Simplifying Medical Terminology

Introduction

• Medical Terminology: Language used to describe anatomy, conditions, diagnoses, treatments, etc.
• Learning these terms can feel like learning a new language.
• Breaking down words into parts can aid understanding.

Structure of Medical Terms

1. Prefix:
   • Not always present.
   • Describes location, direction, quantity, amount, size, color.
2. Root:
   • Forms the core meaning.
   • Often pertains to a body part or system.
3. Suffix:
   • Brings meaning; may indicate disease, condition, procedure, etc.

Example: Hyperthyroidism

• Prefix: Hyper (above normal)
• Root: Thyroid (thyroid gland)
• Suffix: Ism (condition)
• Meaning: Overactivity of the thyroid gland.

Common Prefixes

Quantities

• Mono: One (e.g., monocle)
• Uni: One (e.g., unicycle)
• Bi/Di/Diplo: Two (e.g., bicycle)
• Tri: Three (e.g., tricycle)
• Quad: Four (e.g., quadrilateral)
• Semi/Hemi: Half (e.g., semicolon)
• Equa/Iso: Equal (e.g., equilateral triangle)
• Eu/Normo: Normal (e.g., normotensive)

Amounts

• Hyper: Above normal (e.g., hyperactive)
• Hypo: Below normal (e.g., hypoglycemia)
• A/An: Absent (e.g., anoxia)
• Pan/Omni: All (e.g., pancytopenia)
• Multi/Poly: Many (e.g., polygon)
• Micro: Small (e.g., microscope)
• Macro/Megalo: Large (e.g., megabyte)
• Oligo: Few (e.g., oligopoly)

Colors

• Chromo/Chromato: Color (e.g., chromosome)
• Alb: Pale (e.g., albino)
• Chloro: Green (e.g., chlorophyll)
• Cyano: Blue (e.g., cyanosis)
• Erythro: Red (e.g., erythrocytes)
• Glauco: Gray (e.g., glaucoma)
• Leuko: White (e.g., leukocytes)
• Melano: Black (e.g., melanoma)
• Polio: Gray
• Porphyr: Purple
• Rhodo: Rose color
• Xantho: Yellow (e.g., xanthochromia)

Time and Speed

• Pre: Before (e.g., preoperative)
• Post: After (e.g., postoperative)
• Re: Again (e.g., repeat)
• Retro: Backward (e.g., retroactive)
• Neo: New (e.g., neonatal)
• Chrono: Time (e.g., chronological)
• Tachy: Fast (e.g., tachycardia)
• Brady: Slow (e.g., bradycardia)

Location or Position

• Epi/Hyper/Supra/Super: Above (e.g., suprasternal)
• Sub/Hypo/Infra: Below (e.g., subcutaneous)
• Dextro: Right side
• Levo/Sinistro: Left side
• Anti/Antero/Ventro: Front (e.g., anterior)
• Postero/Dorsi: Back (e.g., dorsal)
• Peri/Circum: Around (e.g., circumferential)

Other Locations

• Endo/Intra/Intro: Inside (e.g., endoscope)
• Exo/Extra/Ecto: Outside (e.g., extracellular)
• Ab: Away from (e.g., abduction)
• Ad: Toward (e.g., adduction)
• Trans: Through (e.g., transdermal)
• Meso/Meta/Medio: Middle (e.g., mesoderm)
• Lateral: Side (e.g., lateral)
• Para: Nearby (e.g., parathyroid)
• Juxta: Next to (e.g., juxtaposition)
• Inter: Between (e.g., intercostal)
• Amphi: Both sides (e.g., amphitheater)
• Contra: Against (e.g., contralateral)

Conclusion

• Understanding prefixes helps in deciphering medical terms.
• Future videos will cover roots and suffixes.
• All notes and tables available online.

Additional Resources

• Check previous videos for more on medical abbreviations.