Medical Terminology: Prefixes and Suffixes

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Questions and Answers

What does the prefix 'a-' or 'an-' mean?

  • no, not, without (correct)
  • gland
  • study of
  • tail

What does the root 'aden/o' refer to?

  • cell
  • tail
  • head
  • gland (correct)

What does 'dip/o' mean?

fat

What does 'anter/o' signify?

<p>front or before</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'caud/o' refer to?

<p>tail or lower part of the body</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'cephal/o' mean?

<p>head</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'cyt/o' or '-cyte' represent?

<p>cell</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dem/i' or 'dem/o' mean?

<p>population</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dors/i' or 'dors/o' refer to?

<p>the back</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'en-', 'end-', or 'endo-' signify?

<p>within, inside</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'epi-' mean?

<p>on</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'eti/o' pertain to?

<p>the study of the cause of diseases</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ex-', 'exo-' mean?

<p>out of, outside, away</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the root 'gen/o' indicate?

<p>to become, produce</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'histi/o' or 'hist/o' refer to?

<p>tissue</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'iatr/o' mean?

<p>medicine, physician</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'macro-' signify?

<p>large, abnormal size of length</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'medi/o' mean?

<p>middle</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mega-' signify?

<p>large</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'micro-' or 'micr/o' mean?

<p>small</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mid-' signify?

<p>near the middle</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'nosocomi/o' refer to?

<p>hospital</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does '-ology' or '-ologist' mean?

<p>study or science of</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'pan-' mean?

<p>all</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'path/o' or '-pathy' signify?

<p>disease, suffering</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'physi/o' or 'physic/o' refer to?

<p>physical, function</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'plas/i', 'plas/o', or '-plasia' mean?

<p>development, formation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'poster/o' indicate?

<p>behind or toward the back</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'proxim/o' mean?

<p>near</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'retro-' signify?

<p>behind, backward</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does '-stasis' or '-static' mean?

<p>control, maintenance of a constant level</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'thorac/o' refer to?

<p>chest cavity</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'trans-' mean?

<p>across, through</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ventr/o' refer to?

<p>belly side of the body</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does '-verse' or '-version' mean?

<p>to turn</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'abdominal cavity' mean?

<p>the body cavity that contains the major organs of digestion</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'abdominopelvic cavity' refer to?

<p>consists of the abdominal and pelvic cavities</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'adenectomy'?

<p>the surgical removal of a gland</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'adenocarcinoma' signify?

<p>a malignant tumor that originates in a glandular tissue</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'adenoma'?

<p>a benign tumor that arises in or resembles glandular tissue</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'adenomalacia' mean?

<p>abnormal softening of a gland</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'adenosclerosis'?

<p>abnormal hardening of a gland</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'adenosis' refer to?

<p>disease or abnormal development of a gland</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'anaplasia' mean?

<p>a change in the structure of cells and in their orientation to each other</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'anatomic position'?

<p>position of the body, standing erect, facing forward, with arms down at the sides</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'anatomy' mean?

<p>the study of the structures of the body</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'anomaly' mean?

<p>a deviation from what is regarded as normal</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'anterior' signify?

<p>situated in front</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'aplasia' mean?

<p>the defective development of congenital absence of an organ or tissue</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'atresia' mean?

<p>congenital absence of a normal body opening or the failure of a structure to be tubular</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'atrophy' signify?

<p>weakness or wearing away of body tissues</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'blood borne transmission'?

<p>blood or body fluid from an infected person enters another person's body via needle-sticks, human bites, cuts, abrasions, or through mucous membrane</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'caudal' mean?

<p>toward the lower part of the body</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'cephalic' refer to?

<p>toward the head</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are 'chromosomes'?

<p>a genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are 'communicable diseases'?

<p>any disease transmitted from one person to another directly or by indirect contact with contaminated objects</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are 'congenital disorders'?

<p>an abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'connective tissue'?

<p>physical or functional supporting tissue of the body with varied functions</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'cystic fibrosis'?

<p>a life-threatening genetic disorder in which the lungs and pancreas are clogged with large quantities of abnormally thick mucus</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'cytology'?

<p>the study of the anatomy, physiology, pathology, and chemistry of the cell</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)'?

<p>genetic material present in all cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are 'developmental disorders'?

<p>group of psychiatric conditions originating in childhood, causing impairment in different areas</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'distal' mean?

<p>situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dorsal' signify?

<p>back of the body or organ</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dysplasia' mean?

<p>abnormal developmental or growth of cells, tissues or organs</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'endemic' refer to?

<p>referring to the ongoing presence of a disease, such as the common cold, within a population, group or area</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'endocrine gland' signify?

<p>glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'endothelium' refer to?

<p>specialized epithelial tissue that lines the blood and lymph vessels, body cavities, glands and internal organs</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'epidemic' mean?

<p>a sudden and widespread outbreak of a disease within a specific population group or area</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an 'epidemiologist'?

<p>specialist in the study of outbreaks of disease within a population group</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'epigastric region' mean?

<p>the region located above the stomach</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'epithelial tissue' signify?

<p>forms a protective covering for all of the internal and external surfaces of the body</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'etiology' mean?

<p>the study of the causes of diseases</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'exocrine gland' refer to?

<p>glands that secrete chemical substances into ducts leading either to other organs or out of the body</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'fetal alcohol syndrome'?

<p>birth defects that result from a woman's use of alcohol during pregnancy</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'fomite' mean?

<p>nonliving object or substance capable of carrying infectious organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are 'functional disorders'?

<p>produces symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'gene'?

<p>unit of heredity that is transferred from parent to offspring</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'genetic disorder'?

<p>a pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'genetic mutation'?

<p>permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'genome' mean?

<p>the complete set of genetic information of an organism</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'geriatrician'?

<p>a physician who specializes in the care of older people</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'hemophilia'?

<p>a group of hereditary bleeding disorders in which a blood-clotting factor is missing</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'histology'?

<p>the microscopic study of the structure, composition, and function of tissues</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'homeostasis' refer to?

<p>the process through which the body maintains a constant internal environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'Huntington disease'?

<p>inherited condition in which nerve cells in the brain break down over time</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hyperplasia' mean?

<p>abnormal condition of excessive formation of an organ or tissue because of an abnormal increase in the number of cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hypertrophy' signify?

<p>excessive development in size of body part or organ</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hypogastric region' mean?

<p>the region of the abdomen that is located below the stomach</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hypoplasia' mean?

<p>the incomplete development of an organ or tissue usually due to a deficiency in the number of cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'iatrogenic illness'?

<p>unfavorable response due to a prescribed medication</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'idiopathic disorder' mean?

<p>pertaining to disease peculiar to the individual</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are 'infectious diseases'?

<p>illness caused by living pathogenic organisms such as bacteria and viruses</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'inguinal' refer to?

<p>relating to the groin or lower portion of the abdomen</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'lateral' mean?

<p>toward the side</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'left lower quadrant' refer to?

<p>area left of the midline and below the umbilicus in the abdomen</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'medial' mean?

<p>the direction toward or nearer the midline</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mesentery' refer to?

<p>the fused double layer of the parietal peritoneum that attaches parts of the intestine to the interior abdominal wall</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'midsagittal plane'?

<p>the vertical plane that divides the body, from top to bottom, into equal left and right halves</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'muscular dystrophy'?

<p>a group of more than 30 genetic diseases that are characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement, without affecting the nervous system</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Prefixes and Root Words

  • a-, an-: Denotes absence or lack (no, not, without).
  • aden/o: Refers to a gland.
  • dip/o: Indicates fat.
  • anter/o: Relates to the front or anterior position.
  • caud/o: Pertains to the tail or lower region of the body.
  • cephal/o: Associated with the head.
  • cyt/o, -cyte: Refers to a cell.
  • dem/i, dem/o: Relates to population.
  • dors/i, dors/o: Indicates the back side of the body.
  • en-, end-, endo-: Refers to being within or inside.

Suffixes and Conditions

  • epi-: Indicates upon or on.
  • eti/o: Pertains to the study of disease origins.
  • ex-, exo-: Denotes external or outward.
  • gen/o: Refers to production or formation.
  • histi/o, hist/o: Relates to tissue.
  • iatr/o: Pertains to medicine or a physician.
  • macro-: Indicates large or abnormal size.
  • medi/o: Relates to the middle.
  • mega-: Refers to large or oversized.
  • micro-, micr/o: Pertains to small size.

Body Terminology

  • mid-: Near the middle.
  • nosocomi/o: Refers to a hospital.
  • -ology, -ologist: Indicates the study or science of a specific subject.
  • pan-: Denotes all or entire.
  • path/o, -pathy: Relates to disease or suffering.
  • physi/o, physic/o: Refers to physical or functional aspects.
  • plas/i, plas/o, -plasia: Involves development or formation.

Anatomical Terms and Conditions

  • poster/o: Refers to behind or back side.
  • proxim/o: Denotes a position near.
  • retro-: Indicates a backward or behind position.
  • -stasis, -static: Relates to maintenance of a constant condition.
  • thorac/o: Pertains to the chest cavity.
  • trans-: Indicates across or through.
  • ventr/o: Refers to the belly side of the body.

Medical Conditions and Terms

  • abdominal cavity: Contains major digestive organs.
  • abdominopelvic cavity: Comprised of both abdominal and pelvic areas.
  • adenectomy: Surgical removal of a gland.
  • adenocarcinoma: Malignant tumor from glandular tissue.
  • adenoma: Benign tumor resembling glandular tissue.
  • atrophy: Weakening or reduction of body tissues.
  • communicable diseases: Illnesses transmitted between individuals directly or indirectly.

Genetic and Developmental Disorders

  • congenital disorders: Abnormalities present at birth.
  • cystic fibrosis: Genetic disorder causing thick mucus buildup in lungs and pancreas.
  • gene: The hereditary unit passed from parent to offspring.
  • genetic mutation: Permanent DNA changes in a gene.
  • Huntington disease: Inherited brain cell degeneration condition.

Specialized Tissue and Studies

  • cytology: Study of cellular structure and function.
  • histology: Microscopic study of tissue structure and function.
  • endocrine gland: Secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream.
  • exocrine gland: Secretes substances into ducts leading to organs or out of the body.

Anatomical Planes and Regions

  • midsagittal plane: Divides the body into equal left and right halves.
  • epigastric region: Area located above the stomach.
  • hypogastric region: Area located below the stomach.
  • left lower quadrant: Section of the abdomen to the left and below the navel.

Transmission and Disorders

  • infection transmission: Involves blood or body fluids entering another body.
  • iatrogenic illness: Negative reaction to prescribed medication.
  • idiopathic disorder: Disease without a known cause.

Additional Medical Terms

  • muscular dystrophy: Genetic diseases leading to muscle weakness and degeneration.
  • homeostasis: Body’s process to maintain a stable internal environment.

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