medical terminology chapter 1

ia

condition, state, or thing

-ism

disease from a specific cause

itis

inflammation, infection

megaly

enlargement of

osis

abnormal condition

pathy

disease

what’s the difference between ectomy and tomy?

ectomy refers to the surgical removal of something and Tomy refers to the process of making an incision or cut

what’s the difference between gram and graphy

gram refers to a picture and graph refers to the process of recording/filming

metry

measuring (think using meters to measure)

scopy vs scope

scope refers to an instrument that’s used to examine and copy refers to the process of using a scope to examine something.

epi- definition

above, before (think epidermis = top or most above layer of the skin)

what’s the difference between intra and inter

inter (like interstate) means between and intra refers to within (intravenous = within a vein)

peri definition

peri means around (think pericardium = the sac around the heart)

sub definition

below (think subcutaneous as in under the skin)

Brady vs tachy

Brady refers to a slow pace while tachy refers to a quick pace.

an- prefix definition

not, without (think ANesthesia = without feeling or sensation)

dys- prefix

means painful or difficult (think dysphagia = painful to eat and swallow)

frontal plane

divides the body into a front side and backside (frontal = front side & thus a backside as well)

Sagittal plane

divides the body into right and left sides (sagittarius is always right)

Transverse plane

Divides the body into top and left sections (superior and inferior) (think transatlantic crossing horizontally across an ocean).

what’s the difference between medial and lateral?

medial refers to closer to the centerline of the body and lateral refers to being farther from the centerline of the body.