Overview
This lesson introduces the basics of medical terminology, focusing on prefixes, roots, and suffixes to help understand and construct medical terms.
Structure of Medical Terms
- Medical terms consist of a prefix (beginning), a root (middle), and a suffix (ending).
- The prefix describes number, amount, size, location, or color.
- The root usually refers to a body part or main subject.
- The suffix often indicates a condition, process, or procedure.
Common Prefixes
- "Macro-" = large, visible to the naked eye; "Micro-" = small, not visible.
- "Hyper-" = high/above normal; "Hypo-" = low/below normal.
- "Eu-", "Normo-" = normal condition.
- "Pan-", "Omni-" = all.
- "A-", "An-" = absent/lacking.
- "Megalo-" = large/larger than average.
- "Mono-" = one; "Di-"= two; "Tri-" = three; "Quad-" = four.
- "Poly-" = many; "Oligo-" = few.
- "Tachy-" = fast; "Brady-", "Brachy-" = slow.
Prefixes for Location, Movement, and Color
- "Epi-", "Peri-", "Circum-" = around.
- "Endo-", "Intra-" = inside/interior.
- "Exo-", "Extra-" = outside/exterior.
- "Inter-" = between; "Trans-" = across; "Dia-", "Per-" = through/complete.
- "Medi-" = middle; "Para-" = nearby; "Juxta-" = beside/adjacent.
- "Ab-" = away from; "Ad-" = toward; "Dis-" = separate.
- "Chromo-", "Chromato-" = color; "Leuko-" = white; "Erythro-" = red; "Cyano-" = blue; "Chloro-" = green; "Melano-" = black; "Flav-" = yellow.
Body & Organ Roots
- "Homeo-" = body; "Cephalo-" = head; "Cerv-" = neck; "Thoraco-" = chest; "Abdomino-" = abdomen; "Pelvo-" = pelvis; "Periton-" = peritoneum.
- "Derm-" = skin; "Neuro-" = nerve; "Hemo-" = blood.
- "Arterio-", "Angio-" = artery; "Veno-" = vein; "Vasculo-" = vascular system.
- "Musculo-", "Sarco-" = muscle; "Skelet-", "Osteo-" = bone; "Cyto-" = cell.
Organ-Specific Prefixes
- "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.
- "-philia" = love of; "-phobia" = fear of.
- "-tension" = pressure.
- "-xia" = oxygen (condition); "-capnea" = carbon dioxide.
- "-pnea" = air or breathing.
- "-ase" = enzyme.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Prefix — word part at the beginning, gives descriptive information.
- Root — main part, usually a body part or subject.
- Suffix — ending that denotes condition, procedure, or process.
- Macro-/Micro- — large/small.
- Hyper-/Hypo- — above/below normal.
- Ology — study of.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review learned prefixes, roots, and suffixes.
- Prepare for the next lesson on disease-related suffixes and practice problems.