Medical Terminology: Language of Medicine - Chapter 1

Introduction

• Chapter 1 focuses on basic word structure in medical terminology.
• Goals:
  • Identify objectives for studying medical language.
  • Divide medical words into components.
  • Learn and use combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes.

Objectives in Studying Medical Language

• Analyze words by segmenting them into parts.
• Relate terms to human body structure and function.
• Be aware of spelling and pronunciation issues.
  • Example: "Ileum" (hip bone) vs. "Ileum" (small intestine).
  • "Urethra" vs. "Ureter".

Word Analysis

• Approach similar to learning a new language.
• Break down terms into basic parts:
  • Root: Foundation of the word.
  • Suffix: Word ending.
  • Prefix: At the beginning of a term.
  • Combining Vowel: Usually "o", links parts.
  • Combining Form: Root plus combining vowel.
• Read terms starting from the suffix backward.
• Examples:
  • "Hematology": hemat (blood) + logy (process of study).
  • "Electrocardiogram": electro (electricity) + cardi (heart) + gram (record).
  • "Gastritis": gastr (stomach) + itis (inflammation, no combining vowel).

Key Rules for Medical Terms

1. Read from suffix back to the beginning.
2. Drop combining vowel before suffix starting with a vowel.
3. Retain vowel between two roots.

Prefixes

• Influence meaning significantly.
• Examples:
  • "Hypogastric": hypo (below) + gastr (stomach) + ic (pertaining to).
  • "Epigastric": epi (above) + gastr (stomach) + ic (pertaining to).

Combining Forms and Their Meanings

• Adeno: Gland (e.g., Adenoma = tumor of the gland).
• Arthro: Joint (e.g., Arthritis = inflammation of a joint).
• Bio: Life (e.g., Biology = study of life).
• Carcino: Cancerous (e.g., Carcinoma = cancerous tumor).
• Cardio: Heart (e.g., Cardiology = study of the heart).

Additional Combining Forms

• Cysto: Urinary bladder.
• Cyto: Cell.
• Dermo: Skin.
• Electro: Electricity.
• Encephalo: Brain.
• Entero: Intestines.
• Hepato: Liver.
• Nephro: Kidney.
• Neuro: Nerve.

Common Suffixes

• -ectomy: Excision or removal.
• -itis: Inflammation.
• -logy: Process of study.
• -oma: Tumor, mass, swelling.

Prefixes Examples

• A-/An-: No, not, without.
• Dia-: Complete, through.
• Endo-: Within.
• Epi-: Above, upon.
• Hyper-: Excessive, above normal.
• Hypo-: Below normal.
• In-: Into, in.
• Peri-: Surrounding, around.
• Retro-: Behind.
• Sub-: Below, under.
• Trans-: Across, through.

Specialists in Medicine

• Cardiologist: Heart diseases.
• Gynecologist: Female reproductive system.
• Psychiatrist: Mental illness.
• Oncologist: Cancer.
• Hematologist: Blood disorders.
• Ophthalmologist: Eye disorders.
• Neurologist: Nervous system disorders.
• Nephrologist: Kidney diseases.
• Gastroenterologist: Gastrointestinal tract disorders.
• Urologist: Urinary tract and male reproductive system.

Conclusion

• Pronunciation is critical; further resources available.
• Practice and exercises in the book are essential for mastery.
• Encouragement to complete homework and subscribe for more information.