Untitled Quiz

Medical Terminology

• Medical terminology is the study of proper medical term use.
• It's a science focused on the accurate use of medical terms.

Medical Term Formation and Construction

• Medical terms are usually composed of multiple components.
• Key components include roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

The Root

• The root is the core/main part of the medical term.
• The root often comes from Greek or Latin and typically describes a body part.
• Example: Cysto (bladder)

The Prefix

• Prefixes are added before the root.
• They modify the root by adding information about location, number, or time.
• Example: A (without), symptomatic

The Suffix

• Suffixes are added to the end of the root.
• They add meaning related to conditions, disease processes, or procedures.
• Example: -itis (inflammation)

Construction Examples

• Medical terms are formed in various ways:
  • Prefix, root, suffix (e.g., pericarditis)
  • Two roots and a suffix (e.g., osteomyelitis)
  • Prefix and root (e.g., dyspnea)
  • Root and suffix (e.g., cystitis)
  • Prefix and suffix (e.g., endoscopy)

Prefixes: A-

• Meaning: Lack of, absence
• Examples: atrophy (lack of growth), asymptomatic (absence of symptoms), acyanotic (absence of cyanosis), anencephaly (lack of head), anuria (lack of urine), anemia (deficiency of blood), analgesia (lack of pain).

Prefixes: Aden-(o)

• Meaning: Gland
• Examples: adenoma (enlargement of gland), adenocarcinoma (tumors of gland), adenitis (inflammation of gland).

Prefixes: Ante-

• Meaning: Before
• Examples: antepartum (before childbirth), antenatal (before birth).

Prefixes: Anti-

• Meaning: Against, opposite
• Examples: antiviral (against virus), antimicrobial (against microbes), antibiotic (against bacteria).

Prefixes: Arteri-(o)

• Meaning: Artery
• Examples: arteriosclerosis (hardening of arteries), arteritis (inflammation of artery).

Prefixes: Arthr-(o)

• Meaning: Joint
• Examples: arthritis (inflammation of joint), arthralgia (joint pain), arthrocentesis (taking fluid out of a joint), arthrotomy (opening in a joint).

Prefixes: Audi-, Audio-

• Meaning: Ear/hearing
• Examples: auditory, audiology.

Prefixes: Auto-

• Meaning: Self
• Example: autoimmune (self-immunity)

Prefixes: Bi-

• Meaning: Two
• Example: bilateral (two sides)

Prefixes: Brady-

• Meaning: Slow, decreased
• Examples: bradycardia (slow heartbeat), bradypnea (slow breathing)

Prefixes: Bronch-, Broncho-

• Meaning: Bronchus/bronchial tube
• Examples: bronchoscope, bronchitis

Medical Abbreviations

• The study of medical abbreviations.

Suffixes: Dys-

• Meaning: Difficult, bad
• Examples: dyspnea (difficult breathing), dyspepsia (difficult digestion)

Suffixes: -ology/-ologist

• -ology: Study of
• -ologist: Specialist in
• Examples: Cardiology (study of the heart), Cardiologist (heart specialist)
• Other examples: Oncology, oncologist, Urology, Urologist

Suffixes: An

• Meaning: No, lack of, or low
• Example: Anemia, Anesthesia

Suffixes: Ache

• Meaning: Pain
• Examples: Headache, backache, bone ache

Suffixes: Cytosis

• Meaning: Increase in number of
• Examples: Leukocytosis (increase in white blood cells)

Suffixes: Cytopenia

• Meaning: Decrease in number of
• Examples: Leukocytopenia (decrease in white blood cells)

Suffixes: Ectomy

• Meaning: Removal or excision of
• Examples: Appendectomy, tonsillectomy

Suffixes: -Itis

• Meaning: Inflammation of
• Examples: Appendicitis, Dermatitis.

Suffixes: Megaly

• Meaning: Enlargement of
• Examples: Acromegaly, Splenomegaly, Hepatomegaly

Suffixes: -pathy

• Meaning: Disease or pathological condition of
• Examples: Cardiomyopathy, Encephalopathy