Overview
This lecture introduces medical terminology, focusing on how to break down complex medical words into prefixes, roots, and suffixes to understand their meanings.
Structure of Medical Terms
- Medical terms consist of a prefix (beginning), root (middle), and suffix (end).
- The prefix provides descriptive information such as number, size, location, or color.
- The root usually refers to a body part or the main subject.
- The suffix indicates the condition, process, procedure, or state.
Common Prefixes
- "Macro-" means large; "Micro-" means small.
- "Hyper-" is above normal; "Hypo-" is below normal.
- "Eu-"/"Normo-" means normal condition.
- "Pan-"/"Omni-" means all; "A-"/"An-" means absent/lacking.
- "Megalo-" means large or larger than average.
- "Mono-" (one), "Di-" (two), "Tri-" (three), "Quad-" (four), "Poly-" (many), "Oligo-" (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-" means through; "Medi-" means middle; "Para-" means nearby; "Juxta-" means next to.
Prefixes for Movement and Color
- "Ab-" means away; "Ad-" means toward; "Dis-" means separate.
- "Chromo-" means color; "Leuko-" white; "Erythro-" red; "Cyano-" blue; "Chloro-" green; "Melano-" black; "Flav-" yellow.
Medical Root Words for Body Parts and Systems
- "Homeo-" body; "Cephalo-" head; "Cerv-" neck; "Thoraco-" chest.
- "Abdomino-" abdomen; "Pelvo-" pelvis; "Periton-" peritoneum; "Derm-" skin; "Neuro-" nerve; "Hemo-" blood.
- "Arterio-"/"Angio-" arteries; "Veno-"/"Vena-" veins; "Vasculo-" vessels.
- "Musculo-"/"Sarco-" muscle; "Skelet-"/"Osteo-" bone; "Cyto-" 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" means study of something.
- "-philia" means love of; "-phobia" means fear of.
- "-tension" means pressure; "-xia" refers to oxygen; "-capnea" means carbon dioxide.
- "-pnea" means air or breathing; "-ase" means enzyme.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Prefix — word part at the beginning; describes, quantifies, or locates.
- Root — main subject, often a body part.
- Suffix — word ending; gives condition, process, or procedure.
- Macro-/Micro- — large/small.
- Hyper-/Hypo- — above/below normal.
- Tachy-/Brady- — rapid/slow.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review lecture notes and memorize key prefixes, roots, and suffixes.
- Prepare for next lesson on disease-related suffixes and practice problems.