Chapter 1introduction to medterm
Word Parts
Word Root
Definition: The foundation of a medical term
Purpose: It serves to provide a general meaning of the word. It illustrates the body part or system being discussed. Sometimes, a word root may be an action.
Things to know: A medical term may have more than one word root.
Example: Cardi - Word root for “heart”
Medical Prefix
Definition: A word part added to the beginning of a medical term to change its meaning.
Purpose: Medical prefixes illustrate location (of an organ, mass, etc), number of parts, or time (frequency).
Things to know: When written alone, medical prefixes are followed by a hyphen to indicate that they are medical prefixes. It is incorrect to write one without a hyphen after. There are 2 subcategories of medical prefixes. Medical prefixes may have more than one meaning. A medical term may only have one medical prefix.
Example: anti- meaning “against”. This medical prefix explains location.
Medical Suffix
Definition: A word part added to the end of a medical term to add meaning.
Purpose: Explains condition, disease, or procedure.
Things to know: EVERY MEDICAL TERM MUST HAVE A MEDICAL SUFFIX. Oftentimes, a medical suffix is added and combined to a word root, but sometimes it can be added directly to a medical prefix. Similar to a medical prefix, a medical suffix must have a hyphen, but it is written at the beginning of the medical suffix. It is incorrect to write a medical suffix without a hyphen when it is by itself. Medical suffixes may have more than one meaning. Medical terms may only have one medical suffix.
Example: -cyte, meaning cell.
The medical term “dystrophy” is an example of a medical term with a prefix and suffix combined with each other. The medical prefix -trophy, means nourishment, development, and it explains condition.
Combining Vowel
Definition: A vowel added to a word to create its combining form or to connect word parts.
Purpose: It helps with being able to pronounce the medical term easily. It connects word root to word root
Things to know: Sometimes, when connecting a word root to a medical suffix, a combining vowel isn’t needed. To see whether or not a combining vowel is needed, determine if there is a consonant or vowel at the beginning of the medical suffix. If it begins with a consonant, use a combining vowel. If it begins with a vowel, do not use a combining vowel.
When writing a word root by itself, it is usually written in its combining form. A combining form is a word root with a combining vowel. A COMBINING FORM IS NOT A WORD PART. A medical term may have more than one combining vowel.
Example: Usually the vowel “o”, but occasionally an i or a.
Combining form example: “cardi/o” or “cardio”.
NO MEDICAL TERMS ARE WRITTEN WITH A “/” IN THEM.
Medical Prefix Subcategories
Common Prefixes
Definition: They are the more common medical prefixes in medical terminology.
Example: anti-, a common prefix that explains location
Number Prefixes
Definition: They pertain to the number of items, or measurement.
Example: bi-, a number prefix that explains number of items
Medical Suffix Categories
Common Suffixes
Definition: They are the more common medical suffixes in medical terminology.
Example: -cyte, a common suffix
Adjective Suffixes
Definition: They are used to convert a word root into an adjective.
Example: -ac, a adjective suffix that means, “pertaining to”
Surgical Suffixes
Definition: Indicates surgical procedure.
Example: -centesis, a surgical suffix that means, “puncture to withdraw fluid”
Procedural Suffixes
Definition: Indicates procedural processes or instruments.
Example: -gram, a procedural suffix that means, “record or picture”
Interpreting Medical Terminology
Step
1st…
Divide the medical term into its word parts.
Example: gastr/o/enter/o/logist
2nd…
Define each word part.
Example:
gastr: word root for stomach
o: combining vowel, no meaning
enter: word root for small intestine
o: combining vowel, no meaning
logist: one who studies
3rd…
Combine the meaning of the word parts.(You may have to slightly alter the order of the translation).
Example: One who studies the stomach and the small intestine.
*Spelling; sometimes there will be different pronunciations of a term, but they only have one correct spelling
Chapter One Vocabulary
Common Combining Forms
Combining form
Meaning
Example w/ definition
aden/o
gland
Adenorrhexis
Rupture of gland
carcin/o
cancer
Carcinogenesis
Produces cancer
cardi/o
heart
Cardiologist
One who studies the heart
chem/o
chemical
Chemotherapy
Treatment with chemical
cis/o
To cut
Incision
Process of cutting into
dermat/o
skin
Dermatologist
One who studies the skin
enter/o
Small intestine
Gastroenterology
One who studies the stomach and small intestine
gastr/o
stomach
Gastrorrhexis
Rupture of the stomach
gynec/o
female
Gynecology
The study of females
hemat/o
blood
Hematic
Pertaining to the blood
hydr/o
water
Hydrocele
Protrusion of water
In the scrotum
immun/o
protection
Immunology
Study of protection
laryng/o
Voice box
Otorhinolaryngologist
One who studies the ears, nose, and voice box
nephr/o
kidney
Nephritis
Inflammation of the kidney
ophthalm/o
eye
Ophthalmology
The study of the eye
ot/o
ear
Otic
Pertaining to the ear
path/o
disease
Pathology
The study of disease
pulmon/o
lung
Pulmonary
Pertaining to the lungs
rhin/o
nose
Rhinoplasty
Surgical repair of the nose
osteo
bone
Osteoporosis
Porous bone
Common Prefixes
a-
Without, away from
Aphasia
Without speech
an-
without
Anorexic
Without appetite
ante-
Before, in front of
Antepartum
Before birth
anti-
Against
Antibiotic
Against life
auto-
self
Autoimmune
Self protection
brady-
slow
Bradycardia
Slow heartbeat
contra-
against
Contraception
Against conception
de-
without
depigmentation
without pigment
dys-
Painful, difficult, abnormal
dystrophy
abnormal nourishment
endo-
Within, inner
endoscope
instrument to view within
epi-
Upon, over
epigastric
upon or over the stomach
eso-
inward
esotropia
inward turning
eu-
Normal, good
eupnea
normal breathing
ex-
External, outward
exostosis
condition of external bone
exo-
outward
exotropia
outward turning
extra-
Outside of
extracorporeal
outside of the body
hetero-
different
heterosexual
pertaining to a different sex
homo-
same
homosexual
pertaining to the same sex
hydro-
water
hydrotherapy
treatment with water
hyper-
Over, above
hypertrophy
over development
hypo-
Under, below
Hypodermic
under the skin
in-
Not; inward
infertility
not fertile
inter-
Between, among
intervertebral
between the vertebrae
intra-
Within, inside
intravenous
inside of a vein
macro-
large
macromolecule
large molecule
micro-
small
microtia
small ears
myo-
To shut
myopia
to shut eyes, squint
neo-
neo
neonatal
newborn
pan-
all
pansinusitis
inflammation of all sinuses
para-
Beside, near, abnormal; two like parts of a pair
paranasal
beside the nose
per-
through
percutaneous
through the skin
peri-
around
pericardial
around the heart
post-
after
postpartum
after birth
pre-
before
preoperative
before a surgical operation
pro-
Before, in front of
prolactin
before milk
pseudo-
false
pseudoscience
false science
retro-
Backward, behind
retroperitoneal
behind the peritoneum
sub-
Below, under
subcutaneous
under, below the skin
supra-
above
suprapubic
above the public bone
tachy-
Rapid, fast
tachycardia
fast heartbeat
trans-
Through, across
transurethral
across the urethra
ultra-
Beyond, excess
ultrasound
high frequency sound waves
un-
not
unconscious
not conscious
Number Prefixes
bi-
two
bilateral
two sides
hemi-
half
hemiplegia
paralysis of half the body
mono-
one
monoplegia
paralysis of one extremity
multi-
many
Multigravida
female pregnant more than once
nulli-
none
nulligravida
female with no pregnancies
poly-
many
polyuria
large amounts of urine
primi-
first
primigravida
first pregnancy
quadri-
four
quadriplegia
paralysis of 4
semi-
half, partial
semiconsciousness
partially conscious
tetra-
four
tetraplegia
paralysis of 4
tri-
three
tricep
muscle with three heads
Common Suffixes
-algia
pain
gastralgia
stomach pain
-cele
hernia, Protrusion
cystocele
Protrusion of the bladder
-cyte
cell
lymphocyte
white blood cell
-dynia
pain
cardiodynia
heart pain
-ecstasis
dilation
bronchiectasis
dilated bronchi
-gen
that which produces
carcinogen
that which produces cancer
-genesis
Produces, generates
spermatogenesis
produces sperm
-genic
producing, produced by
carcinogenic
producing cancer
-ia
state, condition
Bradycardia
condition of Slow heartbeat
-iasis
abnormal condition
lithiasis
abnormal condition of stones
-iatry
medical treatment
podiatry
medical treatment for the foot
-ism
state of
hypothyroidism
state of low thyroid
-itis
Inflammation
appendicitis
inflammation of the appendix
-logist
One who studies
Cardiologist
one who studies the heart
-logy
Study of
pulmonology
the study of the lung
-lysis
destruction
hemolysis
blood destruction
-lytic
destruction
thrombolytic
clot destruction
-malacia
abnormal softening
chondromalacia
abnormal cartilage softening
-megaly
enlargement, large
osteomegaly
enlarged bone
-oid
resembling
fibroid
resembling fibers
-oma
tumor, mass, swelling
carcinoma
cancerous tumor
-osis
abnormal condition
cyanosis
abnormal condition of being blue
-pathy
disease
adenopathy
gland disease
-phobia
Fear of
arachnophobia
fear of arachnid
-plasia
growth, development
hyperplasia
excessive development
-plasm
Formation, development
neoplasm
new formation
-ptosis
drooping
blepharoptosis
drooping eyelid
-rrhage
Excessive, abnormal flow
hemorrhage
excessive bleeding
-rrhagia
Abnormal flow, condition
cystorrhagia
abnormal flow from bladder
-rrhea
Discharge, flow
Rhinorrhea
discharge from the nose
-rrhexis
rupture
adenorrhexis
ruptured gland
-sclerosis
hardening
arteriosclerosis
hardening of an artery
-stenosis
narrowing
angiostenosis
narrowing of a vessel
-therapy
treatment
Chemotherapy
treatment with chemicals
-trophy
Nourishment, development
hypertrophy
excessive development
-ule
small
venule
small vein
Adjective Suffixes
-ac
Pertaining to
cardiac
Pertaining to the heart
-al
Pertaining to
duodenal
Pertaining to the duodenum
-an
Pertaining to
ovarian
Pertaining to the ovary
-ar
Pertaining to
ventricular
Pertaining to a ventricle
-ary
Pertaining to
Pulmonary
Pertaining to the lungs
-atic
Pertaining to
lymphatic
Pertaining to lymph
-eal
Pertaining to
esophageal
Pertaining to the esophagus
-iac
Pertaining to
chondriac
Pertaining to cartilage
-ic
Pertaining to
gastric
Pertaining to the stomach
-ile
Pertaining to
penile
Pertaining to the penis
-ine
Pertaining to
uterine
Pertaining to the uterus
-ior
Pertaining to
superior
Pertaining to above
-nic
Pertaining to
embryonic
Pertaining to an embryo
-ory
Pertaining to
auditory
Pertaining to hearing
-ose
Pertaining to
adipose
Pertaining to fat
-ous
Pertaining to
intravenous
Pertaining to within a vein
-tic
Pertaining to
acoustic
Pertaining to hearing
Surgical Suffixes
-centesis
Puncture to withdraw fluid
Amniocentesis
Puncture to withdraw amniotic fluid
-ectomy
Surgical removal
colectomy
surgical removal of the colon
-ostomy
Surgically create opening
adenostomy
surgically create opening into a gland
-otomy
Cutting into
gastrotomy
cutting into the stomach
-pexy
Surgical fixation
rhinopexy
surgical fixation of the nose
-plasty
Surgical repair
otoplasty
surgical repair of the ear
-rrhaphy
suture
dermorrhaphy
suture of the skin
Procedural Suffixes
-gram
record or picture
electroencephalogram
record or picture of the electrical activity inside of the brain
-graph
instrument for recording
electrocardiograph
instrument for recording the heart's electrical activity
-graphy
process of recording
electrocardiography
process of recording the heart's electrical activity
-meter
instrument for measuring
audiometer
instrument to measure hearing
-metry
process of measuring
audiometry
process of measuring hearing
-scope
instrument for viewing
gastroscope
instrument for viewing the stomach
-scopy
process of viewing
gastroscopy
process of viewing the stomach
Singular Endings to Plural
ending
singular
plural
-a
vertebra
vertebrae
-ax
thorax
thoraces
-ex/-ix
appendix
appendices
-is
metastasis
metastases
-ma
sarcoma
sarcomata
-nx
phalanx
phalanges
-on
ganglion
ganglia
-us
nucleus
nuclei
-um
ovum
ova
-y
biopsy
biopsies
*The EMR, or electronic medical record is important because it has important information about patients and the staff that work with them. Nearly 100,00 people die every year from medical errors, so it is imperative to have accurate information.
*EHR, or electronic health record is an electronic record of patient information.
*HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act makes sure that information about patients, including EMR and EHR stay confidential. It is important that patient’s information status confidential because it can greatly impact one's quality of life. HIPAA was passed in 1996.
EMR
History and Physical
Written or dictated by admitting physician; details patient’s history, results of physician’s examination, initial diagnoses, and physician’s plan of treatment.
Physician's Orders
Complete list of care, medications, tests, and treatments physician orders for patient.
Nurse's Notes
Record of patient’s care throughout the day; includes vital signs, treatment specifics, patient’s response to treatment, and patient’s condition.
Physician's Progress Notes
Physician's daily record of patient’s condition, results of physician’s examinations, summary of test results, updated assessment and diagnosis, and further plans for patient’s care.
Consultation Reports
Reports given by specialists whom physician has asked to evaluate patient.
Ancillary Reports
Reports from various treatments and therapies patient has received, such as rehabilitation, social services, or respiratory therapy.
Diagnostic Reports
Results of diagnostic tests performed on patient, principally from clinical lab (e.g., blood tests) and medical imaging (e.g., X-rays and ultrasound).
Informed Consent
Document voluntarily signed by patient or a responsible party that clearly describes purpose, methods, procedures, benefits, and risks of a diagnostic or treatment procedure.
Operative Report
Report from surgeon detailing an operation; includes pre- and postoperative diagnosis, specific details of surgical procedure itself, and how patient tolerated procedure.
Anesthesiologist’s Report
Relates details regarding substances (such as medications and fluids) given to patient, patient’s response to anesthesia, and vital signs during surgery.
Pathologist’s Report
Report given by pathologist who studies tissue removed from patient (e.g., bone marrow, blood, or tissue biopsy).
Discharge Summary
Comprehensive outline of patient’s entire hospital stay; includes condition at time of admission, admitting diagnosis, test results,
treatments and patient’s response, final diagnosis, and follow-up planResults of diagnostic tests performed on patient, principally from clinical lab (e.g., blood tests) and medical imaging (e.g., X-rays
and ultrasound)
Healthcare Settings
Acute Care or General Hospitals
Provide services to diagnose (laboratory,
diagnostic imaging) and treat (surgery, medications, therapy) diseases for
a short period of time; in addition, they usually provide emergency and obstetrical care.
Specialty Care Hospitals
Provide care for very specific types of diseases; for example, a psychiatric hospital.
Nursing Homes or Long-Term Care Facilities
Provide long-term care for patients needing extra time to recover from illness or injury before returning home, or for persons who can no longer care for themselves.
Ambulatory Care Centers, Surgical Centers, or Outpatient Clinics
Provide services not requiring overnight hospitalization; services range from
simple surgeries to diagnostic testing or therapy
Physicians’ Offices
Provide diagnostic and treatment services in a private office setting.
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
Provides wide range of services by a group of primary-care physicians, specialists, and other healthcare professionals in a prepaid system.
Home Health Care
Provides nursing, therapy, personal care, or housekeeping services in patient’s own home.
Rehabilitation Centers
Provide intensive physical and occupational therapy; includes inpatient and outpatient treatment/
Hospices
Provide supportive treatment to terminally ill patients and their families.