Overview
This lecture provides an introduction to medical terminology, focusing on understanding and memorizing common prefixes that describe quantity, color, time, speed, and location.
Structure of Medical Terms
- Medical terms often have three parts: prefix (beginning), root (middle), and suffix (end).
- The prefix describes characteristics like location, number, size, or color.
- The root gives the core meaning, often referring to a body part or system.
- The suffix brings meaning related to conditions, diseases, or procedures.
- Example: hyperthyroidism — "hyper" (above normal), "thyroid" (thyroid gland), "ism" (condition).
Common Prefixes: Quantity and Size
- mono, uni — one or single
- bi, di, diplo — two or double
- tri — three
- quad — four
- semi, hemi — half or one side
- equi, iso — equal
- eu, normo — normal
- hyper — above normal, excess
- hypo — below normal, deficient
- a, an — absent, lacking
- pan, omni — all
- multi, poly — many
- micro — small
- macro, megalo — large
- oligo — few or little
Prefixes: Color
- chromo, chromato — color
- alb — pale or white
- chloro — green
- cyano — blue
- erythro — red
- glauco — gray or opaque
- leuko — white
- melano — black
- polio — gray
- porphyr — purple
- rhodo — rose-red
- xantho — yellow
Prefixes: Time and Speed
- pre — before
- post — after
- pro, ante — before
- re — again
- retro — backward
- neo — new
- chrono — time
- tachy — fast
- brady — slow
Prefixes: Location and Position (Above/Below, Sides, Front/Back, Around)
- epi, hyper, supra, super — above, upon
- sub, hypo, infra — below, under
- dextro — right side
- levo, sinistro — left side
- anti, antero, ventro — front
- postero, dorso — back
- peri, circum — around, surrounding
Prefixes: Location (Inside/Outside, Movement, Middle/Side)
- endo, intra, intro — inside, inner
- exo, extra, ecto — outside, outer
- ab — away from
- ad — toward
- trans — through, across
- meso, meta, medi — middle, midline
- lateral — to one side
- para — nearby, beside
- juxta — next to
- inter — between
- ambi, amphi — both sides
- ipsi — same side
- contra — against, opposite side
Key Terms & Definitions
- Prefix — the beginning segment of a term that alters its meaning.
- Root — the core part of a term, usually indicating anatomy.
- Suffix — the ending part, indicating condition, procedure, or specialty.
- Abduction — movement away from the body.
- Adduction — movement toward the body.
- Ipsilateral — on the same side.
- Contralateral — on the opposite side.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Watch the next video on roots and suffixes for a complete understanding of medical terminology.
- Review the previous video on common medical abbreviations.
- Practice breaking down medical terms into prefix, root, and suffix for better retention.