Medical Terminology• Medical terms are made up of parts of words (elements)-

prefixes, roots and suffixes. Most originate from Greek or Latin words.

• The combination forms our medical terms.• Prefix-a word element placed before the root. Always used

with a root! Example olig (scant); oliguria (scant urine)• Root-the word element containing the basic meaning of the

word. It can be combined with other roots, prefixes or suffixes. A vowel (o or i) is added when 2 roots or a suffix is added to the root to help with pronunciation (if not one).

• Suffix-word element placed after a root. Always used with a root! Nephro (kidney); -itis (inflammation of)

Medical Terminology (cont)• Medical terms are formed by combining the elements.

Prefixes are first and suffixes are last.• Examples:• The suffix-ectomy (excision, removal of) is combined with

the root-mast (breast) to form mastectomy-removal of the breast. Sometimes 2 suffixes can be used.

• The prefix-dys (bad, difficult, abnormal) is combined with the root-pnea (breathing, respiration) to form dyspnea-difficulty breathing.

• The prefix-endo (inner, inside) is combined with the root- card (heart), and the suffix- itis (inflammation) to from endocarditis-inflammation of the inner side of the heart.

Medical Terminology Challenge

•Determine the medical condition based on the prefix, root (start by deciding main word), and suffix (if present- it comes first) found on pages 72-73 of your textbook. Pair with the most correct answers wins!

Practice: Heart (root) + enlargement (suffix)= cardio + (o or i) + megaly = cardiomegaly

Kidney (root) + disease (suffix)

Blood (root) + excessive flow (suffix)

stomach + creation of an opening

blue + condition (be careful picking)

Without, not, lack of + breathing, respiration

Skull + incision, cutting into

Vein (use 1st on list) + inflammation

clot, thrombus + cell + lack, deficiency

Bonus: excessive, too much, high + thyroid + a condition

Bonus:

•What does CABG stand for?

Bonus:

• Describe Biot’s respirations