Chapter 1: Introduction

4 parts of medical terms

* word root
* combining vowel
* prefix
* suffix

word roots

foundation of medical term, provides general meaning and often indicates to body system or action

can a term have more than one word root?

yes!

combining vowel/form

a vowel that links the word root to another word root or a suffix (“o”)

combining vowel rules

1. don’t use if the suffix begins with a vowel
2. use between 2 word roots even if the second word starts with a vowel

study of the heart

cardiology

study of the stomach

gastrology

study of the skin

dermatology

study of the eye

ophthalmology

study of immunity

immunology

study of the kidney

nephrology

study of the blood

hematology

study of females

gynecology

study of the nerve

neurology

study of disease

pathology

what is the meaning of osteoarthritis?

1. oste/o/arthr/itis
2. oste: bone, o: combining vowel, arthr: joint, itis: inflammation
3. inflammation of the bones and joints

what is the meaning of gastroenteritis?

1. gastr/o/enter/itis
2. gastr: stomach, o: combining vowel, enter: small intestine, itis: inflammation
3. inflammation of the stomach and small intestine

bi/o

* word root
* life

what is the meaning of biology?

the study of life

carcin/o

* word root
* cancer

what is the meaning of carcinoma?

cancerous tumor

cardi/o

* word root
* heart

what is the meaning of cardiac?

pertaining to the heart

chem/o

chemical

what is the meaning of chemotherapy?

treatment with chemicals

cis/o

to cut

what is the meaning of incision?

process of cutting into

dermat/o

skin

what is the meaning of dermatology?

study of the skin

enter/o

small intestine

what is the meaning of enteric?

pertaining to the small intestine

gastr/o

stomach

what is the meaning of gastric?

pertaining to the stomach

gynec/o

female

what is the meaning of gynecology?

study of females

hemat/o

blood

what is the meaning of hematic?

pertaining to the blood

immun/o

immunity

what is the meaning of immunology?

study of immunity

laryng/o

larynx

what is the meaning of laryngeal?

pertaining to the larynx (voice box)

nephr/o

kidney

what is the meaning of nephromegaly?

enlarged kidney

neur/o

nerve

what is the meaning of neural?

pertaining to a nerve

ophthalm

eye

what is the meaning of ophthalmic?

pertaining to the eye

ot/o

ear

what is the meaning of otic?

pertaining to the ear

path/o

disease

what is the meaning of pathology?

study of disease

pulmon/o

lung

what is the meaning of pulmonary?

pertaining to the lungs

rhin/o

nose

what is the meaning of rhinoplasty?

surgical repair of the nose

a-

without

what is the meaning of aphasia?

without speech

an-

without

what is the meaning of anoxia?

without oxygen

anti-

against

what is the meaning of antibiotic?

against life

auto-

self

what is the meaning of autograft?

a graft from one’s own body

brady-

slow

what is the meaning of bradycardia?

slow heartbeat

de-

without

what is the meaning of depigmentation?

without pigment

dys-

painful, difficult, abnormal

what is the meaning of dysuria?

painful urination

what is the meaning of dyspnea?

difficulty breathing

what is the meaning of dystrophy?

abnormal development

endo-

within, inner

what is the meaning of endoscope?

instrument to view within

what is the meaning of endocardium?

inner lining of the heart

epi-

above

what is the meaning of epigastric?

above the stomach

eu-

normal

what is the meaning of eupnea?

normal breathing

ex-

outward

what is the meaning of exostosis?

condition of outward, or projecting, bone

extra-

outside of

what is the meaning of extracorporeal?

outside of the body

hetero-

different

what is the meaning of heterograft?

graft (skin graft) from another species

homo-

same

what is the meaning of homograft?

graft (skin graft) from the same species

hyper-

excessive

what is the meaning of hypertrophy?

excessive development

hypo-

below, insufficient

what is the meaning of hypodermic?

below the skin

what is the meaning of hypoglycemia?

insufficient blood sugar

in-

not, inward

what is the meaning of infertility?

not fertile

what is the meaning of inhalation?

to breathe in

inter-

between

what is the meaning of intervertebral?

between the vertebrae

intra-

within

what is the meaning of intravenous?

within a vein

macro-

large

what is the meaning of macrotia?

having large ears