Medical TerminologyMedical Terminology

Chapter 1, 2 and 3Chapter 1, 2 and 3

Medicine Has a Language Medicine Has a Language of Its Ownof Its Own

Current medical vocabulary includes terms built from Greek and Latin word parts, eponyms, acronyms, and terms from modern language

The Components of Medical TermsThe Components of Medical Terms

Medical terms are like individual jigsaw puzzles. They consist of (prefixes, combining forms, and suffixes) that make each term unique.

Once you understand the basic medical term structure and how these components fit together, you will be able to “build” almost any medical term.

Basic Elements of a Medical Basic Elements of a Medical WordWord

1. Word Root

2. Combining Form

3. Suffix

4. Prefix

4 Word Parts4 Word Parts

Word Root: Fundamental meaning of a medical term

Prefix: Attached to beginning of a medical term to modify its meaning

Suffix: Attached to end of a medical term to modify its meaning

Combining Vowel: Used to ease pronunciation - usually an “o” (e, i, or u)

PrefixPrefix

• The Word or element attached to the beginning of a word root to modify its meaning

• Not all medical words have a prefix

• A prefix will always have the same meaning in every term in which it is used

PrefixesPrefixes

• A prefix is a syllable or syllables placed BEFORE a word or word root to alter its meaning or create a new word.

Some prefixes:Hyper- (excessive)Pre- (before)Post- (after)Homo- (same)Hypo- (under)

Word RootWord Root

• The meaning or core part of the word

• Also known as the foundation of the word

• Usually derived from Greek or Latin

• Usually refers to body part

• Medical terms have one or more roots.

• Has the same meaning in every word that contains it

Word Root Examples:Word Root Examples:

• Gastr Stomach• Cardi Heart• Arthr Joint• Cephal Head• Cyt Cell• Gyne Woman• Lingua Tongue• Thyr Thyroid

Word Root ExamplesWord Root Examples

• “dent” means tooth

• “dermat” means skin

• “cardi” means heart

• “gastr” means stomach

• “pancreat” means pancreas

SuffixesSuffixes

• A suffix is added to the END of a word root or combining form to modify its meaning.

• By adding a suffix to the end of a word root, we create a noun or adjective with a different meaning.

Combining FormsCombining Forms

• Correct pronunciation of medical words is important.

• In order to make the pronunciation of word roots easier, sometimes it is necessary to insert a vowel after the root.

• The combination of a word root and a vowel is known as a COMBINING FORM.

Combining VowelCombining Vowel

• Usually an ‘o’ and occasionally an ‘I’

• Can be between word roots

• Makes pronunciation easier

• Can be between word roots and a suffix

• Has no meaning of its own

• When a vowel is added to a root word, it is called a combining form

Some Basic RulesSome Basic Rules

• All medical terms have at least one word root• Not all medical terms have a prefix, suffix, or

combining vowel• Combining vowels are used to connect word roots

or word root and suffix• When a suffix begins with a vowel, the combining

vowel is not used

Example: arthritis (“o”)

Denotation of word parts:Denotation of word parts:

• Prefix

When printed in a list , prefixes are denoted by a dash following the prefix

a-, an-, means no, not, without

ex-, exo-, means out, away from

poly- means many, much, excessive

supra- means above, beyond

Contd:Contd:

• Word Root:

• When a vowel is added to a word root ,it is usually marked with a diagonal,

abdomin/o pertaining to the abdomen

enter/o pertaining to the intestines

Lapar/o pertaining to the abdominal wall

Contd:Contd:

• Suffix:

• Suffixes are denoted by a hyphen in front of the suffix when they are standing alone

-itis means inflammation

-megaly means enlargement

-plegiameans paralysis

Reading A Medical TermReading A Medical TermWhen reading a medical term and When reading a medical term and attempt to decipher it’s meaning you :attempt to decipher it’s meaning you :

• Begin at the Suffix

• Move to the Prefix (if present)

• And then the root

Singular and plural endings Singular and plural endings

• Many medical terms come from Greek or Latin words.

• Rules for forming plurals come from these languages.

• Other words use English rules.

• Each medical term must be considered individually when changing from singular to plural.

Pronunciation GuidelinesPronunciation Guidelines

• Pronunciation of medical word

• May be exactly like it sounds– Example: febrile = ‘f’ sound, begins

with ‘f’• May begin with a letter, or letters that

produces the same phonetic sound– Example: physiology = ‘f’ sound,

begins with ‘ph’

Pronunciation Guidelines Pronunciation Guidelines (continued)(continued)

• If it sounds like ‘f’– Look for ‘f’ = febrile– Look for ‘ph’ = physiology

• If it sounds like ‘j’– Look for ‘j’ = jejunum– Look for ‘ge’ = genesis– Look for ‘gi’ = gingivitis– Look for ‘gy’ = gyrus

• If it sounds like ‘k’– Look for ‘k’ = kyphosis– Look for ‘c’ = cornea– Look for ‘ch’ = chorion– Look for ‘qu’ = quadruplet

• If it sounds like ‘n’– Look for ‘n’ = neonatal– Look for ‘pn’ = pneumonia– Look for ‘kn’ = knee

Pronunciation Guidelines Pronunciation Guidelines (continued)(continued)

• If it sounds like ‘z’– Look for ‘z’ = zygomatic– Look for ‘x’ = xanthoma

Pronunciation Guidelines Pronunciation Guidelines (continued)(continued)

Additional Pronunciation Rules Additional Pronunciation Rules

• Words that begin with ‘c’– If followed by ‘e’, ‘i’, or ‘y’– Pronounced as soft ‘c’ – Has ‘j’ sound

• Examples– ‘ce’ = cervix– ‘ci’ = circumduction– ‘cy’ = cyst

Additional Pronunciation Rules Additional Pronunciation Rules (continued)(continued)

• Words that begin with ‘c’– If followed by ‘a’, ‘o’, ‘u’, or consonant– Pronounced as hard ‘c’– Has a ‘k’ sound

• Examples– ‘ca’ = cancer– ‘co’ = collagen– ‘cu’ = cuticle– ‘ch’ = cheiloplasty