Medical Terminology - Chapter 1 Flashcards

Medical Terminology: Prefixes and Suffixes

• Adeno- refers to glands, indicating structures that secrete substances.
• Carcino signifies cancer, typically related to malignant tumors.
• Cardio pertains to the heart, a crucial organ for circulation.
• Chemo denotes chemicals, often connected to chemotherapy treatments.
• Ciso means to cut, relevant in surgical procedures.
• Dermato relates to skin, encompassing various skin conditions and treatments.
• Entero refers to the small intestine, part of the digestive system.
• Gastro signifies the stomach, essential for food digestion.
• Gyneco addresses female reproductive health.
• Hemato pertains to blood, central to many medical examinations.
• Hydro indicates water, significant in bodily functions.
• Immuno relates to the immune system, highlighting defense mechanisms.
• Laryngo refers to the voice box, involved in speech and breathing.
• Morpho means shape, often used in anatomy and biology.
• Nephro pertains to the kidney, essential for waste filtration.
• Neuro relates to nerves, highlighting neurological health.
• Ophthalmo refers to the eye, critical in vision.
• Oto denotes the ear, associated with hearing.
• Patho indicates disease, an important term in diagnoses.
• Pulmono pertains to the lungs, vital for respiration.
• Rhino refers to the nose, central in the respiratory system.
• Uro addresses urine or urinary tract, essential in excretion.

Prefixes Indicating Absence, Position, Direction, and Quantity

• A- and An- signify absence or lack of something.
• Ante- indicates a position of "before" or "in front of."
• Anti- suggests opposition or being against.
• Auto- signifies self-action or autonomy.
• Brady- refers to anything slow in pace or function.
• Dys- relates to difficulty or pain associated with a function.
• Endo- specifies within or inner structures.
• Epi- denotes positioning upon or over something.
• Eu- means normal or good conditions.
• Hetero- denotes difference or variety, while Homo- indicates uniformity or sameness.
• Hyper- refers to excessive or above normal levels, whereas Hypo- suggests below normal levels.
• Infra- indicates below or beneath, and Inter- implies among or between entities.
• Intra- specifies within or inside a particular structure.
• Macro- refers to large structures; Micro- refers to small structures.
• Neo- indicates new developments.
• Pan- signifies all or total.
• Para- means beside or near another structure.
• Per- indicates through, and Peri- denotes around a structure.
• Post- refers to after; Pre- indicates before interventions.
• Pseudo- means false or imitation.
• Retro- specifies backward or behind.
• Sub- denotes below or beneath structures, while Super- and Supra- indicate above or excess.
• Tachy- refers to rapid or fast processes.
• Trans- indicates movement through or across areas.
• Ultra- signifies going beyond normal limits.

Suffixes Indicating Conditions, Procedures, and Treatments

• -algia and -dynia both signify pain.
• -cele represents hernias or protrusions.
• -cise denotes cutting, associated with surgical terms.
• -cyte signifies cells, foundational elements of the body.
• -ectasies relates to dilation of structures.
• -gen indicates something that produces, while -genic and -genesis relate to processes of generation or production.
• -ia states a condition or state of being.
• -iasis conveys an abnormal condition.
• -logist refers to professionals who study specific fields, while -logy indicates the study of a topic.
• -lysis means destruction, often in reference to cellular breakdown.
• -malacia denotes abnormal softening of tissues.
• -megaly refers to enlargement of organs.
• -oma signifies a tumor.
• -pathy relates to disease conditions.
• -plasia and -plasm refer to growth or development processes.
• -ptosis indicates drooping or sagging.
• -rrhage signifies excessive flow, often in reference to bleeding.
• -rrhea denotes discharge or flow of fluids.
• -rrhexis indicates rupture, often related to tissues.
• -sclerosis refers to hardening of tissues.
• -therapy and -therapeutics signify treatment methods.
• -trophy emphasizes nourishment or development.
• -centesis refers to puncture procedures for fluid withdrawal.
• -ectomy denotes surgical removal of structures.
• -ostomy relates to creating an opening for bodily functions.
• -otomy indicates cutting or incision.
• -pexy signifies surgical fixation.
• -rrhaphy refers to suturing tissues back together.