Introduction to Medical Terminology Chapter 1

Three Types of Word Parts 1.Word Roots basic meaning of the term usually but not always indicate the involved body part cannot stand alone

Three Types of Word Parts 2.Suffixes usually but not always indicate the procedure, condition, disorder, or disease always comes at the end of the word

Three Types of Word Parts 3.Prefixes usually but not always, indicate location, time, number, or status. always comes at the beginning of a word

Word Roots Combining Vowels –Placed between word root et suffix –Used for easier pronunciation of medical term –Letter O most common combining vowel ex cardio/o

Rules for Using Combining Vowels 1.Used when suffix begins with a consonant –Ex- word root neur/o (nerve) is joined with suffix -plasty (surgical repair). –plasty starts with a consonant Neuroplasty- surgical repair of a nerve 2. Not Used when the suffix begins with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) –Ex word root neur/osuffix –itis Neuritis- inflammation of the nerve or nerves

Rules for Using Combining Vowels 3.Always used when 2 or more word roots are joined –Gastr/o- stomach –Enter/o- small intestine –Combining vowels used with gastroenter –Suffixe –itis combining vowel is not used because it is begins with a vowel –Ex Gastroenteritis- inflammation of the stomach et small intestine

Rules for Combining Vowels 4.A Prefix does not require a combining vowel. Do not place combining vowel between prefix and word root!

Word Roots Indicating Color Cyan/oblue-osis condition –Ex- Cyanosis- blue discoloration of skin caused by lack of adequate oxygen Erythr/ored-cytes –Ex Erythocytes- mature rbc Leuk/owhite –Ex Leukocytes

Word Roots Indicating Color Melan/oblack-osis –Ex Melanosis- any condition of unusual deposits of black pigment in different parts of the body Poli/o (gray) myel (spinal cord) -itis (inflammation) –Ex poliomyelitis- viral infection of the gray matter of the spinal cord that may result on paralysis

Suffixes Added to the end of a word root Usually but not always indicate a procedure, condition, disease or disorder –Ex tonsill/o –Completes term what is happening to the tonsils –Tonsillitis- inflammation of –Tonsillectomy- -ectomy surgical removal of

Suffixes as Noun Endings Complete term Changes word root to a noun (person, place or thing) –Ex Cranium- portion of skull that encloses the brain Crani- skull -umnoun ending

Suffixes meaning Abnormal Condition Abnormal condition, or disease –Ex – osisabnormal condition or disease –Gastr/ostomach –Gastrosis

Suffixes Related to Pathology Pathology- study of disease Suffix describes specific disease condition –algiapain and suffering Gastralgia –dyniapainGastrodynia –itisinflammationGastritis –malacia abnormal softening Osteomalacia –megaly enlargement Hepatomegaly

Suffixes Related to Pathology Suffix describes specific disease condition –necrosistissue death Cardionecrosis –sclerosis abnormal hardening Arteriosclerosis –stenosis abnormal narrowing Arteriostenosis

Suffixes Related to Procedures Word root identifies body part Suffix identifies procdure –centesissurgical puncture to remove fluid Abdominocentesis –ectomy surgical removal appendectomy

Suffixes Related to Procedures –graphy process of recording a picture or record Arteriography –gram record or picture Arteriogram- record produced by arteriography

Suffixes Related to Procedures –plasty surgical repair Myoplasty –scopyvisual examination Endoscopy- visual examination of the interior body cavity or organ

Suffix Double RR’s –rrhage et -rrhagia abnormal excessive fluid discharge or bleeding Hemorrhage Hem/o- blood –rrhaphyto suture or stitch Myorrhaphy- to suture a muscle wound

Suffix Double RR’s –rrhea abnormal flow or discharge (does not refer to blood) Diarrhea (Dia- through) –rrhexis rupture Myorrhexis

Prefixes Added to beginning of word to change the meaning Usually but not always indicate location, time, number –Ex natal- pertaining to birth prefix (nat-birth) suffix (-al pertaining to) Prenatal (Prefix pre before)

Prefixes Natal Prenatal Perinatal- prefix peri time et events surrounding birth Postnatal

Contrasting and Confusing Prefixes Ab- away fromAbnormal Ad- means toward Addiction Dys- bad, difficult or painful Dysfunction Eu- good, normalEuthyroid Hyper-excessive or increased Hypertension Hypo- deficient or decreased Hypotention Inter- between Interstitial between the parts of a tissue

Contrasting and Confusing Prefixes Intra- within or insideIntramuscular Sub- under or below Subcostal- below a rib Supra- above or excessive Supracostal- above or outisde the ribs

Determining Meaning On The Basis of Word Parts Meaning of word parts = definition Start at End of Word, Suffix et work toward beginning Separate word parts and identify meaning Some word parts may have more than one meaning, use in context

Determining Meaning On The Basis of Word Parts Ex- otorhinolaryngology  Suffix-ologystudy of  Word rootlarynglarynx et throat  No combining vowel because suffix starts with a vowel  Word rootrhin/onose Combining vowel is used because it is joining another word root

Determining Meaning On The Basis of Word Parts Ex otorhinolaryngology  Word rootot/oear Combining vowle used joining word root  Meaning- study of the ears, nose et throat often ENT

Medical Dictionary Use Guessing double check dictionary for accuracy Ex lithotomy –-otomy surgical incision – Lith stone –1 st meaning surgical incsion fro the removal of a stone –2 nd meaningname of examination position, supine, legs raised, supported in stirrups Loof under catergories

Spelling of Word First letter of word. Top left word first term on page Top right word last term on page Alphabetically, check spelling carefully Review all definition

Guidelines to looking up Unfamilar Terms Sounds likeMay begin with Example FFFlatus PHPhlegm JGGingivitis JJaundice KCCrepitus KKyphosis QuQuadriplegia

Pronunciation Term (pronunciation respelled english to create familiar sounds)- definition Pronounce a new word by saying how it is spelled in parentheses Emphais capital letters, bold –Ex edema (eh-DEE-mah) excessive fluid in body tissues, causing swelling Secondary emphais lowercase letters, bold –Appendicitis (ah-pen-dih-SIGH-itis)

A Word of Caution More than one way to pronounce a term Medical terms based on Greek, Latin Trend to pronounce term in English

Caution Spelling is ALWAYS IMPORTANT Changing 1 or 2 letters, changes menaing, life or death Abbreviations may have more than one meaning. Be careful, in doubt write it out! Ex BE Below knee, Barium enema

Guidelines to Singular and Plural Endings 1.Term ends in a, plural usually formed adding e –Singular vertebraPlural vertebrae 2.Term ends in ex or ix, plural formed by changing ices –Singular appendixPlural appendices 3.Term ends in is, plural formed by changing is to es –Singular diagnosisPlural diagnoses

Guidelines to Singular and Plural Endings 4.Term ends in it is, plural formed by changing is to ides Singular arthritisPlural arthritides 5.Term ends in nx, plural formed by changing x to ges Singular phalanxPlural phalanges 6.Term ends in on, plural formed by changing on to a Singular ganglionPlural ganglia

Guidelines to Singular and Plural Endings 7. Term ends in um, plural formed by changing um to a Singular diverticulumPlural diverticula 8.Term ends in us, plural formed by changing us to I Singular alveolusPlural alveoli

Basic Medical Terms  Sign Evidence of disease ex fever, observed by pt or other  Symptom Ex pain or HA, observed by only pt  Syndrome Se t of s/s occuring together as a part of a specific disease process

Basic Medical Terms  Objective Evaluated or measured by others  Subjective Evaluated or measured only by the pt

Basic Medical Terms  Diagnosis Identification of disease  Diagnose the process of reaching a diagnosis  Prognosis Prediction of the probable course or outcome of disorder

Basic Medical Terms  Acute Disease or condition has rapid onset, short duration  Chronic Disease or symptom of long duration. May be controlled rarely cured

Basic Medical Terms  Condition described ex Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)  Eponym (EP-oh-nim) disease, structure, operation or procedure named for the person who discovered it ex Alzheimer’s Disease- Alois Alzheimer germ neurologist

Basic Medical Terms  Acronym (ACK-roh-nim) formed from the intial letter of the major parts of a compound term ex CT Scan Computerized Tomography

Look-Alike Sound –ALike Terms et Word Parts Arteri/oartery Ex Endarterial (end-ar-TEE-al) end-withinarteri-artery -al pertaining to pertaining to the interior of the artery Ather/oplaque or fatty substance ex Atheroma (ath-er-OH-mah) -oma tumor fatty substance within wall of artery

Look-Alike Sound –ALike Terms et Word Parts Arthr/ojoint Ex- Arthralgia (Ar-THRAL-jee-ah) -algia pain

Ileum and Ilium Ileum part of small intestine Small Intestine Iliumpart of the hip bone Hip

Infection et Inflammation Infection –Invasion of the body with pathogenic organisms –Localized or systemic Inflammation (-it is) –Localized response ot injury –Cardinal signs- redness (erythema), heat, swelling (edema) Why? Extra blood flow to the area to promote healing

Laceration et Lesion Laceration –Torn, ragged wound Lesion –Pathogenic change of the tissues due to disease or injury

Mucous et Mucus Mucous –Specialized moucous membranes that line body cavities Mucus –Name of fluid secreted by the mucous membranes

Myc/o, Myel/o and My/o Myc/ofungus –Mycosis Myel/obone marrow or spinal cord –Myelopathy (-pathy disease) Pathologic change or disease in the spinal cord My/omuscle –Myopathy

-ologist and -ology -ologist specialistgerontologist -ologystudy ofneonatologist

-ostomy and -otomy -ostomysurgically create an artificial opening Ex Colostomy -otomysurgical incision Ex Colotomy

Palpation and Palpitation Palpation- examination technique, examiners hand used to feel texture, size, consistency et location of certain body parts Palpitation- racing heart

Prostate and Prostrate Prostate- male gland that lies under urinary bladder et surrounds urethra Prostrate- collapse, lying flat to be overcome with exhaustion

Pyel/o, Py/o and Pyr/o Pyel/o renal pelvis (part of the kidney) Ex Pyelitis (pye-eh-LYE-tis) inflammation of the renal pelvis Py/opus Ex Pyoderma pus producing disease of the skin Pyr/ofever or fire Ex pyrosis (pye-ROH-sis) heartburn

Supination and Suppuration Supination- rotating the arm so the palm of the hand is upward Suppuration (sup-you-RAY-shun) formation or discharge of pus

Suturing and Ligation Suturing- closing a wound or incision by stitching Ligation (lye-GAY-shun) tying off blood vessels

Triage and Trauma Triage- medical screening to determine priority Trauma- wound or injury

Viral and Virile Viral (VYE-ral) pertaining to a virus Virile (VIR-ill) possessing masculine traits