Medical Terminology Overview

Introduction to Medical Terminology

• Medical terminology can be considered a different language.
• Terms are broken into three parts:
  • Prefix: Describes number, size, location, color, etc.
  • Root: Main subject, often related to body parts.
  • Suffix: Describes condition, process, procedure, etc.

Common Prefixes

Descriptive Prefixes

• Macro-: Large, visible to the naked eye (e.g., macroscopic).
• Micro-: Small, not visible to the naked eye.
• Hyper-: High, above normal, elevated.
• Hypo-: Low, below normal, decreased.
• Eu-/Normo-: Normal condition.
• Pan-/Omni-: All (e.g., omnipotent).
• A-/An-: Absent, lacking.
• Megalo-: Large, larger than average.

Numerical Prefixes

• Mono-: Single.
• Di-: Double.
• Tri-: Triple.
• Quad-: Quadruple.
• Poly-: Many.
• Oligo-: Few, several.

Speed Prefixes

• Tachy-: Rapid, fast (e.g., tachycardia).
• Brady-/Brachy-: Slow (e.g., bradycardia).

Location Prefixes

• Epi-/Peri-/Circum-: Around (e.g., epicenter, perimeter).
• Endo-/Intra-: Inside, inner.
• Exo-/Extra-: Outside, outer.
• Inter-: Between.
• Trans-: Across.
• Dia-/Per-: Through, complete.
• Medi-/Media-: In the middle.
• Para-: Nearby.
• Juxta-: Next to, beside.

Movement Prefixes

• AB-/Ab-: Away (e.g., abduction).
• Ad-/Ad-: Toward (e.g., adduction).
• Dis-: Separate (e.g., displace).

Color Prefixes

• Chromo-/Chromato-: Color.
• Leuko-: White.
• Erythro-: Red.
• Cyano-: Blue.
• Chloro-: Green.
• Melan-/Melano-: Black.
• Flav-: Yellow.

General Body Terms

• Homeo-: Body.
• Cephalo-: Head.
• Cerv-: Neck.
• Thoraco-: Chest.
• Abdomino-: Abdomen.
• Pelvo-/Pelvi-: Pelvis.
• Periton-: Peritoneum.
• Derm-: Skin.
• Neuro-: Nerve.
• Hemo-: Blood.
• Arterio-/Angio-: Arteries.
• Veno-/Vena-: Veins.
• Vasculo-: Vascular system.
• Musculo-/Sarco-: Muscle.
• Skelet-/Osteo-: Bones.
• Cyto-: Cell.

Neck and Thoracic Organs

• Thyro-: Thyroid.
• Tracheo-: Trachea.
• Esophago-/Esophageo-: Esophagus.
• Thymo-: Thymus.
• Masto-/Mammo-: Mammary gland, breast.
• Pulmo-/Pneumo-: Lung.
• Cardio-: Heart.

Abdominal Organs

• Gastro-: Stomach.
• Hepato-: Liver.
• Cholecysto-: Gallbladder.
• Spleno-: Spleen.
• Pancreato-: Pancreas.
• Adreno-: Adrenal gland.
• Nephro-: Kidney.
• Entero-: Intestine.
• Colo-: Colon.

Common Suffixes

• -ology: Study of (e.g., biology, nephrology).
• -philia: Love of.
• -phobia: Fear of.
• -tension: Pressure (e.g., hypertension).
• -xia: Condition of oxygen (e.g., hypoxia).
• -capnea: Carbon dioxide (e.g., hypercapnia).
• -pnea: Air or breathing (e.g., dyspnea).
• -ase: Enzyme.

Conclusion

• Future lessons will cover more on suffixes related to disease states and processes.
• Upcoming sessions will involve practice problems.