1. Medical Terminology
Learning Terminology

2. Objectives Objectives Explain how medical terms are developed.
After studying this chapter, you will be able to :
Explain how medical terms are developed.
Describe the process of pluralizing terms.
Describe how to interpret pronunciation marks.
List basic legal and ethical issues for health-related professionals.
Describe how medical documentation is compiled.

3. Objectives Objectives
After studying this chapter, you will be able to:
Define the four word parts used to build medical terms.
Define common medical combining forms.
Define common medical prefixes.
Define common medical suffixes.
Describe how word parts are put together to form words.

4. The Language of Medicine
Dates to the time when people had only spoken language and no written language
Medical terminology began to gain uniformity as a result of the works of Hippocrates

5. Hippocratic Oath Hippocratic Oath
Forms the basic ethical standards of modern medicine with regards to:
Abstaining from voluntary acts of mischief & corruption
Keeping confidences
Doing no harm

6. Hippocratic Oath Part 2 Hippocratic Oath
Some aspects are still debated today such as:
Euthanasia
Abortion

7. Derivation of Medical Terminology
The study of the origin of words is called etymology.
Many medical terms used today are based on Ancient Greek and Latin.
Word building became and remains the primary way to describe new medical discoveries.

8. Derivation of Medical Terminology Part 2
Word knowledge was primarily passed on through only verbal communication which resulted in words being pronounced very differently.
The word heart is derived from Old English heorte which comes from a word related to Greek kardia which means heart.

9. Medical Terms Medical terms are like jigsaw puzzles.
They are constructed of small pieces that make each word unique; Pieces can be used in different combinations in other words

10. Word Analysis Words are divided into the following components:
Root: foundation of the term
Ex: subgastric – gastr is the root meaning stomach
Suffix: word ending
Ex: subgastric – ic means pertaining to
Prefix: word beginning
Ex: subgastric – sub means under

11. Reading Medical Terms
To define medical terms based on word parts, read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the beginning of the term and then across
Ex: hematology: logy means the study of; hemat/o means blood so this word means the study of blood.

12. Medical Word Classifications
You will “decode” words by dividing terms into component parts; You will need to memorize the component parts.
Decodable – Have Greek or Latin components parts that can be analyzed; therefore the word can be deciphered to reveal the meaning
Examples:
Term: Gastr/itis
Analysis: Gastr/ is a word root meaning stomach; -itis is a suffix meaning inflammation
Definition: Inflammation of the stomach

13. Medical Word Classifications
Nondecodable – Can not be divided into component parts; definition of terms must be memorized.
Examples:
1. Cataract: Progressive opacification of the
lens; Term is derived from the Greek term
meaning waterfall
2. Asthma: Respiratory disorder characterized by recurring episodes of paroxysmal dyspnea; Term is derived from Greek panting.

14. Medical Word Classifications
Eponyms – Terms named after the person who first identified the condition, described the procedure or devised the object. 
Examples:
Alzheimer Disease: A progressive mental deterioration, named after a German neurologist, Alois Alzheimer
Cesarean Section: The removal of the infant from the uterus by incising the uterine wall, named after the manner in which Julius Caesar was supposedly born.

15. Medical Word Classifications
Abbreviations – Terms that have been shortened to a number of letters
Examples:
1. CAD: Coronary Artery Disease
2. CABG: Acronym for coronary artery bypass graft.

16. Medical Word Classifications
Symbols – Graphic representations called symbols used in health care terminology
Examples:
Increase: ↑
Decrease: ↓

17. Building Medical Terms
Word Root
Prefix
Suffix
Combining forms

18. Forming Medical Terms Forming Medical Terms Medical Term Word root
Suffix
Prefix
Combining forms

19. Forming Medical Terms Part 2
Medical terms are formed from two or more word parts.
Suffix
Word parts attached to the end of a word that modifies the meaning.
Prefix
Word parts attached to the beginning of a word that modifies the meaning.
The main part of a word which contains the basic meaning.
Root

20. Forming Medical Terms Combining Vowel Combining Form
Vowel (usually O) that links the root to the suffix or the root to another root
The word root and a combining vowel that enable two parts to be connected.
Ex: hematology- hemat is the root meaning blood; O is the combining vowel; logy is the suffix meaning the study of

21. Word Roots and Combining Forms [ACANTH(O)]
Meaning
acanth (o)
actin (o)
aer (o)
athero
bacill (i)
bar (o)
spiny, thorny
light
air; gas
plaque; fatty substance
bacilli; bacteria
weight; pressure

22. Word Roots and Combining Forms [BLAST(O)]
Meaning
blasto
carcin(o)
chrondro
cry(o)
crypt(o)
cyan(o)
immature cells
cancer
cartilage
cold
hidden
blue

23. Word Roots and Combining Forms [CYT(O)]
Meaning
cyt(o)
dextr(o)
dips(o)
dors(o)
erythr(o)
esthesio
cell
right
thirst
back
red
sensation, perception

24. Word Roots and Combining Forms [GALACT(O)]
Meaning
galact(o)
gluco
gero
glyco
gyn(o)
home(o)
kin(o)
milk
glucose
old age
sugars
women
same
movement

25. Word Roots and Combining Forms [KINESI(O)
Meaning
kinesi(o)
lact(o)
leuk(o)
lith(o)
mio
narco
necro
motion
milk
white
stone
smaller; less
sleep; numbness
death; dying

26. Word Roots and Combining Forms [NOCT(O)]
Meaning
noct(i)
oncho
path(o)
phago
phon(o)
pseud(o)
pyo
night
tumor
disease
eating
sound; voice
false
pus

27. Word Roots and Combining Forms [PYRO]
Meaning
pyro
salping(o)
schiz(o)
scler(o)
scolio
somato
spiro
fever
tube
split; division
hardening
crooked; bent
body
breath; breathe

28. Word Roots and Combining Forms [TEL(O)]
Meaning
tel(o)
tono
tropho
xanth(o)
xeno
Xer(o)
distant; end; complete
tension; pressure
food; nutrition
yellow
stranger
dry

29. Prefixes Prefixes Prefix Suffix Word Root
Prefixes are attached to the beginning of words.
Modifies the meaning of the word or word root.
Indicates size, quantity, position of, and location.

30. Prefixes (a–aut) Prefixes Prefix Meaning a ab ambi ana ante anti
without
away from
both, around
up, toward
before
against
self

31. Prefixes (brachy–hypo)
Meaning
brachy
brady
contra
dys
hemi
hyper
hypo
short
slow
against
abnormal; difficult
half
above normal
below normal

32. Prefixes (inter–peri)
Meaning
Prefix
inter
iso
mal
meta
micr(o)
olig(o)
peri
between
equal; same
bad; inadequate
after
small
few; little; scanty
around; about; near

33. Prefixes (pro–un) Prefixes Prefix Meaning pro before; forward re retro
semi
supra
tachy un
before; forward
again; backward
behind; backward
half
above; over
fast
not

34. Suffixes Suffixes Prefix Suffix Word Root
Attaches to the end of the word and carries the underlying meaning of the word.
Suffixes can also be combining forms.

35. Suffixes (ad–crine) Suffixes Suffix Meaning -ad -algia -asthenia
-blast
-cidal
-clast
-crine
toward
pain
weakness
immature; forming
destroying; killing
breaking
secreting

36. Suffixes (crit–ectomy)
Meaning
-crit
-cyte
-cytosis
-derma
-dynia
-ectasis
-ectomy
separate
cell
condition of cells
skin
pain
expanding; dilating
removal of

37. Suffixes (emesis–graphy)
Meaning
-emesis
-emia
-esthesia
-globin
-gram
-graph
-graphy
vomiting
blood
sensation
protein
a recording
recording instrument
process of recording

38. Suffixes (ic–malacia)
Meaning
-ic
-ism
-itis
-kinesia
-logist
-lysis
-malacia
pertaining to
condition; disease
inflammation
movement
one who practices
destruction of
softening

39. Suffixes (mania-pathy)
Meaning
-mania
-megaly
-oid
-opia
-ostomy
-para
-pathy
obsession
enlargement
like; resembling
vision
opening
bearing
disease

40. Suffixes (penia-phrenia)
Meaning
-penia
-pepsia
-pexy
-phage
-phobia
-phonia
-phrenia
deficiency
digestion
fixation
eating; devouring
fear
sound
of the mind

41. Suffixes (phylaxis-rrhaphy)
Meaning
-phylaxis
-plasty
-plegia
-pnea
-ptosis
-rrhagia
-rrhaphy
protection
surgical repair
paralysis
breath
falling down; drooping
heavy discharge
surgical suturing

42. Suffixes (rrhexis-tropia)
Meaning
-rrhexis
-spasm
-stasis
-stenosis
-tomy
-trophy
-tropia
rupture
contraction
stopping; constant
narrowing
cutting operation
nutrition
turning

43. Apply Your Knowledge Apply Your Knowledge
Using various word parts, build terms for the following meanings.
Meaning
Term
Absence of blood
Bluish color of hands and feet
Equal vision in both eyes.
Fast heart.
Breakdown of sugar.
anemia
cyanosis
isopia
tachycardia
glycolysis

44. Apply Your Knowledge Part 2
Using various word parts, build terms for the following meanings.
Meaning
Term
Lack of white blood cells.
Softening of bone.
Inflammation of a vein.
Nerve pain.
Science of skin and its diseases.
leukopenia
osteomalacia
phlebitis
neuralgia
dermatology

45. Pluralizing Terms Pluralizing Terms Rules
Add s to words ending in any vowel or consonant except s,x,z, or y (ex. joint- joints)
Add es to words ending in s,x, or z (ex. reflex - reflexes)

46. Pluralizing Terms Part 2
Rules Cont’d
Remove x and add `ces to Latin words ending in x (ex. appendix - appendices)
Remove the `y and add `ies to words ending in `y preceded by a consonant (ex. mastectomy- mastectomies)

47. Pluralizing Terms Part 3
Rules Cont’d
When an ending `y is preceded by a vowel, the usual plural suffix is `s (ex. boy - boys)
Add `e to Latin terms ending in a (ex. lamina - laminae)

48. Pluralizing Terms Part 4
Rules Cont’d
Remove `us and add `i to Latin words ending in us (ex. bacillus- bacilli)
Change `sis to `ses in Greek words ending in sis (ex. psychosis - psychoses)

49. Pluralizing Terms Part 5
Rules Cont’d
Remove `on from and add `a to Greek words ending in `on (ex. criterion - criteria)
Remove `um from and add `a to Latin words ending in um (ex. diverticulum - diverticula)

50. Pluralizing Rules Pluralizing Rules Latin Greek Singular Plural
fossa fossae
datum data
radix radices
neurosis neuroses
ganglion ganglia
calyx calyces

51. Spelling & Pronunciation of Medical Terms
Spelling and Pronunciation
of Medical Terms
Spelling & Pronunciation of Medical Terms
Misspellings and mispronunciations in a medical setting can result in life threatening situations
“The patient was to have a cholectomy NOT
a colectomy!!”

52. Spelling & Pronunciation of Medical Terms Part 2
Spelling and Pronunciation
of Medical Terms
Spelling & Pronunciation of Medical Terms Part 2
Pronouncing a word out loud each time you see the pronounciation will help familiarize you with the sound of the word.
anemia
a-NE-me-a
typhoid
TI-foyd
reflex
RE-fleks
Long and short vowels are a guide to help you pronounce words.

53. Legal and Ethical Issues
The American Hospital Association’s Patient’s Bill of Rights gives guidelines which provide a clear, ethical standard for patient’s rights.
Right to refuse care
Right to privacy
Right to considerate and respectful care.
Right to be informed

54. Using Medical Terminology
Medical Terminology is instrumental in both verbal and written communication.
Documentation of health care services must be complete for both ethical and legal reasons.

55. Using Medical Terminology
Medical Records
Medical Records
Formats for medical records depend on:
Coding and billing practices
State law
Institution’s responsibilities
Configuration of its computer systems

56. Medical Records SOAP format
Using Medical Terminology
Medical Records SOAP format
Medical Records
SOAP Format
S- subjective
O- objective
A- assessment
P- plan

57. Using Medical Terminology
Chronological Format
Medical Records
Chronological Format
Interactions are listed in chronological order.
Earliest date is at the top of the patient record

58. Apply Your Knowledge Apply Your Knowledge
Which of the following statements is correct regarding the derivation of medical terms?
A. The change in medical terms has been drastic over the years.
B. The change in medical terms has not been drastic over the years.
Answer B.

59. Apply Your Knowledge Part 2
Make each of the following terms plural.
staphylococcus
vasectomy
paraplegic
appendix
staphylococci
vasectomies
paraplegics
appendices

60. Case Study Apply Your Knowledge Case Study
After obtaining the ordered laboratory specimens from a patient, Jamie(a laboratory technician) prepares to leave the patient’s room when a visitor asks “Does she really need to take all those medications the nurse left in here?”
How should Jamie handle this question
and why?
Answer: Remembering patient’s rights to confidentiality and the scope of his training as a laboratory technician, Jamie should request that the visitor speak with the nurse and or physician.