Medical Terminology Lecture Notes

Overview

• Medical terminology resembles learning a new language.
• Terms can be broken down into three parts: prefix, root, and suffix.
  • Prefix: Descriptive (e.g. number, size, location, color).
  • Root: Subject (usually related to a body part).
  • Suffix: Condition (details process, amount, location, etc.).

Common Prefixes

Size and Amount

• Macro: Large (e.g. macroscopic)
• Micro: Small (e.g. microscopic)
• Hyper: High, above normal
• Hypo: Low, below normal
• Mega/Megalo: Large
• Poly: Many
• Oligo: Few, several

Numerical

• Mono: One
• Di: Two
• Tri: Three
• Quad: Four

Speed

• Tachy: Rapid, fast
• Brady/Brachy: Slow

Location

• Epi/Peri/Circum: Around
• Endo/Intra: Inside
• Exo/Extra: Outside
• Inter: Between
• Trans: Across
• Dia/Per: Through, complete

Position

• Medi: Middle
• Para: Nearby
• Juxta: Next to

Movement

• Ab: Away
• Ad: Towards
• Dis: Separate

Colors

• Chromo/Chromato: Color
• Leuko: White
• Erythro: Red
• Cyano: Blue
• Chloro: Green
• Melan/Melano: Black
• Flav: Yellow

Body-Related Terms

General

• Homeo: Body
• Cephalo: Head
• Cerv/Cervical: Neck
• Thoraco: Chest
• Abdomino: Abdomen
• Pelvo: Pelvis
• Periton: Peritoneum
• Derm: Skin
• Neuro: Nerve
• Hemo: Blood

Vascular System

• Arterio/Angio: Arteries
• Veno/Vena: Veins
• Vasculo: Vascular system
• Musculo/Sarco: Muscle
• Skelet/Osteo: Bone
• Cyto: Cell

Neck and Thoracic Organs

• Thyro: Thyroid
• Tracheo: Trachea
• Esophago/Esophageo: Esophagus
• Thymo: Thymus
• Masto/Mammo: Mammary gland/breast
• Pulmo/Pneumo: Lung
• Cardio: Heart

Abdominal Organs

• Gastro: Stomach
• Hepato: Liver
• Cholecysto: Gallbladder
• Spleno: Spleen
• Pancreato: Pancreas
• Adreno: Adrenal gland
• Nephro: Kidney
• Entero: Intestine
• Colo: Colon

Common Suffixes

• -ology: Study of
• -philia: Love of
• -phobia: Fear of
• -tension: Pressure
• -xia: Condition of oxygen
• -capnea: Carbon dioxide
• -pnea: Air/breathing
• -ase: Enzyme

Conclusion

• The next lesson will cover suffixes related to disease states and processes.
• Practice with the terms discussed will follow.
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