Lecture on Medical Terminology

Importance of Medical Terminology

• Understanding medical terminology helps in deciphering the basics of medical conditions and body structures.
• Terms are often composed of parts: word roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
• Many medical terms are derived from Latin and Greek.
• Example: Nephro (Greek) and Reno (Latin) both mean kidney.

Three Parts of Medical Terminology

• Word Roots: The basic meaning of the term.
• Prefixes: Modifiers that can change the meaning of the term.
• Suffixes: Usually indicate a procedure, condition, disorder, or disease.

Cardiovascular Word Roots

• Angio: Vessel, e.g., angioplasty.
• Arterio: Artery, e.g., arteriosclerosis.
• Athero: Fatty plaque, e.g., atherosclerosis.
• Cardio: Heart, e.g., myocardial infarction.
• Hemo: Blood, e.g., hematoma.
• Leuko: White, e.g., leukocyte.
• Phlebo: Vein, e.g., phlebitis.
• Thrombo: Clot, e.g., thrombosis.
• Veno: Vein, e.g., venipuncture.

Digestive Word Roots

• Chole: Bile, e.g., cholecystitis.
• Colo: Colon, large intestine, e.g., colitis.
• Gastro: Stomach, e.g., gastritis.
• Hepato: Liver, e.g., hepatitis.
• Oro: Mouth, e.g., oral.

Endocrine Word Roots

• Adeno: Gland, e.g., adenectomy.
• Adreno: Adrenal glands, e.g., adrenaline.
• Gluco: Sugar, e.g., glucagon.
• Homeo: Same, e.g., homeostasis.
• Kali: Potassium, e.g., hypokalemia.

Integumentary Word Roots

• Adipo: Fat, e.g., adipose.
• Cuta: Skin, e.g., cutaneous.
• Cyan: Blue, e.g., cyanosis.
• Dermo: Skin, e.g., dermatitis.
• Melano: Black, e.g., melanoma.

Muscular Word Roots

• Adhesio: Stick to, e.g., adhesion.
• Flexo: Bend, e.g., flexion.
• Kinesio: Movement, e.g., kinesiology.
• Ten: Tendon, e.g., tendonitis.

Nervous Word Roots

• Cranio: Skull, e.g., cranial.
• Dendro: Tree, branch, e.g., dendrite.
• Encephalo: Brain, e.g., encephalitis.
• Neuro: Nerve, e.g., neuralgia.
• Synapto: Connection, e.g., synapse.

Reproductive Word Roots

• Cervico: Neck, e.g., cervix.
• Gyneco: Woman, e.g., gynecology.
• Hystero: Uterus, e.g., hysterectomy.
• Lacto: Milk, e.g., lactose.

Respiratory Word Roots

• Embol: Plug, e.g., embolism.
• Pneumo: Lung, e.g., pneumonia.
• Rhin: Nose, e.g., rhinitis.
• Thora: Chest, e.g., thorax.

Skeletal Word Roots

• Arthro: Joint, e.g., arthritis.
• Chondro: Cartilage, e.g., chondritis.
• Osteo: Bone, e.g., osteocyte.
• Spondylo: Vertebra, e.g., spondylitis.

Urinary Word Roots

• Cysto: Bladder, e.g., cystitis.
• Nephro: Kidney, e.g., nephritis.
• Uro: Urine, e.g., urology.

Oncology Word Roots

• Blasto: Germ cell, e.g., osteoblast.
• Carcino: Cancer, e.g., carcinoma.
• Chemo: Chemicals, e.g., chemotherapy.

Key Prefixes

• A-/An-: Without, e.g., anemia.
• Ab-: Away from, e.g., abduction.
• Ad-: Toward, e.g., adduction.
• Anti-: Against, e.g., antibiotic.
• Hyper-: Over, e.g., hypertension.
• Hypo-: Under, e.g., hypothermia.
• Inter-: Between, e.g., intercostal.
• Sub-: Under, e.g., subcutaneous.

Key Suffixes

• -algia: Pain, e.g., neuralgia.
• -ectomy: Surgical removal, e.g., appendectomy.
• -itis: Inflammation, e.g., hepatitis.
• -oma: Tumor, e.g., melanoma.
• -pathy: Disease, e.g., neuropathy.
• -plasty: Surgical repair, e.g., angioplasty.

This lecture covered key components and examples of medical terminology, focusing on understanding the roots, prefixes, and suffixes to decipher medical terms effectively.