Medical Teminology

Medical Terminology Formed primarily from Greek and Latin Words One term can mean a complete phrase in English Need to understand basic word parts, build and decode terms A sound knowledge of medical terminology is vital for a career in health care.

Medical Terminology Word Root (WR): basic meaning of the medical term. Combining form (CF): word root plus a vowel used to help pronounce the term

Medical Terminology Prefix (P) is used at the beginning of the term to describe, modify, or limit the term Suffix (S) is the word ending that when connected to the word root create a noun, adjective, or verb

Decoding Medical Terminology Define the medical term: Intraneural 1. Start with the suffix and define it -al = pertaining to 2. Next define the prefix Intra- = with in 3. Define the word root or middle word -neura- = nerve 4. Combine the definitions to decode the term Complete word Intraneural = pertaining to within a nerve

Directions, Planes, and Regions Special Terms used to identify areas of the body Based upon the anatomical position Uses Directions and Regions of the body to specify locations

Planes of the Body Sagittal Plane: divides body into two parts, right and left sections

Planes of the Body Frontal or coronal Plane: divides body into anterior and posterior sections

Planes of the Body Transverse Plane: divides body horizontally into a top/superior and a bottom/inferior parts.

Directional Terms Defined Anterior/Ventral – Front side of body Posterior/Dorsal – Back side of body Inferior – below another structure Superior – above another structure

Directional Terms Defined Lateral – towards the side of the body Medial – to the middle or midline of the body Deep – through the surface Superficial – on or near the surface

Directional Terms Defined Proximal – near the point of attachment to the trunk Distal – away from the point of attachment to the trunk Supine – lying on one’s spine/back facing upward Prone – lying on one’s stomach facing downward

Medical Terminology Prefixes to Know A- : absence of Ab- : from; away Ante-: before Anti-: Against Brady-: slow

Medical Terminology Prefixes to Know Epi- on; upon; over Para-: beside, beyond Per-: through Post- : after Retro- back, behind, after

Medical Terminology Prefixes to Know Sub -: under; below Super-: over, above Supra-: above Tachy- : fast, rapid Trans - : through, across Ultra – beyond, excess

Medical Terminology Suffixes to Know -al: pertaining to -algia: pain -apheresis: removal -cidal: killing -clysis: irrigating, washing

Medical Terminology Suffixes to Know -cyte: cell -ectasis: stretching out -emesis: vomiting -iasis: condition -genesis: origin, cause

Medical Terminology Suffixes to Know --iatry: physician, treatment -ician: one who -ism: state of -itis: inflammation

Medical Terminology Suffixes to Know -ologist: one who studies and practices (specialist) -ology: study of -oma: tumor, swelling -opsy: to view -orrhea: flow, excessive discharge

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know Acr: extremities, height Aden: gland Arteri: artery Arthr: joint Articul: joint

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know Axill: armpit Brachi: arm Cardi: heart Carp: carpals/ wrist bones

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know Cardi: heart Cephal: head Chondr: cartilage Clavic: clavicle (collarbone)

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know Cost: rib Cry: cold Cutane: skin Derm: skin Dors: back of the body

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know Femor: femur (upper leg bone) Gastr: stomach Hem: blood Hist: tissue Lact: milk

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know Later: side Lip: fat Mandibul: mandible (lower jawbone) Menisc: cresent Menisc

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know Myos: muscle my: muscle Neur: nerve Opt: vision Oste: bone

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know Patell: patella (knee cap) Path: disease Pneum: lung, air Pod: foot

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know Pulmon: lung Quardr: four Radi: radius (lower arm bone) Sphygm: pulse

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know Spondyl: vertebra, spinal column Stern: sternum(breast bone) Tars: tarsals (ankle bones) Tend: tendons

Medical Terminology Root Words to Know Tibi: tibia (lower leg bone) Vertebra: vertebra, spinal column Xer: dry