SUR 110
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT #1
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY 1
SEE: NURSING CARE OF THE PATIENT IN THE OR AND PRICE
Medical Terms are divided into three parts: prefix, suffix, and root. The root is the
foundation of the word, the “basic meaning”. Prefixes are added before the root to add to
the basic meaning. Suffixes are added at the end of the root to also add to the basic
meaning.
For example: “Retroperitoneal” has three parts. 1. the root “periton” meaning lining of
the abdominal organs or viscera. 2. the prefix is “retro” which means behind. 3. the suffix
is “al” which means pertaining to. So this word means an area behind the peritoneum.
The kidneys are found retroperitoneal. Take heart, not all words have three components!
We are going to learn the basics that will help you identify any word you may come
across and understand the lingo that will be spoken by everyone in the operating room.
Define and memorize the following medical prefixes:
a- or an- - without or not
ab- away from
ad- towards or inwards
ante- before
anti- against
de- remove
dia- through
dis- to free from ( diease – to free from/of ease)
dys- painful, bad
ecto- exterior (ectoplasm – plasm on the exterior)
end/o- interior
ex/o- outside (exoskeleton)
hyper- above
hypo- below
in- in or not (i.e. incompatible)
inter- between
intra- within
per- through
post- after
pre- before
pseudo- false
retro- behind
trans- across
Define and memorize the following suffixes:
-al – pertaining to
-cleisis - closure
-desis - fusion
-ectomy - suffix meaning surgical removal, eg, appendectomy, surgical removal of
the appendix
-ia – condition of/ state of
-ian – specialist in a field (physician)
-ist – one who studies or practices (psychologist)
-itis - inflamation
-lysis – reduction of, freeing of
-oid - resembling
-oma - tumir
-orrhaphy – surgical repairing
-oscopy – to view with the aid of a scope
-ostomy - An operation to create an opening (a stoma) from an area inside the body to
the outside. Colostomy and urostomy are types of ostomies
-otomy - act of cutting into, making a surgical incision into
-pexy - surgical fixation (page 1566 Tabers 19th ed.)
-plasty – reconstructive or surgically (re)forming (page 1604 Tabers 19th)
-sis – condition of or pathological state