Introduction to Medical

Terminology
Presented by Associate professor Dr. Hoda Kafl
 Define Medical Terminology
The main ideas:
1. Define Medical Terminology.

2. Word Parts.

3. Combining Forms.

4. Suffixes
 Define Medical Terminology?

Medical terminology is a special

vocabulary used by health care
professionals for effective and
accurate communication.
Because it is based mainly on
Greek and Latin words, medical
terminology is consistent and
uniform throughout the world.
Use proper medical terminology to communicate with other health care
professionals.
 Word Parts :

 Words are formed from roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

 1)Word Root:
The fundamental unit of each medical word. This establishes the basic meaning of the word and is the
part to which modifying prefixes and suffixes are added
 2)A suffix:
Is a short word part (syllable) or series of parts added at the end of a root to modify its meaning
(Usually describes what is happening to the root word)., such as -itis.
Example: appendicitis
 inflammation of the appendix
 3)A prefix:
Is a short word part (syllable) added before a root to modify its meaning., such as pre.
 Example hypotension
Low pressure
 Combining Forms:

 When a suffix beginning with a consonant is added to a root, a

vowel (usually an o) is inserted between the root and the suffix
to aid in pronunciation.
 A combining vowel may be added between a root and a suffix.
 -Thus, when the suffix –logy, meaning “study of,” is added to the
root neur, meaning “nerve or nervous system,”
 a combining vowel is added:
neur + o + logy = neurology (study of the nervous system)
 Combining Forms:
 *Roots shown with a combining vowel are called combining forms.
 Vowels are sometimes used to join together prefix, root word or suffix

 Note: A combining vowel usually is not used if the ending begins with
a vowel. (Vowels are not used if the letter is a part of another part of
the medical term)
 The root neur is combined with the suffix -itis, meaning “inflammation
of,” in this way:
 neur + itis = neuritis (inflammation of a nerve)
 Pseudoappenicits – false inflammation of the appendix
 Gastroentitis – inflammation of the stomach
 Root Meaning. How to pertaining to it
1. Head and trunk
Cephal / o Head
Terms Pertaining to HumanCephalic
Body
Cervic / o Neck Cervical
Thorac / o Chest – thorax Thoracic
Abdomin / o Abdomen Abdominal
Celi / o Abdomen Celiac
Lumb / o Lumbar region & lower back Lumbar
2. Extremities
Ped / o Foot Pedal
Dactyl Finger , toe Dactylic
Brachi / o Arm Brachial
Acr / o Extremity , end Acr…
3. Internal Organs
Crani / o Brain Cranial
Mening / o Meninges Meningeal
Thorac / o Chest , thorax Thoracic
Cardi / o Heart Cardiac
Gastr / o Stomach Gastric
Periton / o Peritone / o Peritoneum Peritoneal
Pelv / I Pelvis Pelvic
Cellul / o Cells Cellular
1- Words 2- Suffixes
Ending In x Beginning With rh

• When a suffix beginning with rh is

• When a word ending in x has a added to a root, the r is doubled:
suffix added, the x is changed to a
g or a c. For example, pharynx
• hem/o (blood) + -rhage (bursting
(throat) becomes pharyngeal (fa-
forth) = hemorrhage (a bursting
RIN-je-al), to mean “pertaining to
forth of blood)
the throat”;
• coccyx (terminal portion of the
• men/o (menses) + -rhea (flow,
vertebral column) becomes
discharge) = menorrhea (menstrual
coccygeal (kok-SIJ-e-al), to mean
flow)
“pertaining to the coccyx”;
• thorax (chest) becomes
thoracotomy (thor-a-KOT-o-me) to
mean “an incision into the chest.”
 D. combining vowel

 A combining vowel is an important connector between

the root to aid in pronunciation, and it is comes to link
the root to the suffix or to the other root.
 A combining vowel is usually the letter (O) , which has
no meaning of its own
 It is not used if the ending ( suffix) begins with a vowel as
in neuritis .
 Examples:

Cardi /o/ gram

Component Word root Combining Suffix

Meaning Heart Vowel Record

Nephr (Ren) /o/ Logy

Component Word root Combining Suffix

Meaning Kidney Vowel Study of

 E. Combining Form

Is the combination of word root with the combining

vowel ( o ) .
Example :
Cardi / o is a combining form consists of cardio with
h means heart , and the combining vowel ( o ) .
Common Prefixes in Medical Terms
 Suffixes

 A suffix is a word ending that modifies a root. A suffix may indicate that the word is a noun or an
adjective and often determines how the definition of the word will begin.
 For example, using the root myel/o, meaning “bone marrow,”
 -the adjective ending -oid forms the word myeloid, which means “like or pertaining to bone marrow.”
 -The ending -oma produces myeloma, which is a tumor of the bone marrow.
 -Adding another root, gen, which represents genesis or origin and the adjective ending -ous forms the
word myelogenous, meaning “originating in bone marrow.”
Common Suffixes in Medical Terms
Plural Endings:
 Exercise(1):

 1)Fill in the blanks:

 1. A root with a vowel added to aid in pronunciationCombining
is calledForms
a
 2. A word part that comes before a root is a(n) Prefix

 3. Combine the word parts dia-, meaning “through,” and -rhea, meaning
“flow,” to form a word meaning" passage of fluid stool.”. Diarrhea

 4. Combine the root psych, meaning “mind,” with the suffix -logy,
meaning “study of,” to form a word meaning “study of the mind.”
Psychology
 Multiple choice(MCQs): Select the best
answer and write the letter of your choice to
the left of each number.
_____ 6. The -ist in the word neurologist is a:
_____ 5. Which of the following is a
compound word? a. prefix

 a. urinary b. root

 b. skeletal c. suffix

 c. gastrointestinal d. combining form

 d. coronary e. conjunction
 e. artery _____ 7. Endo- in endoscopic is a:
a. root
b. suffix
c. combining form
d. prefix
e. derivation
Case Study • What is the common prefix meaning
“alongside”?
A. peri-
Which of the following is a root word? B. poly-
A. anti- C. para-
B. hepat- D. post-
C. -itis • The suffix “-logy” refers to:
D. -emia A. study of
The prefix “tachy-” means: B. occurring after
A. above
C. within
B. outside
C. fast D. pertaining to
D. Higher • The term for blood in the urine
would be:
If a patient is complaining of dyspnea,
he has what condition? A. diarrhea
A. chest pain B. rhinorrhea
B. stomach ache C. hematuria
C. nausea
D. hematemesis
D. trouble breathing
Case Study - Matching

______ 1. Arthritis a. difficult or painful urination

______ 2. Myodynia b. absence of breathing
______ 3. Hepatomegaly c. pain in a muscle
______ 4. Apnea d. softening of the bone
______ 5. Hematuria e. discharge from the ear
______ 6. Dysuria f. surgical removal of the uterus
______ 7. Hysterectomy g. enlargement of the liver
______ 8. Osteomalacia h. inflammation of a joint
______ 9. Aphasia i. loss of speech
______10. Otorrhea j. blood in the urine
 Case Study
 Interpret this case using normal English (The proper use of medical terminology will help ensure
clarity in the sharing of information regarding the patient.
 History and Assessment:
 A 67 y/o male c/o angina and dyspnea x 2 hours. The pain is severe (8 out of 10), located
retrosternal, with radiation to the left humerus and mandible.
 The pain awoke the patient from his sleep. Discomfort does not change with movement or
respirations. The pt. has a Hx of CVD, CHF, HTN, and MI. Medications include ASA, insulin, Lasix,
and lisinopril. He is allergic to PCN.
 Physical Exam:
 Pupils: PEARL, membranes hydrated
 Airway: Patent, no abnormal sounds
 Breathing: Adequate with good Vt
 Circulation: Peripheral pulses intact
 Thorax: = BS bilaterally, excursion normal, (+) dyspnea, (+) angina
 Abdomen: (-) N/V, (-) distention, (-) incontinence, (-) hematuria, (-) diarrhea
 Extremities: PMS = times 4, skin W&D, patient MAE well

 Treatment:
 O2 via NRB, ASA 325 mg p.o., nitro 0.3 mg SL x3, IV initiated, patient placed in POC. Pain
diminished from 8 to 2 on scale. Respirations now eupneic, and patient states they “feel better.”
Hospital notified en route and bedside report given upon arrival.
 Important W0rd Parts

 Root- gives the essential meaning of the term.

 Suffix- is the word ending.
 Prefix- is a small Part added to the beginning of a term.

 Combining vowel- connects roots to suffixes and roots to other roots.

 Combining form- is the combination of the root and the combining
vowel.