Constructed medical terms:Many medical terms are ‘constructed’ from a combination of

word parts… prefixes, Greek or Roman root words, and suffixes. Determine the meaning of the whole word by first deciphering the meaning of the suffix, then the prefix, and

finally the root word. Then combine the 3 parts.

MICRO / SCOP / ICPrefix meaning ‘small’ / root word meaning ‘viewing instrument’ / suffix meaning ‘pertaining to’

When you start with a root word and add a suffix that starts with a consonant OR another root word, then you have to connect the two word parts with a vowel. This is called a ‘combining vowel’, and is usually an ‘o, i, or e’.

HEM / O / PHILIARoot word meaning ‘blood’ / combining vowel / suffix meaning ‘love of’

Nonconstructed medical terms:If a medical term is not constructed from a combination of word parts, then it is called ‘nonconstructed’. These are words derived from other languages, words derived from names of people, from initials that form acronyms,

or from abbreviations. To learn the meanings of nonconstructed terms, you must simply commit them to

memory.

The term ‘pasteurize’ refers to the process of

heating milk to a temperature that kills

harmful microorganisms. The term is derived from

the name of its inventor… Louis Pasteur

(1822-1895).

Medical root words for vision and hearing…ROOT WORD DEFINITION

BLEPHER EYELID

CONJUNCTIV CONJUNCTIVA

CYST BLADDER OR SAC

DACRY TEAR

EXTERNO EXTERIOR

IR IRIS

KERAT HARD, CORNEA

LITH STONE

MAST BREAST, MASTOID

MED MIDDLE

OPHTHALM; OPT EYE

OT EAR

PRESBY OLD AGE

SCLER THICK OR HARD; SCLERA

SINUS SINUS CAVITY

STIGMAT POINT

Medical prefixes for vision and hearing…

PREFIX DEFINITION

A- WITHOUT OR ABSENCE OF

DIPL- DOUBLE

HYPER- EXCESSIVE, ABNORMALLY HIGH, OR ABOVE

Medical suffixes for the vision & hearing …

SUFFIX DEFINITION

-IASIS CONDITION OF

-ISM CONDITION OF

-LOGIST ONE WHO STUDIES

-MALACIA SOFTENING

-METRIST ONE WHO MEASURES

-OPIA CONDITON OF VISION

-PATHY DISEASE

-PLEGIA PARALYSIS

-PTOSIS DROOPING

-RRHAGIA CONDITION OF PROFUSE BLEEDING

-A SINGULAR

-ALGIA CONDITION OF PAIN

-ITIS INFLAMMATION

-OID RESEMBLING

-RRHEA EXCESSIVE DISCHARGE

Mastoiditis (MAS toyd EYE tiss)

Inflammation of the mastoid… the part of the skull housing the middle

and internal ear. Complications can lead to hearing loss or deafness.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms,

disorders & treatments of

the ear…

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the ear…Tinnitus

(tin EYE tiss)Ringing in the ears. Noises

may actually be high-pitched, ringing, or clicking.

Otitis ( oh TYE tiss)

Inflammation of the auditory canal. Otitis

externa is the inflammation of the

external auditory canal; it is sometimes called

‘swimmers ear’.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the ear…

Otorrhea ( oh

toh REE ah)Pus-containing discharge from

the ear.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the ear…

Otalgia ( oh TAL jee

ah)Condition of ‘pain in

the ear’.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the ear…

Otosclerosis ( OH toh skleh ROH

siss)

Abnormal formation of bone within the ear that

causes a progressive loss

of hearing.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the ear…

Otoscopy ( oh TOSS koh pee)

A visual examination of the ear using a hand-held instrument called an

otoscope.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the ear…

Vertigo ( VER tih

go)A sensation of

whirling or spinning when the head is

moved too quickly; it may be a symptom

of an inner ear infection.

Abbreviations associated with the ear… OM Otitis media

(OH tye TISS MEE dee ah) Common among children, it is a bacterial infection of the middle ear causing pain and temporary hearing

loss, often requiring antibiotic treatment.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Blepharoptosis (BLEF ah ropp TOH siss) A drooping

eyelid.Blepharitis (BLEF ah RYE tiss)

Inflammation of the eyelid.

Blepharoplasty (BLEF ah roh

plass tee) Procedure to repair a damaged eyelid.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Cataract (KAT ah rakt)

A clouding of the normally transparent lens of the eye.

This may be part of the aging process.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Conjunctivitis (kon JUNK tih

VYE tiss) The ‘conjunctiva’ is a

thin membrane covering the outside of the eye and the inside of the

eyelid. When this becomes inflamed,

it is called conjunctivitis.Conjunctivitis is commonly

called ‘pink eye.’

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Dacryolithiasis (DAK ree oh lith EYE ah

siss) This is the presence of hard particles

in the lacrimal apparatus… the tear-forming gland and it’s

tubes. If that leads to inflammation, it is called ‘dacryocystitis’

(DAK ree oh sist EYE tiss). If the inflammation spreads to the sinuses, it’s called ‘dacryosinusitis’

(DAK ree oh SYE nus EYE tiss).

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Detached Retina (dee TACHD RET ih

nah) A common cause of

blindness, it occurs when the retina tears away from

the choroid layer of the eye. It can be caused by a

severe blow to the head, old age, or even high blood

pressure.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Diplopia (dih PLOH pee

ah) Commonly referred to

a ‘double vision’, it can be caused by

weakened eye muscles, defects in

the lens of the eye, or a brain conditions.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Glaucoma (glaw KOH mah)

The small opening that normally drains fluid from the eye becomes blocked, causing a rise in fluid

pressure within the eyeball. A loss of vision results.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Hordeolum (hor DEE oh lum)

This is a non-constructed term.

Commonly called a ‘sty’ or ‘stye’, this is an infection of

the meibomian gland that secretes a

lubricant onto the conjunctiva.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Iritis (eye RYE tiss) Bacterial infection of the iris of the eye.

Keratitis (kair aht EYE tiss)

Bacterial infection of the cornea

of the eye.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Ophthalmopathy

(OFF thalm MOH path ee) Eye disease. There

are 3 common forms: Ophthalmomalacia (off thal moh mah LAY shee ah) is a softening of the eye;

Ophthalmoplegia (off thal moh PLEE gee ah) is a paralysis of the eye;

Ophthalmorrhagia (off thal moh RAHJ ee ah) is a hemorrhage in the eye.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Retinopathy (RETT in OPP ah thee) Disease of the retina.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Myopia (mye OH pee ah)

Nearsightedness.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Hyperopia (HYE per oh pee

ah) Farsightedness.

Medical terms, signs, symptoms , disorders & treatments of the eye…

Presbyopia (PREZ bee oh pee ah) Reduced vision due to aging. Occurs after age

40.

Presbyopia vision Corrected vision

Abbreviations associated with the eye…

ARMDMacular

Degeneration (MAK yoo lahr dee jenn er AY

shun)

Progressive degeneration of the macular lutea, leads to a loss of vision and is

commonly the result of old age.

Abbreviations associated with the eye…

EmEmmetropia (EM eh troh pee ah)

The normal condition of the eye.

Abbreviations associated with the eye… Ast

Astigmatism (ah STIG mah tizm) Blurred vision due to an abnormal

curvature of the eye.

A person with uncorrected astigmatism sees some of

these squares in black, and one or more others in gray.

Abbreviations associated with the eye… LASIK

(LAY sik)This is an acronym for laser-assisted in situ

keratomileusis ( in sea tyu keri toh mil

you sis… the re-shaping of the corneal tissue to

correct vision disorders.

In situ is a Latin term meaning "in its original position or place;" kerato- is a Greek-derived prefix meaning "cornea;" and mileusis means "to shape."