Overview
This lecture introduces the basics of medical terminology, focusing on the structure, pronunciation, and rules for building and understanding medical terms.
Components of Medical Terms
- Medical terms are constructed from Greek and Latin word parts.
- There are four main word parts: word roots, combining vowels, prefixes, and suffixes.
- The word root gives the fundamental meaning of the term and often refers to a body part or action.
- Prefixes are added to the beginning of a term to modify meaning (location, number, time).
- Suffixes are added to the end and define the term's condition, procedure, or disease.
- Combining vowels (usually "o") join word parts for easier pronunciation.
Rules for Combining Word Parts
- Use the combining vowel between two word roots or between a word root and a suffix beginning with a consonant.
- Do not use a combining vowel if the suffix begins with a vowel.
- The combining form is the word root plus the combining vowel (e.g., cardi/o).
- All medical terms must have a suffix.
Common Word Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
- Common roots: bio (life), carcino (cancer), cardio (heart), dermato (skin), gastro (stomach)
- Common prefixes: sub- (below), mono- (one), post- (after), hyper- (excessive), neo- (new), pseudo- (false), hemi- (half), quadri- (four)
- Common suffixes: -algia (pain), -itis (inflammation), -ectomy (surgical removal), -megaly (enlargement), -oma (tumor), -plasty (surgical repair)
Word Building and Interpretation
- Construct terms by joining relevant prefixes, roots, and suffixes to convey the correct meaning.
- To interpret a term, break it into parts, define each, and combine meanings starting from the suffix.
- Example: gastroenterology = study of the stomach and small intestine.
Pronunciation and Spelling
- Pronunciation varies regionally, but spelling must always be correct to prevent errors.
- Different spellings or slight letter changes can significantly alter meaning (e.g., abduction vs. adduction).
Plurals in Medical Terminology
- Pluralization often follows Latin/Greek rules, not standard English ones (e.g., vertebra → vertebrae, nucleus → nuclei).
- Learn the main pluralization rules for common endings.
Abbreviations in Medical Terminology
- Abbreviations are widely used but can be confusing or dangerous if not standardized.
- Only use approved abbreviations and never create personal ones.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Word root — basic meaning, usually a body part or action.
- Prefix — added to the start, describes location, number, or time.
- Suffix — added to the end, defines condition, procedure, or disease.
- Combining vowel — vowel (often "o") used for pronunciation.
- Combining form — word root plus combining vowel (e.g., cardi/o).
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the provided lists of roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
- Practice breaking down and building medical terms using the rules described.
- Study pluralization rules and common abbreviations in medical terminology.