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Questions and Answers
What is the primary part of a medical term that conveys the main meaning?
What is the primary part of a medical term that conveys the main meaning?
Root word
What is the purpose of a prefix in a medical term?
What is the purpose of a prefix in a medical term?
To modify the meaning of the root word
What is the term for the direction 'towards the head'?
What is the term for the direction 'towards the head'?
Cephalad
What is the study of the digestive system?
What is the study of the digestive system?
What is the medical term for 'high blood pressure'?
What is the medical term for 'high blood pressure'?
What is the medical term for 'enlargement of the heart'?
What is the medical term for 'enlargement of the heart'?
What is the medical term for 'brittle bones'?
What is the medical term for 'brittle bones'?
What is the term for 'above' in anatomical terms?
What is the term for 'above' in anatomical terms?
What is the medical specialty that studies the skin?
What is the medical specialty that studies the skin?
What is the disorder characterized by flare ups of red papules covered with silvery scales?
What is the disorder characterized by flare ups of red papules covered with silvery scales?
What are the characteristic skin lesions of psoriasis?
What are the characteristic skin lesions of psoriasis?
What is the typical appearance of psoriatic skin lesions?
What is the typical appearance of psoriatic skin lesions?
What is the primary skin feature of psoriasis?
What is the primary skin feature of psoriasis?
What is the characteristic skin finding in psoriasis?
What is the characteristic skin finding in psoriasis?
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Study Notes
Understanding Medical Terms
Word Parts
- Root words: main part of the word that conveys the main meaning
- Prefixes: added to the beginning of a root word to modify its meaning
- Suffixes: added to the end of a root word to modify its meaning
- Combining forms: modified root words that combine with other words to form new terms
Medical Word Building
- Combining vowels: used to link root words and combining forms
- Medical terminology rules:
- Drop the combining vowel if the suffix begins with a vowel
- Keep the combining vowel if the suffix begins with a consonant
Common Medical Terms
Anatomical Terms
- Anterior: front of the body
- Posterior: back of the body
- Distal: away from the point of attachment
- Proximal: near the point of attachment
- Superior: above
- Inferior: below
Directional Terms
- Cephalad: towards the head
- Caudad: towards the tailbone
- Medial: towards the midline of the body
- Lateral: away from the midline of the body
Medical Specialties
- Cardiology: study of the heart
- Dermatology: study of the skin
- Gastroenterology: study of the digestive system
- Orthopedics: study of the musculoskeletal system
Medical Terminology Examples
- Hypertension: high blood pressure
- Hypoglycemia: low blood sugar
- Cardiomegaly: enlargement of the heart
- Osteoporosis: brittle bones
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