Overview of Medical Terminology

Overview of Medical Terminology

• Medical terminology, akin to a foreign language, is used by healthcare professionals for precise communication.
• Originates primarily from ancient Greek and Latin, facilitating a universal understanding in medicine.

Categories of Medical Terms

• Descriptive Terms: Describe characteristics such as shape, color, or function.
• Eponyms: Named after individuals who made significant contributions to medicine, such as discovering structures or procedures.

Analyzing Medical Terms

• Breakdown terms into components: root, prefix, and suffix to understand meanings.
• Start with the suffix, move to the prefix, and end with the root for effective translation.

Singular and Plural Endings

• Medical terms have specific singular and plural forms; notable examples include:
  • Singular -a (vertebra) becomes plural -ae (vertebrae).
  • Singular -is (diagnosis) becomes plural -es (diagnoses).
  • Singular -us (bronchus) becomes plural -i (bronchi).

Common Roots in Medical Terms

• Bronch/o: Relates to the bronchus.
• Derm/o, dermat/o: Pertains to skin.
• Hem/o, hemat/o: Refers to blood.
• Hep/o, hepat/o: Indicates liver.
• Psych/o: Associated with the mind.
• Path/o: Relates to disease.

Common Suffixes in Medical Terms

• -algia: Indicates pain.
• -ectomy: Refers to surgical removal.
• -oma: Represents a tumor.
• -ist: Designates a specialist in a field.

Common Prefixes in Medical Terms

• A-, an-: Denotes absence (no, not).
• Anti-, contra-: Signifies opposition (against).
• Brady-: Indicates slowness.
• Dys-: Refers to difficulty or pain.
• Inter-: Means between.

Conclusion

• Understanding medical terminology involves recognizing roots, prefixes, and suffixes to navigate discussions in the medical field effectively.