Medical Terminology Lecture Notes

Introduction to Medical Terminology

• Medical terminology is akin to learning a new language.
• Terms can be broken down into three parts:
  • Prefix: Describes number, amount, size, location, color, etc.
  • Root: Indicates the body part or main subject.
  • Suffix: Describes condition, process, or procedure.

Common Prefixes

Descriptive Prefixes

• Macro: Large, visible to the naked eye (e.g., macroscopic).
• Micro: Small, not visible to the naked eye (e.g., microscopic).

Amount and Size

• Hyper: High, above normal, elevated.
• Hypo: Low, below normal, decreased.
• Eu- / Normo-: Normal condition (e.g., euthermic).
• Pan / Omni: All or encompassing (e.g., omnipotent, panorama).
• A / An: Absent or lacking.
• Megalo: Larger than average.

Numerical Prefixes

• Mono: Single or singular.
• Di: Two or double.
• Tri: Three or triple.
• Quad: Four or quadruple.
• Poly: Many or a lot.
• Oligo: Few, several, very little.

Speed

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

Location

• Epi / Peri / Circum: Around a location or object (e.g., perimeter, epicenter).
• Endo / Intra: Inside, inner, interior (e.g., endocrine, intracellular).
• Exo / Extra: Outside, outer, exterior (e.g., exocytosis).
• Inter: Between (e.g., intercellular).
• Trans: Across (e.g., transmembrane).
• Dia / Per: Through or complete (e.g., diameter, perforate).
• Medi / Media: In the middle.
• Para: Nearby.
• Juxta: Next to or beside.

Movement

• AB / Ab: Away (e.g., abduction).
• Ad: Towards (e.g., adduction).
• Dis: To separate (e.g., displace).

Colors

• Chromo / Chromato: Color.
• Leuko: White (e.g., leukocyte).
• Erythro: Red (e.g., erythrocytes).
• Cyano: Blue (e.g., cyanosis).
• Chloro: Green (e.g., chlorophyll).
• Melan / Melano: Black (e.g., melanoma).
• Flav: Yellow.

General Body Terms

• Homeo: Body.
• Cephalo: Head.
• Cerv / Cervical: 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: Bone.
• Cyto: Cell.

Thoracic and Abdominal Organs

• Thyro: Thyroid.
• Tracheo: Trachea.
• Esophago / Esophageo: Esophagus.
• Thymo: Thymus.
• Masto / Mammo: Mammary gland.
• 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: Study of (e.g., biology).
• -philia: Love of.
• -phobia: Fear of.
• -tension: Pressure (e.g., hypertension).
• -xia: Related to oxygen (e.g., hypoxia).
• -capnea: Related to carbon dioxide (e.g., hypercapnia).
• -pnea: Related to air or breathing (e.g., dyspnea).
• -ase: Enzyme.

Conclusion

• Next lesson will cover suffixes describing disease states and processes.
• Practice problems will be covered.

Study Tips: Break down complex medical terms into their prefix, root, and suffix to understand their meanings. Use associations with common terms to remember prefixes and suffixes. Practice by applying these terms in different contexts.