Medical Terminology

2 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Four Parts
• Word Root
– the word part that is the core of the word
• Suffix
– a word part attached to the end of the word root to
modify its meaning
• Prefix
– a word part attached to the beginning of a word
root to modify its meaning
• Combining Vowel
– a word part, usually an “O”
3 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
 Word Root

• The word root is the word part that is

the core of the word
 The word root usually refers to a body part.
 Some root words are derived from the Latin or
Greek language.
 – player = play / er
 – arthritis = arthr / itis
 – hepatitis = hepat / itis
4 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
5 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
 Word Root Examples

 “dent” means tooth

 “dermat” means skin
 “cardi” means heart
 “gastr” means stomach
 “pancreat” means pancreas

6 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Suffix

 The suffix is a word part attached to the end

of the word root to modify its meaning
 – player = play / er
 – hepatic = hepat / ic
 – hepatitis = hepat / itis

7 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Suffixes
 A suffix is a word element placed at the end of a word
or word root that changes the meaning of the word.
 In the terms tonsill/itis, and tonsill/ectomy, the suffixes
are
– -itis (inflammation)
– and -ectomy (excision, removal).
 Changing the suffix changes the meaning of the word.
 In medical terminology, a suffix usually indicates a
procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech.
 Many suffixes are derived from Greek or Latin words

8 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

9 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
 Suffixes Denoting Incisions

 -centesis puncture
arthrocentesis
 -ectomy excision, removal
appendectomy
 -stomy forming an opening (mouth)
colostomy
 -tome instrument to cut
osteotome
 -tomy incision, cut into
10 phlebotomy
11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
 Suffixes Denoting Reconstructive
Surgeries

 -desis binding, fixation (of a bone, joint)

arthrodesis
 -pexy suspension, fixation (of an organ)
mastopexy
 -rrhaphy suture
myorrhaphy
 -plasty surgical repair
rhinoplasty

11 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Suffixes Denoting Refractururing,
Loosening, or Crushing

 -clasis break, fracture

osteoclasis
 -lysis separation, destruction, loosening
enterolysis
 -tripsy crushing
lithotripsy

12 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Diagnostic, Symptomatic, and
Related Suffixes

 -algia pain
cephalalgia
 -dynia pain
gastrodynia
 -cele hernia, swelling
hepatocele
 -ectasis dilation, expansion
bronchiectasis

13 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

  -emesis vomiting
hyperemesis
 -emia blood condition
leukemia
 -gen or -genesis forming, producing, origin
carcinogen or osteogenesis
 -gram record, a writing
cardiogram
 -graph instrument
14 cardiograph 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
  -iasis abnormal condition
cholelithiasis
 -itis inflammation
gastritis
 -lith stone, calculus
cholelith
 -logist specialist in the study of
dermatologist
 -logy study of
15 psychology 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
16 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
  -malacia softening
osteomalacia
 -megaly enlargement
hepatomegaly
 -meter instrument for recording
thermometer
 -metry act of measuring
pelvimetry
 -oid resembling
17 lipoid 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
  -oma tumor
adenoma
 -osis abnormal condition, increase
dermatosis
 -para to bear (also a prefix)
multipara
 -paresis partial paralysis
hemaparesis
 -pathy disease
18 neuropathy 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
  -penia decrease, deficiency
leukopenia
 -phagia eating, swallowing
dysphagia
 -phasia speech
aphasia
 -philia attraction to
hemophilia
 -phobia fear
claustrophobia

19 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

  -plasia formation, growth
hyperplasia
 -plegia paralysis, stroke
hemiplegia
 -poiesis formation, production
hemopoiesis
 -ptosis prolapse
hysteroptosis
 -rrhage or -rrhagia bursting forth
20 hemorrhage or 11/20/2018
menorrhagia Dr Atef Masad
  -rrhea discharge, flow
diarrhea
 -rrhexis rupture
angiorrhexis
 -scope instrument to view
gastroscope
 -scopy visual examination
gastroscopy
 -spasm involuntary contraction
21 blepharospasm11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
  -stasis standing still
hemostasis
 -stenosis narrowing, stricture
arteriostenosis
 -toxic poison
thyrotoxic
 -trophy development, nourishment
atrophy

22 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Prefixes
 A prefix is a word element attached to the
beginning of a word or word root.
 Adding or changing a prefix changes the
meaning of the word.
 The prefix usually indicates a number, time,
position, or direction.
 Many of the same prefixes found in medical
terminology are also found in the English
language
23 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
 Examples

 – replay = re / play
 – subhepatic = sub / hepat / ic
 – intravenous = intra / ven / ous (within, vein,
relating to

24 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

25 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
 Hypoinsulinemia

Hypo / insulin / emia

Notice that there is
no combining vowel
in this word because
the prefix ends with
Prefix suffix a vowel and the
Word root
suffix begins with a
LOW INSULIN BLOOD vowel.

26 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Prefixes of Position

 Ante- antepartum, antecubital

 pre- preoperative
 pro- prootic

 epi epidermis, epidural, epinephrine

27 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Prefixes of Position

 hypo- hypodermic, hypoallergenic

 infra- infrapubic
 sub- subcutaneous, submarine
 inter- intercostal, internet
 medi- medial, median
 meso- mesoderm

28 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Prefixes of Position

 post- postnatal
 retro- retroperitoneal

29 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Prefixes of Number and
Measurement

 Bi- bilateral
 dipl- diplopia
 diplo diplococci
 hemi- hemiplegia
 semi- semicircular
 hyper- hyperglycemia
 macro- large

30 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Prefixes of Number and
Measurement

 Micro- microscope
 mono- mononuclear
 uni- unilateral
 multi- multipara

31 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Prefixes of Number and
Measurement

 Poly- polyphobia, polymer

 primi- primigravida
 quadri- quadriplegia
 tri- triceps

32 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Prefixes of Negation

 A- asymptomatic
 an- anesthesia
 im- impotency
 in- insane, insensitive

33 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Prefixes of Direction

 Ab-abnormal
 ad- adduction, addition
 circum- circumoral, circumference
 peri- periosteitis, perimeter
 ec- ectopia
 ex- excise

34 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Prefixes of Direction

 Dia- diarrhea
 trans- transfusion
 ecto- ectoderm
 exo- exotropia
 extra- extraocular
 endo- endocardium
 intra- intradermal

35 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Prefixes of Direction

 Para- paranasal
 super- supersensitive
 supra- suprarenal
 anti- antibacterial
 contra- contraception
 brady- slow
 dys- dyspepsia

36 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Prefixes of Direction
 Eu-eupnea
 hetero- different
 homo- homosexual
 mal- malnutrition
 pan- panhysterectomy, panacea
 pseudo- pseudoplegia
 syn- synarthrosis, synthesis
 tachy- tachypnea

37 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Combining Vowel

 The combining vowel is a word part, usually

an
 “o” and is used:
 – between word roots
 – between a word root & a suffix to ease
pronunciation
 – thermometer = therm / o / meter
 – arthropathy = arthr / o / pathy

38 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

  Oste / o / arthr / it is
 – The combining vowel is used to ease
pronunciation;
 therefore, not all medical terms have
combining vowels.

39 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Combining form

 A combining form is a word root with the

 combining vowel attached, separated by a
vertical slash
 it is not a word part, rather it is the
association of the word root and the
combining vowel.
 To analyze a medical term divide it into word
parts, label each word part, and label the
combining forms.
40 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
 Combining Forms
 Combining forms consist of a combining
vowel.
 The combining vowel is usually an “o”, but
others may be used.

IE: gastr / o pronounced GASTRO.

Word root Combining vowel

41 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

42 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
 Guidelines

 Guideline # one
 – When connecting a word root and a suffix,
a combining vowel is usually not used if the
suffix begins with a vowel. Hepat / ic
 – When connecting two word roots, a
combining vowel is usually used even if
vowels are present at the junction.
 A word root cannot stand alone. A suffix must
be added to complete the term.
43 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
 Word-Building System

 By understanding the meanings of word

roots, one can determine the meaning of
complex medical terms by putting
together the smaller parts.

44 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Leukocytopenia

Word Roots: Leuk / (white)

cyt / (cell)
Combining Vowel /o/
Suffix: / penia (decrease)

45 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

  A combining vowel is used between a word root and
a suffix that begins with a consonant (not a vowel).
 This is to make pronunciation easier.

Word root: scler / (hardening)

Suffix: / derma (skin)

Term: Scler / o / derma (hardening of the skin)

46 Combining vowel
11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
 Review

 A combining vowel IS used to link one

root to another root, and before a suffix
that begins with a consonant.

 A combining vowel IS NOT used before

a suffix that begins with a vowel.

47 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Defining Medical Words
 Here are the three basic rules for defining medical
words using the example term gastroenteritis.
 Rule #1
– Define the suffix, or last part of the word. In this case, -itis, which
means inflammation.
 Rule #2
– Define the first part of the word (which may be a word root,
combining form, or prefix). In this case, the combining form gastr/o
means stomach.
 Rule #3
– Define the middle parts of the word. In this case, enter/ means
intestine.
48 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
 Defining Medical Words

 When you analyze gastroenteritis following the

three previous rules, the meaning is revealed as:
1. inflammation (of)
2. stomach (and)
3. intestine
 Thus, the definition of gastroenteritis is
“inflammation (of) stomach (and) intestine.”

49 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad

 Building Medical Words
 There are three basic rules for building medical
words.
 Rule #1
– A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel.
 Rule #2
– A combining form (root + o) links a suffix that begins
with a consonant.
 Rule #3
– Use a combining form to link a root to another root to
form a compound word.
50 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad
51 11/20/2018 Dr Atef Masad