Medical Terminology 7 Flashcards

Medical Terminology Prefixes and Suffixes

• Cortic/o: Refers to the cortex or outer region of an organ.
• Cyan/o: Indicates a blue coloration, commonly associated with oxygen deficiency.
• Cyst/o: Denotes a cyst, which is a fluid-filled sac, or the urinary bladder.
• Cyt/o, -cyte: Pertains to a cell; essential for understanding cellular biology.
• Diaphragmat/o: Relates specifically to the diaphragm, the muscle separating thoracic and abdominal cavities.

Important Medical Processes and Conditions

• Digest/o: Involves the process of digestion or breaking down food substances.
• Dilat/o: Implies the action of widening or spreading out, often used in relation to blood vessels.
• -dynia: A suffix meaning pain, useful in describing various pain conditions.
• Dys-: A prefix indicating something negative, difficult, or painful; essential in terms related to conditions like dyspepsia.

Surgical and Physiological Terms

• -eal: A suffix meaning pertaining to, often used in anatomical descriptions.
• -ectasis: Refers to stretching or dilation of tissues or organs.
• -ectomy: Indicates surgical removal of a part or organ.
• Effus/o: Associated with pouring out, particularly in reference to fluids in the body.

Pathological and Blood-Related Terms

• Embol/o: Describes an object that is inserted or thrown into a vessel, important in conditions like embolism.
• -emia: Relates to blood or blood conditions, such as anemia (lack of blood).
• Endo-: Prefix meaning in, within, or inside; seen in terms like endoscopy.
• Epi-: Prefix indicating position above, upon, or on; relevant in anatomical references.

Medical Professionals and Processes

• -eon: A suffix referring to a person who performs a particular function, often used in medical terms.
• -er: Indicates a person or thing that acts or produces something; commonly used in medical job titles.
• -ery: A suffix expressing a process or condition.
• Erythr/o: Relates to the color red, often used in hematology (study of blood cells).

Anatomical and Functional Terms

• Ethm/o: Associated with the sieve-like structure in anatomy, particularly the ethmoid bone.
• Eu-: Prefix meaning good, normal, well, or easy; important in differentiating between normal and pathological states.
• Ex-: A prefix indicating outward movement or removal from a specific location.
• Expector/o: Refers to the action of coughing up fluids or substances from the lungs.

Other Relevant Terms

• Extern/o: Indicates something that is outside or outer; relevant in anatomical terminology.
• Fibr/o: Relates to fibrous tissue and fibers, important in connective tissue study.
• Front/o: Designates the front part or aspect of an organ or structure.
• Gene/o: Pertains to genes, essential in genetics and hereditary studies.
• Glott/o: Refers to the back part of the tongue, significant in speech and swallow studies.

Imaging and Respiratory Terms

• -graphy: A suffix denoting the process of producing a picture or record, often used in imaging technologies.
• Hal/o: Refers to the act of breathing, crucial in respiratory physiology.
• Hem/o: Pertains to blood, commonly used in terms relating to blood studies and conditions.
• Hyper-: A prefix meaning excessive or increased, often used to describe conditions such as hypertension.