10 Questions
What does the root word 'NEPHRO-' describe?
Kidney
What is the meaning of the suffix '-SARCO-'?
Relating to the muscles or connective tissue
What is the meaning of the prefix 'TOXO-'?
Relating to poisons
What does the root word 'OSTEO-' describe?
Relating to the bones or bony tissue
What is the main function of the prefix in a medical term?
To describe the location, direction, or amount
What is the meaning of the prefix 'ONCO-'?
Relating to the study of cancer
What is the term for the study of tissue?
Histology
What does the root word CARCINO- describe?
Cancer
What does the suffix usually describe in a medical term?
What the word or problem relates to
What is the term for a cancer made of immature cells?
Blastoma
Study Notes
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.
Learn the basics of medical terminology, its importance in healthcare, and how to break down complex words into components. Understand the role of prefixes and suffixes in medical terms.
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