1. Introduction to Medical Terminology
Concorde career college, Portland
ST110

2. Objectives List the three basic word components.
Identify and define word roots.
Recite and apply the rules for combining multiple roots into a compound word.

3. Objectives Identify word parts and their role in forming medical terms
Analyze unfamiliar terms
Define commonly used prefixes, word roots, combining forms, and suffixes

4. Objectives Pronounce medical terms correctly
Recognize the importance of spelling medical terms correctly
Correctly use abbreviations
Recognize, define, spell, and pronounce medical terms

5. Word Components Important Terms: Anatomy Physiology Pathophysiology
The study of the structure or morphology of the body and how the body parts are organized
Physiology
The study of the functions of body parts, what they do and how they do it.
Pathophysiology
The study of the diseases of the body.

6. Word Parts
Four Types
Word Roots- The foundation of medical terms. Usually describes part of the body
Combining Forms- /o
Prefixes- Beginning of the word
Suffixes- Added to the end of a complete word

7. Word Components Word Roots
The basic foundation of a word to which components are added
Use the word derm, dermat, derma
Add/Subtract components to form larger words
Hypodermic
Dermatologist
Dermabrasion

8. Word Root Usually describe body part involved heminephroplasty
May also indicate color
Examples: cyan/o, erythr/o
cyanosis erythrocyte
My/o - _______
Poli/o ________

9. Word Components Combining Form
When a word root is combined with a vowel
Helps in pronunciation so the word will flow
Most of the time the vowel is an “o”, but sometimes “i”
Dermatology
Dermatoplasty

10. Prefixes Added to beginning of word
Usually indicates location, time, or number
heminephroplasty
Some can be similar in spelling, but opposite in meaning

11. Prefixes Pre- Dys- Peri- Anti- Post- Ab- Dys- Hyper- Hypo- Brady-
Tachy-
Pre- before
Peri- surrounding
Post- after
Ab- away from
Dys- bad, difficult, painful
Hyper- excessive, increased
Hypo- deficient, decreased

12. Suffixes Added to the end of a word root
Usually indicates procedure, condition, disorder or disease
tonsillitis
tonsillectomy
Can mean pertaining to, abnormal condition
Also used as a noun, to indicate pathology, or relate to the type of procedure

13. Suffixes Can be used as noun endings
Name of person, place or thing
In medical terminology, suffixes can change the word root into a noun.
EX. Cranium
Crani- skull
Um- Single noun ending
Appendix A

14. Suffixes “Pertaining to”
Adjective- describes or defines a thing
In medical terminology, suffixes can change the word root into an adjective
EX. Cardiac
Cardi – Heart
Ac- pertaining to

15. Suffixes Abnormal condition or disease EX gastrosis Gastro- Stomach
Osis- Abnormal Condition or disease

16. Suffixes Related to pathology Study of all aspects of diseases.
Path - Disease
Ology – Abnormal Condition or disease
Describe specific disease conditions
Gastralgia
Gastr - Stomach
Algia – Pain and Suffering

17. Suffixes -osis: -ac: -algia: -itis: -malacia: -necrosis: -stenosis:
Common Medical
Common Surgical
-osis:
-ac:
-algia:
-itis:
-malacia:
-necrosis:
-stenosis:
-otomy
-ectomy
-plasty
-ostomy
- rrhaphy
-pexy
-lysis
-scopy
-graphy
-desis
-osis: abnormal condition
-ac: pertaining to
-algia: pain and suffering
-itis: inflammation
-malacia: abnormal softening
-necrosis: tissue death
-stenosis: abnormal narrowing
-otomy – cutting, surgical incision
-ectomy – surgical removal; cutting out; excision
-plasty – surgical repair; reconstruction
-ostomy – surgically creating an opening for temp or perm drainage
- Rrhaphy – surgical suturing
-pexy – surgical fixation
-lysis – breakdown; separation; setting free; destruction; loosening
-scopy – visual examination
-graphy – the process of producing a picture or record
-desis – surgical fixation of a bone or joint; to bind; to tie together

18. “Double R” Suffixes rrhage - ____________ rraphy - ____________
rrhea - ____________
rrhexis - ____________
-rrhage - bleeding
-rrhaphy – surgical suturing
-rrhea – flow or discharge
-rrhexis - rupture

19. How Can I Determine the Meaning of a Word Just by Looking At It?
Take the term apart
Guess
Use a medical dictionary
Use additional resources
Resources – internet, iPhone app, textbook, etc.

20. Word Structure Rules
A prefix is placed at the beginning of the word (always)
Anuria
Endocardium
A suffix is placed at the end of the word root (always)
Cardiology
Carditis
More than one word root in a word creates the need for combining vowels to connect the roots. This creates combining forms used in compound words.
Hematologist
Cytology

21. Word Structure Rules
Compound words are usually composed in this order:
combining form + word root + suffix
-leuk/o/cyt/osis
Defining a medical word usually begins with defining the suffix first and continuing to read backwords through the word as you define it.
Cardiomegaly

22. Word Structure Rules
When a medical word has a prefix, the definition of the word usually begins with defining the suffix first, the prefix second and the root(s) last.
When a medical word identifies body systems or parts, the definition of the word usually begins with defining the suffix first, then defining the organs in the order in which they are studied in the particular body system.

23. Using a Medical Dictionary
Spelling
If you don’t know how to spell the word, sound it out and write it down
If that doesn’t work, look for alternative spellings based on the beginning sound

24. Spelling ACCURACY is extremely important
Changing just one or two letters can change the entire meaning of a word
Example: “ileum” is a part of the small intestine, and “ilium” is part of the hip bone

25. nephrectomy
root suffix
nephr/ectomy
kidney/surgical removal of
The surgical removal of the a kidney

26. kidney/surgical repair Surgical repair of a kidney
nephroplasty
root cv suffix
nephr/o/plasty
kidney/surgical repair
Surgical repair of a kidney
Cv = combining vowel

27. stomach / small intestine /inflammation of
gastroenteritis
root cv root suffix
gastr/o/enter/itis
stomach / small intestine /inflammation of
Inflammation of the stomach & small intestine

28. Singulars and Plurals
There are unusual rules for changing a singular word into a plural one
The rules are foreign to us because most medical terms are of Greek or Latin origins

29. The Rules
If a word ends in “a”, the plural will have an “e” added. Ex. Bursa to bursae
If it ends in “ex” or “ix”, change it to “ices”
Ex. Appendix becomes appendices
If the term ends in “um”, change it to an “a”
Ex. Ovum changes to ova
See table 1.9 (MTHP) for the others pg. 13
MTHP = Medical Terminology for Health Professionals, 7th Edition

30. Don’t Panic!!!!
All of these rules may seem overwhelming, but they will soon become second nature
If in doubt, look for the plural form in a medical dictionary

31. Abbreviations
Frequently used as a short-hand method of writing long and complex words or phrases
Some can be confusing, so watch out!
Example: BE means “below elbow” and “barium enema”
A patient would be UPSET if these two terms were confused!

32. Basic Terms Sign Symptom Syndrome Diagnosis Prognosis Acute Chronic
remission

33. What are the four types of word parts?
Review
What are the four types of word parts?

34. What are the four types of word parts?
Review
What are the four types of word parts?
Word roots, combining forms, suffixes, prefixes

35. Review
What does a word root usually describe?

36. Review The body part involved What does a word root usually describe?
Or color

37. Review
Where is a suffix added to a word?

38. Review
Where is a suffix added to a word?
At the end of a root word

39. Review
What are some examples of “Double R” suffixes?

40. Review -rrhaphy, -rrhage, -rrhea, -rrhexis
What are some examples of “Double R” suffixes?
-rrhaphy, -rrhage, -rrhea, -rrhexis

41. Review
What part of the root word are prefixes added to?

42. Review The beginning of the word
What part of the root word are prefixes added to?
The beginning of the word

43. Review
Is accuracy important when spelling a medical term?

44. Review
Is accuracy important when spelling a medical term?
ABSOLUTELY!!!

45. Review
What are some examples of basic medical terms?

46. Review What are some examples of basic medical terms?
Sign, symptom, syndrome, acute, chronic…

47. Introduction to Medical Terminology: Prefixes
Concorde career college, Portland
ST110

48. Objectives Identify and define prefixes
Recite and apply the rules for combining a prefix to a root word

49. Prefixes Prefixes are attached directly to the beginning of a word
Endocardium
Dysuria
The meaning of a prefix will not change from word to word
A-always means absence of
Bi-always means two or double

50. Prefixes that Express Numbers- indicate one, two or three or single, half, double
Bi-
Hemi-
Milli-
Mono-
Nulli-
Primi-
Quadri-
Semi-
Tetra-
Tri-
Uni-

51. Prefixes that Express Measurement- indicate quantity or excessive or below conditions
Hyper-
Hyp-
Hypo-
Multi-
Poly-

52. Prefixes that Express Position and/or Direction- describe a location
Ab-
Ad-
Ambi-
Ante-
Circum-
De-
Dia-
Ecto-
Endo-
Epi-
Ex-
Extra-
Hypo-
In-
Infra-
Inter-

53. Position/Direction Continued
Intra-
Juxta-
Meso-
Para-
Peri-
Pre-
Pro-
Retro-
Sub-
Supra-
Trans-

54. Prefixes and Combining Forms to Express Color- colors of reactions, infections, body fluids
Alb-
Albin/o
Chlor/o
Cirrh/o
Cyan/o
Eosin/o
Erythr/o
Glauc/o
Jaund/o
Leuk/o
Melan/o
Poli/o
Purpur/o
Rube-
Xanth/o

55. Prefixes to Express Negatives- not, without, lack of or against
An-
Ana-
Anti-
Contra-
Dis-
Im-
In-
Non-

56. Introduction to Medical Terminology: Suffixes & Pleural
Concorde Career College, Portland
ST110

57. Objectives Identify and define suffixes
Recite and apply the rules for combining a suffix to a root word
Recite and apply the rules for changing from singular to plural word forms

58. Objectives
Demonstrate word-building skills by effectively using accurate written and verbal communication
Identify abbreviations for medical terms
Identify and define medical specialties and specialists by recognizing the basic word components

59. Objectives
Identify and define medical conditions by recognizing the basic word components
Identify and define diagnostic and surgical procedures and the instruments used by recognizing the basic word components

60. Suffix Rules
When a suffix begins with a consonant, a combining vowel is used with the word root that attaches to the suffix
Example- abdominopelvic
abdomin + o +pelv(ic)

61. Suffix Rules
When a suffix begins with a vowel, the word root attaches directly to the suffix without the aid of a combining vowel
Example- dorsal
dors + al

62. Suffix Rules
When defining a medical term, begin the definition by defining the suffix first
Example- gastritis

63. Plural Words-changing from singular to plural
Change the –a to –ae
pleura pleurae
vertebra vertebrae
ampulla ampullae

64. Plural Words
Change the –ax to –aces
thorax thoraces

65. Plural Words Change the –is to –es crisis crises diagnosis diagnoses
prognosis prognoses

66. Plural Words Change –ix, -ex, -yx to –ices appendix appendices
index indices
coccyx coccices

67. Plural Words Change the –on to –a ganglion ganglia
phenomenon phenomena

68. Plural Words Change the –um to –a bacterium bacteria datum data
epithelium epithelia

69. Plural Words Change the –us to –i thrombus thrombi bronchus bronchi
coccus cocci

70. Plural Words Change the –ma to –mata stoma stomata fibroma fibromata
sarcoma sarcomata

71. Noun Suffixes
These suffixes make a word into a noun (person, place or thing)
-a -ate -e -emia
-er -esis -e -ia
-iatry -ion -ism -ist
-ole -osis -tion -ula
-ule -um -us -y

72. Adjective Suffixes
These describe the word root they are attached to. (The red chair.)
-ac -al -ar -ary
-eal -ic -ical -ile
-oid -ory -ous -tic

73. Specialties and Specialists
These are the most common
-ician -iatrics
-iatry -iatrist
-ian -ist
-logist -logy

74. Instruments and Procedures
Performed in a medical office, out-patient or hospital
-centesis -clasis -desis
-ectomy -gram -graph
-graphy -ize -lysis
-meter -metry -pexy
-plasty -rrhaphy -scope
-scopy -stomy -tomy
-tripsy