Medical Terminology Prefixes PDF

Medical Terminology Introduction and general prefixes DR/ AMIRA FAWZY TAHA  Introduction to medical terminology What is the medical terminology? Medical terminology is the language used to describe components and processes of the human body, medical procedures, diseases, disorders, a...

Medical Terminology Introduction and general prefixes DR/ AMIRA FAWZY TAHA  Introduction to medical terminology What is the medical terminology? Medical terminology is the language used to describe components and processes of the human body, medical procedures, diseases, disorders, and pharmacology. Simply put, it is the vocabulary that medical professionals use to describe the body, what it does, and the treatments they prescribe.  The History of Medical Terminology The history of medical terms goes all the way back to the ancient Greeks, specifically Hippocrates. According to the National Institutes of Health, the oldest recorded medical writings are the Hippocratic records from the 4th and 5th centuries BC.  The History of Medical Terminology Greek and Latin words are still used in modern medical terminology, building on this tradition. In fact, it’s thought that the Greek physician Galen’s writings, which have influenced the world of medicine for almost 1,500 years, are the main reason so many Greek words persist in medical terminology today.  The Components of Medical Terms Medical terms are like individual jigsaw puzzles. They consist of (prefixes, root, and suffixes) that make each term unique. Once you understand the basic medical term structure and how these components fit together, you will be able to “build” almost any medical term. Basic Elements of a Medical Word 1.Word Root 2. Suffix 3. Prefix 4. Combining Form  1.Word Root Word root is the primary body of a word. It is considered the fundamental meaning of a medical term. It is derived from Greek or Latin. Usually refers to body part. Has the same meaning in every word that contains it. Medical terms have one or more roots.  1. Word Root Root Meaning Gastr Stomach Card Heart Arthr Joint Cephal Head Cyt Cell Gyne Woman Lingua Tongue Thyr Thyroid Dent Tooth Dermat Skin Hemat Blood Gastr in gastritis means stomach. Hemat in hematology means blood. Card in pericarditis means heart.  2. Suffix The word ending of the term & usually follow the word root. Added to modify the meaning of the root. Usually connected with the root by combining vowels (a, e, i, o, u). Examples : itis, oma, emia, logy, etc. Hematology, Gastritis, Melanoma  3. Prefix The Word or element attached to the beginning of a word root to modify its meaning. Not all medical words have a prefix. A prefix will always have the same meaning in every term in which it is used. Examples: pre --, post --, sub --, hyper --, hypo Hypertension, preischemic, Hypoglycemia 4. Combining Vowel and combining forms Combining vowel is added to the root to help pronunciation. Connect the root with the suffix or with other root, but not used between prefixes and roots. Usually o but (e, I, or u) are also used. Example Hematology ----- Hemat o Logy The combination of a word root and a vowel is known as a combining form Hemato is a combining form. General prefixes (1) a- / an -: not, without, lack, loss Medical term Meaning of root Meaning of medical term Anephric Nephr = Kidney Without or lacking kidneys Anorexia orexia = appetite Loss of appetite Anencephaly cephaly = brain Without brain Anaesthesia aesthesia = sensation Without sensation Anoxia oxia = oxygen Lack of oxygen  (2) anti -: against or opposing Medical term Meaning Antihypertensive Drugs that decrease high Blood pressure. Antibiotic A substance derived from living microorganism and used to inhibit the growth or kills the other microorganisms. Antihistaminics Drugs opposing the action of histamine. Antiglaucoma drugs Drugs used to treat glaucoma. (3) ante -: before Medical term Meaning of root Meaning of medical term antecibum Cibum = food Before meal antenatal Natal = birth Before birth antepartum Partum = delivery Before delivery (4) inter-: between Medical term Meaning Intercostal Between ribs. Intercellular Between cells. Interval A time or space between two periods or objects. (5) intra-: within Medical term Meaning Intracellular Within the cells. Intramuscular Within the muscle. Intravenous In the veins. (6) hyper-: above normal or excessive Medical term Meaning Hyperacidity Excessive HCL in the Stomach. Hyperglycaemia Increase in blood glucose Above normal. Hypertension Increase in blood pressure Above normal Hyperkinesia Abnormal increase in the Movement. 6) hyper-: above normal or excessive Medical term Meaning Hyperkalaemia Increase in blood potassium above normal. Hypercalcemia Increase in blood calcium above normal. Hypercalciuria Excessive excretion of large amounts of calcium in the urine. Hyperthermia Increase in body temperature above normal. (7) hypo-:deficient or below normal Medical term Meaning Hypoglycemia Decrease in blood glucose below the normal. Hypokalemia Decrease in blood potassium below the normal. Hypotension Decrease in blood pressure below the normal. Hypoxia Below normal oxygen tension. Hypotonia Decrease in muscle tone. Hypothermia Decrease in body temperature below normal. (8) extra-: outside of Medical term Meaning Extravascular Outside of the blood vessels. Extracellular Outside of the cell. Extrapyramidal Outside the pyramidal tract in CNS (9) semi-: one-half or partly Medical term Meaning Semicoma Partial loss of consciousness. Semicircular Forming a half circle. Semisynthetic Partly synthetic and partly natural molecule. (10) hemi-: one-half. Medical term Meaning Hemiplegia Paralysis of one side of the body. Hemisphere Half of a spherical structure. (11) post-: after. Medical term Meaning Postoperative care Care after operation. Postnatal follow up Follow up after birth. postprandial After a meal. (12) pre-: before. Medical term Meaning Preoperative Before operation. Prenatal Before birth. Preprandial Before meal. Preanaesthetic Before anaesthesia. premenstrual Before menstruation.  (13) sub-:beneath or under. Medical term Meaning Subabdominal Below the abdominal wall. Subarachnoid Underneath the arachnoid membrane. Subconscious Not fully conscious. Subcutaneous Under the skin. (14) super-, supra-: above, in excess, superior. Medical term Meaning Supraclavicular Above the clavicle bone. Suprapubic Above the pubic bone. Superscription The beginning of a prescription consisting of the term Rx which means recipe or take the following  (15) auto-: self or same Medical term Meaning Autoimmune disease Normal tissues are destroyed by the immune system. Autograft Graft is transferred from one position to another position in the body of the same individual (16) poly-: multiple, many. Medical term Meaning Polymer A long chain made up of many units of the same molecules. Polyuria Excessive urination. Polydipsia Excessive drinking of water. Polypharmacy The use of multiple drugs in the treatment. Polysaccharide A carbohydrate containing large number of saccharide groups. (17) oligo-: few, little. Medical term Meaning Oligouria Very little urine formation. Oligospermia Decrease in the number of sperms in semen. (18) brady-:slow. Medical term Meaning Bradycardia Slowness of the heart beat; usually defined if a rate under 60 beats/minute. Bradykinesia Slow movement as in case of parkinsonism. (19) tachy-:rapid Medical term Meaning Tachycardia rapid heart rate, usually applied to rates above 100 beats per minute. Tachypnea rapid breathing. (20) macro-: large Medical term Meaning Macromolecule A molecule of large size. Macrosomia Large size baby. Macroscopy Examination of an object with the naked eye. (21) micro-: small Medical term Meaning Microcardia Abnormally small heart. Microsomia Small size baby. Microbiology Science deals with very small organism. Microorganisms very minute organisms that cannot be seen with naked eye as virus and bacteria, but seen under microscope. (22) eu-: good, normal Medical term Meaning Euphoria A feeling of well being. Euplasia Normal cells. Euthyroid Normal thyroid function. Euglycemia Normal blood glucose. Euvolemia Normal blood volume. (23) dys-: bad, difficult Medical term Meaning Dyskinesia Abnormal involuntary movement. Dysphoria Feeling of discomfort. Dysmenorrhoea Painful menstruation. Dysuria Painful urination. Dysfunction Bad or abnormal function. Dysphagia Difficulty in swallowing. Dysphonia Hoarseness of voice ( abnormal change in the voice).  (24) para: beside Medical term Meaning Parathyroid gland Gland beside thyroid gland. Paranasal sinuses Sinuses beside the nose. (25) neo: new Medical term Meaning Neoplasm New growth or tumor.  (26) pan-: all Medical term Meaning Pancytopenia Decrease in all blood cells. Pancarditis Inflammation of all layers of the heart. (27) epi: above Medical term Meaning Epigastric Above the stomach Epiphysis Upper part of the bone (28) peri: around Medical term Meaning Pericardium Around or surrounding the heart. (29) retro: behind, backward Medical term Meaning Retrospective analysis Backward analysis. Retroperitoneal Behind peritoneum. retrograde amnesia Loss of memory for old (30) xero:dry Medical term Meaning xerophthalmic Dry eyes. xerostomia Dry mouth. xeroderma Dry skin. (31) mono:one Medical term Meaning monocyte One cell. mononuclear Contain only one nucleus. monoplegia Paralysis in one limb. (32) uni:one Medical term Meaning Unilateral One Side. Uniform One form. (33) multi:many Medical term Meaning Multidrug therapy The use of many drugs in the treatment. Multiform Has many forms. (34) bi-:two or both Medical term Meaning Bilateral Both sides Bilayer Two layers. (35) tri-:three Medical term Meaning Tricuspid valve Valve in the heart with 3 opening Triple therapy The use of 3 drugs in the treatment. (36) quadri-:four Medical term Meaning quadriplegia Paralysis of all the 4 limbs THANKS