Introduction to Medical Terminology

1. Introduction to Medical Terminology Chapter 1

2. Primary Medical Terms • Primary medical terms enable you to prioritize terms in your study of medical terminology.

3. What Parts Are the Key! • Four basic types of word parts are used tocreate complex medical terms: • Word roots • Combining forms • Suffixes • Prefixes (continues)

4. What Parts Are the Key!

5. Word Roots • Word roots usually, but not always, indicate thepart of the body involved. (continues)

6. Word Roots • Examples: • cardi = heart • gastr = stomach • neur = nerve • Note: Word roots do not mean pertaining to orrelating to; that meaning comes from the suffix.

7. Combining Forms • Created by adding a vowel (usually the letter“o”) to the end of a word root. • Used when connecting word roots or whenthe word root is joined to a suffix that beginswith a consonant. (continues)

8. Combining Forms • Examples: • cardi/o = heart • gastr/o = stomach • neur/o = nerve (continues)

9. Combining Forms

10. Suffixes • Suffixes usually, but not always,indicate theprocedure, condition, disorder, or disease. • Examples: • cardiomegaly • gastralgia • neuritis (continues)

11. Suffixes • Examples:

12. Prefixes • Prefixes usually, but not always, indicatelocation, time, number, or status. • Examples: • pericardium • epigastric • polyneuritis (continues)

13. Prefixes • Examples:

14. Determining Meanings on theBasis of Word Parts • Decipher these medical terms based on theirword parts: • cardiologist • gastritis • neuralgia (continues)

15. Determining Meanings on theBasis of Word Parts • An example to take apart:

16. Additional Lessons in This Chapter • Using a medical dictionary • The “sounds-like” pronunciation system • Why spelling counts • Caution when using abbreviations (continues)

17. Additional Lessons in This Chapter • Singular and plural endings • Basic medical terms • Look-alike, sound-alike terms and word parts

18. Key Word Parts and Definitions • -algia • pain, painful condition • dys- • bad, difficult, or painful • -ectomy • surgical removal, cutting out, excision • hyper- • excessive, increased (continues)

19. Key Word Parts and Definitions • hypo- • deficient, decreased • -itis • inflammation • -osis • abnormal condition, disease (continues)

20. Key Word Parts and Definitions • -ostomy • the surgical creation of an artificial opening to thebody surface • -otomy • cutting, surgical incision • -plasty • surgical repair • -rrhage • bleeding, abnormal excessive fluid discharge (continues)

21. Key Word Parts and Definitions • -rrhaphy • surgical suturing • -rrhea • flow or discharge • -rrhexis • rupture • -sclerosis • abnormal hardening

22. Questions

23. Question • A vertebra is a bone in the spine. What is theplural of vertebra? • vertebras • vertebri • vertebrae

24. Answer • c. vertebrae

25. Question • Intra- means within or inside. • True or False?

26. Answer • False. Inter- means within or inside.Intra- means between or among.

27. Question • Losing a large amount of blood in a shorttime is a: • hemorage • hemorrhage • hemorhage

28. Answer • b. hemorrhage

29. Question • The ilium is part of the hip bone, and the ileum ispart of the small intestine. • True or False?

30. Answer • True