Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology

It is nearly impossible for even the most experienced health professional to be familiar with every medical term. However, knowledge of prefixes, suffixes, and root words is essential. It is vital that every health professional be familiar with the commonly used medical terminology.

Word Parts / Building Blocks • Most medical terms are formed by a combination of basic word parts.An understanding of how these parts work together makes interpreting medical language easier.

usually indicate the part of the body involved All medical terms must have one or more root words Root Words

Prefixes • usually indicate location, time, or number - come at the beginning of the word • Not all medical terms have prefixes

Suffixes • usually indicate the procedure, disease, or condition - come after the root word • The suffix, when connected to the root word will create a noun, adjective, or verb. • All medical terms have a suffix.

Combining Vowel or Combining Form • usually "O" • attached to root word • used to make medical terms easier to pronounce • is NOT used when suffix begins with a vowel • IS used when suffix begins with a consonant

Decoding Medical Terms • Start with the suffix and define the suffix. • Go to the prefix and define the prefix. • Then, go to the middle of the word; define the word root, combining form, or both if both exist in the same word. • Combine the definitions to decode the complete medical term or phrase.

Putting it together! Prefix + Root Word + Suffix = Medical Term POLY + NEUR + ITIS = POLYNEURITIS Many + Nerves + Inflammation = Inflammation of many nerves

Common Medical Prefixes • a - absence of; without • Ab- away from • Ad- toward, in the direction of • Dys- difficult, painful • Hyper- over, above, increased • Hypo- below, under, decreased • Inter- between, among

Common Medical Prefixes (cont.) • Intra- within, inside • Peri - surrounding, around • Poly- many • Sub- under, less, below • Super- above, excessive, beyond • Supra- above, excessive, beyond • mal - bad

Common Medical Suffixes • itis – inflammation • malacia – softening • megaly - enlargement • ology - the study of • ologist – specialist • osis - disease, abnormal condition • pathy – disease • ac, al, ic – pertaining to

Common Medical Root Words • Cardi/o – heart • Col/o - colon

Cost/o – ribs • Enter/o - intestines

Gastr/o – stomach • Hem/o – blood • My/o – muscle

neur/o – nerve • oto – ear • or/o - mouth

Rhin/o – nose • Hepat - liver

Arthr/o – joint • Cephal/o – head • Crani/o - skull

Derm/o, dermat/o, cutane – skin • Nephr/o, ren/o – kidney • Oste/o - bone

Cyst/o – urinary bladder • Splen/o - spleen

Common Medical Abbreviations • c – with • s – without • a – before • p – after • prn – as needed • NPO – nothing by mouth

Common Medical Abbreviations • stat – immediately • IV – intravenous (through a vein) • q.d. – every day • q.i.d – four times a day • Rx – prescription • Tx - treatment

Common Medical Abbreviations • Male • female

Communication Connection • A medication is to be taken once every day (q.d.), but a health care provider mistakenly writes q.i.d. on the prescription. What will be the result of writing the incorrect abbreviation?

Medical Terminology