HTHS 1101Chapter 1Introduction to Medical language

Medical Terminology BasicsHistory

The foundations of modern medicine stemmed from ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.

Latin was the language of scholars and the language used to disseminate scientific discoveries for centuries.

Most medical terms have their roots in Greek or Latin.

Sometimes acronyms and eponyms are used as well.

Medical Terminology BasicsWord Parts Medical terms are comprised of roots, prefixes and suffixes.

The root most often describes the body part, or body substance involved.

The prefixes and suffixes describe what is happening to that body part or substance. hepatitis

pneumonia

electrocardiogram

Medical Terminology BasicsPronunciation

Medical terms can be long and complex

The sounds associated with each part of the term are important to learn spelled out in the text phonetically

fon-et-ik-al-lee

The emphasis placed on the syllables of the word is also important

the syllable receiving the emphasis is written in capital letters

EM-fah-sis on the SIL-ah-bul

Medical Terminology BasicsPronunciation

Term: cardiac

Divide into syllables: car/di/ac

Pronounced as: KAR/dee/ak

Term: cardiology

Divide into syllables: car/di/o/lo/gy

Pronounced as: kar/dee/AW/loh/jee

Medical Terminology Basics Word Roots

Roots function like nouns in medical language

Often refer to body parts, organs or fluids We often add a vowel to make it a combining

form

gastr = root for stomach

gastr/o = combining form meaning stomach

Medical terminology roots can be divided into general purpose roots and anatomical roots The roots/combining forms presented in this

chapter are especially important

General Purpose Roots

gen/o

hydr/o

morph/o

myc/o

necr/o

orth/o

path/o

phag/o

• plas/o• py/o• scler/o• sten/o• troph/o• xen/o• xer/o

Anatomical Roots

arthr/o

cardi/o

enter/o

gastr/o

hepat/o

neur/o

• hem/o or hemat/o

• my/o or muscul/o• angi/o, vas/o or

vascul/o• derm/o, dermat/o

or cutane/o• pneum/o,

pneumon/o or pulmon/o

SuffixesSimple-ac

-al

-ar

-ary

-eal

-ic

-tic

-ous

-ia-ism-ium-y

-icle-ole-ule-ula

SuffixesComplex-iatrics

-iatry

-iatrist

-ist

-logist

-logy

-algia or -dynia

-cele-emia-iasis-itis-lysis-malacia-megaly

-oid-oma-osis-pathy-penia-ptosis-rrhage-rrhea-rrhexis-spasm

SuffixesComplex

-centesis

-gram

-graph

-graphy

-meter

-metry

-scope

-scopy

-desis-ectomy-pexy-plasty-rrhaphy-stomy-tomy

Common Prefixes

a-, an-

anti-, contra-

de-

ante-, pre-

pro-

brady-

tachy-post-re-ab-ad-circum-, peri-dia-

e-, ec-, ex-ecto-, exo-,

extra-en-, endo-,

intra-epi-sub-inter-

Common Prefixes

bi-

hemi-, semi-

hyper-

hypo-

macro-

micro-

mono-, uni

oligo-pan-poly-, multi-con-, syn-,

sym-dys-eu-

Plurals

Word Building Adding prefixes are easy, you just add them to the

beginning of the root or root+suffix. hyperactive, tachycardia, periumbilical

Suffixes are a bit trickier A consonant at the end of a root and the beginning of a suffix

would sound weird together, so add an ‘”o” to the root.

hepatomegaly, nephropexy, retinopathy

If the suffix starts with a vowel or the root ends in a vowel, you don’t need to add a vowel antibiotic, scleroderma, orthostatic

Making sense of Medical TermsWhen reading the word:

Suffix first

Then prefix (if there is one)

Then root or roots

How to translate:

1. Read the word

2. Say the word out loud

3. Break the word into parts (suffix, root, prefix)

4. Translate the parts

5. Reassemble the pieces into a statement

Making sense of Medical Terms

Translate bradycardia:

1. Read the word: bradycardia

2. Say the word: bray/dee/KAR/dee/a

3. Break the word into parts: brady/card/ia

4. Translate the parts in order:

suffix: -ia means condition

prefix: brady- means slow

root: card means heart (rate)

5. Definition: condition of slow heart rate