Medical Terminology Introduction

Medical Terminology Introduction

• Medical terminology is based on anatomical and physiological language.
• Terminologia Anatomica standardizes terms for body parts.
• Eponyms are terms derived from people's names (discoverers, describers, inventors).

Word Parts

• Word etymology studies word origins and evolution.
• Medical terms use four word parts: word root, combining form, suffix, and prefix.

Word Root

• Contains the basic meaning, often indicating the body part involved.
• Example: Stomach

Combining Form

• Word root plus a combining vowel (used when a consonant-starting suffix is added).
• Example: Stomach

Suffix

• Usually indicates procedure, condition, disorder, or disease.
• Always at the word's end.
• Example: Inflammation

Prefix

• Often indicates location, time, number, or status.
• Always at the word's beginning.
• Example: Increased or Excessive

Word Part Guidelines

• A word root cannot stand alone.
• A suffix must be added to complete the term.
• Combining vowels are used when a suffix beginning with a consonant is added to a word root.
• Prefixes are always placed at the beginning of the word.

Word Roots and Combining Forms Indicating Color

• Cyan/Cyan-: Blue; Example: Cyanosis (blue discoloration of skin due to oxygen lack).
• Erythr/Erythro-: Red; Example: Erythrocyte (mature red blood cell).
• Leuk/Leuko-: White; Example: Leukocyte (white blood cell).
• Melan/Melano-: Black; Example: Melanosis (unusual black pigment deposits).
• Poli/Polio-: Gray; Example: Poliomyelitis (viral infection of spinal cord's gray matter).

Combining Forms and Vowels

• When joining two word roots, a combining vowel is always added to the first.
• A combining vowel is used with the second word root only if the suffix starts with a consonant.
• Example: Gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and small intestine).

Suffixes

• A combining vowel is used if the suffix begins with a consonant (e.g., Neuroplasty, Neurorrhaphy).
• No combining vowel is used if the suffix begins with a vowel (e.g., Tonsillitis, Tonsillectomy).

Suffixes as Noun Endings

• Suffixes like -a, -um, -y, -e, -us change word roots into nouns.
• Example: Cranium

Suffixes Meaning "Pertaining To"

• Suffixes like -ac, -al, -an, -ar, -ary, -eal, -ical, -iar, -ic, -ine, -ior, -ory, -ous, -tic change word roots into adjectives.
• Example: Cardiac

Suffixes Meaning "Abnormal Condition"

• Suffixes like -ago, -iasis, -osis, -esis, -ion, -ory, -ia, -ism, -ous indicate abnormal conditions or diseases.
• Example: Gastrosis

Suffixes Related to Pathology

• -algia or -dynia: Pain; Examples: Gastralgia, Gastrodynia
• -itis: Inflammation; Example: Gastritis
• -megaly: Enlargement; Example: Hepatomegaly
• -malacia: Abnormal softening; Example: Arteriomalacia
• -necrosis: Tissue death; Example: Arterionecrosis
• -sclerosis: Abnormal hardening; Example: Arteriosclerosis
• -stenosis: Abnormal narrowing; Example: Arteriostenosis

Suffixes Related to Procedures

• -centesis: Surgical puncture (e.g., Abdominocentesis)
• -graphy: Process of producing a picture or record (e.g., Angiography)
• -gram: Picture or record (e.g., Angiogram)
• -plasty: Surgical repair (e.g., Myoplasty)
• -scopy: Visual examination (e.g., Arthroscopy)

"Double R" Suffixes

• -rrhage or -rrhagia: Bleeding (e.g., Hemorrhage)
• -rrhaphy: Surgical suturing (e.g., Myorrhaphy)
• -rrhea: Flow or discharge (e.g., Diarrhea)
• -rrhexis: Rupture (e.g., Myorrhexis)

Prefixes

• Prenatal: Before birth
• Perinatal: Surrounding birth
• Postnatal: After birth

Prefixes Describing Direction, Quantity, Size, and Amount

• The lecture mentions these prefixes but doesn't list specific examples.

Contrasting Prefixes

• The lecture mentions contrasting prefixes but doesn't provide examples.