Medical Terminology (WIP)

Plus prefixes, root words, and suffixes

Posterior

The back surface of the body; the side away from you in the standard anatomic position.

Ventral

The anterior surface of the body

Bilateral

A body part or condition that appears on both sides of the midline

Fowler position

An inclined position in which the head of the bed is raised.

Flexion

The bending of a joint

Quadrants

The sections of the abdominal cavity, in which two imaginary lines intersect at the umbilicus, dividing the abdomen into four equal areas.

Proximal

Closer to the trunk.

Plantar

The bottom surface of the foot

Medial

Parts of the body that lie closer to the midline; also called inner structures.

Apex

The pointed extremity of a conical structure.

Abduction

Motion of a limb away from the midline.

Superficial

Closer to or on the skin.

Superior

Above a body part or nearer to the head.

Supine

Lying face up.

Extension

The straightening of a joint.

Distal

Farther from the trunk or nearer to the free end of the extremity.

Dorsal

The posterior surface of the body, including the back of the hand.

Inferior

Below a body part or nearer to the feet.

Prone

Lying face down.

Deep

Farther inside the body and away from the skin.

Lateral

Parts of the body that lie farther from the midline; also called outer structures.

Palmar

The forward-facing part of the hand in the anatomic position.

Adduction

Motion of a limb toward the midline.

Anterior

The front surface of the body; the side facing you in the standard anatomic position.

Cardi

heart

Hepat

liver

Nephr

kidney

Neur

nerves

Psych

mind

Thorac

chest

Hyper-

over, excessive, high

Hypo-

under, below normal

Tachy-

rapid, fast

Brady-

slow

Pre-

before

Post-

After

-al

Pertaining to

-Algia

Pertaining to pain

-ectomy

Surgical removal of

-ic

Pertaining to

-itis

Inflammation

-logy

Study of

-logist

Specialist

-megaly

Enlargement

-meter

Measuring instrument

-oma

Tumor (usually referring to cancer)

-pathy

Disease

Osteo/o

Bone

Pulmon/o

Lungs

Lateral

Farthest from the midline

Acidosis

When the body’s blood becomes too acidic

Acidotic

Used to describe acidosis

Acute

Conditions that have a sudden onset, develop rapidly, and are of short duration

Agonal

Pattern of irregular, shallow, and gasping breaths that occur near death

Alkalosis

Increase alkalinity of the blood

Alkalotic

Used to describe alkalosis

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs that are responsible for gas exchange between the blood and the atmosphere

Aorta

The largest artery in the body that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to all other organs and tissues

Apnea

Temporary cessation of breathing

Ataxia

Lack of muscle coordination and balance

Ataxic

Used to describe Ataxia

Atelectasis

A partial or complete collapse of the lung

Atrial

Used to describe anything relating to the two upper chambers of the heart (the atria)

Biots

A pattern of deep, irregular breaths followed by unpredictable periods of apnea

Bradycardia

Slow heart rate

Bradypnea

Abnormally slow breathing rate

Bronchiole(s)

Tiny branch of air tubes in the lungs

Bronchiolitis

Inflammation of the bronchioles

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to the lungs

Bronchus

A large airway that branches off from the trachea and carries air into the lungs

Capillary

Tiny blood vessel that connects arterioles (small arteries) to venules (small veins)

They are the smallest and most abundant blood vessel in the body

Capnography

Medical procedure that displays concentration of CO2 exhaled in breath over time

Carina

Ridge of cartilage at the trachea’s base that separates the openings of the right and left main bronchi

Cephalic

The head or head region of the body

Cerebral

Meaning or pertaining to the cerebrum or the brain

Cheyne-Stokes

A pattern of breathing characterized by alternating periods of rapid, deep breathing followed by pauses or shallow breathing

Chronic

Condition that has gradual onset, and persists for an extended period of time

Coronary

The blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients

Croup

Viral infection that causes inflammation of the larynx, trachea, and sometimes the bronchi

Cutaneous

Refers to the skin: conditions, treatments, or procedures

Diffusion

Diphtheria

Dyspnea

Edema

Effusion

Embolus(-ism)

Emesis

Emphysema

Epidemic

Epiglottis

Epiglottitis

Esophageal

Esophagus

Eupnea

Exhalation

Fibrillate

Gastric

Glottis

Gram