Medical terminology

1
Medical terminology

• A language of its own

2
Language historical development

• Greek and Latin terms
• Eponyms
• Modern language

3
LEARNING

• MEMORIZE
• LEARN WORD PARTS
• MEMORIZE
• MEMORIZE

4
FOUR WORD PARTS

• WORD ROOTS
• SUFFIXES
• PREFIXES
• COMBINING VOWELS

5
WORD ROOT

• CORE OF THE WORD
• CONTAINS FUNDAMENTAL MEANING
• EACH MED. TERM CONTAINS ONE OR MORE

6
SUFFIX

• ATTACHED TO END
• MODIFIES MEANING
• usually procedure, condition, disorder or
  disease

7
PREFIX

• ATTACHED TO BEGINNING OF WORD ROOT
• MODIFIES MEANING
• USUALLY INDICATES LOCATION, TIME, NUMBER STATUS

8
COMBINING VOWEL

• USED BETWEEN TWO WORD ROOTS
• USED BETWEEN WORD ROOT AND SUFFIX TO EASE
  PRONUNCIATION
• Not USED BETWEEN PREFIX AND WORD ROOT

9
GUIDELINES FOR USING COMBINING VOWEL

• Not usually used if suffix begins with a vowel
• Usually is used if connecting two word roots
  (even if vowels present at junction)
• Combining vowel USUALLY O

10
COMBINING FORM

• A WORD ROOT WITH COMBINING VOWEL ATTACHED,
  SEPARATED BY A VERTICAL SLASH

11
Learning

• Memorize
• Flash cards
• Repetition
• Memorize
• Practice, practice, practice