Medical Terminology Basics

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of a prefix in medical terminology?

To alter or modify the meaning of the root word (correct)

To indicate the main meaning of a word

To signify the plural form of a word

To indicate a medical condition or disease

Which of the following correctly represents a compound medical term?

Stomat/o + gingiva

Gastr/o + logy

Gastro/o + scope (correct)

Gastro + therapy

Identify the correct word root for 'mouth' in medical terminology.

Glosso/linguo

Stomato (correct)

Dento

Gingiva

What is meant by 'compound word' in medical terminology?

A word formed from two word roots Signup and view all the answers

Which suffix would you append to the word root 'anem' to form an adjective?

-ic Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'contra-' generally indicate in medical terminology?

Against Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to a painful or faulty swallowing condition?

Dysphagia Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the suffix '-oma' in medical terminology?

Tumor Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'auto-' imply when used in medical terminology?

Self Signup and view all the answers

Which root word relates to cancer in medical terminology?

Onc/o Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the correct plural form of 'Coccus'?

Cocci Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'retro-' mean?

Behind Signup and view all the answers

Which body plane divides the body into anterior and posterior halves?

Coronal Signup and view all the answers

How is 'posterior' defined in directional terms?

Back Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'hemi-' represent?

Half Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following terms uses a prefix to indicate color?

Leukocyte Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'antero-lateral' specifically describe?

Front and side Signup and view all the answers

Which term means 'agent that works against fever'?

Antipyretic Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Word-Building System

Medical terminology is built upon a system of word roots, suffixes, and prefixes.
Word roots are the core meaning of a word.
Suffixes are added to the end of a word and modify its meaning.
Prefixes are added to the beginning of a word and modify its meaning.

Major Organs in the Human Body

Stomat/o - mouth
Dent/o - teeth
Gingiv/a - gums
Gloss/o/lingu/o - tongue
Nephro/ren/o - kidney
Encephal/o - brain
Hepat/o - liver
Gastr/o - stomach
Enter/o - intestine

Compound Words

Combining two words to form a new word
Example: Chicken + Pox = Chickenpox

Compound Terms

Combining word roots using combining vowels (usually "o") to form a single term
Examples:
- Gastr/o + scope = Gastroscope
- Neur/o + surgery = Neurosurgery
- Micr/o + meter = Micrometer
- Hydr/o + phobia = Hydrophobia
- Hydr/o + therapy = Hydrotherapy

Suffixes

Word Root + Suffix = Noun (e.g., dent + ist = dentist)
Word Root + Suffix = Adjective (e.g., anem + ic = anemic)

Plural Forms

Singular: Sarcoma, Diagnosis, Phalanx, Coccus, Vertex, Cervix
Plural: Sarcomata, Diagnoses, Phalanges, Cocci, Vertices, Cervices

Prefixes of Position

Circum- = around
Peri- = around
Meta- = beyond, after
Retro- = behind
Ultra- = beyond, in excess
Meso- = middle

Body Planes

Coron/al - divides the body in anterior and posterior halves
Sagitt/al - divides the body in equal right and left halves

Directional Terms

Medial - towards the middle (medi/o)
Lateral - towards the side (later/o)
Anterior - front (anter/o)
Posterior - back (poster/o)

Combined Directional Terms

Anter/o/lateral - front and side
Anter/o/medial - front and middle
Anter/o/superior - front and top
Poster/o/lateral - back and side
Poster/o/external - back and outside of the body
Poster/o/internal - back and inside of the body

Distance and Directions

Proximal - closer to the point of reference
Distal - farther from the point of reference

Numerical Prefixes

Greek	Latin	Meaning
hemi-	semi-	half
mono-	uni-	one
prot-	prim-	first
di(plo)-	bi-	two
tri-	tri-	three
tetra-	quadr-	four
penta-	quint-	five

Prefixes of Colors

Leuko - leukocyte (white)
Erythro - erythrocyte (red)
Cyano - cyanosis (blue)
Melano - melanoma (black)
Xantho - xanthoma (yellow)
Chloro - chloroplast (green)
Chromo - chromocyte (color)

Prefixes Against

Anti- = against
- Anti/pyretic: against fever
- Anti/toxin: against a toxin
- Anti/depressant: against depression
- Anti/coagulant: against blood clotting
- Anti/convulsant: against seizures
Contra- = against
- Contra/indication - against indication
- Contra/ceptive - against conception
- Contra/lateral - opposite side

Dys- = Painful, Faulty

Dys- prefix indicates painful, faulty, diseased, bad, difficult, or abnormal.
- Dys/phag/ia - difficult swallowing
- Dys/pepsia - indigestion
- Dys/pnea - difficult breathing
- Dys/uria - difficult urination

Pseudo- = False

Pseud/o/cyesis - false pregnancy
Pseud/o/cyst - a false cyst

Auto = Self

Auto/lysis - self-destroying
Auto/immunity - immune response to one's own tissues

Alg, algi - pain (myalgia, analgesia)
Carcin - cancer (carcinogen)
Onc/o - tumor (oncogene)
Lith - stone (lithiasis)
Path/o - disease (pathogen)
Py/o - pus (pyogenic)
Pyr/o - fever, fire (pyretic)
Scler/o - hard (sclerosis)
Tox/o - poison (exotoxin)

Mal- - bad (malabsorption)
Xero- - dry (xerosis)
Pachy- - thick (pachyemia)
-oma - tumor (blastoma)
-rhage - flow (hemorrhage)
-rhea - flow (rhinorrhea)

Edema - swelling (lymphedema)
Lysis - dissolving, destruction (hemolysis)
Malacia - softening (tracheomalacia)
Necrosis - death of (osteonecrosis)
Spasm - cramp, sudden contraction (bronchospasm)
Stasis - stoppage (hemostasis)
Stenosis - narrowing (arteriostenosis)

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Description

This quiz covers the foundational aspects of medical terminology, including word roots, suffixes, prefixes, and the major organs in the human body. Understand how to build and combine words effectively to enhance your medical vocabulary.