Chapter 1

Basic Word Structure

The Language of Medicine

WORD ANALYSIS:

Hemat o logy
Root vowel suffix
Blood combining vowel study of

Electr o cardi o gram

Root vowel root vowel suffix
Electricity cv. Heart cv record

Gastr itis
Stomach iflammation

Gastr o enter o logy

Stomach cv. Intestines cv. Study

Sub gastr ic
Under stomach pertaining to

Epi gastr ic
Above stomach pertaining to

Adenoma
Tumor of a gland
Adenititis
Inflammation of a gland

Arthritis
Inflammation of a joint

Biology
The process of study of life

Biopsy
Viewing a living tissue under a microscope

Carcinoma
Cancerous tumor of epithelial tissue

Cardiology
The process of Study of the heart

Cephalic
Pertaining to the head

Cerebral
Pertaining to the cerebrum/the largest part of the brain

Cerebrovascular accident

Incision
The process of cutting into an organ

Excision
The process of cutting out/removal
Endocrine glands
Glands that secrete hormones into the body or into the
bloodstream

Cystoscopy
The process of visual examination of the urinary bladder

Cytology
The process of Study of cells

Dermatitis
Inflammation of the skin

Hypodermic
Pertaining to below the skin

Electrocardiogram
Record of electricity in the heart

Electroencephalogram
Record of electricity in the brain

Enteritis
Inflammation of the small intestines

Erythrocyte
Red blood cell

Gastrectomy
Excision of the stomach
Gastrotomy
Incision of the stomach

Diagnosis
Complete knowledge of a patient’s condition

Prognosis
Prediction about the outcome of an illness

Gynecology
The process of Study of female disorders

Hematology
The process of Study of blood

Hematoma
A mass of blood under the skin

Hemoglobin
A protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells

Hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver

Iatrogenic
Pertaining to a side effect/condition resulting from a treatment
or intervention by a physician

Leukocyte
White blood cell

Nephritis
Inflammation of a kidney

Nephrology
The process of Study of the kidney

Neurology
The process of Study of nerves/nervous system

Onc o logy
The process of Study of tumors

Oncol o gist
A specialist in tumors

Ophthalm o scope
An instrument to visually examine the eye

Oste itis
Inflammation of bones

Oste o arthr itis

Inflammation of bones and joints

Path o logy
The process of Study of disease

Pathol ogist
A specialist in disease

Ped iatr ic
Pertaining to treatment of children

Pediatrics
A branch of medicine specialized in treatment of children

Psych o logy
The process of Study of the mind

Psych iatr ist

A specialist in treatment of mental disorders

Radi o logy
The science of using low energy x-ray for diagnosis of disease

Renal
Pertaining to the kidney

Rhin itis
Inflammation of the nose

Sarc oma
Cancerous tumor of connective tissue

Resection
Excision/cutting out

Thromb o cyte
A clotting cell/platelet
Ur o logy
Study of the urinary system in males and females and the
reproductive system of males

SUFFIXES

Cardi ac
pertaining to the heart

neur al
pertaining to nerves

arthr algia
pain in the joints

neur algia
pain in the nerves

erythr o cyte
red blood cell

nephr ectomy
excision of a kidney

leuk emia
an increase in the number of immature/cancerous white blood
cells

carcin o genic
pertaining to a condition that produces cancer
path o genic
pertaining to producing disease

iatr o genic
pertaining to a side effect/condition that results from a specific
treatment

hemo globin
a protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells

electr o encephal o gram

record of electricity in the brain

gastr ic
pertaining to the stomach

neurologic
pertaining to the study of nerves

ex cis ion
the process of cutting out

gynec o logist
a specialist in the study of female disorders

cyst itis
inflammation of the urinary bladder

endo crin o logy

the study of endocrine glands
hepat oma
tumor of the liver

biopsy
viewing a living tissue under a microscope

nephr osis
abnormal condition of the kidneys

leuk o cyt osis

a slight increase in the number of white blood cells

leuk o cyt o penia

a decrease in white blood cells

enter o pathy
disease of the small intestines

aden o pathy
disease of a gland

end o scope
an instrument to visually examine a hollow organ or cavity

endoscopy
the process of viewing the inside of a hollow organ or cavity

pro gnos is
prediction of the outcome of an illness
oste o tomy
incision of a bone

gastr o enter o logy

study of the stomach and small intestines

PREFIXES

an emia
A decreased number of red blood cells or an abnormality of the
hemoglobin

aut opsy
an examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death

diagnosis
complete knowledge of a patient’s condition

endo scopy
the process of visual examination of the inside of a hollow organ
or cavity

endo crin o logist

a specialist in the study of the endocrine glands and their
disorders

epi gastr ic
pertaining to above the stomach

epi dermis
the outer layer of the skin

ex cis ion
the process of cutting out

exocrine glands
glands that secrete chemical substances to the outside of the
body

hyper glyc emia

higher than normal level of sugar in the blood

hyper thyroidism
excessive activity of the thyroid gland

hypo gastr ic
pertaining to below the stomach

hypo glyc emia

lower than normal level of sugar in the blood

in cis ion
the process of cutting into an organ

peri cardi um
a membrane that surrounds the heart
prostate gland
a gland that surrounds the neck of the urinary bladder and the
urethra. It produces a fluid that combines with the sperm cells
and leaves the body as semen.

re sect ion
excision/removal

retro cardi ac
pertaining to behind the heart

sub hepat ic
pertaining to below the liver

trans hepat ic
pertaining to across the liver