Medical Terminology Fundamentals PDF

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY  SIMPLIFIED MEDICAL LANGUAGE The building block for most medical terms is the word root, or the primary body of a word. At times, a medical term can be made up of compound words. A compound word may consist of two word roots, such as in the ca...

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY  SIMPLIFIED MEDICAL LANGUAGE The building block for most medical terms is the word root, or the primary body of a word. At times, a medical term can be made up of compound words. A compound word may consist of two word roots, such as in the case of collarbone (collar + bone). To facilitate the pronunciation of words, a combining vowel is placed in between word roots. A significant number of medical terms use the vowel “o”. However, it’s good to note that “o” isn’t the only vowel. Word Root Combining Combining Meaning Use in a Vowel Form Word acr +o acr/o extremity acrocyanosi s psych +o psych/o mind psychology chol +e chol/e bile cholesterase  PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES Prefixes and suffixes may accompany a word root to alter its meaning. A prefix is attached before the word, while a suffix is placed at the end of a word root. Sometimes, a word may consist of a prefix and a suffix only. Prefix + Combining form + Suffix electro + cardi/o + gram (electrocardiogram) Prefix + Suffix hyper + emia (hyperemia) Linking combining Use a combining vowel crani/o + tomy craniotomy forms and suffixes if the suffix begins with derm/a + tology dermatology a consonant. Linking combining Omit the combining appendic/o + itis appendicitis forms and suffixes vowel if the suffix enter/o + ic enteric with initial vowels begins with a vowel. Linking other word Usually, prefixes need dys + pepsia dyspepsia parts and prefixes not be changed when intra +dermal intradermal linked with other word parts.  EPONYMS Eponyms are names derived from a proper noun. They may originate from the name of a person, place, or thing. In the medical field, diseases, organs, procedures, or body functions can be eponyms; hence, they are frequently capitalized. Examples of eponyms include Alzheimer’s disease, after Alois Alzheimer, and Babinski sign, after Joseph Babinski.  ABBREVIATIONS An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Abbreviations can be in the form of: ✓ Letters: The abbreviation for chest x-ray is CXR. ✓ Shortened words: The abbreviation “tab” is short for “tablet.” ✓ Acronyms: The acronym CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Abbreviations and symbols should be used cautiously, especially when medications are involved.  PLURALS The plural form of many medical terms follows the rules used in common language. Word endings Singular form Plural Form Consonants other than contusion contusions s, h, or y s, ch, sh virus viruses y allergy allergies  General Guidelines in Forming Plurals of Nouns with Special Endings Singular Plural Ending Examples (Singular) Examples (Plural) Ending is es diagnosis, anastomosis diagnoses, anastomoses um a atrium, ostium atria, ostia us i bronchus, alveolus bronchi, alveoli a ae cava, vertebra cavae, vertebrae ix ices appendix, cervix appendices, cervices ex ices apex apices ax aces thorax thoraces ma s or mata condyloma condylomas or condylomata on a spermatozoon spermatozoa nx nges phalanx phalanges  MEDICAL SPECIALISTS AND THEIR SPECIALTIES Identifying medical specialists and their specialties is made easy by recognizing the meanings of the suffixes attached to the word root. For example, the suffix -logy refers to the “study or science of.” Anesthesiology is the branch of medical science that specifically deals with the study of anesthesia or anesthetics. On the other hand, the suffix –logist means “one who studies” or “specialist.” An anesthesiologist is a physician who specializes in anesthesia. Combining Form Meaning Medical Specialty Medical Specialist cardi/o heart cardiology cardiologist dermat/o skin dermatology dermatologist esthesi/o Feeling or sensation anesthesiology anesthesiologist gynec/o female gynecology gynecologist immune/o immune immunology immunologist ne/o, nat/o New, birth neonatology neonatologist ophthalm/o eye ophthalmology ophthalmologist path/o disease pathology pathologist radi/o Radiation or radius radiology radiologist ur/o Urinary tract or urology urologist urine  SURGICAL PROCEDURES A significant number of medical terms refer to surgical procedures. Generally, the suffixes used will give you an idea about the type of surgery or procedure performed. For instance, the suffix -ectomy means surgical removal.  SUFFIXES: SURGICAL PROCEDURES Suffix Meaning Word Association -centesis surgical puncture to aspirate or Paracentesis is a puncture of the remove fluid peritoneal cavity to remove fluid. -ectomy excision (surgical removal or Excision of the appendix is referred to cutting out) as an appendectomy. -lysis process of loosening, freeing, or This suffix can also mean dissolving or destroying destruction, as in hydrolysis. -pexy surgical fixation Nephropexy is a surgical fixation of a kidney -plasty surgical repair Rhinoplasty is a plastic surgery of the nose -rrhaphy suture Herniorraphy is surgical repair of the hernia with suture of the abdominal wall. -scopy visual examination with the use Colonoscopy is a means of visualizing of a lighted instrument the colon with the use of a fiber-optic instrument. -stomy creation of an opening Colostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an opening for the colon or large intestine through the abdomen. -tome an instrument used for cutting A microtome is used to cut thin sections of tissue. -tomy incision Sternotomy is an incision of the sternum usually performed during heart surgery. -tripsy surgical crushing Lithotripsy is the surgical crushing of a renal calculus or stone.  BODY STRUCTURES COMBINING FORMS FOR A NUMBER OF BODY STRUCTURES Combining Meaning Word Association Form aden/o gland Adenopathy refers to the enlargement of the glands. angi/o vessel Angioplasty is a procedure used to reestablish blood flow through partially or fully blocked blood vessels. bi/o Life or living Biopsy is a procedure used to extract cells or tissues for examination. blephar/o eyelid Blepharitis is an infection of the eyelids. cerebr/o, brain Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear, colorless encephal/o fluid found in the brain and the spinal cord. Encephalopathy is a general term that refers to a disorder or disease of the brain. col/o colon or large intestine Colitis is an inflammation of the colon’s inner lining. faci/o face Facial relates to the face. hepat/o liver Hepatomegaly is enlargement of the liver. mamm/o, mast/o breast Mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue. muscul/o, my/o muscle The musculoskeletal system is an organ system responsible for movement and activity. Myosin is one of the muscle proteins. myel/o bone marrow or spinal Myelogram is a means of cord examining the spinal canal using a combination of dye and x-ray. oste/o bone Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens the bones, thereby increasing the risk for fractures. pulm/o, pulmon/o, lungs Pulmonary refers to the lungs. pneum/o, pneumon/o Pneumatic refers to gas or air. Pneumothorax is the accumulation of air or gas in the chest. tonsil/o tonsil Tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of the tonsils. trache/o trachea (windpipe) Tracheitis is an inflammation of the trachea. vas/o vessel Widening of the blood vessels is known as vasodilation.  SYMPTOMS OR DIAGNOSIS Symptom and diagnosis are common terms used in the medical field. A symptom indicates a disorder or disease in which changes in health status are perceived by the client. For instance, a client says: “My stomach hurts.” Diagnosis, on the other hand, is the scientific determination of a disease process or condition after evaluation. “Peptic ulcer disease” is an example of a medical diagnosis.  SUFFIXES: SYMPTOMS OR DIAGNOSIS Suffix Meaning Word Association -algia pain Arthralgia is joint pain. -cele hernia (results when organ Omphalocele is an abdominal wall pushes through the organ defect in which the abdominal organs or muscle that contains it) protrude through an opening at the base of the umbilical cord. -ectasia, -ectasis dilatation Telangiectasia is the dilation of the superficial blood vessels. Lymphangiectasis is the dilation of the lymphatic vessels. -edema swelling Edema denotes the presence of excess fluid in the tissues, causing swelling. Angioedema involves the precipitous swelling of the tissues under the skin, usually due to an allergic reaction. -emesis vomiting Emesis denotes vomiting. Hyperemesis means excessive vomiting. -emia condition of the blood Anemia refers to a decrease in red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. -ia, -iasis condition Hysteria is a mental disorder attributed to women in the nineteenth century. Filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by microscopic worms. -itis inflammation Inflammation of the voice box or larynx is known as laryngitis. -ith stone or calculus Fecalith is a hard mass consisting of feces. -malacia soft, softening Chondromalacia patella is the softening of the cartilage underneath the knee. -mania excessive Pyromania is a compulsion to set things preoccupation on fire. -megaly enlargement Cardiomegaly is the enlargement of the heart. -oid resembling Mucoid means similar to mucus. -oma tumor Lymphoma refers to a group of blood cancers originating from the lymphatic system. -osis condition (usually an abnormal Psychosis is a group of disorders affecting condition, occasionally the mind. refers to an increase) -pathy disease Cardiomyopathy is a group of diseases affecting the cardiac muscle. -penia deficiency Neutropenia refers to abnormally low levels of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. -phobia abnormal fear Phobia refers to extremely strong fear or dislike of something. Fear of being in an enclosed space or area is known as claustrophobia. -ptosis prolapse (sagging) Drooping eyelids is ptosis. -rrhage, - excessive bleeding Hemorrhage means bleeding, which can be rrhagia external or internal. -rrhea flow or discharge Amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual flow. -rrhexis rupture Rupture of the bowels is referred to as enterorrhexis. -spasm cramp, twitching Vasospasm is the spasm of the blood vessels. -stasis stopping, controlling Hemostasis is the normal bodily response to stop bleeding or hemorrhaging.  ESSENTIAL PREFIXES NUMBERS AND QUANTITIES Prefix Meaning Example Word Association mono-, one mononuclear, Mononuclear refers to a cell made up of one uni- unilateral nucleus. Unilateral means one side. bi-, di- two bicuspid, Bicuspid means having two cusps, as in the disaccharide bicuspid valves of the heart. A disaccharide is a type of carbohydrate that is made up of two simple sugars. tri- three tricuspid Tricuspid means having three cusps, as in the tricuspid valve of the heart. quad-, four quadriplegia The paralysis of all four extremities is known quadri-, as quadriplegia. tetra centi- One centigrade The centigrade or Celsius scale is a unit of hundred, measurement for temperature, which is one- divided into 100 degrees. hundredth milli- one-thousandth milliunit A milliunit is 1/1000 of a unit. diplo- double diplopia Diplopia means double vision or the perception of two images of a single object. hemi-, semi- half, partly hemiparesis, Hemiparesis refers to weakness semi-fowler’s of one entire side of the body. Semi-fowler’s position is a position assumed when a client is supine on a bed with the head of the bed elevated at about 30–45 degrees. hyper- excessive, more hyperglycemia Hyperglycemia is excessive than normal blood sugar. hypo- under, less than hypoglycemia Decreased blood sugar in the normal blood is known as hypoglycemia. multi-, poly- many multigravid, Multigravid means multiple polyuria pregnancies. Polyuria means excessive production or passage of urine. nulli- none nulliparous A woman who hasn’t given birth is referred to as nulliparous pan- all pancytopenia Pancytopenia occurs when all blood cell types are decreased. primi- first primigravida Primigravida refers to a woman being pregnant for the first time. super-, excessive, superior, Superior vena cava is a large-diameter ultra- above or supraspinatus, blood vessel that drains blood from the superior ultraviolet upper parts of the body. Ultraviolet light is a form of radiation.  MISCELLANEOUS PREFIXES Prefix Meaning Word Association anti-, contra- against Antidiuretics are medications that decrease or inhibit urination. Contraception refers to methods or devices that prevent pregnancy. brady- slow Bradypnea means decreased respiratory rate. dys- bad, difficult Difficulty swallowing is referred to as dysphagia. eu- good, normal Eupnea pertains to normal respirations. mal- bad Malabsorption results from the inability of the gastrointestinal tract to properly absorb food nutrients. pro- favoring, Probiotics are live microorganisms that are believed supporting to be beneficial to one’s health. tachy- fast Tachypnea refers to abnormally fast respirations. ante-, pre-, pro- before Antemortem means before death. Premature births refer to neonates being born before 37 weeks of gestation. post- after or behind Postpartum pertains to the period immediately after birth. macro-, mega-, large Macrocephaly refers to a condition where the Megalo- or great head is abnormally large. Megaloblasts are abnormally large red blood cells. Large blood cells in the bone marrow are referred to as megakaryocytes. micro- small Microcephaly is a condition where the head is abnormally small. a-, an- no, not, without Apathy pertains to lack of or absence of emotion. Analgesia refers to absence of sensibility to pain. in- not or inside (in) Indifferent pertains to having no interest. Intubate means putting a tube inside an airway.  COMBINING FORMS FOR COLORS alb/o, albin/o, white albinism, Albinism is a genetic disorder resulting leuk/o (leuc/o) leukocytosis in minimal or absence of skin, hair, or eye pigmentation. An increase in the white blood cell count is known as leukocytosis. chlor/o green chlorophyll Chlorophyll is the green coloring matter found in leaves and plants. cyano/o blue cyanosis Lack of oxygen in the blood can cause a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes known as cyanosis. erythr/o red erythema Erythema refers to the redness of the skin or mucous membrane. melan/o black melanin Melanin is a dark brown or black substance that forms a natural part of a person’s hair, skin, and eyes. xanth/o yellow xanthophyll The yellow pigment in plants is xanthophyll. Xanthophobia is the fear of the color yellow. Thank you