Overview
This lecture introduces the basics of medical terminology, focusing on how to break down medical terms 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 aspects like number, amount, size, location, or color.
- The root usually refers to a body part or main subject.
- The suffix describes a condition, process, procedure, or detail about the term.
Common Prefixes
- "Macro-" = large (visible to the naked eye); "Micro-" = small (not visible).
- "Hyper-" = above normal/high; "Hypo-" = below normal/low.
- "Eu-/Normo-" = normal; "Pan-/Omni-" = all.
- "A-/An-" = absent/lacking; "Megalo-" = larger than average.
- Numerical: "Mono-" = one, "Di-" = two, "Tri-" = three, "Quad-" = four, "Poly-" = many, "Oligo-" = few.
- Speed: "Tachy-" = fast, "Brady-/Brachy-" = slow.
Prefixes for Location, Movement, and Color
- Around: "Epi-", "Peri-", "Circum-"; Inside: "Endo-", "Intra-"; Outside: "Exo-", "Extra-".
- "Inter-" = between; "Trans-" = across; "Dia-/Per-" = through/completely; "Medi-" = middle.
- "Para-" = nearby; "Juxta-" = next to.
- Movement: "Ab-" = away, "Ad-" = toward, "Dis-" = to separate.
- Colors: "Chromo-/Chromato-" = color, "Leuko-" = white, "Erythro-" = red, "Cyano-" = blue, "Chloro-" = green, "Melan-/Melano-" = black, "Flav-" = yellow.
Root Words for Body Parts and Organs
- "Homeo-" = body; "Cephalo-" = head; "Cerv-" = neck; "Thoraco-" = chest; "Abdomino-" = abdomen; "Pelvo-" = pelvis.
- "Periton-" = peritoneum (abdominal lining); "Derm-" = skin; "Neuro-" = nerve; "Hemo-" = blood.
- "Arterio-/Angio-" = arteries; "Veno-/Vena-" = veins; "Vasculo-" = vascular; "Musculo-/Sarco-" = muscle; "Skelet-/Osteo-" = bone.
- "Cyto-/Cyt-" = cell; "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" = study of (e.g., biology, nephrology).
- "-philia" = love of; "-phobia" = fear of.
- "-tension" = pressure (e.g., hypertension).
- "-xia" = condition related to oxygen (e.g., hypoxia).
- "-capnea" = related to carbon dioxide levels (e.g., hypercapnia).
- "-pnea" = air or breathing (e.g., dyspnea).
- "-ase" = enzyme.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Prefix — word beginning, describes descriptor (amount, location, etc.)
- Root — middle of word, main subject (often body part)
- Suffix — word end, describes condition/process
- Hyper- — high/above normal
- Hypo- — low/below normal
- Tachy- — fast/rapid
- Brady- — slow
- -ology — study of
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the common prefixes, roots, and suffixes discussed.
- Prepare for the next lesson covering disease-related suffixes and practice problems.