MEDICAL MEDICAL TERMINOLOGYTERMINOLOGY

The Language of the Health The Language of the Health ProfessionProfession

ORIGIN OF MEDICAL ORIGIN OF MEDICAL TERMSTERMS

Hippocrates was a Hippocrates was a Greek physician Greek physician and is known as and is known as the “father of the “father of medicine.”medicine.”

75% of medical 75% of medical terms are based terms are based on either Greek or on either Greek or Latin words.Latin words.

ROOT WORDSROOT WORDS

A root is the A root is the foundation or foundation or basic meaning of basic meaning of a word.a word.

May appear with May appear with a prefix or suffix, a prefix or suffix, or between a or between a prefix or suffix.prefix or suffix.

Examples:Examples: card - root for heartcard - root for heart hepat- root for liverhepat- root for liver neur - root for neur - root for

nervenerve nephr - root for nephr - root for

kidneykidney cyt- root for cellcyt- root for cell

PREFIXPREFIXExamples:Examples: Pre - prefix means Pre - prefix means

beforebefore peri- prefix means peri- prefix means

aroundaround hemi - prefix means hemi - prefix means

halfhalf macro - prefix means macro - prefix means

largelarge neo- prefix means newneo- prefix means new

The prefix is a The prefix is a part of the word part of the word that precedes that precedes the word root the word root and changes its and changes its meaning.meaning.

Often indicates Often indicates location, time, location, time, or number.or number.

SUFFIXSUFFIX

A suffix is the word A suffix is the word ending that follows ending that follows the word root and the word root and changes its changes its meaning.meaning.

Often indicates the Often indicates the procedure, procedure, condition, condition, disorder, or disorder, or disease.disease.

CardiologyCardiology

Cardi - root means Cardi - root means heart.heart.

-ology - suffix -ology - suffix means the study means the study of.of.

Cardiology - the Cardiology - the study of the heart.study of the heart.

NephritisNephritis

Nephr - root words Nephr - root words means kidneymeans kidney

-itis suffix means -itis suffix means inflammationinflammation

Nephritis means Nephritis means inflammation of inflammation of the kidneythe kidney

Combining FormsCombining Forms

Combining form consists of the Combining form consists of the word root and a connecting vowel to word root and a connecting vowel to make it easier to pronounce and make it easier to pronounce and attach another root word or suffix.attach another root word or suffix.

Combining form for heart is cardiCombining form for heart is cardi

Combining form associated with Combining form associated with cells is cytcells is cyt

Basic Rules for the Basic Rules for the Combining VowelCombining Vowel

The combining vowel is not used The combining vowel is not used when the suffix begins with a when the suffix begins with a vowel. (neuritis)vowel. (neuritis)

The combining vowel is used when The combining vowel is used when the suffix begins with a consonant. the suffix begins with a consonant. (neuroplasty)(neuroplasty)

Break down and define the Break down and define the following medical terms…following medical terms…

PericarditisPericarditis

Pericarid its

Peri-m eans around

-card i-m eans the heart

-itism eans in flam m ation

LeukocyteLeukocyte

leuko- prefix means leuko- prefix means whitewhite

cyte - root word cyte - root word means cellmeans cell

leukocyte means leukocyte means white cellwhite cell

HepatitisHepatitis hepat - root word hepat - root word

means livermeans liver

-itis - suffix means -itis - suffix means inflammationinflammation

hepatitis - means hepatitis - means inflammation of inflammation of the liverthe liver

NeuroplastyNeuroplasty

neuro - root word means neuro - root word means nerve or nervesnerve or nerves

-plasty - suffix means -plasty - suffix means surgical repairsurgical repair

neuroplasty means surgical neuroplasty means surgical repair of the nerverepair of the nerve

Pronunciation of Medical Pronunciation of Medical TermsTerms

ch is sometimes pronounced like a k ch is sometimes pronounced like a k

i.e. chemoreceptor, chronici.e. chemoreceptor, chronic ps is pronounced like sps is pronounced like s

i.e. psychiatry, psychologyi.e. psychiatry, psychology Pn is pronounced with only the n soundPn is pronounced with only the n sound

i.e. pneumonia, pneumogastrici.e. pneumonia, pneumogastric

Pronunciation cont’dPronunciation cont’d c and g are given the soft sound of s and j c and g are given the soft sound of s and j

respectivelyrespectively

i.e. cell, cilia, genetics, Giardiai.e. cell, cilia, genetics, Giardia ae and oe are pronounced eeae and oe are pronounced ee

i.e. fasciae, coelomi.e. fasciae, coelom i at the end of a word is pronounced eye (to form a i at the end of a word is pronounced eye (to form a

pluralplural

i.e. alveoli, glomerulii.e. alveoli, glomeruli es when forming the final letters of a word, is often es when forming the final letters of a word, is often

pronounced as a separate syllablepronounced as a separate syllable

i.e. nares (nah’reez)i.e. nares (nah’reez)

THE ENDTHE END