Medical Terminology Flashcards

Medical Terminology Study Notes

• phren/o: Refers to the diaphragm, an important muscle for breathing.

• -phylaxis: Indicates a mechanism of protection, often used in terms such as prophylaxis to prevent disease.

• -phyll: Denotes leaf, commonly used in botany and plant biology.

• physi/o: Pertains to nature, often related to physiological functions in the body.

• -physis: Represents growth, particularly in medical contexts involving development of tissues.

• -phyte: Refers to plants, frequently seen in biological classification.

• pil/o: Refers to hair, used in dermatological terminology.

• pineal/o: Relates to the pineal gland, a brain structure involved in regulating sleep cycles.

• -plakia: Indicates a plate form or flat structure, often used in anatomical contexts.

• -plasia: Describes a condition of growth, formation, or molding of tissue.

• -plasm/o: Refers to plasm, often discussing cellular material or formation.

• plas/o: Indicates development or formation, often used in relation to cells and tissues.

• -plasty: Refers to a surgical repair process, used in various medical procedures.

• -plegia: Indicates paralysis, relating to loss of movement or sensation in a body part.

• ple/o: Means more or many, often used in compositions to indicate multiple parts or conditions.

• pleur/o: Refers to the pleura, a membrane surrounding the lungs or relating to ribs.

• -plexy: Indicates a strike or paralysis, found in terminology related to neurological conditions.

• -pnea: Refers to breathing, commonly seen in respiratory-related terms.

• pneum/o: Pertains to air or lung, frequently used in pulmonary terminology.

• pneumat/o: Relates to air or lung, similar to pneum/o, emphasizing the air component.

• pneumon/o: Specifically refers to the lung, often used in medical diagnostics.

• pod/o: Refers to the foot, used in discussions about lower extremities.

• -poiesis: Denotes making or producing, often used in hematology to indicate the formation of blood cells.

• poikilo-: Indicates varied or irregular, often used in pathology to describe varied conditions.

• poli/o: Refers to the color gray, commonly used in neurology (e.g., gray matter of the brain).

• poly-: Means many, used to describe conditions with multiple aspects.

• polyp/o: Refers to polyps, small growths that can occur in various organs.

• -porosis: Indicates pores or cavities, often seen in osteoporosis where bone density is reduced.

• post-: Means after, backward, or located behind, used in anatomical directions.

• postero-: Similar to post-, referring to positions that are behind.

• -prandial: Relates to meals, often seen in terms describing timing or conditions related to eating.

• -paraxia: Indicates a position in front of or before, used in anatomical terminology.

• pre-: Means before or in front of, frequently used in time-related contexts.

• presby/o: Refers to old age, commonly used in terms related to aging and geriatric medicine.

• primi-: Indicates first, often used in obstetrics to denote a first-time pregnancy.

• pro-: Means before or in front of, commonly used in various medical terms.

• proct/o: Relates to the anus or rectum, significant in gastroenterology.

• prostat/o: Refers to the prostate gland, important in urological health.

• prote/o: Indicates first or protein, often used in discussions about nutrient importance.

• prot/o: Means first, often used in scientific contexts to denote primary structures.

• proxim/o: Refers to near, particularly in anatomical references.

• pseud/o: Means false, often used in terms describing conditions that resemble others.

• psych/o: Pertains to the mind, heavily used in psychology and mental health.

• -ptosis: Indicates drooping, sagging, or fallen conditions, significant in various medical contexts.

• -ptysis: Refers to spitting, commonly associated with respiratory conditions.

• pub/o: Relates to the pubis, part of the pelvic bone.

• puerper/o: Refers to childbirth, often used in obstetrical contexts.

• pulmon/o: Pertains to the lung, commonly used in respiratory medicine.

• pupill/o: Refers to the pupil, significant in eye and vision health.

• purpur/o: Indicates the color purple, often used in descriptive medical contexts.

• py/o: Refers to pus, commonly associated with infections.

• pyel/o: Relates to the renal pelvis, part of the kidney structure.

• pylor/o: Refers to the pylorus, the opening from the stomach to the small intestine.

• -pyorrhea: Indicates purulent discharge or discharge of pus, often related to infections.

• -pyro: Refers to fever or fire, often seen in febrile illnesses.

• quad-: Indicates four, often used in anatomical references.

• quadri-: Similar to quad-, indicating four of something.

• quint-: Refers to five, used in various numerical contexts.

• rachi/o: Pertains to the vertebra, significant in spinal anatomy.