Medical Terminology Overview

Overview

This lecture reviews essential medical terminology, focusing on root words, prefixes, and suffixes commonly found on final exams in health science courses.

Respiratory System Terms

• "Alveol" refers to the alveoli.
• "Bronch" or "Bronchi" refers to the bronchial tubes.
• "Capno" refers to carbon dioxide.
• "Naso" refers to the nose.
• "Pnea" means breathing.
• "Pulmo" refers to the lungs.
• "Spiro" means to breathe.
• "Tachy" means fast or increased.
• The lower respiratory system includes lungs, alveoli, and bronchial tubes.
• The larynx enables speech.

Digestive System Terms

• The esophagus connects the throat and stomach.
• Endoscopy diagnoses problems in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
• "Hepato" is the prefix for liver.
• "Chole" is the prefix for bile.
• "Gastritis" is inflammation of the stomach.
• Anus, colon, stomach, and gall bladder are part of the digestive system.

Prefixes, Suffixes, and Word Parts

• "Hyper-" is a prefix meaning excessive or high.
• "Itis" means inflammation or swelling.
• "Cele" indicates hernia or tumor.
• "Cysto" refers to urinary bladder.
• "Ectasis" means stretching, enlargement, or dilation.
• "Dia" means through, between, or apart.
• "Litho" means stone or calculus.
• "Lysis" means breakdown or separation.
• "Pexy" means surgical fixation.

Urinary System Terms

• "Reno" and "Nephro" refer to kidneys.
• The urinary system maintains water balance, filters blood, and converts water to urine.
• "Prostato" refers to the prostate gland.

Nervous System Terms

• "Cerebro" refers to the brain.
• "Causo" means burning or to burn.
• "Contuso" means bruise.
• "Encephalo" refers to the brain.
• "Neuro" refers to nerve or nerve tissue.
• "Psycho" refers to the mind.
• "Plegia" means paralysis.
• "Phobia" means abnormal fear.

Integumentary (Skin) System

• The dermis contains blood vessels and nerve endings.
• Loss of elastin causes skin wrinkling.
• The subcutaneous layer connects skin to muscles.
• Melanocytes in hair follicles determine hair pigment.

Endocrine System Terms

• "Dipsia" means thirst.
• "Crino" means to secrete.
• "Adreno" refers to the adrenal glands.
• The endocrine system releases hormones.

Reproductive System Terms

• Fallopian tubes, vagina, and ovaries are female reproductive organs.
• Penis, scrotum, testes, and sperm duct belong to the male reproductive system.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Alveol — alveoli
• Bronch — bronchial tubes
• Capno — carbon dioxide
• Naso — nose
• Pnea — breathing
• Pulmo — lungs
• Spiro — to breathe
• Tachy — fast/increased
• Hepato — liver
• Chole — bile
• Itis — inflammation
• Cele — hernia/tumor
• Cysto — urinary bladder
• Ectasis — dilation/stretching
• Litho — stone/calculus
• Lysis — breakdown
• Pexy — surgical fixation
• Reno/Nephro — kidneys
• Cerebro/Encephalo — brain
• Neuro — nerve tissue
• Psycho — mind
• Plegia — paralysis
• Phobia — abnormal fear
• Crino — to secrete
• Adreno — adrenal gland

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review and memorize all prefixes, suffixes, and root terms listed.
• Practice identifying these terms in example medical words.
• Use flashcards for self-testing before the final exam.