Medical Terminology - Chapter 4: Prefixes and Suffixes

Chapter Goals

• Define basic prefixes used in medical language.
• Understand the combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes relevant to medical terminology.

Key Prefixes

• Carpo: Wrist (e.g., Carpal tunnel)
• Cis: To cut
• Cost: Rib (e.g., Costal chondritis)
• Cutaneous: Skin
• Dactyl: Fingers
• Duct: Lead or carry
• Flex: Bend (e.g., Flexion)
• Gloss: Tongue (e.g., Glossopharyngeal)

Combining Forms

• Glyc: Sugar
• Immuno: Protection
• Morph: Shape
• Mort: Death (e.g., Mortuary)
• Nate/Gnat: Birth
• Norm: Rule or order
• Ox: Oxygen
• Pube: Pubis
• Seps: Infection (e.g., Sepsis)
• Somno: Sleep
• The/Thele: Nipple
• Tense: Force
• Thyro: Thyroid gland
• Top: Place, position, location
• Tox: Poison (e.g., Toxicology)
• Trach: Windpipe
• Urethro: Urethra

Key Suffixes

• Crin: To secrete (e.g., Endocrine)
• Drome: Run
• Fusion: Coming together
• Gia: Substance that produces
• Lysis: Breakdown
• Meter: Measure
• Mission: Send
• Or: One who
• Oxia: Oxygen
• Partum: Birth or labor (e.g., Postpartum)
• Phoria: Bear, fear, feeling
• Plasia: Development, formation, growth
• Plasm: Structure or formation
• Ptosis: Falling, drooping, prolapse
• Rhea: Flow discharge
• Stasis: Stopping, controlling
• Trophic: Development

Important Prefixes

• A/An: No, not, or without
• AB: Away from (e.g., Abnormal)
• AD: Toward (e.g., Adduction)
• Ana: Up or apart
• Anti: Against
• Auto: Self
• Brady: Slow (e.g., Bradykinesia)
• Cata: Down (e.g., Catabolism)
• Con: With
• Contra: Against
• De: Down, lack of (e.g., Dehydration)
• Dia: Through or complete
• Dis: Abnormal
• Ec: Out or without
• Endo: In or within
• Epi: Upon, on, or above (e.g., Epithelium)
• Eu: Good or normal (e.g., Euphoria)

Medical Conditions

• Rh Condition: Antigen-antibody condition related to Rh blood factor differences between mother (Rh-) and fetus (Rh+).
  • First pregnancy often uneventful
  • Second pregnancy can lead to issues if antibodies are passed from mother to fetus
• Congenital Anomalies: Birth irregularities, can be hereditary or due to environmental factors (e.g., Fetal Alcohol Syndrome).

Recombinant DNA Technology

• CRISPR: Technique to change DNA sequences, raises ethical questions about genetic modification.

Medical Procedures and Terms

• Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP): Removal of prostate tissue via the urethra.
• Ultrasonography: Diagnostic technique using ultrasound waves to create images (e.g., Echocardiogram, Sonogram).

Syndromes

• Reye's Syndrome: Occurs in children after a viral infection treated with aspirin.
• Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21): Extra chromosome causing characteristic physical features.

Differentiating Signs vs Symptoms

• Sign: Objective evidence (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate).
• Symptom: Subjective experience (e.g., feelings of dizziness, nausea).

Conclusion

• Chapter 4 offers an introduction to important medical terminology necessary for understanding medical charts and conditions.