Why use Medical Terminology? to understand medical procedures and descriptions

Hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy

Medical Terminology Fact: It is impossible to memorize all words in medical dictionaries used in health occupations.

So, what is a hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy? Hystero / salpingo / -oophor / ectomy uterus fallopian tubes ovaries removal of a complete hysterectomy

Words like hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy are often combination of different parts. Word Roots Prefixes Suffixes The parts include: syllables or words placed at the beginning of a word syllables or words placed at the end of a word main words or parts to which prefixes and suffixes can be added

Example:appendicitis Word rootappend Suffixitis inflammation, inflammation of appendix an inflammation of the appendix

If you add the prefix “pseudo” to appendicitis … pseudofalse You get the word pseudoappendicitis … a false inflammation of the appendix

Things to remember: The prefix usually serves to further define the word root. When prefixes, suffixes, and/or word roots are joined together, vowels are frequently added. Vowels are not used if the word root or suffix begins with a vowel.

Example: encephalitis encephal(o) itis brain inflammation, inflammation of The vowel “o” is not used because the suffix “itis” begins with a vowel.

Example: encephalogram encephal(o) gram brain tracing, picture, record The vowel “o” is used because the suffix “gram” does not begin with a vowel.

Example: hepat(o) megaly liver large, enlarged Combine the word root and the suffix and you get … hepatomegaly

By learning basic prefixes, suffixes, and word roots, you will frequently be able to interpret the meaning of a word even if you have never seen the word before.