Medical Terminology- Chapter 1

Root Words

Root Words

Central part of word

Combining Vowel

Vowel at the end of root word

Combining Form

root word + combining vowel

prefix

front part of word

Suffix

end part of word

Arthr/o

joints

cardi/o

heart

cephal/o

head

cost/o

rib

gastr/o

stomach

hepat/o

liver

infer/o

below

neur/o

nerve

super/o

above

ante-

before

bi-

two; both

endo-

in; within

hypo-

low

hyper-

high

peri-

surrounding

tachy-

fast

-algia

pain

-emia

blood condition

-itis

inflammation of

-logy

study of

-osis

abnormal condition

-tomy

process of cutting

Anatomy

study of structures of the body

Physiology

Study of function of the body

Anterior

front of body

Ventral

belly

Posterior

backside

Dorsal

back of body

Medial

near midline

Lateral

Near sides of body

Superficial

Closer to surface of body

Deep

Farther from surface

Proximal

Near point of origin

Distal

Away from point of origin

Superior

Above; Closer to head

Inferior

Low; Closer to soles of feet

Cephalic

Head

Caudal

Most inferior end

Epithelial Tissue

Forms skin

Connective Tissue

supports and connects organs and body tissues.

Muscle Tissue

Contracts to produce bodily movements

Organs

Composed of several kinds of tissues that work together

abd

Abnominal

c/o

complaints of

CXR

Chest x-ray

ER

Emergency Room

ht

Height

OB

Obstetrician

GYN

Gynecologist

Right Hypochondrium

A

Right Lumbar

B

Right Illiac Region

C

Epigastric Region

D

Umbilical Region

E

Hypogastrium

F

Left Hypochondrium

G

Left Lumbar

H

Left Iliac Region

I

mening

membrane around brain

sarco-

flesh

myo- muscul-

muscle

cyto/o

cell

hist/o

tissue

lipo- adip-

Fat

Gluc- Glyc-

enter/o

intestines

path/o

disease, suffering, emotion, feeling

-oma

tumor,swelling

-ectomy

surgical removal

-plasty

surgical repair

Homeostasis

state of balance in the body