Introduction to Medical Terminology

Vocabulary flashcards covering the components of medical terminology, including roots, suffixes, prefixes, combining forms, and rules for plurals and pronunciation.

Eponyms

Medical terms that use a person’s name, such as Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease.

Word Root

The foundation of most medical terms that gives the essential meaning, often referring to a body structure, organ, or body system.

arthr

Word root meaning joint.

carcin

Word root meaning cancer.

cardi

Word root meaning heart.

cephal

Word root meaning head.

electr

Word root meaning electricity.

gastr

Word root meaning stomach.

hepat

Word root meaning liver.

my

Word root meaning muscle.

oste

Word root meaning bone.

rhin

Word root meaning nose.

Suffix

A word part found at the end of medical terms that provides information about conditions, diseases, or procedures.

-ectomy

Suffix meaning surgical removal.

-gram

Suffix meaning a record.

-itis

Suffix meaning inflammation.

-logy

Suffix meaning study of.

-megaly

Suffix meaning enlarged.

-pathy

Suffix meaning disease.

Prefix

A word part found at the beginning of medical terms that provides information about abnormal conditions, numbers, positions, or times.

a-

Prefix meaning without.

bi-

Prefix meaning two.

dys-

Prefix meaning abnormal, difficult, or painful.

inter-

Prefix meaning between.

post-

Prefix meaning after.

sub-

Prefix meaning under.

Combining Vowel

A word part (often the letter o) used to connect word roots to each other or to a suffix to make terms easier to spell and say.

Combining Form

The combination of a word root and a combining vowel, written as root/vowel.

Dysmenorrhea

A medical term meaning abnormal, difficult, or painful menstrual discharge.

Plural Rule for -a

To form a plural from a singular word ending in -a, keep the -a and add -e (e.g., vertebra becomes vertebrae).

Plural Rule for -us

To form a plural from a singular word ending in -us, drop the -us and add -i (e.g., alveolus becomes alveoli).

Plural Rule for -um

To form a plural from a singular word ending in -um, drop the -um and add -a (e.g., ovum becomes ova).

Plural Rule for -ax

To form a plural from a singular word ending in -ax, drop the -x and add -ces (e.g., thorax becomes thoraces).

Pronunciation of pn-

When at the beginning of a word, pronounce only the n (e.g., pneumonia); in the middle of a word, pronounce both hard p and hard n (e.g., tachypnea).

Pronunciation of ps-

When at the beginning of a word, pronounce only the s (e.g., psychiatry).

Combining Vowel Rule (Root + Suffix)

If the suffix begins with a consonant, use a combining vowel; if the suffix begins with a vowel, do not use a combining vowel.

Combining Vowel Rule (Root + Root)

A combining vowel is always used between two word roots, even if the second root starts with a vowel.