Chapter 1 Vocabulary: Introduction to Medical Language

Origins of Medical Language

• Eponyms: terms derived from the name of a person or place

  • Examples: Apgar score (named after the person who developed it)

  • West Nile virus (named after the first geographical location the virus was identified)

• Acronyms: terms formed from the first letters of words in a phrase

  • Usually contain a vowel and are spoken as a whole word

  • Example given: laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation)

• Modern language terms: derived from the English language

• Greek and Latin Word Parts

  • The formal vocabulary of medical language began with the written medical documents of Hippocrates

  • Word parts of Greek and Latin origin are combined to form medical terms

  • Margin comments in the textbook illustrate the influence of Greek and Latin on medical terminology

Word Parts and Combining Forms

• Four Word Parts (the building blocks of medical terms)

  • Word Root (WR): fundamental meaning of a medical term—the core of the word

  • Prefix (P): attached to the beginning of a medical term to modify its meaning

  • Suffix (S): attached to the end of the word root to modify its meaning

  • Combining Vowel (CV): used to ease pronunciation—usually an “o”

• Combining Form

  • A word root with its combining vowel attached (example: onc/o/logist)

• Importance in term construction

  • Most medical terms have one or more word roots

  • Suffixes and prefixes modify the core meaning; combining vowels facilitate pronunciation and linking of parts

• Examples of word parts

  • Word Root: oste/o (bone), arthr (joint), hepat (liver)

  • Combining Form: onc/o, arthr/o, hepat/o

  • Suffix: -itis (inflammation), -ology (study of)

  • Prefix: intra- (within), ven- (vein) / -ous (pertaining to)

The Longest Word and Its Meaning

• Longest word in the dictionary used as a teaching example:
  ext{PNEUMONOULTRAMICROSCOPICSILICOVOLCANOCONIOSIS}

• Word-part breakdown (as shown in the chapter):

  • pneumon/o: lung, air

  • ultra-: extreme

  • micro-: small

  • -scopic: pertaining to visual examination

  • silic/o: silicon

  • volcan/o: volcanic

  • coni/o: dust

  • -osis: abnormal condition

• Define: abnormal condition of the lung caused by inhalation of extremely small particles of ash and silicate dust

• This demonstrates how long terms are built from multiple word parts and highlights the logic of analysis used in Chapter 1.

Review Questions (Origin and Word Parts)

• Term origin types (from a column in Chapter 1):

  • 1. Greek and Latin word parts

  • 2. Acronym

  • 3. Modern language

  • 4. Eponym

• Identify terms by origin (based on the four options above)

• Example review question: Parkinson disease would be considered as a term:

  • built from word parts

  • not built from word parts

• Example review question: Osteoarthritis would be considered as a term:

  • built from word parts

  • not built from word parts

Terminology Categories

• Two categories of medical terms

  • Terms Built from Word Parts (can be translated literally to find their meaning)

  • Terms NOT Built from Word Parts (cannot be easily translated literally to find their meaning)

• Origin-based subcategories within Terms Built from Word Parts

  • Greek and Latin word parts put together to form words that can be translated literally

  • Acronyms, which can be spoken as a whole word and usually contain a vowel

  • Modern language terms derived from English

  • Terms of Greek and Latin word parts that cannot be easily translated to find their meanings

• Examples by category (Learning Methods)

  • Built from Word Parts: arthr/itis

  • NOT Built from Word Parts: Alzheimer disease

  • Acronym examples: MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)

  • Modern language example: complete blood count and differential

  • Greek/Latin example that is not easily translated: orthopedics

• Learning Methods aligned with each category: Analzying terms, Defining terms, Building terms; Recall, Matching, Define terms

Review Questions (Categories and Origins)

• 1) Parkinson disease would be considered as a term:

  • built from word parts

  • not built from word parts

• 2) Osteoarthritis would be considered as a term:

  • built from word parts

  • not built from word parts

Objective 4: Identify and Define the Four Word Parts and the Combining Form

• Four Word Parts

  • Word Root (WR): core meaning of the term

  • Prefix (P): at the beginning to modify meaning

  • Suffix (S): at the end to modify meaning

  • Combining Vowel (CV): to ease pronunciation (usually “o”)

• Word Roots and Combining Forms

  • Example: onc/o/logist (root form with combining vowel)

• Suffixes

  • Example: hepat/itis (suffix -itis: inflammation of the liver)

• Prefixes

  • Example: intra/ven/ous (prefix intra-, linking to ven- for venous, meaning within the vein)

Review: Word Parts Identification and Usage

• Review Question: The word part that is the core of the word is a

  • combining vowel

  • suffix

  • word root

  • prefix

• Review Question: If vowels are present at the junction of two word roots (such as oste and arthr) in a medical term, a combining vowel is usually

  • still used

  • not used

  • used twice

  • the letter i

Objective 5: Analyze and Define Medical Terms

• Example: arthritis

  • Step 1 – Add Slashes: arthr/itis

  • Step 2 – Label word parts: WR = arthr, CV = o, S = itis

  • Step 3 – Apply definitions: suffix -itis = inflammation; arthr/o = joint; arthr/itis = inflammation of the joint

• Review Question: Which of the following is analyzed correctly?

  • a) arthr/o/path/y (WR CV S; then label) CF

  • b) arthr/o/pathy CF P CV S

  • c) arthr/o/pathy CF

• Applying this method to longer terms helps to decode meaning from parts.

• “Using Your New Skills of Analyze and Define” back to the longest word example:

  • pneumon/o – lung, air (Chapter 5)

  • ultra- – extreme (Chapter 9)

  • micro- – small (Chapter 9)

  • -scopic – pertaining to visual examination (Chapter 5)

  • silic/o – silicon

  • volcan/o – refers to volcanic particles

  • coni/o – dust (Chapter 4)

  • -osis – abnormal condition (Chapter 2)

• DEFINE: abnormal condition of the lung caused by inhalation of extremely small particles of ash and silicate dust

Objective 6: Build Medical Terms for Given Definitions

• Build the Medical Term for Exercise Figure A

  • A. Normal knee joint. B. Knee joint showing bone / cv / joint / inflammation

  • oste / o / arthr / itis

  • Answer: oste/o/arthr/itis

Reliable Web Resources and Study Tools

• Reliable Websites

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

  • NIH (National Institutes of Health)

  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

  • NIH National Institutes of Health

• Study tips and resources

  • Keep a medical dictionary close or bookmark online resources

  • Mosby’s Dictionary available in electronic format

• Reliable Online Source – medlineplus.gov

  • MedlinePlus provides health topics and medical dictionary; can be accessed from the home page

Have Fun While Learning: MedTerm Topics

• MedTerm topics are presented as an educational blog for medical terminology

• Have a playful crossword-style exercise to reinforce terminology concepts

• Example sections include:

  • 2) Thoracoscope, used to view the cavity

  • 4) Suffix that means visual examination

  • 5) Meaning of endo

  • 6) Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, visual exam of the stomach and duodenum

  • 11) Endoscopic procedure used to diagnose hoarseness

  • 12) Visual exam used to check for kidney stone

  • 14) Tube used to inspect the abdominal cavity for abnormalities

  • 16) Enter means small intestine; the viewing tool is used for viewing this

  • 17) Visual exam to check the large intestine for bleeding, CA, and polyps

  • 18) Your doctor uses this to inspect ears

• Down clues (short answer prompts) include items like:

  • A view of the space between the lungs (mediastinum) using a device

  • Not considered an endoscope; common misspelling of medical term for eye examination

  • Flex. sig. stands for flexible visual exam of the rectum and sigmoid colon

  • Instrument used to visually examine knee

• Clue: If the abbreviation PVC comes to mind, you’re on the right track for a versatile plastics abbreviation

• Note: The page includes a playful mix of prompts and a few humorous lines (e.g., MedTerm Mix Up)

Practical Study Aids and Final Tips

• Read Your Text; Use Flash Cards; Play Games; Practice/More Practice; Learning a New Language – Tips

• The chapter emphasizes:

  • Understanding how to analyze terms by breaking them into parts

  • Building terms from definitions

  • Recalling and applying word parts to interpret unfamiliar terms

  • Using reliable dictionaries and reputable online resources for practice

Quick Reference: Key Terms and Concepts

• Word Part Types

  • Word Root (WR)

  • Prefix (P)

  • Suffix (S)

  • Combining Vowel (CV)

• Combining Form: WR + CV (example: onc/o)

• Major Word Part Functions

  • WR: core meaning

  • Prefix: begin-word modification

  • Suffix: end-word modification

  • CV: pronunciation aid

• Examples

  • arthr/itis: inflammation of the joint

  • intra/ven/ous: within the vein

  • hepat/itis: liver inflammation

• Longest Word Example

  • PNEUMONOULTRAMICROSCOPICSILICOVOLCANOCONIOSIS

  • Definition and breakdown provided above

• Practice and Resources

  • Use credible online dictionaries (e.g., MedlinePlus)

  • Verification and self-testing through “Have Fun While Learning” materials