Medical TerminologyBasics

Chapter 1

Medical Terminology Knowledge

Health care workers need to know many medical terms in order to do their

jobs well.

TAKE THIS DOWN IN YOUR NOTES, PLEASE!

There are 4 categories of

medical terms:

Constructed terms

Eponyms

Abbreviations

Acronyms

CONSTRUCTED TERMSMedical terms made

up of several distinct parts.

EPONYMSMedical Terms named after the people who discovered a disease or scientific process.

Example: “Pasteurization” is an Eponym named after the scientist Louis Pasteur.

ABBREVIATIONSShort versions of longer words.

For example:

Histo is the short version of the word:

Histology ,which means the

“study of tissues”

ABBREVIATIONSAnother example:

Stat is the short version of the word:

Statim, which is a Latin

word that means “immediately”

ACRONYMSWords created from the first letter of each word found in

a group of words.

For example: “SOB” stands for:

“Short Of Breath.”

What are the four major types of Medical Terms? Constructed terms

Eponyms

Abbreviations

Acronyms

Constructed TermsThe most prevalent type of medical terms

Words made up of several parts. . .

Constructed Terms are:

Biology

. . .such as this common word:

Bio + logy = Biology

The first part is:

The second part is:

Bio-

-logy

How would you define: “Biology” from its parts?

Bio- means:

-logy means:

Life, Living Things

(the) Study of

“The study of Life and Living things”

Biology is defined as:

This means we are actually taking apart words, defining the meaning of the individual parts, and building a whole definition based on the meanings of the parts.

Word parts can include:

Prefixes Word Roots Suffixes Combining Vowels

Comprehension Check- What do we call

medical terms that are built by connecting word parts/word elements?

Constructed Terms

Comprehension Check- What word parts/word

elements are typically used to build constructed terms?

Word Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes, Combining vowels

Let’s look at another constructed medical term, “Physiology”.

Physi/o/logy =

Physi = nature (word root)-logy = the study of (suffix)

Defined as: The study of nature

Did you notice in the last word, physiology, that there is a vowel– “o”—that stands alone?

This is called the combining vowel.

What are the two word parts?Word root =

Suffix =

Physi

-logy

What does each word part mean?Physi =

-logy =

Nature

(the) study of

So, in the word physiology, how does the vowel— “o”– function? It isn’t part of the word root or the suffix.

Remember:Physi: (word root) = “Nature”-logy: (suffix) = “the study of”

What about the “o”? Why is the “o” even there?

The vowel– “o”– functions as a connector between the word root, Physi, and the suffix, -logy.

We need to add the vowel “o” because the suffix—logy, begins with a consonant letter, “L.”

From now on you will see:

all WORD ROOTS highlighted in PURPLE all COMBINING VOWELS highlighted in RED all SUFFIXES highlighted in BLUE all PREFIXES highlighted in GREEN

Color Coding of word parts:

To review, medical terms that are constructed from parts may include:

Word Roots Prefixes Suffixes One or more Combining Vowels (usually an

“o” or an “i”

Medical Terms that are constructed from parts

Word roots, prefixes, suffixesLet’s learn about each

of these things separately.

First: Word Roots.

The Word Root is the basic foundation of a constructed medical term

Usually tells about the body part/system◦ Other word parts can be added to a word root

Word Root: the Foundation

Example word root: cardi

◦cardi = heart

◦Words with cardi will always refer to the heart

Always attaches to the BEGINNING of a word

**IMPORTANT NOTE: The meaning of a prefix always remains the same.

Prefix: a beginning

Example: endo always means “within” no matter what it attaches to.

Look at the words: endothelium, endocarditis, endotracheal, endoscope

In all of these words, endo- always means “within.

*****IMPORTANT NOTE*****Not all medical terms (words)

have prefixes!

Always attaches to the END of a word◦Makes a word a noun or an adjective

**IMPORTANT NOTE: The meaning of a suffix always remains the same.

Suffix: an ending

Example: -itis always means “inflammation” no matter what it attaches to.

Look at the words: sinusitis, rhinitis, tendonitis, bursitis, appendicitis

In all of these words, -itis always means “inflammation.”

Sometimes the word root is followed by a special vowel that acts as a “connector” between the word root and the suffix, or in some cases, between a word root and a second word root.

Combining vowel: a connector

Example 1: Cardi + o + graphy

Example 2: Electr + o + cardi + o + graph

EXAMPLE #1 CARDIOGRAPHY

Cardi (word root) =

Graphy (suffix) =

“o” = (combining

vowel)

Heart

(the) process of recording

**NOTE: combining vowels do not add to the meaning of constructed medical terms

EXAMPLE # 2 ELECTROCARDIOGRAPH

Electr (word root # 1)=

o (combining vowel)

Cardi (word root # 2)=

o (combining vowel)

graph (suffix) =

Electrical

Heart

Instrument used to record

Myoelectric

Here is how to divide that word into its parts: my/o/electr/ic

◦ Root # 1 = my◦ Combining vowel = o◦ Root # 2 = electr◦ Suffix = ic

Let’s try another example:

Take apart the word . . .

CardiomyopathyFirst, determine how many WORD ROOTS

there are.

Let’s Practice!

Next, find the combining vowels that are attached to each word root:

Cardi + o

My + o

Finally, identify the ending, called the suffix:

Cardi/o/my/o/+? -pathy

Well done! You have taken apart and built back up a medical term:

Cardi/o/my/o/pathy = Cardiomyopathy

But we’re not quite finished yet. What does each word element, or word part actually mean?

Cardi/o = heartMy/o = muscle-pathy = disease-------------------------------------So, you could base a simple definition off

of the knowledge of the word parts.

“Disease of the heart muscle” or “Heart muscle disease.”

Comprehension Checker-

◦Prefixes are placed where?

◦Suffixes are placed where?

◦Combining vowels are used when?

at the beginning of words

at the end of word roots

when a word has more than one word root or when the suffix begins with a consonant letter

Some medical terms are not constructed using word parts, but are derived from original Latin or Greek words from ancient times.

Example: The term cochlea is a Latin word that means “snail shell.” The cochlea of the ear closely resembles the shape and look of a snail shell.

Pronunciation PracticeCardiologyElectrocardiogramNeurologicalCyanoticThoracicDuodenalRadiographerHypodermicCardiomegaly

EponymAcronymAbbreviationElectrocardiographPsychiatristEndocarditisSinusitisVenousCardialgia

The End