Medical Terminology: Language of Medicine, Chapter 1

Introduction

• Focus: Basic word structure in medical language
• Objectives:
  • Identify objectives for studying medical language
  • Divide medical words into components
  • Learn meanings of combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes
  • Build medical words using these components

Analyzing Medical Terms

• Medical terms divided into:
  • Root: Foundation of the word
  • Suffix: Word ending
  • Prefix: Small part at the beginning
  • Combining Vowel: Usually 'o', links root to suffix or another root
  • Combining Form: Root plus combining vowel
• Example of analysis:
  • Hematology: Hemat (blood) + o (combining vowel) + logy (study of)
  • Electrocardiogram: Electro (electricity) + cardi (heart) + o (combining vowel) + gram (record)

Rules for Medical Terms

1. Read from the suffix back to the beginning.
2. Drop combining vowel before a suffix that begins with a vowel.
3. Retain combining vowel between two roots.

Importance of Spelling and Pronunciation

• Some terms sound alike but differ in meaning (e.g., ileum vs. ileum).
• Examples:
  • Urethra vs. ureter

Quiz Questions

1. All medical terms have a suffix.
2. Element at the beginning of a term is a prefix.

Prefixes and Their Meanings

• Hypo: Below
• Epi: Above
• Auto: Self
• Hyper: Excessive
• Sub: Below

Combining Forms and Their Meanings

• Adeno: Gland
• Arthro: Joint
• Bio: Life
• Cardio: Heart
• Cephalo: Head
• Cerebro: Cerebrum

Medical Specialists

• Cardiologist: Heart
• Gynecologist: Female reproductive
• Psychiatrist: Mental illness
• Oncologist: Cancer treatment
• Hematologist: Blood disorders
• Ophthalmologist: Eye disorders
• Neurologist: Nervous system
• Nephrologist: Kidney
• Gastroenterologist: Gastrointestinal tract
• Urologist: Urinary tract

Exercises

• Complete exercises in the book for practice
• Pronunciation guidance provided in a separate video

Conclusion

• Mastery of medical terminology is akin to learning a new language
• Practice is essential for proficiency