Medical Language: Word Parts, Body Planes, Diseases, and Specialties

Medical language

The language of the healthcare profession, and medical words are the tools of the trade.

Etymology

The study of word origins.

Combining form

A type of medical word part that is nearly identical, similar, or differs.

Suffix

A type of medical word part that indicates an adjective, process/action, disease, procedure, or specialist.

Prefix

A type of medical word part that indicates location/direction, amount/number/speed, or degree/quality.

Anatomical position

A standard position of the body used as a reference in anatomy.

Body planes

Imaginary lines that divide the body into sections.

Etiology

The cause or origin of a disease or disorder.

Symptomatology

The study of symptoms associated with diseases.

Syndrome

A group of symptoms that consistently occur together.

Exacerbation

A worsening of a disease or its symptoms.

Remission

A decrease in the severity or symptoms of a disease.

Relapse/Recurrence

The return of a disease after a period of improvement.

Sequela

A condition that is the consequence of a previous disease or injury.

Sign

An objective indication of a disease that can be observed or measured.

Symptom

A subjective experience reported by the patient indicating a disease.

Healthcare professionals

Individuals who provide health care services and are categorized into 15 categories.

Pluralization rule for English nouns ending in -y

Change to -ies

Pluralization rule for Greek nouns ending in -is

Change to -ides

Pluralization rule for Greek nouns ending in -nx

Change to -nges

Pluralization rule for Latin nouns ending in -a

Change to -ae

Pluralization rule for Latin nouns ending in -us

Change to -i

Medical word parts

The puzzle pieces that fit together to build a medical word.

abdomin/o-

abdomen

arteri/o-

artery

intestin/o-

intestine

muscul/o-

muscle

thyroid/o-

thyroid gland

tonsill/o-

tonsil

ven/o-

vein

arthr/o-

joint

cardi/o-

heart

derm/o-

skin

gastr/o-

stomach

mamm/o-

breast

nas/o-

nose

cost/o-

rib

cyan/o-

blue

enter/o-

intestine

hepat/o-

liver

lapar/o-

abdomen

leuk/o-

blood

-ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -ic, -ine, -ive, -ous

pertaining to

-ation

being, having, or process

-ion

action or condition

-ia

condition; state; thing

-ism

disease from a specific cause.

-itis

infection of; inflammation of

-megaly

enlargement

-oma

mass; tumor

-osis

abnormal condition

-pathy

disease

-ectomy

surgical removal

-gram

picture; record

-graphy

process of recording

-metry

process of measuring

-scope

instrument used to examine

-scopy

process of using an instrument to examine

-tomy

process of cutting or making an incision

-iatry

medical treatment

-ics

knowledge; practice

-ist

person who specializes in; thing that specializes in.

-logy

study of

epi-

above; upon

inter-

between

intra-

within

peri-

around

post-

after; behind

pre-

before; in front of

sub-

below or under; less than

trans-

across; through

bi-

two

brady-

slow

hemi-

one half

hyper-

above; more than normal

hypo-

below; deficient

poly-

many; much

quadri-

four

tachy-

fast

tri-

three

an-

not; without

anti-

against

dys-

abnormal; difficult; painful

re-

again and again; backward; unable to

coronal plane

divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.

sagittal plane

divides the body into left and right sections.

transverse plane

divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) sections.

medial

moving toward the midline of the body.

lateral

moving away from the midline of the body.

anterior

moving toward the front of the body.

posterior

moving toward the back of the body.

cephalad

moving toward the head.

caudad

moving toward the tailbone.

Proximal

Moving away from the fingers or toes toward the trunk.

Distal

Moving away from the trunk of the body toward the fingers or toes.

Internal

Refers to the inside of the body or an organ.

External

Refers to an outer part of the body or an organ.

Body Cavity

A hollow space surrounded by bones or muscles that support and protect the structures inside.

Cranial, thoracic, abdominal, pelvic, lumbar, spinal Cavities

five main cavities of the human body.

Right Upper (RUQ), left upper (LUQ), right lower (RLQ), left lower (LLQ) Quadrants

four quadrants of the abdominopelvic cavity.