Understanding Medical Terminology Flashcards

Creating Medical Terms

• A medical term is formed by combining a prefix, a root word, and a suffix.

Components of Medical Terminology

• Four primary parts:
  • Word root (WR) - conveys the basic meaning.
  • Combining form (CF) - a root word with a vowel to aid pronunciation.
  • Suffix (S) - the ending of the word which modifies its meaning.
  • Prefix (P) - an addition at the beginning of the term which alters its meaning.

Word Root (WR)

• Represents the fundamental meaning of a medical term.

Combining Form (CF)

• Created by adding a vowel (commonly "o") to the word root, enhancing pronunciation.

Suffix (S)

• Found at the end of a medical term, providing context or meaning.

Prefix (P)

• Added at the start of a medical term to give additional meaning.

Common Combining Form Vowel

• The letter "o" is the most frequently used vowel in combining forms.

Reading Medical Terms

• Approach by analyzing components:
  • Start with the suffix to define it.
  • Move to the prefix and define it.
  • Finally, interpret the root or combined forms in the middle.

Words Ending in -ologist

• Examples include pathologist, radiologist, and psychologist.

Words Including Neur/o

• Terms such as neurology, neurovascular, and neurologist incorporate the root neur/o.

Medical Term "Sublingual"

• Breakdown:
  • Prefix "sub" (under),
  • Combining form "lingu" (tongue),
  • Suffix "-al" (pertaining to).
• Meaning: Pertaining to under the tongue.

Medical Term "Subcutaneous"

• Breakdown:
  • Prefix "sub" (under),
  • Word root "cutane" (skin),
  • Suffix "-ous" (pertaining to).
• Meaning: Pertaining to under the skin.

Medical Term "Transneurocostal"

• Breakdown:
  • Prefix "trans" (across),
  • Combining form "neuro" (nerve),
  • Word root "cost" (rib),
  • Suffix "-al" (pertaining to).
• Meaning: Pertaining to across the nerve of a rib.

Medical Term "Transpolyrhinal"

• Breakdown:
  • Prefixes "trans" (across) and "poly" (many),
  • Word root "rhin" (nose),
  • Suffix "-al" (pertaining to).
• Meaning: Pertaining to across many noses.

Medical Term "Subpolylingual"

• Breakdown:
  • Prefixes "sub" (under) and "poly" (many),
  • Combining form "lingu" (tongue),
  • Suffix "-al" (pertaining to).
• Meaning: Pertaining to under many tongues.

Medical Term "Transdermal"

• Breakdown:
  • Prefix "trans" (across),
  • Word root "derm" (skin),
  • Suffix "-al" (pertaining to).
• Meaning: Pertaining to across the skin.