Medical Terminology Overview

Medical Terminology Overview

• Medical terminology is a special vocabulary used in healthcare to communicate effectively and precisely.
• It is based on an understanding of three basic word elements: word roots, prefixes, and suffixes, often derived from Greek and Latin words.

Importance of Medical Terminology

• Healthcare workers use medical terminology and abbreviations daily to communicate quickly and efficiently.
• Medical abbreviations are shortened forms of words used to communicate concisely.
• Standard abbreviations should always be used, and unfamiliar abbreviations should be avoided.

Medical Symbols

• Examples of medical symbols include: ′ (foot), ″ (inch), ° (degree), ♀ (female), ♂ (male), and # (pound or number).

Root Words

• A word root is the subject of a medical term and the foundation upon which the term is built.
• Word roots typically indicate a tissue, organ, body system, color, condition, substance, or structure.
• Examples of root words include: phleb (vein), onc (tumor), and cardi (heart).

Prefixes

• A prefix is a word element that comes before a word root, modifying its meaning by adding information such as presence, absence, location, number, or size.
• Examples of prefixes include: an- (without), ab- (away from), ad- (near), bi- (two), and dys- (difficult or painful).
• Prefixes can describe location, direction, amount, size, and more.

Suffixes

• A suffix is a word ending that follows a word root and either changes or adds to the meaning of the word root.
• Examples of suffixes include: -aemia (condition of blood), -ectomy (excision or removal), -itis (inflammation), and -ology (study or science of).
• Suffixes can describe conditions, diseases, procedures, and more.

Word Breakdown

• Prefixes help describe the location, direction, amount, and size of a medical term.
• Roots help determine which part of the body a medical term relates to.
• Suffixes help describe what the word or problem relates to.

Frequent Root Words

• Examples of frequent root words include: oste (bone), myo (muscle), neuro (nerves), derm (skin), and cardio (heart).
• Other frequent root words include: angi (blood vessels), ven (veins), neph (kidney), rhino (nose), and more.

Other Common Roots and Suffixes

• Examples of other common roots and suffixes include: echo- (using ultrasonic waves), electro- (using electricity), -ectomy (removal of), and -gram (picture).
• Other common roots and suffixes include: -graph(y) (process of making an image), -otomy (making a cut in), -scopy (using an instrument for viewing), and -stomy (create an opening).

Nonconstructed Medical Terms

• Nonconstructed medical terms are not constructed from a combination of word parts.
• Such terms are exceptions to the rule of constructing medical terms using word roots, prefixes, and suffixes.