Medical Terminology

1. Medical Terminology Diane A. Young Instructor

2. Medical Terminology • Medical language • Majority of terms are based in Latin or Greek • Ex: herpes – based on the Greek work herpo meaning “creep along”. Herpes is used to describe the skin condition because it seems to “creep along” the skin.

3. Word Parts • Most medical terms can be broken down into one or more word parts. • Roots • Prefixes • Suffixes • Linking or combining vowels

4. Word Roots • Are the meaning or base of the term • Every medical term has at least one word root • Ex: hepatitis – hepat is the word root and means liver.

5. Suffix • Attached to the end of the word root to modify its meaning. • Ex: Hepatic – ic (meaning pertaining to) is the suffix.

6. Prefix • Attached to the beginning of a word root to modify its meaning. • Ex: subhepatic – sub (meaning under) is the prefix.

7. Combining Vowel • Part of the word • Usually is an “o” • Used between two word roots • Used between a word root and a suffix to ease pronunciation

8. Rules • All prefixes must go at the beginning of the word • All suffixes must go at the end of the word • All words must have a suffix • The combining vowel which is usually an “o” should be dropped when combining with a suffix that begins with a vowel.

9. Pronunciation of Medical Terms • PH sounds like f. • Ex: Phlegm (Flem) • G and J sound like J. • Ex: Genetic • C, CH, and K sound like K. • Ex: Crepitus, Cholera and Kyphosis • QU sounds like KW. • Ex: Quadriplegia

10. Pronunciation Cont’d • PN sounds like N. • Ex: Pneumonia • C, PS, and S sound like S. • Ex: Cytology, Psychologist, Serology • X and Z sound like Z. • Ex: Xeroderma and Zygote

11. HEMATOLOGY HEMAT/O/LOGY Root Suffix (blood) (Study of) Combining Vowel When you analyze a medical term, begin at the end of the word. The ending of a word is called a suffix. All medical terms contain suffixes. Word Analysis

12. HEMATOLOGY HEMAT/O/LOGY Root Suffix (blood) (Study of) Combining Vowel Root + combining vowel + suffix Start at the suffix Logy = Study of Then go back to the beginning of the word. Hemat = blood Analysis (put it together) Study of blood Word Analysis

13. BIOLOGIST BI/O/LOGIST Root Suffix (Life) (Specialist in) Combining Vowel Root + combining vowel + suffix Start at the suffix Logist = specialist in (the study of) Go to the beginning Bi = life Analysis Specialist in (the study of) life Word Analysis

14. CARDIOGRAM CARDI/O/GRAM Root Suffix (heart) (record) Combining Vowel Root + combining vowel + suffix Start at the suffix Gram = record Go the to beginning Cardi = heart Analysis Record of the heart Word Analysis

15. ELECTROCARDIOGRAM ELECTR/O/CARDI/O/GRAM Root Root Suffix (electricity) (heart) (record) Combining Vowel Root + CV + root + CV + suffix Start at the suffix Gram = record Go the to beginning Electr = electricity Cardi = heart Analysis Record of the electricity in the heart Word Analysis

16. Roots Cardi/o = heart Gastr/o = stomach Hemat/o = blood Dermat/o = skin Suffix -logy = study of -logist = specialist -gram = record -ac = pertaining to -itis = inflammation CARDIOLOGY CARDI/O/LOGY Study of the heart CARDIOLOGIST CARDI/O/LOGIST Specialist in the heart HEMATOLOGIST HEMAT/O/LOGIST Specialist in blood Word Analysis

17. Roots Cardi/o = heart Gastr/o = stomach Hemat/o = blood Dermat/o = skin Suffix -logy = study of -logist = specialist -gram = record -ac = pertaining to -itis = inflammation CARDIAC CARDI/AC Pertaining to the heart What’s different? The combining vowel is dropped when the suffix begins with a vowel. Word Analysis

18. Roots Cardi/o = heart Gastr/o = stomach Hemat/o = blood Dermat/o = skin Suffix -logy = study of -logist = specialist -gram = record -ac = pertaining to -itis = inflammation DERMATITIS DERMAT/ITIS Inflammation of the skin Word Analysis

19. Roots Cardi/o = heart Gastr/o = stomach Hemat/o = blood Dermat/o = skin Suffix -logy = study of -logist = specialist -gram = record -ac = pertaining to -itis = inflammation GASTRITIS GASTR/ITIS Inflammation of the stomach Word Analysis

20. Roots Cardi/o = heart Gastr/o = stomach Hemat/o = blood Enter/o = intestines Suffix -logy = study of -logist = specialist -gram = record -ac = pertaining to -itis = inflammation GASTROENTEROLOGY GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGY Study of the stomach and intestines 2 root words = OK 2 CV = OK Between roots the combining vowel is notdropped, even if the second root begins with a vowel. Word Analysis

21. Roots Electr/o = electicity Encephal/o = brain Gastr/o = stomach Suffix -logy = study of -logist = specialist -gram = record -ac = pertaining to -itis = inflammation ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM ELECTR/O/ENCEPHAL/O/GRAM Record of the electricity in the brain Word Analysis

22. Word Analysis Prefix • a word-part attached to the beginning of the term

23. Prefix Brady = slow Tachy = fast Root Cardi/o = heart Suffix -ia = condition / disease BRADYCARDIA BRADY/CARD/IA Condition of a slow heart Word Analysis

24. Prefix Brady = slow Tachy = fast Root Cardi/o = heart Suffix -ia = condition / disease TACHYCARDIA TACHY/CARD/IA Condition of a fast heart Word Analysis

25. Word Analysis - Review • Root = gives the essential meaning of the term • Suffix = the word ending • Prefix = a small part added to the beginning of a term • Combining vowel = connects roots to suffixes and roots to other roots • Combining form = combination of the root and a combining vowel

26. Word Analysis - Rules • Read the meaning of medical words from the suffix, then to the beginning of the word and across • Drop the combining vowel before a suffix that starts with a vowel • Keep the combining vowel between roots, even if the root begins with a vowel

27. Expectations • Every week you will be given new prefixes, roots or suffixes to learn. • You will need to be able to give the meaning the medical terms created from that list • You will need to be able to give the medical term if you are given the meaning • Spelling is important!