Untitled Quiz

Introduction to Medical Terminology

• Medical terminology is the language of medicine
• It describes the human body, its components, processes, conditions, and procedures
• Based on Greek and Latin, uniform globally
• Mastering it is like learning a foreign language

Learning Objectives

• Identify word parts in medical terms
• Examine rules for building medical terms
• Understand the difference between a prefix and a suffix

Importance of a Medical Terminology System

• Enhances communication among healthcare professionals through a standardized language
• Streamlines documentation, ensuring accuracy and reducing misinterpretations in medical records
• Facilitates collaboration between specialists, improving patient care and outcomes

Basic Elements of a Medical Word

• Prefix: Located at the beginning of a term, changes its meaning
• Word Root: Refers to a body part or system, fundamental meaning
• Combining Form: Word root combined with a combining vowel (often "o")
• Suffix: Located at the end of a term, changes its meaning, often relating to procedures, conditions, or diseases

Prefixes

• Located at the beginning of a word
• Change the meaning of a term
• Indicate number (e.g., bi-), position (e.g., sub-), direction (e.g., intra-), time (e.g., brady-), or negation (e.g., a- / an-)
• Common prefixes include intra-, inter-, sub-, supra-, hyper-, retro-, peri-, poly-, oligo-, and bi/mono-

Common Prefixes (List)

• *(Table format is not possible)

• Intra- : within

• Inter- : between

• Sub-/Infra- : below

• Supra-/Hyper- : above/excessive

• Retro- : backward

• Peri- : around

• Poly- : many

• Oligo- : few

• Bi- : two

• Mono- : one

• A-/An- : without/absence

• Dys- : abnormal/painful

• Hypo- : below/deficient

• Hyper- : above/excessive**

Word Roots

• Typically refers to a body part, or system
• Contains the fundamental meaning of the term
• Examples include: cardi (heart), gastr (stomach), neur (nerves), hepat (liver)

Suffixes

• Located at the end of a word
• Change the meaning of the term, often relating to procedures, conditions, or diseases
• Examples include -itis (inflammation), -ectomy (excision/removal), and -oma (tumor)

Common Suffixes (List)

• *(Table format is not possible)

• -genic: causing/forming

• -oma: tumor/swelling

• -osis: abnormal condition of cells

• -pathy: disease

• -lysis: breakdown

• -ectomy: excision/removal

• -itis: inflammation

• -ia: condition

• -poiesis: production

• -plasty: surgical repair

• -stomy: opening

• -tomy: incision

• -scopy: visual examination**

Combining Vowels

• Often "o," connects word roots or word roots and suffixes
• Placed to connect roots/roots and roots/suffixes
• Not used when connecting roots and prefixes

Singular and Plural Endings

• Many medical terms are derived from Greek and Latin
• Specific rules for making singular words plural (e.g., adding "-ae," "-i," "-es," etc.)

Points to Remember

• Analyze words by their elements (prefix, root, combining form, suffix) to understand medical terms meaning and pronunciation
• Use a medical dictionary for clarification
• Be meticulous when writing medical words to avoid errors in documentation, as these can have serious consequences