Chapter 1 - Medical Terminology

Root Word

What body part we’re talking about

Combining Form

A root word plus a combining vowel

Suffix

Used to describe root word

Prefix

May be at the beginning or end of word, used to further describe root word

Subhepatic

Pertaining to, under or below liver

C (Card)

Check the word parts in a term

A (Card)

Assign meanings to the word parts

R (Card)

Reverse the suffix to the front of the term

D (Card)

Define the term

Glossitis

Inflammation of tongue

Hepat/o

Liver

Cardi/o

Heart

Cyto

Cell

My/o

Muscle

Gastro

Stomach

Brady

Slow

Tachy

Fast

Hyper

Above, above normal, excessive

Hypo

Below, below normal, deficient

Sub

below, under

Epi

on, over, upon

Algia

Pain

ac, al, ar, ary, iac, ial, ic, ical, ior

Pertaining to

Itis

Inflammation

logy

Study of

ia

Condition

pt, pt.

Patient

c/o

Complains of, complaining of

stat/STAT

Immediately

WNL

Within normal limits

ht

height

wt

weight

Anatomy

The study of the structures of the body

Physiology

The study of the functions of the body structures

Pathophysiology

The study of disease

Midsagittal Plane

Divides the body into equal left and right halves

Transverse Plane

Divides the body into upper and lower sections

Anterior

Front

Ventral

Belly Side (front)

Posterior

Back, behind

Dorsal

Back of the body

Medial

Near the midline

Lateral

Near the side of the body

Proximal

Near the point of origin

Distal

Away from point of origin

Superior

Closer to the top of the head

Inferior

Closer to the soles of the feet

Cephalic

Near the head

Caudal

Near the tail of inferior end

Erect

Upright

Fowler’s Position

Lying down, head and knees tilted up

Knee Chest

Downward dog

Lateral

Side

Prone

Face down, lying down

Sim’s position

Knee up, side lying position

Supine

Face up

Medial

Near the midline or center of the body

Supine Position

Body position used for CT and MRI scans

Right Hypochondriac Region

Upper right region

Right Lumbar Region

Middle right region

Right iliac region

lower right region

Epigastric region

Upper middle region

Umbilical Region

Middle, middle region

Hypogastric Region

Lower middle region

Left hypochondriac region

Upper left region

Left lumbar region

Middle left region

Left iliac region

Lower left region

Thoracic Cavity

Protects the heart and lungs

Umbilical Region

Abdominal region that contains the belly button

Cell Membrane

Surrounds the cell and separates the cell from its external environment

Cytoplasm

Sticky, semi fluid material inside membrane that holds organelles and nucleus

Organelles

Specialized structures that allow specific functions to occur

Lysosome (organelle)

Helps with digestion in cell

Ribosome (organelle)

Protein formation in cell

Mitochondria

Converts nutrients to energy

Nucleus

Control center for cell and contains DNA

Epithelial Tissue

Forms skin, organ linings

Connective Tissue

Supports and connects organs and body tissues

Muscle Tissue

Contracts to produce bodily movement

Nervous Tissue

Receives and conducts electrochemical impulses to and from the brain

Acute

Sudden or rapid onset of illness/disease

Autoimmune

Immune system attacks own tissues

Benign

Noncancerous, non life threatening

Chronic

Progressive illness/disease, no cure

Congenital

Condition present and birth

Debilitating

Having a weakening effect

Endogenous

Condition that originates

Epidemic

Sudden, widespread outbreak of illness

Exogenous

Condition that originates from outside the body

Genetic

Inherited, passed on from one’s parents

Idiopathic

Disease with no known cause

Infectious

Capable of causing an infection

Inflammatory

Marked by inflammation (redness, heat, fever, and swelling)

Ischemic

Block of blood flow to an organ or tissue

Malignant

Cancerous; may be life threatening

Metabolic

Disorder that interferes with normal metabolism

Neoplastic

A new growth

Nosocomial

Infection acquired from being in a hospital

Opportunistic

Pathogen that invades the body when the immune system is low

Syndrome

A set of signs or symptoms that occur together as a part of a disease process