Medical Terminology: The Basics - Lesson 3

Overview

• Continuation of lessons 1 and 2.
• Focus on medical terminology related to medical conditions and processes.
• Practice problems at the end to reinforce learning.

Condition Modifiers

Important Prefixes

• Anti- (Ant-): Opposed to, contracting, relieving.
  • Examples: Antibodies, anti-inflammatory.
• Pro-: Before, precursor, inducing.
  • Examples: Progenitor cells, pro-inflammatory.

Location Modifiers

• Centra: Center.
  • Examples: Centrifuge, centripetal.

Cellular Modifiers

• Fibro: Fiber.
  • Example: Fibroblast.
• Thrombo: Clot.
  • Examples: Thrombocytes, thrombosis, thrombocytopenia.
• Blasto: Stem.
  • Examples: Blastocyst, blastocell.
• -blast (suffix): Progenitor or stem cell.
• Clast: Absorbing or degrading cell.
  • Example: Osteoclast.

Condition Modifiers (Continued)

• Phagia: To eat, consume.
  • Example: Dysphagia (difficulty eating).
• Dipsia: To drink.
  • Example: Polydipsia (excessive thirst).
• Pepsia: Digestion.
  • Example: Dyspepsia (indigestion).
• Emesis: Vomiting.
  • Example: Hematemesis (vomiting blood).
• Uria: Urination.
  • Examples: Polyuria (excess urination), nocturia (nighttime urination).
• Sterco: Feces.
  • Example: Stercobilin (gives feces color).
• Ptosis: Lowered position of an organ.
  • Example: Ptosis of the eyelid.
• Pyo: Pus.
  • Example: Empyema.
• Pyre: Fever or heat.
  • Example: Pyrexia.

Process Modifiers

• Noso: Disease.
  • Example: Nosocomial infection (hospital-acquired).
• Chrono: Time.
  • Example: Chronic (long-term).
• Noct-: Night or dark.
  • Example: Nocturnal (active at night).
• Iatro-: Medicine or doctors.
  • Example: Iatrogenic (caused by medical treatment).
• Steno: Narrowing.
  • Example: Stenosis (narrowing of a passage).
• Thermo: Temperature.
• Psychro: Cold.
• Nocice: Pain.
  • Example: Nociceptor (pain receptor).
• Hernia: Hernia.
• Necro: Death.
  • Example: Necropsy.
• Apraxia: Motor activity impairment.
• Lexia: Reading.
  • Example: Alexia (inability to read).
• -algia / -algesia: Pain.
  • Example: Myalgia (muscle pain).
• -genic: Producing.
  • Example: Pyrogenic (producing fever).
• -genesis: Origin or development.
  • Example: Embryogenesis.

Indicators and Markers

• Hydro: Water.
  • Example: Dehydration.
• Cholesterol: Cholesterol levels.
  • Example: Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol).
• Lipid: Fats.
  • Example: Hyperlipidemia (high fat levels).
• Hemoglobin: Hemoglobin levels.
  • Example: Hemoglobinuria (hemoglobin in urine).
• Glycol: Glucose.
  • Examples: Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
• Fructose: Fructose.
  • Example: Fructosuria.
• Galactose: Galactose.
  • Example: Galactorrhea.
• Steato: Fat or fatty tissue.
  • Example: Steatosis (fatty liver).
• Natri-: Sodium.
  • Examples: Hypernatremia (high sodium), hyponatremia (low sodium).
• Kalium: Potassium.
  • Examples: Hyperkalemia (high potassium), hypokalemia (low potassium).
• Calca: Calcium.
  • Example: Hypercalcemia (high calcium).
• Chlor: Chlorine.
• Bile: Bile-related conditions.
  • Example: Cholecystectomy.

Additional Anatomical Modifiers

• Histo: Tissue.
  • Example: Histology.
• Hema: Blood.
  • Examples: Hematology, hematemesis.
• Hapto: Touch.
• Tactile: Related to touch.
• Proprio: Pressure touch.

Example Terms Breakdown

• Polyphagia: Excessive eating.
• Dyspepsia: Indigestion.
• Colemesis: Vomiting bile.
• Hypercalcemia: High calcium levels in urine.
• Nefrolithiasis: Kidney stones.
• Arthralgia: Joint pain.

Conclusion

• Lesson 3 covered various medical terminology, focusing on condition and process modifiers, indicators, and examples.
• Encourage students to like and subscribe for more educational content.