med term ch 1-3
Brady- | Slow |
Dia- | Complete, through |
Hyper- | Above, Excessive |
Hypo- | Below, insufficient |
Plast- | To form, develop |
Tachy- | Fast |
Arthr/o | Joint |
Cardi/o | Heart |
Electr/o | Electricity |
Gastr/o | Stomach |
Rhin/o | Nose |
-gram | Record or recording of |
-iac | Converts the word to adjective form, meaning “pertaining to” |
-itis | Inflammation |
-logist | One who studies |
-logy | Study of |
-megaly | Enlarged |
-plasty | Repair |
ECG (or EKG) | Electrocardiogram |
PCP | Primary care physician |
pt | Patient |
Dia- | Complete, through |
Hyper- | Above, excessive |
Pro- | Before, forward |
Tachy- | Fast |
Eti/o | Cause |
Gastr/o | Stomach |
Gnosis | Root word meaning knowledge |
Nas/o | Nose |
Ocul/o | Eye |
Ot/o | Ear |
Pharyng/o | Throat |
Pulmon/o | Lung |
Rhin/o | Nose |
-al | Pertaining to |
-ar | Pertaining to |
-ic | Pertaining to |
-itis | Inflammation of |
-logist | Specialist |
-logy | Study (process of) |
-pnea | Breathing |
-rrhea | Discharge, flow |
-scope | Instrument for visual examination |
-tension | Pressure |
-thermia | Temperature |
BP | Blood pressure |
CC | Chief concern |
COPD | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
EHR | Electronic health records |
HEENT | Head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat |
HR | Heart rate |
Hx | History |
NKA | No known allergies |
OTC | Over-the-counter |
PMH | Past medical history |
RR | Respiratory rate |
Anti- | Against |
Epi- | Above, on, upon |
Intra- | Within, into |
Para- | Outside |
Trans- | Across |
Bronch/o | Airways |
Enter/o | Intestines |
Gastr/o | Stomach |
Nas/o | Nose |
Pharmac/o | Drugs |
Prurit/o | Itch |
Strept/o | Twisted chain |
-al | Pertaining to |
-ar | Pertaining to |
-coccus | Spherical shape |
-dermal | Skin |
-ic | Pertaining to |
-ist | Specialist |
-logist | Specialist |
cap | Capsule |
DEA | Drug Enforcement Administration |
DPI | Dry powder inhaler |
FDA | Food and Drug Administration |
GI | Gastrointestinal |
ID | Intradermal |
IM | Intramuscular |
IV | Intravenous |
MDI | Metered-dose inhaler |
NG | Nasogastric tube |
npo* | Nothing by mouth |
OTC | Over-the-counter |
po* | By mouth |
pr or R | Per rectal; rectal route |
Rx | Prescription |
SC | Subcutaneous |
supp | Suppositories |
SVN | Small-volume nebulizer |
tab | Tablet |
TOP | Topical route |
Contra- | Against or not |
Ultra- | Beyond |
Anter/o | Front |
Bronch/o | Airway |
Lip/o | Fat |
Poster/o | Back or behind |
Pharmaceut/o | Drug |
Radi/o | X-ray, radioactive |
Son/o | Sound |
Techn/o | Skill |
Tom/o | Section |
-al | Pertaining to |
-ical | Pertaining to |
-ior | Pertaining to |
-graph | Instrument for recording |
-grapher | One who is skilled in producing recordings |
-graphy | Process of recording |
-logist | One who studies |
-logy | Study of |
-lucent | To shine |
-oma | Tumor |
-opaque | Obscure |
AP | Anteroposterior view |
CT | Computed tomography |
CXR | Chest X-ray |
MRI | Magnetic resonance imaging |
PA | Posteroanterior view |
PET | Positron emission tomography |
Kilo- | 1000 times | 103 | kg |
Hecto- | 100 times | 102 | h |
Deca- | 10 times | 101 | da |
Deci- | One tenth | 10−1 | dL |
Centi- | One hundredth | 10−2 | cm |
Milli- | One thousandth | 10−3 | m |
Micro- | One millionth | 10−6 | µ |
Gram | Used for weight |
Liter | Used for volume |
Meter | Used for length |
A- | No, without |
An- | No, without |
Anti- | Against |
Calc- | Calcium |
Hyper- | Above, excessive |
Hypo- | Below normal, deficient |
Macro- | Large |
Mono- | One |
Poly- | Many |
Amyl/o | Starch |
Bas/o | Base |
Bilirubin/o | Bilirubin |
Chlor | Chloride |
Cyan/o | Blue |
Cyt/o | Cells |
Eosin/o | Red or rosy coloration |
Erythr/o | Red |
Gluc/o | Sugar |
Glyc/o | Sugar or glucose |
Hem/o | Blood |
Hepat/o | Liver |
Kal/o | Potassium |
Leuk/o | White |
Lip/o | Fat |
Magnes/o | Magnesium |
Morph/o | Shaped |
Natr/o | Sodium |
Neutr/o | Neutral |
Nucle/o | Nucleus |
Phag/o | Swallow |
Phleb/o | Vein |
Phosphat/o | Phosphate |
Splen/o | Spleen |
Strept/o | Chains |
Thromb/o | Clot |
Tom/o | To cut into or insert |
Ur/o | Urine |
Xanth/o | Yellow |
-ase | Enzyme, “to break down” |
-blast | Immature |
-coccus | Sphere |
-crit | Separate |
-cyte | Cell |
-emia | Blood |
-globin | Protein |
-logy | Study of |
-megaly | Enlarged |
-meter | Measure |
-osis | Condition of |
-penia | Deficiency |
-phage | Eat or swallow |
-phil | Attraction to |
-poiesis | Formation |
-poietin | Substance that forms |
-uria | Urine |
A1c | Glycated hemoglobin |
ALP | Alkaline phosphatase |
ALT | Alanine aminotransferase |
AST | Aspartate aminotransferase |
BUN or SUN | Blood urea nitrogen; also known as serum urea nitrogen |
C&S | Culture and sensitivity |
Ca | Calcium |
CBC | Complete blood count |
Cl− | Chloride |
CMP | Comprehensive metabolic panel |
Diff | Differential leukocyte count |
HCT | Hematocrit (this abbreviation should be avoided because of the possibility of confusion with hydrocortisone and hydrochlorothiazide; when in doubt, write it out) |
HDL | High-density lipoprotei |
Hgb | Hemoglobin |
K+ | Potassium ion |
LDL | Low-density lipoprotein |
Mg | Magnesium |
Na+ | Sodium ion |
PLT | Platelets |
PO4 | Phosphate |
PT | Prothrombin time |
RBC | Red blood cells |
sg | Specific gravity |
UA | Urine analysis, urinalysis |
UTI | Urinary tract infection |
WBC | White blood cells |
Dia- | Through |
En- | Within |
Hyper- | Above, excessive |
Neo- | New |
Adren/o | Adrenal glands |
Arteri/o | Arteries |
Arthr/o | Joint |
Audi/o | Hearing |
Bi/o | Life |
Bronch/o | Bronchial tubes (airways) |
Cardi/o | Heart |
Cephal/o | Head |
Chem/o | Chemical, drug |
Col/o, Colon/o | Colon (large intestines) |
Crin/o | To secrete |
Cutane/o | Skin |
Cyst/o, Vesic/o | Bladder |
Dermat/o | Skin |
Encephal/o | Brain |
Enter/o | Intestines (small intestines) |
Gastr/o | Stomach |
Geront/o | Old age |
Gynec/o | Female, woman |
Hemat/o, Hem/o | Blood |
Hepat/o | Liver |
Hyster/o | Woman |
Immun/o | Immune |
Laryng/o | Larynx, voice box |
Lymph/o | Lymph |
My/o, Muscul/o | Muscles |
Myel/o | Bone marrow, spinal cord |
Neonat/o | Newborn |
Nephr/o, Ren/o | Kidney |
Neur/o | Nerves |
Obstetr/o | Childbirth, pregnancy |
Ocul/o, Ophthalm/o | Eye (structures) |
Onc/o | Tumor |
Onych/o, Ungu/o | Nails |
Optic/o, Opt/o | Eye, (vision) |
Or/o | Mouth |
Orchid/o | Testes |
Orth/o | Straight |
Oste/o | Bones |
Ot/o | Ears |
Ovari/o, Oophor/o | Ovaries |
Pancreat/o | Pancreas |
Ped/o | Child, foot |
Pharyng/o | Pharynx (throat) |
Phleb/o, Ven/o, Veni/o | Veins |
Proct/o | Anus |
Prostat/o | Prostate |
Pneum/o, pneumon/o | Lungs, air, gas |
Pulmon/o | Lungs |
Rect/o | Rectum |
Rheumat/o | Watery flow |
Rhin/o, Nas/o | Nose |
Seb/o | Sebaceous glands |
Spin/o | Spine |
Splen/o | Spleen |
Sud/o, Hidr/o | Sweat glands |
Thym/o | Thymus gland |
Thyr/o | Thyroid gland |
Tonsill/o | Tonsil |
Tox/o | Poison |
Trache/o | Trachea |
Trich/o, Pil/o | Hair |
Ur/o | Urine, urinary tract |
Urethr/o | Urethra |
Uter/o | Uterus |
-emia | Blood condition |
-ician | Specialist |
-ics | Pertaining to |
-ism | Condition, process |
-itis | Inflammation |
-metrist | One who measures |
-metry | The process of measuring |
-nate | Born |
-opsy | View of |
-partum | Birth, labor |
-plasia | Growth |
-rrhea | Flow |
-scope | Instrument used to visually examine |
ADL | Activities of daily living |
AuD | Branch of medicine known as audiology |
BPH | Benign prostatic hyperplasia |
CA | Cancer |
CXR | Chest X-ray |
DO | Doctor of osteopathic medicine |
ECG (or EKG) | Electrocardiogram |
ENT | Ears, nose, throat |
GI | Gastrointestinal |
GU | Genitourinary |
ICU | Intensive care unit |
MD | Medical doctor |
NICU | Neonatal intensive care unit |
NNP | Neonatal nurse practitioner |
OD | Doctor of optometry |
OT | Occupational therapist |
PT | Physical therapist, physical therapy, prothrombin time |
SOB | Shortness of breath |
SPT | Skin prick test |
Ana- | No, without |
Epi- | Above |
Hypo- | Below, under |
Pre- | Before |
Post- | After |
Cardi/o | Heart |
Cervic/o | Cervix, neck |
Cholecyst/o | Gallbladder |
Chondr/o | Cartilage |
Coccyg/o | Coccyx or tailbone |
Col/o | Colon |
Colp/o | Vagina |
Cyst/o | Bladder |
Dent/o | Teeth |
Encephal/o | Brain |
Enter/o | Small intestines |
Esophag/o | Esophagus |
Faci/o | Face |
Gastr/o | Stomach |
Gynec/o | Female, woman |
Hepat/o | Liver |
Iatr/o | Treatment |
Inguin/o | Groin |
Laryng/o | Voice box |
Later/o | To one side |
Lumb/o | Lower back |
Maxill/o | Upper jawbone |
Mening/o, Menengi/o | Meninges |
Nephr/o, Ren/o | Kidneys |
Neur/o | Nerves |
Obstetr/o | Childbirth, pregnancy |
Onc/o | Tumor |
Oophor/o | Ovaries |
Opthalm/o | Eyes |
Or/o | Mouth |
Orchi/o, Test/o Orchid/o | Testes |
Ot/o | Ears |
Pancreat/o | Pancreas |
Ped/o | Child, foot |
Pen/o | Penis |
Pneum/o, Pneumon/o | Lungs, air, gas |
Poster/o | Back, behind |
Proxim/o | Near |
Rect/o | Rectum |
Rhin/o | Nose |
Splen/o | Spleen |
Thorac/o | Chest |
Tonsill/o | Tonsil |
Trache/o | Trachea |
Umbilic/o | Navel, umbilical |
Ur/o | Urine, urinary tract |
Uter/o | Uterus |
Vascul/o | Blood vessel |
-al | Pertaining to |
-ar | Pertaining to |
-eal | Pertaining to |
-ectomy | Removal of, excision |
-esthesia | Without sensation or feeling |
-ic | Pertaining to |
-ical | Pertaining to |
-ior | Pertaining to |
-ostomy | Create an opening |
-plasty | Repair |
-stomy | Mouth |
-tomy | To cut into, make an incision |
-um | Structure, tissue |
C1-C7 | Used to indicate specific bones of the neck, (cervical spine) |
CRNA | Certified registered nurse anesthetist |
CSF* | Cerebrospinal fluid |
L1-L5 | Used to indicate specific bones of the lumbar spine |
LLQ | Left lower quadrant |
LUQ | Left upper quadrant |
MVA | Motor vehicle accident |
OR | Operating room |
PPE | Personal protective equipment |
RLQ | Right lower quadrant |
RUQ | Right upper quadrant |
S1-S5 | The last 5 vertebrae located in the lower spine |
T1-T12 | Used to indicate specific bones of the thoracic spine |
Trache/o | Trachea (windpipe) |
-ostomy | Create an opening |
-stomy | Create a new opening, mouth |
CCU (or CICU) | Cardiac care unit |
ED | Emergency department |
GSW | Gunshot wound |
ICU | Intensive care unit |
LTACH | Long-term acute care hospital |
MICU | Medical intensive care unit |
MVA | Motor vehicle accident |
NCCU | Neurological critical care unit |
NICU | Neonatal intensive care unit |
PACU | Post-anesthesia care unit |
PICU | Pediatric intensive care unit, pulmonary intensive care unit |
SNF | Skilled nursing facility |