Medical Terminology
Dr. Bassim I. ALSheibani
1. Common Suffixes
2. Common Prefixes
3. Body Planes
4. Body Directions
Common Suffixes
Although the suffix is last in a medical term, it most
often comes first in its definition
For example, appendicitis means “inflammation(-
itis) of the appendix.” So the suffix, in this case -itis,
provides us with the first word of the defining phrase
Categories of Suffixes
1. Suffixes that signify medical conditions
2. Suffixes that signify diagnostic terms, test
information, or surgical procedures
3. Suffixes associated with a medical specialty or
specialist
4. Suffixes that convert a noun to an adjective
Suffixes That Signify Medical Conditions
No Suffix Refers to Example
1 itis inflammation Hepatitis
2 megaly enlargement Splenomegaly
3 algia pain Arthralgia
4 cele protrusion, hernia Gastrocele
5 malacia softening Osteomalacia
6 Plegia paralysis Cardioplegia
7 Rrhexis rupture Cardiorrhexis
Suffixes That Signify Diagnostic Terms, Test Information, or Surgical Procedures
No Suffix Refers to Example
1 centesis surgical puncture Thoracocentesis
2 ectomy surgical removal Nephroectomy
3 genesis producing Spermatogenesis
4 pexy surgical fixation Cardiopexy
5 plasty surgical repair Urthroplasty
6 rrhaphy suture Gastrorraphy
7 scope device for viewing Arthroscope
8 scopy act of viewing Colonoscopy
9 Tomy incision Thoracotomy
10 graphy act of graphic or pictorial recording Electrocardiography
Suffixes Associated with a Medical Specialty or Specialist
No Suffixes Specialist
Suffixes Specialty
1 ist Pharmacist
cy Pharmacy
2 ian Pediatrician
ics Pediatrics
3 iatrist Psychiatrist
iatry Psychiatry
4 logist Cardiologist
logy Cardiology
Suffixes That Denote Adjectives
No Suffixes Noun Adjective Form
1 or extension extensor
2 al Urethra Urthral
3 oid epidermis epidermoid
4 ic hypothalamus hypothalamic
5 ular gland glandular
Common Prefix
A prefix is a word element that comes at the
beginning of a word
When one is present, it always comes at the very
beginning of the word and is critical to its meaning.
For example, hyper glycemia (“high blood sugar”)
and hypo glycemia (“low blood sugar”) name
conditions that are exact opposites
Categories of Prefixes
1. Prefixes of time or speed
2. Prefixes of direction
3. Prefixes of position
4. Prefixes of size or number
5. Prefixes of Color
Prefixes of Time or Speed
Ante- (pre- before, ex: antenatal)
Brady- (abnormally slow rate of speed )
Neo- (new)
Post- (after)
Tachy- (rapid, abnormally high rate of speed, EX:
Tachypnea is a rapid breathing rate)
Prefixes of Direction
endo- within (endocardium ,the inner part of the heart)
epi- upon, subsequent to (Epicardium)
exo outside
extra- beyond
hyper- above, beyond normal (hypertension)
hypo- below, below normal (hypotension)
Prefixes of Direction
pan- all or everywhere
para- alongside, like
retro- backward, behind (ex: retrograde)
infra- below
inter- between
intra- inside (ex: intraventricular)
anti- against, opposed (ex: antihypertensive)
Prefixes of Size or Number
bi- two (ex: biannual)
hemi-, semi- half (ex; hemisphere)
macro- big
micro- small
mono- one (ex: monoarticular)
olig-, oligo- a few or little (ex: oliguria)
Poly, many (ex: polyuria)
Prefixes of Size or Number
quadri- four (ex: quadriplegia)
tri- three (ex: triceps)
uni- one
Prefixes of Color
Levels of Organization
Cells, Cytology
Tissues, Histology
– epithelial
– connective
– muscle
– nervous
Organs
Systems
Organism
Body Planes
Imaginary horizontal and
vertical lines
Easier to describe
location of organ or
problem
the two major body cavities and their subdivisions
Ventral cavity is front
body cavity;
subcavities (thoracic
and abdominopelvic)
Dorsal cavity is ack
body cavity;
subcavities (cranial
and spinal)
The Anatomic Position and Directional Terms
In the anatomic position,
the body is erect and
facing forward with the
palms of the hands also
facing forward
The Anatomic Position and Directional Terms
Body Directions
No Anatomic
Position Direction
1 anterior or
ventral toward the front and away from the back ofthe body
2 posterior or
dorsal toward the back and away from the front of the body
3 distal away from the attachment point of a limb (arm or leg)
4 proximal toward the attachment point of a limb (arm or leg)
5 inferior away from the head
6 superior or
cranial toward the head
7 Lateral away from the middle of and toward the side of
the body
8 medial toward the middle of the body
Divisions of the Abdomen
right upper quadrant RRQ
left upper quadrant LUQ
right lower quadrant RLQ
left lower quadrant LLQ
Divisions of the Abdomen