Introduction
Medical Terminology =
½ credit
 What is Medical Terminology?
 What is M.T. used for?
 Who Developed Medical
Terminology?
Medical Terminology is
composed of the following
 Word Parts or Elements
 Roots
 Suffixes
 Prefixes
 Connecting vowel (s)
How is M.T. learned?
 By learning the meaning of each
element or word part.
 Two points to Remember
 Pronunciation is not as important
than……..
 SPELLING – M.T. must be
spelled correctly.
 How does anyone decipher the meaning
of a medical term?
 By learning the meaning of each of the
elements/word parts involved in the Term.
 root
 suffix
 prefix
Example: Pre + nat + al
 al = pertaining to
 nat = birth
 pre = before
 The medical term is deciphered from
“Right to Left”
What does this Mean??? You break
the term down starting with the…
 Suffix
 Then the Root word
 Then the Prefix
 EXAMPLE:
 OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY
 Starting from Right to Left
 o/logy is the suffix
= study of
 laryng is a word root =larynx(voicebox)
 rhin/o is a word root
= nose
 ot/o is a word root
= ear
 What does this term mean?
 EVERY ONE PRONOUNCE IT
 A few Pronunciation rules see page
10 in book
 ph –pronounced together as “F”.
example: phlegm
 ch –pronounced together as “K”.
example: cholera
 qu - pronounced together as “K”
example: quadriplegia
more on Pronunciation
 pn = pronunced together as “N” no P
sound. example: pnuemonia
 ps – pronounced together as “S”
example: psychology
 X – is pronounced as a “Z” example:
xeroderma
 VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHEN TRYING
TO GUESS AT MEANINGS OF MEDICAL TERMS
or to find them in the Dictionary
1. You Need to LEARN HOW TO USE A MEDICAL
DICTIONARY.
2. KNOW THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THE TERM IS
BEING USE.
Some Terms have more than one meaning
example: lithotomy can mean surgical incision of
a stone or an examination position
3. BE CREATIVE: sound the word out
turn the terms around
Contrasting and Confusing
Prefixes
 Handout: learn – memorize the
meanings for….
 ab
 dys
 hyper
 inter
 sub
ad
eu
hypo
intra
supra
Make Flash Cards for:
Keep them in separate stacks
“Pertaining To” - chart on page 293
“Abnormal Conditions” –chart on pg. 293
Word roots indicating color-chart on pg 5
Suffixes related to Pathology – pg 6
Suffixes related to Procedures – pg 7
The Double RR’s – pg 7