Overview
This lecture introduces the basics of medical terminology, focusing on breaking down complex words into prefixes, roots, and suffixes to understand their meaning.
Structure of Medical Terms
- Medical terms consist of a prefix (beginning), root (middle), and suffix (end).
- The prefix describes number, size, location, color, or amount.
- The root is the subject, usually a body part.
- The suffix often indicates the condition, process, or procedure.
Common Prefixes
- "Macro-" means large; "Micro-" means small.
- "Hyper-" means above normal; "Hypo-" means below normal.
- "Eu-" or "Normo-" means normal condition.
- "Pan-" or "Omni-" means all.
- "A-" or "An-" means absent or lacking.
- "Megalo-" means larger than average.
- "Mono-", "Di-", "Tri-", "Quad-", "Poly-", and "Oligo-" represent numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, many, few).
- "Tachy-" means fast; "Brady-" or "Brachy-" means slow.
- "Epi-", "Peri-", "Circum-" mean around; "Endo-", "Intra-" mean inside; "Exo-", "Extra-" mean outside.
- "Inter-" means between; "Trans-" means across; "Dia-", "Per-" mean through or complete.
- "Medi-" means middle; "Para-" means nearby; "Juxta-" means next to.
- "Ab-" means away; "Ad-" means toward; "Dis-" means to separate.
Prefixes for Color and Body Parts
- "Chromo-" means color; "Leuko-" white; "Erythro-" red; "Cyano-" blue; "Chloro-" green; "Melan(o)-" black; "Flav-" yellow.
- "Homeo-" body; "Cephalo-" head; "Cerv-" neck; "Thoraco-" chest; "Abdomino-" abdomen; "Pelvo-" pelvis; "Periton-" peritoneum.
- "Derm-" skin; "Neuro-" nerve; "Hemo-" blood; "Arterio-", "Angio-" arteries; "Veno-" veins; "Vasculo-" vascular; "Musculo-", "Sarco-" muscle; "Skelet-", "Osteo-" bone; "Cyto-" cell.
Organ-Specific Prefixes
- "Thyro-" thyroid; "Tracheo-" trachea; "Esophago-" esophagus; "Thymo-" thymus; "Masto-", "Mammo-" breast; "Pulmo-", "Pneumo-" lung; "Cardio-" heart.
- "Gastro-" stomach; "Hepato-" liver; "Cholecysto-" gallbladder; "Spleno-" spleen; "Pancreato-" pancreas; "Adreno-" adrenal gland; "Nephro-" kidney; "Entero-" intestine; "Colo-" colon.
Common Suffixes
- "-Ology" means study of a subject.
- "-Philia" means love of; "-Phobia" means fear of.
- "-Tension" means pressure.
- "-Xia" relates to oxygen; "-Capnea" relates to carbon dioxide; "-Pnea" relates to air or breathing.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Prefix — Word beginning describing amount, size, location, or color.
- Root — Main part usually indicating a body part.
- Suffix — Ending indicating condition, process, or procedure.
- Hyper- — Above normal.
- Hypo- — Below normal.
- Tachycardia — Fast heart rate.
- Bradycardia — Slow heart rate.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize the common prefixes, roots, and suffixes presented.
- Practice breaking down medical terms into their component parts.