy

Surgical suturing

neurorrhaphy

Surgical suturing of a nerve.

arteri/o

Artery

endarterial

Pertaining to the interior or lining of an artery.

ather/o

Plaque or fatty substance

atheroma

A fatty deposit within the wall of an artery.

arthr/o

Joint

arthralgia

Pain in a joint or joints.

end-

Within

-al

Pertaining to

-oma

Tumor or mass

-algia

Pain

-ectomy

Surgical removal

appendectomy

Surgical removal of the appendix.

-ostomy

Surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body surface.

colostomy

Surgical creation of an artificial opening between the colon and the body surface.

-otomy

Cutting or surgical incision

pyelotomy

A surgical incision into the renal pelvis.

fissure

A groove or crack-like sore; can also describe normal folds of the brain.

fistula

An abnormal passage between two internal organs or between an organ and the body surface.

append

Appendix

col

Colon

cyan/o

Blue

cyanosis

Blue discoloration of the skin caused by inadequate oxygen in the blood.

erythr/o

Red

erythrocyte

A mature red blood cell.

leuk/o

White

leukocyte

A white blood cell.

melan/o

Black

melanosis

Abnormal deposits of black pigment in body tissues or organs.

poli/o

Gray

poliomyelitis

A viral infection affecting the gray matter of the spinal cord.

-cyte

Cell

-osis

Abnormal condition or disease

-itis

Inflammation

neur/o

Nerve

-plasty

Surgical repair

neuroplasty

Surgical repair of a nerve.

-rrhaphy

Surgical suturing

neurorrhaphy

Surgical suturing of a nerve.

arteri/o

Artery

endarterial

Pertaining to the interior or lining of an artery.

ather/o

Plaque or fatty substance

atheroma

A fatty deposit within the wall of an artery.

arthr/o

Joint

arthralgia

Pain in a joint or joints.

end-

Within

-al

Pertaining to

-oma

Tumor or mass

-algia

Pain

-ectomy

Surgical removal

appendectomy

Surgical removal of the appendix.

-ostomy

Surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body surface.

colostomy

Surgical creation of an artificial opening between the colon and the body surface.

-otomy

Cutting or surgical incision

pyelotomy

A surgical incision into the renal pelvis.

fissure

A groove or crack-like sore; can also describe normal folds of the brain.

fistula

An abnormal passage between two internal organs or between an organ and the body surface.

append

Appendix

col

Colon

myc/o

Fungus

mycosis

An abnormal condition or disease caused by a fungus.

myel/o

Bone marrow or spinal cord

myelopathy

Injury, degeneration or disease of the spinal cord.

my/o

Muscle

myopathy

Disease or abnormal condition of muscle tissue.

-pathy

Disease

-ologist

Specialist

dermatologist

A physician specializing in diagnosing and treating skin disorders.

dermat/o

Skin

-ology

The study of

neonatology

The medical specialty concerned with newborn infants and their disorders.

neo-

New

nat

Birth

palpation

Examination using the hands to feel the texture, size, consistency or location of body parts.

palpitation

A pounding or racing heartbeat.

pyel/o

Renal pelvis

pyelitis

Inflammation of the renal pelvis.

py/o

Pus

pyoderma

An acute inflammatory, pus-forming bacterial skin infection.

pyr/o

Fever or fire