Introduction to Medical Terminology

1
Introduction to Medical Terminology

• Chapter 1

2
WORD PARTS ARE THE KEY!!

• Learning medical terminology is much easier once
  you understand how word parts work together to
  form medical terms.

3
Three Types of Word Parts

• Word roots
• Contain the basic meaning of the term. They
  usually, but not always, indicate the body part.
• Examples oste/o, neur/o
• They act as the foundation of most medical terms.

4

• Suffixes
• Usually, but not always, indicate the procedure,
  condition, disorder, or disease. A suffix always
  comes at the end of the word.

5

• Prefixes
• Usually, but not always, indicate location, time,
  number or status.
• A prefix always comes at the beginning of a word.

6
So.Word Part Guidelines

• A word root cannot stand alone. A suffix must be
  added to complete the term.
• The rules for use of combining vowels apply when
  a suffix is added to a word root.
• When a prefix is needed, it is always placed at
  the beginning.

7
Combining Vowels

• A combining vowel may be needed between the word
  root and the suffix to make the medical term
  easier to pronounce.
• The letter o is the most commonly used
  combining vowel.

8

• When a word root is shown with a back slash and a
  combining vowel, such as cardi/o, this format is
  referred to as the combining form.
• Sothe word root the combining vowel
  combining form.

9
Rules for Using Combining Vowels

• A combining vowel is used when the suffix begins
  with a consonant.
• Example when neur/o (nerve) is joined with the
  suffix plasty (surgical repair), the combining
  vowel is used due to the consonant.
  Neur/o/plasty

10

• A combining vowel is not used when the suffix
  begins with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u).
• Example when neur/o (nerve) is combined with the
  suffix itis (inflammation), the combining vowel
  is not used, because the suffix itis begins
  with a vowel.
• Word neur/itis

11

• A combining vowel is always used when two or more
  word roots are joined.
• Example When gastr/o (stomach) is joined with
  enter/o (small intestine), the combining vowel is
  used. gastr/o/enter/o
• But if you add a suffix that starts with a vowel,
  you will not use it
• Word gastr/o/enter/itis

12

• A prefix does not require a combining vowel.
• The prefix is attached directly onto the word
  root.

13
Word Roots Indicating Color

• cyan/o
• means blue
• Example of a word using cyan/o
• cyanosis a blue discoloration of the skin
  caused by a lack of adequate oxygen
• cyan -osis (condition of)

14

• erythr/o
• means red
• Example of a word using erythr/o
• erythrocytes red blood cells. Erythr red
  o for the combining vowel cytes (cells).

15

• leuk/o
• means white
• Example of a word using leuk/o
• leukocytes leuk (white) o for the combining
  vowel cytes (cells).

16

• melan/o
• means black
• Example of a word using melan/o
• melanoma melan/o the suffix -oma (tumor)
• Note the combining vowel was dropped since the
  suffix begins with a vowel.

17

• poli/o
• means gray
• Example of a word using poli/o
• poliomyelitis an inflammation of the gray
  matter of the spinal cord usually causing
  paralysis.
• Poli o myel/o (spinal cord) -itis
  (inflammation)
• Note the combining vowel was used to connect the
  word roots but dropped from myel/o to join it
  with itis.

18
Lets talk about suffixes.

• Suffixes usually, but not always, indicate the
  procedure, condition, disorder or disease
• Examples tonsill/o tonsils. Tonsill -itis
  (inflammation) tonsillitis
• Tonsill/o -ectomy (surgical removal)
  tonsillectomy

19

• Some suffixes complete the term by changing the
  word root into an adjective. Many of these
  suffixes are defined as pertaining to.
• Most common -al, -ic, -ac
• Examples cardi/ac, gastr/ic, enter/al.

20

• Some suffixes complete the term by changing the
  word root into a noun.
• Example -um is a noun ending.
• Crani/um crani means skull, and -um is a
  noun ending.
• Cranium is the portion of the skull that
  surrounds the brain.

21

• Some suffixes have a general meaning of abnormal
  condition.
• For example, -osis means an abnormal condition.
• Gastrosis means any abnormal condition of the
  stomach.
• Gastr/o stomach -osis abnormal condition.

22

• Pathology means the study of disease and the
  suffixes related to pathology describe specific
  disease conditions.
• These suffixes will repeat each chapter, so you
  must learn them in order to build words for each
  body system.

23

• -algia means pain. Example gastr/algia
  stomach pain. Note the combining vowel was not
  used suffix starts with vowel
• -dynia also means pain. Example gastr/o/dynia
  stomach pain. Notice, the combining vowel was
  used since the suffix begins with a consonant.

24

• -itis means inflammation.
• Example gastr/itis means inflammation of the
  stomach.
• Note the combining vowel was dropped from
  gastr/o since -itis begins with a vowel.
• Another example we saw in a previous slide
  tonsill/itis.

25

• -malacia means abnormal softening.
• Example crani/o/malacia abnormal softening of
  the skull.
• crani skull o -malacia
• Note the combining vowel was used because the
  suffix begins with a consonant.

26

• -megaly means enlarged or enlargement of.
• Example hepat/o/megaly
• hepat/o means liver
• -megaly means enlarged
• so.hepat/o/megaly means enlarged liver.
• To make it easy, remember that mega means big,
  large.

27

• -necrosis means tissue death.
• Example arteri/o/necrosis
• means death of tissue of an artery
• arteri/o artery -necrosis death of tissue
• Note combining vowel was used since the suffix
  begins with a consonant.

28

• -sclerosis means abnormal hardening (is the
  opposite of malacia).
• Example arteri/o/sclerosis
• means abnormal hardening of the arteries
• Note combining vowel was used since the suffix
  begins with a consonant.

29

• -stenosis means abnormal narrowing
• Example arteri/o/stenosis means abnormal
  narrowing of the arteries
• arteri/o arteries -stenosis abnormal
  hardening.
• Note combining vowel was used. Why?

30

• Some suffixes identify a procedure that is
  performed on the body part identified by the word
  part.
• Again, these suffixes are the building blocks for
  word used in each of the chapters, so learn them
  as quickly as possible.

31

• -centesis means surgical puncture to remove
  fluid.
• Example abdomin/o/centesis
• Means a surgical puncture of the abdominal
  cavity to remove fluid.
• abdomin/o abdomen -centesis surgical
  puncture.

32

• -ectomy means surgical removal of.
• Example tonsill/ectomy surgical removal of
  tonsils.
• append/ectomy surgical removal of the appendix.
• The combining vowel would never be used with
  ectomy since it starts with a vowel.

33

• -graphy means the process of recording a picture
  or record.
• Example mamm/o/graphy the process of taking a
  picture (x-ray) of the breast.
• -gram means the picture or record itself.
• Example mamm/o/gram the picture (x-ray) of the
  breast.

34

• -ostomy means to surgically create an artificial
  opening.
• Example col/ostomy the surgical creation of an
  opening between the colon and the body surface.
  Col/o colon.
• To remember this suffix, think of os as a word
  that means opening.

35

• -otomy means surgical incision, or cutting
  into.
• Example col/otomy surgical incision into the
  colon.
• Splen/otomy surgical incision into the spleen.
• Arteri/otomy surgical incision into an artery.

36

• -plasty means surgical repair.
• Example my/o/plasty surgical repair of a
  muscle.
• my/o muscle -plasty surgical repair.
• abdomin/o/plasty surgical repair of the abdomen.

37

• -scopy means visual examination of a body cavity
  or organ by use of a scope
• Example arthr/o/scopy
• Means visual examination of a joint using a
  scope.
• arthr/o joint -scopy using a scope for
  visual examination.

38
The Double RRs

• Suffixes beginning with two Rs are particularly
  confusing.
• -rrhage and rrhagia abnormal excessive fluid
  discharge or bleeding.
• Example hem/o/rrhage is the loss of a large
  amount of blood in a short time.

39

• -rrhaphy means to suture or stitch.
• Example my/o/rrhaphy suture a muscle.
• my/o muscle -rrhaphy suture.
• To remember this suffix, think of r-r-wrap as if
  you were going to wrap the injury in sutures.

40

• -rrhea means an abnormal flow or discharge.
  Refers to the abnormal flow of most body fluids.
• Example diarrhea abnormally frequent loose or
  watery stools.
• Dia- means through, and rrhea means
  abnormal flow.

41

• -rrhexis means rupture.
• Example my/o/rrhexis rupture of a muscle.
• My/o muscle -rrhexis rupture.
• To remember this suffix, think of the x as being
  ready to rupture and fly apart.

42
Suffixes relating to study

• -ology means the study of.
• Example neur/ology is the study of the nerves.
• Cardi/ology is the study of the heart.

43

• -ologist means the specialist who studies.
• Example neur/ologist specialist who studies
  nerves.
• Cardi/ologist specialist who studies the heart.
• Hepat/ologist specialist who studies the liver.

44
Now, lets look at prefixes.

• A prefix is added to the beginning of a word to
  change the meaning of that term.
• Prefixes usually, but not always, indicate
  location, time, or number.

45
Common Prefixes

• pre- means before.
• Example pre/natal before birth
• post- means after.
• Example post/natal after the birth.

46

• dys- means bad, difficult, or painful.
• Example dys/uria difficult or painful
  urination.
• eu- means good, normal, well, or easy. The
  opposite of dys-.
• Example eu/thyroid a normally functioning
  thyroid gland.

47

• hyper- means excessive or increased.
• Example hyper/tension means higher than normal
  blood pressure.
• hypo- means deficient or decreased. Opposite of
  hyper-.
• Example hypo/tension is lower than normal blood
  pressure.

48

• inter- means between or among.
• Example inter/costal means between the ribs
  (cost/o ribs).
• intra- means within or inside.
• Example intra/muscular means within the muscle.

49

• sub- means under, less, or below.
• Example sub/costal below the ribs.
• supra- means above or excessive. Opposite of
  sub-.
• Example supra/costal above or outside the
  ribs.

50
Determining Meanings on the Basis of Word Parts

• To determine a words meaning by looking at the
  component pieces, you must first separate it into
  word parts.
• You can do this by using slash marks (/) to
  separate them.
• Example tonsill/ectomy

51

• Always start at the end of the word, with the
  suffix, and work toward the beginning.
• Example tonsill/ectomy surgical removal of the
  tonsils.
• As you separate the word parts, identify the
  meaning of each. Identifying the meaning of each
  word part should give you a definition of the
  term.

52

• Because some word parts have more than one
  meaning, it also is necessary to determine the
  context in which the term is being used. As used
  here, context means to determine which body
  system this term is referring to.

53

• If you have any doubt, use your medical
  dictionary to double-check the definition.
• Tabers Medical Dictionary is the one used in
  this classroom, and in most healthcare facilities.

54
Using a Medical Dictionary

• When starting to work with an unfamiliar
  dictionary, spend a few minutes reviewing its use
  guide, table of contents, and appendices.

55

• On the basis of the first letter of the word,
  start in the appropriate section of the
  dictionary. Look at the top of the page for
  clues.
• The top left word is the first term on the page.
  The top right word is the last term on the page.

56

• Next, alphabetically look for words that start
  with the first and second letters of the word you
  are researching. Continue looking through each
  letter until you find the term you are looking
  for.

57

• When you think you have found it, check the
  spelling very carefully, letter by letter,
  working from left to right. Terms with similar
  spellings have very different meanings.
• When you find the term, carefully check all of
  the definitions.

58

• If you cannot find the word on the basis of your
  spelling, start looking for alternative spellings
  based on the beginning sounds.
• Open your book to page 10.
• Look at Table 1.5 at the bottom of the page.
• Lets go over these..
• Then, close your book again.

59
Rules to remember..

• Frequently, there is more than one correct way to
  pronounce a medical term.
• Example arthroscopy or arthroscopy
• Both are correct the difference is a matter of
  preference.

60

• Correct spelling is extremely important!
• Changing just one or two letters can completely
  change the meaning of a word and this
  difference literally could be a matter of life or
  death for the patient.

61

• Abbreviations are frequently used as a shorthand
  way to record long and complex medical terms.
• But they can also lead to confusion and errors!
• Be very careful when using or translating an
  abbreviation.
• Example BE means below elbow and barium
  enema!

62

• Because the same abbreviation may have more than
  one meaning, it is important that you be very
  careful when using or translating an
  abbreviation.
• To be safe, always follow this rule
• When in doubt, spell it out!

63
Basic Medical Terms

• Lets look over at page 13 in your textbook to
  learn some similar and opposite terms.

64
Study Break

• Turn to page 15 look at the orange box at the
  bottom titled Study Break.
• That ends this chapter!!!!