Download - Medical Terminology of the body systems
Pre-Med Course ‘14
MedicalTerminology
BY: KAREEM HUSSEIN
Important general suffixes
Suffix Meaning Ex.
-cyte Cell Leuko/cyte
-genesis X -lysis Formation X Destruction
Lipo/genesis .. Prote/o/lysis
-megaly Enlargement Cardio/megaly
-graphy The process Electro/cardio/graphy ECG
-gram The record (result) Electro/encephalo/gram
-penia X -osis Decreased X increased
Leuko/cyto/(penia-osis)
-otomy To cut into Trache/otomy
-ectomy To cut out Mast/ectomy
-pathy Diseased Neuro/pathy
-algia = -algesia Pain Neur/algia
Suffix Meaning Ex.
-oma Tumor Ost/e/oma
-plegia Paralysis Quadr/i/plegia
-plasia Development (no. of cells)
Hyper/plasia
-trophy Development (size) a/trophy .. hyper/trophy
phage Eat Dys/phagia .. Phago/cyte
-rrhea Increased discharge Rhino/rrhea .. Dia/rrhea
-cide Kill Insect/i/cide .. Sperm/i/cide
-cele Abnormal protrusion Meningio/cele
-plasty Reconstruction Rhino/plasty
-oid Resemble Cub/oid
1. Musculoskeletal System
Term meaning Ex.
Oste/o- Bone Oste/oma
Chondr/o- Cartilage Chondro/cyte
Arthr/o- Joint Arthr/it is
Myel/o- Bone marrow Myel/oma
My/o- = myos/o- Muscle Myos/it is
Ten/o- = tend/o- Tendon (muscle to bone)
Tendon/it is
Ligament/o- Ligament (bone to bone)
Ligament/ous injury
-malacia Softning Osteo/malacia
-porosis Porous (eaten away)
Osteo/porosis
Orthopaedist
Muscle biobsy
2. Cardiovascular system
term Meaning Ex.
Cardi/o- Heart Myo/card/itis
Angi/o- Vessel Angio/gram
Ven/o- = Phleb/o- Vein Phleb/itis
Arteri/o = ather/o artery atherosclerosis
Haem/o- Blood Hemo/lysis
-emia Blood An/emia
-stasis To stop Hemo/stasis
-rhythm Regularity a/rrhythmia
Cardiac catheterization
atherosclerosis
ECG
murmur
3. Respiratory System
Term Meaning Ex.
Rhin/o- Nose Rhino/rrhea
Laryng/o- Larynx “Voice box” Laryng/otomy
Trache/o- Trachea “windpipe” Trache/otomy
Bronch/o- Air passageway Bronch/oscopy
Pne/u- = -Pnea Air breath lung Dys/pnea
Pulmo- Related to lung Pulmonary artery
-ptysis Spitting Hemo/ptysis
Laryngeoscopy
Endotracheal intubation
4. Nervous system
term Meaning Ex.
Neuro- Nerve Neur/ology
Cephal/o Head Ceph/algia
Encephal/o = cerebr/o
brain Encephal/itis
Cerebell/o Cerebellum /itis
Myel/o Spinal cord Myelo/gram
Mening/o Membranes around mo5
Mening/itis
Lumbar puncture
EEG, CT & MRI
5. Digestive System
Endoscopy
Ultrasonography
Chewing > ingestion > digestion > absorption > resorption & defacation
Term Meaning Ex.
Gastr/o- Stomach Gastr/ectomy
Chol/e- Bile Cholecyst/itis
Emes/o- Vomit Hema/emesis
Litho/o- Stone Chole/lith/otomy
-centesis To puncture Abdomino/centesis
-Tripsy To crush Chole/lito/tripsy
6.Urinary System
Term Meaning
Nephr/o- = Ren/o- kidney Nephro/pathy
Pyel/o- Renal pelvis Pyelo/gram
Ureter/o- Ureter uretritis
Cyst/o- Bladder Cyst/it is
Ur/o- = -uria Urine Poly/uria .. Uro/genital
Poly- X olig/o- Much X few Poly/uria .. Olig/uria
Nocturia
Enuresis
IV X retrograde pyelogram
Dialysis
Litho/tripsy
7. Reproductive System
MALE FEMALE
Andr/o- (male) Gynec/o- = gyn/o- (female)
Testis = orchid/o- = testicle oophor/o- (ovary)
Epididem/o (epididymis) Salping/o- (fallobian tube)
Prostat/ic (prostate) Cervix
-gravid/a (pregnant)
-partum (give birth)
Mast/o = mamm/o (breast)
Cryptorchidism
Varicocele (varicose veins)
BPH
Dilatation & curettage D&C
8. Ophthalmology
Term Meaning Ex.
-opia Vision My/opia .. Hyper/opia
-tropia Turning exo/tropia
Conjunctiv/o- Conjunctiva /itis
Phac/o- = lent/o- lens Phaco/emulsification
Scler/o Sclera (white) Scleral (adj)
Iro- = irido- Iris (colored) Ir/itis
Retino- Retina (seeing part)
Retinitis
Corn/e- = kerat/o- cornea Corneal
Cyclo- Ciliary body Cyclitis
Lacrim/o Tears Lacrimal gland Squint = strabismus
Cataract
glaucoma