Overview
This lesson covers the basics of medical terminology by breaking down medical words into their root components and explaining their meanings with practice examples.
Word Breakdown Practice
- Splenomegaly: "Spleno" (spleen) + "megaly" (enlarged) = enlarged spleen.
- Melanocyte: "Melano" (black) + "cyte" (cell) = cell that produces melanin pigment.
- Hematology: "Hemato" (blood) + "ology" (study of) = study of blood and blood diseases.
- Cholecystitis: "Cholecyst" (gallbladder) + "itis" (inflammation) = inflammation of the gallbladder.
- Microphobia: "Micro" (small) + "phobia" (fear of) = fear of small objects.
- Myoma: "My" (muscle) + "oma" (tumor) = tumor of muscle.
- Skeletal: "Skelet" (skeleton) + "al" (pertaining to) = pertaining to the skeleton.
- Normocytic: "Normo" (normal) + "cyte" (cell) + "ic" (pertaining to) = pertaining to normal-sized cells.
- Nephropathy: "Nephro" (kidney) + "pathy" (disease) = disease of the kidney.
- Cyanosis: "Cyano" (blue) + "osis" (abnormal condition) = abnormal condition of appearing blue due to low oxygen.
- Pneumonia: "Pneumo" (lung/air) + "ia" (abnormal condition) = abnormal condition of the lungs.
- Epidermis: "Epi" (upon/around) + "dermis" (skin) = top layer of the skin.
- Pericardial: "Peri" (around) + "card" (heart) + "ial" (pertaining to) = pertaining to around the heart.
- Cephalgia: "Ceph" (head) + "algia" (pain) = headache.
- Hypothyroidism: "Hypo" (low) + "thyroid" (thyroid) + "ism" (state of) = state of low thyroid function.
- Polyneuropathy: "Poly" (many) + "neuro" (nerve) + "pathy" (disease) = disease of many nerves.
- Hemolytic: "Hemo" (blood) + "lytic" (destruction) = destruction of blood (esp. red blood cells).
- Arteriovenous Malformation: "Arterio" (arteries) + "venous" (veins) + "mal" (bad) + "formation" (formation) = abnormal formation of arteries and veins.
- Neoplasm: "Neo" (new) + "plasm" (growth) = new growth (often refers to tumor).
- Juxtarenal: "Juxta" (next to) + "renal" (kidney) = adjacent to the kidneys.
- Dystrophy: "Dys" (abnormal) + "trophy" (growth) = abnormal cell growth.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Prefix — word part at the beginning that modifies meaning.
- Suffix — word part at the end that modifies meaning.
- Root — main part of the word, gives core meaning.
- Splenomegaly — enlarged spleen.
- Melanocyte — melanin-producing cell.
- Hematology — study of blood.
- Cholecystitis — inflammation of the gallbladder.
- Microphobia — fear of small objects.
- Myoma — muscle tumor.
- Normocytic — pertaining to normal-sized cells.
- Nephropathy — kidney disease.
- Cyanosis — blue discoloration from low oxygen.
- Pneumonia — lung infection/condition.
- Epidermis — top layer of the skin.
- Pericardial — around the heart.
- Cephalgia — headache.
- Hypothyroidism — underactive thyroid.
- Polyneuropathy — disease of many nerves.
- Hemolytic — blood destruction.
- Arteriovenous Malformation — abnormal artery-vein formation.
- Neoplasm — new, abnormal growth.
- Juxtarenal — next to the kidney.
- Dystrophy — abnormal cellular growth.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice breaking down additional medical terms using these methods.
- Review the definitions of prefixes, suffixes, and roots for further study.