Medical Terminology Basics

Medical Terminology

• Medical terms are built using prefixes, roots, suffixes, and combining vowels
• Prefixes are at the beginning of the word, roots are in the middle, and suffixes are at the end of the word.

Medical Terminology Objectives

• Identify medical terminology parts
• Recognize prefixes, roots, and combining vowels
• Recognize new medical terms

Analysis of Medical Word Parts

• Simplifying medical terminology:
  • Prefix = Beginning (Descriptive)
    • Examples: Location, direction, number, quantity, amount, size, color
  • Root = Middle (Subject)
    • Often refers to a body part or system
  • Suffix = Ending (Meaning)
    • Examples: Disease, disorder, condition, procedure, process, specialty, test

Prefixes

• Prefixes are word parts that attach to the beginning of a word or word base.
• Prefixes modify the meaning of the word.
• Often, prefixes are prepositions or adverbs.
• Prefixes are frequently used to describe the location or appearance of an anatomical part.

Prefixes Joining With a Root

• Prefixes can be attached to the beginning of a root to form a new word.
  • Example: Polyadenoma (tumor of many glands)
    • poly- = many
    • aden = gland
    • -oma = tumor, mass

Prefixes Joining With a Suffix

• Prefixes can be attached to the beginning of a suffix to form a new word.
  • Example: Dysphagia
    • dys- = difficulty
    • phag = swallowing (Greek)
    • -ia = a condition

Prefix + Root

• Examples such as: Hypertrophy (excessive growth)
  • hyper- = over, exceedingly, to excess
  • trophy = growth
  • Excessive growth in an organ or tissue due to an increase in cell size, not cell numbers.

Combining Forms Vowels

• Combining forms include a vowel added to the end of a word root to make the word easier to say.
• "o" is the most common combining vowel.
• Combining forms are used when a suffix beginning with a consonant is added to a root.
  • Example: Gastr/o = Combining form of the word root for stomach
  • Examples such as: Tonsillitis (inflammation of tonsils) - neur/o-plasty (surgical repair of the nerve)

Combining Forms Vowels may join root and suffix

• Combining forms are used to make it easier to pronounce medical terms.
• The letter "o" is the most common combining vowel.
• Combine when suffixes start with a consonant.
• Example: Gastr/o-enteritis, Osteo-arthritis, Cardio-logy, Cardiomyopathy

Combining Forms Vowels may join 2 roots

• Combining vowels connect multiple roots in medical terms.
• Examples such as: Osteoarthritis (inflammation of bone and joint)

Combining Form

• Gastroenteritis (o)
• Osteoarthritis (o)
• Cardiology (o)
• Cardiomyopathy (o)

Root Table

• (page 16) Provides a table of organs and their corresponding Greek and Latin roots.

Prefix Table

• (page 17) Provides a table of prefixes and their meaning.

This quiz focuses on the fundamental components of medical terminology, including prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Participants will learn to identify different parts of medical terms and understand their meanings. Get ready to simplify complex medical language!