Medical Terminology

醫用流體力學醫用流體力學

ReferenceCohen, B. J. (1998). Medical terminology; An illustrated g

uide. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven Publishers.Gyls, B.A. & Wedding, M.E. (1983). Medical Terminology:

A Systems Approach. Philadelphia:  F.A. Davis

Basic Elements of a Medical Word

1. Word Root

2. Combining Form

3. Suffix

4. Prefix

These four parts of a word are known as ELEMENTS.

Dr. Joel Gluck

Word Root

Main part or foundation of a word. All words have at least one word root. A word root may be used alone or combined

with other elements to form a complete word.

i.e., SPEAK (word root) + ER (suffix) = SPEAKER (complete word)

The word root usually refers to a body part. Some root words are derived from the Latin

or Greek language.

Word Root Examples

“dent” means tooth “dermat” means skin “cardi” means heart “gastr” means stomach “pancreat” means pancreas

Combining Forms

Correct pronunciation of medical words is important.

In order to make the pronunciation of word roots easier, sometimes it is necessary to insert a vowel after the root.

The combination of a word root and a vowel is known as a COMBINING FORM.

Combining forms consist of a combining vowel.

The combining vowel is usually an “o”, but others may be used.

IE: gastr / o pronounced GASTRO.

Word root Combining vowel

When a word has more than one root, a combining vowel is used to link the root to each other.

IE: osteoarthritis oste/ o / arthr/ itis

Word root

Combining vowel Word root

suffix

Slashes separate elements

Word-Building System

By understanding the meanings of word roots, one can determine the meaning of complex medical terms by putting together the smaller parts.

Leukocytopenia

Word Roots: Leuk / (white)

cyt / (cell)

Combining Vowel / o /

Suffix: / penia (decrease)

Suffixes

A suffix is added to the END of a word root or combining form to modify its meaning.

By adding a suffix to the end of a word root, we create a noun or adjective with a different meaning.

A combining vowel is used between a word root and a suffix that begins with a consonant (not a vowel).

This is to make pronunciation easier.

Word root: scler / (hardening)

Suffix: / derma (skin)

Term: Scler / o / derma (hardening of the skin)

Combining vowel

Meanings of certain suffixes

-al pertaining to dent/al

(pertaining to teeth)

-er one who speak/er

(one who speaks)

-able capable of being playable

(capable of being played)

-oma (tumor) hematoma

(blood tumor)

NOTE: The element that comes before a suffix can either be a word root or combining form.

The suffixes

-scope (instrument to view)-rrhexis (rupture)-rrhea (flow or discharge)

all begin with a consonant, therefore a combining vowel must be used between the word root and the suffix.

The suffixes

-algia (pain)-edema (swelling)-uria (urine, urination)

These suffixes begin with a vowel, therefore a combining vowel is NOT used between the word root and the suffix.

REVIEW

A combining vowel IS used to link one root to another root, and before a suffix that begins with a consonant.

A combining vowel IS NOT used before a suffix that begins with a vowel.

Prefixes

A prefix is a syllable or syllables placed BEFORE a word or word root to alter its meaning or create a new word.

Some prefixes:Hyper- (excessive)Pre- (before)Post- (after)Homo- (same)Hypo- (under)

Hypoinsulinemia

Hypo / insulin / emia

PrefixWord root

suffix

LOW INSULIN BLOOD

Notice that there is no combining vowel in this word because the prefix ends with a vowel and the suffix begins with a vowel.

Plurality

To make a medical word plural (more than one), first look at the suffix.

Then, choose the rule that changes the singular form to the plural form. The rules appear on page 18 of the text.

Chart of Prefixes

a- without or not mal- badab- away from medio- middlead- to, toward mes- middlean- absence of meta- beyond, overante- before micro- smallantero- in front ortho- straight, correctanto- against para- besidebi- two patho- diseasebrady- slow peri- outside, arounddia- through poly- manydys- difficult, painful pseudo- false

Chart of Prefixesendo- within quadri- fourfoldepi- upon retro- backwardeu- well, good sub- beneathex- away from supra- aboveexo- outside tachy- fasthyper- over trans- acrosshypo- under or less tri- threeinfra- below ultra- beyondintra- within uni- single, one

Chart of Rootsaden gland gaster stomacharteria artery haemo, hemo bloodarthros joint hepar liverauris ear hydro waterbrachion arm hystera wombbronchus windpipe kystis, cysto bladdercardium heart larynx throatcephalos brain myelos marrowcholecyst gallbladder nasus nosecolon intestine nephros kidneycosta rib neuron neuroncranium head odons toothderma skin odynia pain

Chart of Rootsenteron intestine optikas eyeepithelium skin os boneesophaqus gullet osteon boneostium mouth, orifice pyretos feverotis ear ren kidneypes foot rhin nosepharynx throat rhythmos rhythmphlebos vein spondylos vertebrapleura chest stoma mouthpneumones lungs thorax chestpsyche mind trachea windpipepulmones lungs trophe nutritionpyelos pelvis vene veinpyon pus vesica bladder

Chart of Suffixes-algia pain -emia blood-centeses puncture -iasis a process-clasia remedy -itis inflammation-ectasis dilatation -oma swelling, tumor-ectomy cut -sclerosis hardening-edema swelling

Relative position in medical usage

• Anterior situated in front of; forward part of• Distal away from the center of the body• Dorsala position more toward the back of an object

of reference• Frontal situated at the front• Inferior situated or directed below• Lateral a position more toward the side of flank• Proximal toward the center of the body• Sagital relating to the median plane of the body or

parallel to it• Superior situated or directed above

Anatomicalterms

• Anatomy refers to the internal and external structures of human body and their physical relationships.

Amylolysis digestion of starch  Glucogenesis production of glucose Hydrocephalus excess of fluid inside the skull  Kalemia presence of potassium in the blood Lactosuria lactose in the urine  Lipoma benign tumor containing fatty tissue  Lithotrite instrument for crushing a stone in the urinary blad

der  Natriuresis abnormal amounts of sodium in the urine  Stearate a type of fat

Word Definition

Aboral away from the mouth  Adduction movement of a limb toward a median line  Adoral near or directed toward the mouth (or)  Alloantigen occurs in some but not others of same species  Allopathy second disease, condition that is incompatible with firstAntebrachium forearm  Antepartum before childbirth  Antitoxic neutralizing the action of a poison Apophysis an outgrowth or projection, especially from a bone  Contraception prevention of conception or pregnancy  Dextrogastria displacement of the stomach to the right  Diapedesis the passage of blood through the walls of blood

vessels  Dissect to cut apart or separate the tissue of a body for study  Dorsocephalad toward the back of the head 

Word Definition

Ecchondroma outgrowth from cartilage, mass protruding from bone 

Encephalopathy any disease of the brain 

Endoderm innermost of the primary layers of the embryo 

Epicranium the muscle, aponeurosis, and skin covering the cranium 

Excementosis outgrowth of root surface of a tooth 

Heterocellular occurs in some but not others of the same species 

Heterotypic different or unusual type 

Homeostasis state of equilibrium in the body 

Homomorphic two or more structures of similar size 

Infusion steeping a substance in water 

Inhale to draw in breath 

Laterotorsion twisting to one side 

Levorotation turning or twisting to the left 

Opisthotonos a spasm in which the spine and extremities are bent 

Word Definition

Perinatal time period before, during or after the time of birth 

Periodontal around a mouth 

Peroral through the mouth 

Postanaesthetic after anaesthetic 

Postnasal posterior of the nasal cavity 

Precapillary preceding a capillary 

Predentin organic fiber of dentin before its calcification 

Procephalic relationing to the anterior part of the head 

Prochondral developmental stage prior to formation of cartilage 

Recuperate to recover, to regain health and strength 

Rehydration return of water to a system after its loss 

Retrogression previous, less complex conditions 

Schizonychia splitting of the nails 

Schizophrenia personality disorder, withdrawal from outside world 

Transfusion transfer of blood

Word Definition

Ankylosis immobility of a joint due to a disease 

Brachygnathia abnormal shortness of the lower jaw 

Bradypnea abnormal slowness of breathing 

Chloroma greenish-yellow tumour arising from myeloid tissue 

Cirrhosis hardening of an organ, especially the liver 

Cyanopsia defect of vision in which objects appear tinged with blue 

Erythrocyte red blood cell 

Glaucoma group of eye diseases 

Kyphoscoliosis backward and lateral curvature of the spinal column 

Leukomyelitis inflammation of the white substance of the spinal chord 

Melanin dark pigment of the skin, hair, choroid coat of the eyes and various tumours. 

Orthodontist a dentist who specialists in the branch of dentistry concerned with irregularities of teeth and malocclusion 

Stenothorax abnormal narrowness of the chest 

Tachycardia abnormally rapid heart rate

Word Definition

Acardia congential absence of the heart  Ambilateral pertaining to or affecting both sides  Amphibolic having both an anabolic and catabolic function.  Anisotropic having unlike properties in different directions  Diplopia perception of two images of a singie object  Hypodermic applied below the skin  Hyperthermia very high body temperature Macrocephaly excessive size of the head  Megakaryocyte the giant cell of bone marrow containing a greatly

lobulated nucleus, from which mature blood platelets orginate 

multi-infection many infections  Oligotrophy insufficient nutrition  Inert lacking the power to move  Isoenergetic exhibiting equal energy  Pananxiety a diffuse, all pervading anxiety  Polyplegia paralysis of several muscles  Primigravida a woman pregnant for the first time  Protoneuron the first neuron in a peripheral reflex arc

Word Definition