Medical Terminology

Introduction to Medical Terminology

• Medical terminology is a concise language used by healthcare workers to communicate effectively and quickly.
• It is composed of prefixes, suffixes, and root words.

Word Breakdown

• Prefix: a syllable or word placed at the beginning of a word that helps describe location, direction, or amount.
• Root word: the main word or part to which prefixes and suffixes can be added.
• Suffix: a syllable or word placed at the end of a word that helps describe what the word or problem relates to.

Common Prefixes in Medical Terms

• Prefixes can indicate location (e.g., near, towards, within), direction (e.g., away from, beneath), or amount (e.g., lack of, excessive).

Root Words

• BLAST-: germ, immature cell (e.g., blastoma = cancer made of immature cells).
• CARCINO-: cancer (e.g., carcinogenic = cancer-causing).
• CARDIO-: heart (e.g., cardiotoxicity = toxicity to the heart).
• CYTO-: cell (e.g., cytotoxic = toxic to the cell).
• DERMA-: skin (e.g., dermatitis = inflammation of the skin).
• HISTIO-: tissue (e.g., histology = study of tissue).
• HEPATI-: liver (e.g., hepatoblastoma = liver cancer).
• MALIGN-: bad or harmful (e.g., malignant = growing, spreading).
• NEPHRO-: kidney (e.g., nephrotoxic = harmful to the kidneys).
• NEURO-: nerves (e.g., neuroblast = an immature nerve cell).
• ONCO-: mass or tumor (e.g., oncology = the study of cancer).
• OSTEO-: bone or bony tissue (e.g., osteosarcoma = bone cancer).
• PAED-: child (e.g., pediatric oncology = study of childhood cancer).
• SARCO-: tissue (e.g., sarcoma = tumor of bone, muscle, or connective tissue).
• TOXO-: poison (e.g., toxicology = study of poisons).

Frequent Root Words

• Oste(o): bone.
• Myo: muscle.
• Neuro: nerves.
• Derm: skin.
• Angi(o): blood vessels.
• Ven(o) or Phleb(o): veins.
• Cardio: heart.
• Rhino: nose.
• Neph: kidney.
• Cranio: skull.
• Opthalmo or oculo: eye.
• Oto: ear.
• Thromb(o): blood clot.
• Hepato: liver.
• Mamm(o): breast.
• Colo: large intestine.
• Gastro: stomach.
• Ileo: small intestine.
• Thorac(o): chest.
• Pneumo or pleuro: lung.

Importance of Medical Terminology

• Using proper medical terminology is essential for effective communication among healthcare professionals.