Medical Terminology Structure

Overview

This lecture introduces the structure of medical terminology, focusing on prefixes, roots, and suffixes, and demonstrates how understanding these parts helps decode complex medical words.

Structure of Medical Terms

• Medical words often consist of three parts: prefix (beginning), root (middle), and suffix (end).
• Prefixes describe quantity, position, or status; suffixes often indicate conditions or processes; roots identify the subject.
• Learning a limited number of common prefixes and suffixes helps interpret many medical terms.

Common Prefixes and Suffixes

• "Hypo-" means abnormally low, "Hyper-" means abnormally high.
• "-emia" means "in the blood"; "-ism" means a condition; "-tension" means pressure.

Examples and Applications

• "Hyperglycemia": hyper (high) + gly (glucose) + emia (in the blood) = high blood glucose.
• "Hypoglycemia": hypo (low) + gly (glucose) + emia (in the blood) = low blood glucose.
• "Hypothermia": hypo (low) + thermia (body temperature) = low body temperature.
• "Hyperthermia": hyper (high) + thermia (body temperature) = high body temperature.
• "Hypoalbuminemia": hypo (low) + albumin (a blood protein) + emia (in the blood) = low blood albumin.
• "Hypothyroidism": hypo (low) + thyroid (thyroid gland) + ism (condition) = low thyroid function.
• "Hyperthyroidism": hyper (high) + thyroid (thyroid gland) + ism (condition) = high thyroid function.
• "Hypertension": hyper (high) + tension (pressure) = high blood pressure.
• "Hypotension": hypo (low) + tension (pressure) = low blood pressure.
• "Hypercholesterolemia": hyper (high) + cholesterol (cholesterol) + emia (in the blood) = high blood cholesterol.
• "Hypogammaglobulinemia": hypo (low) + gamma globulin (immune protein) + emia (in the blood) = low blood gamma globulin.
• "Hypodermic": hypo (below) + dermic (skin) = below the skin (as in hypodermic needle).

Clinical Significance

• Hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, hypothermia, and hyperthermia are all potentially life-threatening conditions.
• Proper diagnosis and rapid intervention are critical to correct abnormal highs and lows in physiological parameters.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Prefix — part added to beginning of a word, alters meaning.
• Suffix — part added to end of a word, often indicates condition or process.
• Root — core part of the word, denotes the basic subject.
• Hypo- — abnormally low, below normal.
• Hyper- — abnormally high, above normal.
• -emia — in the blood.
• -ism — condition of.
• -tension — pressure.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Practice breaking down unfamiliar medical terms into prefix, root, and suffix.
• Memorize common prefixes and suffixes to quickly interpret new terminology.
• Complete assigned textbook reading on medical term construction.