1. HSC 1803 Medical Terminology
Week 1 : Introduction

2. Learning objective
CLO1 - Identify and pronounce commonly used roots, prefixes and suffixes used in medical language.
List the basic rules in medical terminology and give examples to illustrate each rule
Explain the role of roots, suffixes and prefixes in word formation
Identify and pronounce commonly used roots, prefixes and suffixes used in medical language

3. Medical Terminology for Health Sciences
Introduction

4. What is Medical Terminology?

5. Why do you need Medical Terminology?

6. But it’s so difficult! All those big long words!

7. It’s not difficult if you:
Follow the rules
Learn new terms regularly
Revise learnt terms regularly
Practise! Practise! Practise!

8. Five Elements (parts) Prefix: at the beginning
- Not all medical terms have a prefix
Root: main part
- Often refers to a body part
Suffix: at the end
- Nearly all medical terms have a suffix
Combining vowel: usually ‘o’
- Joins the root to the suffix, or a root to a root
Combining form: root plus combining vowel

9. Three Main Elements
Prefix Root Suffix

10. Let’s do some analysis!

11. 1. Medical Terms with Root and Suffix
Term: gastritis
Parts: gastr/itis
Always start at the end of the word:
The suffix -itis means:
inflammation
The root gastr means:
stomach

12. Definition of gastritis?
Inflammation of the stomach (stomach flu)

13. 2. Medical Terms with Prefix, Root and Suffix
Term: hyperthyroidism
Parts: hyper/thyroid/ism
Always start at the end of the word:
The suffix -ism means condition of
The root thyroid is the name of a gland in the neck
The prefix hyper means excessive

14. Definition of hyperthyroidism?
The condition of an over-active thyroid

15. Check: Hyper/thyroid/ism
Why is there no combining vowel ‘o’ between the root and the suffix? Because the suffix already begins with the vowel ‘i’, so there is no need. The combining vowel is only used if it makes pronunciation easier.

16. 3. Medical Terms with Two Roots and a Suffix
Term: gastroenteroscopy
Parts: gastr/o/enter/o/scopy
Always start at the end of the word:
The suffix -scopy means the process of visual examination
The root enter means intestine
The root gastr means stomach

17. Definition of gastroenteroscopy?
The process of visual examination of the stomach and intestine

18. Now you give the definitions
Now you give the definitions! Try to remember some of the terms already used.
Otitis (the root ot means ear)
Definition: inflammation of the ear
Hyperthermia (the root therm means temperature; ia means condition of)
Definition: the condition of a high body temperature

19. Keep analysing . . . Laparoscopy (the root lapar means abdomen)
Definition: the process of visual examination of the abdomen
Hepatoma (the root hepat means liver;
the suffix –oma means tumor or mass)
Definition: a liver tumor

20. You will learn how the terms relate to the nine body systems.
For example:
Ileostomy: Digestive System
Craniotomy: Nervous System
Dermatology: Integumentary System
Orthopedics: Musculoskeletal System
Pneumothorax: Respiratory System

21. Spelling is vital! One letter makes a big difference!
Ileum: part of the intestine
Ante : before
Hepatoma: liver tumor or mass
Ilium: hip bone
Anti: against
Hematoma: collection of blood
outside of blood vessels
Ante : before
Anti: against
Ileum: 3rd part of the small intestine
Ilium: part of the hip bone

22. You will learn some medical abbreviations.
They save time and space. e.g. A&D: admission & discharge C/S: cesarean section DOB: date of birth BS: blood sugar Hb: hemoglobin

23. You will learn the medical terminology for cancer.

24. You will learn about drug administration.
Classification?
Drug?
Dosage?
Side effects?

25. Happy Medical Terminology Learning!