Overview
This lecture introduces the basics of medical terminology, focusing on how to break down medical terms into prefixes, roots, and suffixes, and explains commonly used prefixes, roots, and suffixes.
Structure of Medical Terms
- Medical terms consist of three parts: prefix (beginning), root (middle), and suffix (end).
- The prefix provides descriptive information like number, amount, size, location, or color.
- The root relates to the subject, often a body part.
- The suffix describes the condition, process, procedure, amount, or location.
Common Prefixes
- "Macro-" means large; "Micro-" means small.
- "Hyper-" means high or above normal; "Hypo-" means low or below normal.
- "Eu-" or "Normo-" means normal condition.
- "Pan-" or "Omni-" means all.
- "A-" or "An-" means absent or lacking.
- "Megalo-" means larger than average.
- "Mono-" (one), "Di-" (two), "Tri-" (three), "Quad-" (four), "Poly-" (many), "Oligo-" (few).
- "Tachy-" means fast; "Brady-" or "Brachy-" means slow.
Prefixes for Location and Movement
- "Epi-", "Peri-", "Circum-" mean around.
- "Endo-" or "Intra-" mean inside; "Exo-" or "Extra-" mean outside.
- "Inter-" means between; "Trans-" means across.
- "Dia-" or "Per-" means through or complete.
- "Medi-" or "Media-" means middle.
- "Para-" means nearby; "Juxta-" means next to.
- "Ab-" means away from; "Ad-" means toward.
- "Dis-" means to separate.
Prefixes for Color
- "Chromo-" or "Chromato-" means color.
- "Leuko-" means white; "Erythro-" means red.
- "Cyano-" means blue; "Chloro-" means green.
- "Melan-" or "Melano-" means black; "Flav-" means yellow.
Common Roots (Body Parts and Systems)
- "Homeo-" means body; "Cephalo-" means head; "Cerv-" means neck.
- "Thoraco-" means chest; "Abdomino-" means abdomen; "Pelvo-" means pelvis.
- "Periton-" means peritoneum (abdomen lining).
- "Derm-" means skin; "Neuro-" means nerve; "Hemo-" means blood.
- "Arterio-" or "Angio-" means arteries; "Veno-" means veins; "Vasculo-" means vessels.
- "Musculo-" and "Sarco-" both mean muscle; "Skelet-" and "Osteo-" mean bone.
- "Cyto-" means cell.
Specific Organ Roots
- "Thyro-" for thyroid; "Tracheo-" for trachea; "Esophago-" for esophagus.
- "Thymo-" for thymus; "Masto-" or "Mammo-" for breast.
- "Pulmo-" or "Pneumo-" for lung; "Cardio-" for heart.
- "Gastro-" for stomach; "Hepato-" for liver; "Cholecysto-" for gallbladder.
- "Spleno-" for spleen; "Pancreato-" for pancreas; "Adreno-" for adrenal gland.
- "Nephro-" for kidney; "Entero-" for intestine; "Colo-" for colon.
Common Suffixes
- "-Ology" means the study of (e.g., biology, nephrology).
- "-Philia" means love of; "-Phobia" means fear of.
- "-Tension" means pressure (e.g., hypertension).
- "-Xia" relates to oxygen (e.g., hypoxia).
- "-Capnea" relates to carbon dioxide (e.g., hypercapnia).
- "-Pnea" means air or breathing (e.g., dyspnea, hyperpnea).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Prefix — the beginning part of a word describing number, size, color, etc.
- Root — the core of the word, typically a body part.
- Suffix — the end part indicating condition or procedure.
- Euthermic — having a normal body temperature.
- Angioplasty — a procedure involving the arteries.
- Leukocyte — a white blood cell.
- Colitis — inflammation of the colon.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize common prefixes, roots, and suffixes in medical terminology.
- Practice breaking medical terms into prefix, root, and suffix for understanding.