Medical Teminology

Medical Terminology

• Formed primarily from Greek and Latin Words• One term can mean a complete phrase in

English• Need to understand basic word parts, build and

decode terms• A sound knowledge of medical terminology is

vital for a career in health care.

Medical Terminology

• Word Root (WR): basic meaning of the medical term. • Combining form (CF): word root

plus a vowel used to help pronounce the term

Medical Terminology

• Prefix (P) is used at the beginning of the term to describe, modify, or limit the term• Suffix (S) is the word ending that

when connected to the word root create a noun, adjective, or verb

Decoding Medical Terminology

Define the medical term: Intraneural• 1. Start with the suffix and define it – -al = pertaining to

• 2. Next define the prefix– Intra- = with in

• 3. Define the word root or middle word– -neura- = nerve

• 4. Combine the definitions to decode the term– Complete word Intraneural = pertaining to within a

nerve

Directions, Planes, and Regions

• Special Terms used to identify areas of the body

• Based upon the anatomical position

• Uses Directions and Regions of the body to specify locations

Planes of the Body

• Sagittal Plane: divides body into two parts, right and left sections

Planes of the Body

• Frontal or coronal Plane: divides body into anterior and posterior sections

Planes of the Body

• Transverse Plane: divides body horizontally into a top/superior and a bottom/inferior parts.

Directional Terms Defined

• Anterior/Ventral – Front side of body• Posterior/Dorsal – Back side of body• Inferior – below another structure• Superior – above another structure

Directional Terms Defined

• Lateral – towards the side of the body• Medial – to the middle or midline of

the body• Deep – through the surface • Superficial – on or near the surface

Directional Terms Defined

• Proximal – near the point of attachment to the trunk

• Distal – away from the point of attachment to the trunk

• Supine – lying on one’s spine/back facing upward

• Prone – lying on one’s stomach facing downward

Medical Terminology Prefixes to Know

•A- : absence of•Ab- : from; away•Ante-: before•Anti-: Against• Brady-: slow

Medical Terminology Prefixes to Know

• Epi- on; upon; over• Para-: beside, beyond• Per-: through• Post- : after• Retro- back, behind, after

Medical Terminology Prefixes to Know

• Sub -: under; below• Super-: over, above• Supra-: above• Tachy- : fast, rapid• Trans - : through, across• Ultra – beyond, excess

Medical Terminology Suffixes to Know

• -al: pertaining to• -algia: pain• -apheresis: removal• -cidal: killing• -clysis: irrigating, washing

Medical Terminology Suffixes to Know

• -cyte: cell• -ectasis: stretching out• -emesis: vomiting• -iasis: condition• -genesis: origin, cause

Medical Terminology Suffixes to Know

• --iatry: physician, treatment• -ician: one who• -ism: state of• -itis: inflammation

Medical Terminology Suffixes to Know

• -ologist: one who studies and practices (specialist)• -ology: study of• -oma: tumor, swelling• -opsy: to view• -orrhea: flow, excessive discharge

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know

–Acr: extremities, height–Aden: gland–Arteri: artery–Arthr: joint–Articul: joint

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know

–Axill: armpit–Brachi: arm–Cardi: heart–Carp: carpals/ wrist bones

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know

–Cardi: heart–Cephal: head–Chondr: cartilage–Clavic: clavicle (collarbone)

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know

–Cost: rib–Cry: cold–Cutane: skin–Derm: skin–Dors: back of the body

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know

–Femor: femur (upper leg bone)–Gastr: stomach–Hem: blood–Hist: tissue–Lact: milk

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know

–Later: side–Lip: fat–Mandibul: mandible (lower

jawbone)–Menisc: cresent Menisc

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know

–Myos: muscle–my: muscle–Neur: nerve–Opt: vision–Oste: bone

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know

–Patell: patella (knee cap)–Path: disease–Pneum: lung, air–Pod: foot

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know

–Pulmon: lung–Quardr: four–Radi: radius (lower arm bone)–Sphygm: pulse

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know

–Spondyl: vertebra, spinal column–Stern: sternum(breast bone)–Tars: tarsals (ankle bones)–Tend: tendons

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know

–Tibi: tibia (lower leg bone)–Vertebra: vertebra, spinal column–Xer: dry