Homework I. Define the following and give one example for each: 1. Prefix 5. Combining Form 2. Suffix 6. Compound Words 3. Root word 4. Combining vowel II. List down the six rules in forming plurals. Give one example for each rule. III. Make a list of 7 prefixes and their meanings IV. Make a list of 7 suffixes and their meanings V. Make a list of 7 combining forms and their meanings Medical Terminology The words – or terms – which make up the language of medicine are referred to as the terminology of the medical field or Medical Terminology Majority of medical terms come from Latin and Greek languages Medical words may be broken down into their component parts to learn their meaning. Common component parts: prefixes, suffixes and root or base word element Component Parts of Medical Words 1. Prefix – one or two syllables or word component attached to the beginning of a root word that modify or alter its meaning Examples : Hypertension ‘hyper’ (prefix) - excessive, high ‘tension’ (root word) - pressure in blood vessels Hypertension – high blood pressure Hypotension ‘hypo’ (prefix) – low, inadequate ‘tension’ (root word) – pressure in blood vessels Hypotension – low blood pressure 2. Suffix – one or two syllables or word component attached to the end of a root word that modify or alter its meaning Examples : adenitis ‘itis’ (suffix) - ‘inflammation’ ‘aden’ (root word) - gland adenitis – inflammation of a gland adenoma ‘oma’(suffix) – tumor ‘aden’(root word) – gland adenoma – tumor in a gland 3. Root or base word element – refers to the main body of the word. It gives the essential meaning of the word. It may be accompanied by a prefix or suffix Example : retrogastric ‘retro’ (prefix) – behind, at the back of ‘gastric’ (root word) - refers to stomach retrogastric – behind the stomach epigastric – above the stomach hypogastric – below the stomach Epigastric and Hypogastric Regions of the Abdomen Combining Vowel Combining Vowel – a vowel, usually ‘o,’ that combines the root to a suffix or to another root word. Example: cardiology ‘cardi’ (root) - refers to the heart ‘logy’ (suffix) – ‘the study of’ ‘o’ – combining vowel cardiology – study of the heart and diseases of the heart Combining Form Combining Form - the combination of the root and the combining vowel Examples: cardi/o – heart - cardiology = study of the heart and diseases of the heart cyst/o - urinary bladder - cystoscope = an instrument t0 visualize the urinary bladder erythr/o – red - erythrocyte = red blood cells Cystoscope http://cheetah.cancer.umn.edu Erythrocytes Rules in using Combining Vowels Rule 1: The combining vowel is usually deleted from the combining form when the next letter that follows it is also a vowel Example: proct/o – combining form denoting relationship to the rectum ‘itis’ (suffix) – inflammation proctitis – inflammation of the rectum; - ‘o’ was dropped because ‘itis’ begins with a vowel Rule 2. Keep the combining vowel between root words, even if the second root word begins with a vowel. Example: oste/o = combining form = referring to bone arthr/o = combining form = referring to joint ‘itis’ (suffix) = inflammation osteoarthritis = inflammation of the bones in a joint (keep the ‘o’ between the two root words) Compound Words Compound Word - results when two or more root or base words are used to form a word. Adjectives, nouns, combining forms and suffixes may be added to a root word to form compound words. Example: cardiomyopathy cardi/o = combining form = referring to the heart my/o = combining form = referring to muscle ‘pathy’ (suffix) = disease cardiomyopathy = compound word =disease of the heart muscle Word Analysis When analyzing the meaning of a medical term, begin from the suffix and proceed to the beginning of the term and then across. Example: know the meaning of gastroenterology in this manner: First: ‘logy’ (suffix) = the study of Second: gastr/o = combining form = referring to the stomach Third: enter/o = combining form = referring to the intestine Meaning: gastroenterology = the study of the stomach and the intestines Formation of Plurals 1. Words ending in ‘a’ retain the ‘a’ and add ‘e’ Singular Plural Meaning vertebra vertebrae Backbones bursa bursae Sacs of fluid in a joint 2. For words ending in ‘is’, drop the ‘is’ and add ‘es’ Singular Plural Meaning diagnosis diagnoses Causes of disease psychosis psychoses Abnormal condition of the mind vertebrae http://en.wikipedia.org/ bursae http://www.gla.ac.uk/t4/~fbls/files/fab/tutorial/anatomy/knee6.html 3. For words ending in ‘ex’ or ‘ix’, drop the ‘ex’ or ‘ix’ and add ‘ices’ Singular Plural Meaning apex apices Pointed ends of organs varix varices Enlarged, swollen veins 4. For words ending in ‘on’, drop the ‘on’ and add ‘a’ Singular Plural Meaning ganglion ganglia Groups of nerve cells outside of the brain and spinal cord Lung Apices varices 5. For words ending in ‘um’, drop the ‘um’ and add ‘a’ Singular Plural Meaning bacterium bacteria One-celled organisms ovum ova Egg cells 6. For words ending in ‘us’, drop the ‘us’ and add ‘i’ Singular Plural Meaning bronchus bronchi Tubes from the trachea to the lungs calculus calculi Stones nucleus nuclei Command center of the cell bronchi renal calculi http://en.wikipedia.org Prefixes Prefix a-, an- Meaning(s) no, not without Example(s) anesthesia apnea Meaning Loss of sensation Temporary loss of respiration ab- away from abduct abnormal To move away from the midline Away from the rule ad- increase near toward adherence adduct adrenal To move toward the midline Gland on top of the kidney ante- before antepartum Before delivery of a baby (referring to the mother) anti- against antipyretic antidepressant bradycontra- slow against opposite bradycardia contraception contralateral crypt- hidden cryptorchidism dia- going through diagnosis across diameter dys- bad, painful, difficult dysmenorrhea dyspnea A medication against fever A medication against depression Slow heart rate Prevention of conception Affecting the opposite side of the body When one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum Thorough analysis of cause of disease A line that passes across the center of a circle Painful menstruation Difficulty in breathing adrenal gland cryptorchidism http://php.med.unsw.edu.au ecto- outside ectopic pregnancy enendo- in within encephalopathy endocardium epi - upon, at, epidermis in addition to good, well eupnea out, away exopthalmos from, over euex- exo- outside exocrine hemi- half hemiplegia Pregnancy outside the uterus Disease of the brain Innermost layer of the heart Outer layer of the skin Normal breathing Bulging out of the eyeball from the orbit Glands that secrete into cavities or to the outside of the body Paralysis of half of the body endocardium epidermis ectopic pregnancy exopthalmos http://www.soc.ucsb.edu http://encyclopedia.lubopitko-bg.com hyperhypo- excessive, more than normal, too much below, less than normal, under hyperglycemia High blood sugar hypoglycemia Low blood sugar interintra- between within interatrial intracardiac Between the atria Inside the heart mal- bad malnourished para- beside, near parathyroid per- completely thoroughly perfuse In a bad state of nutrition Glands located beside the thyroid gland To permeate (To spread throughout) malnourished child parathyroid glands interatrial septal defect http://my.clevelandclinic.org peri- surrounding periosteum post- after, behind postpartum pre- before precancerous retro- back, behind retroperitoneal semi- half semilunar sub- under, below beneath above, beyond superior subcutaneous suprasuper- tachy- fast suprapubic supernatant tachycardia The membrane surrounding bones Occurring shortly after childbirth Before the development of cancer Located behind the peritoneum Resembling the shape of a half moon Under the skin Above the pubic bone Liquid lying above solid residue Rapid heart rate periosteum retroperitoneal semilunar valves supernatant Prefixes describing amount or number Prefix bi- or dimonomulti- Meaning two, both twice one, single many Medical Term bilateral dizygotic monochromatic multifactorial Meaning On both sides From two zygotes Having only 1 color Affected by several factors A woman who has never given birth Many or more than normal number of fingers/toes nulli- none nullipara poly- many polydactyly primi- first primigravida A woman who is pregnant for the first time quad- or quadra- or tetra- four tetralogy tri- three triplet uni- one unilateral A group of four Three children born at the same time On one side polydactyly Tetralogy of Fallot http://commons.wikimedia.org http://www.texastee.de monozygotic Twins Suffixes Suffix -al -algia -cele Meaning (s) pertaining to condition of pain hernia, tumor, protrusion -centesis surgical puncture to remove fluid Example(s) renal arthralgia cystocele -ectasia dilatation pharyngectasia ectasis distention bronchiectasis -ectomy excision tonsillectomy thoracentesis Meaning Pertaining to the kidney Joint pain Protrusion of the urinary bladder Removal of fluid from the chest cavity through a needle puncture Abnormal dilatation of the pharynx Abnormal dilatation of the bronchi Surgical excision of the tonsil cystocele bronchiectasis thoracentesis -edema swelling from fluid accumulation lymphedema -emesis to vomit hematemesis -gram record mammogram -graph something written or drawn process of recording condition radiograph -graphy -ia -iasis formation of, presence of radiography pneumonia cholelithiasis Swelling due to retention of lymph fluid To vomit blood or with blood Radiologic record of breast examination An image on an x-ray film The process of making a radiograph Lung condition caused by infection Presence of stone in the gall bladder mammogram cholelithiasis http://www.rayur.com http://www.med.unc.edu/ -ism state, condition dwarfism -ist involved in a particular field inflammation pathologist structure, tissue a person who studied a certain field the study of pericardium neurologist -itis -ium -logist -logy -lysis breakdown, destruction -malacia softening appendicitis neurology hemolysis encephalomalacia Condition of abnormally low stature A medical doctor specializing in pathology Inflammation of the appendix Outer layer of the heart A medical doctor with training in neurology The study of the nervous system The breakdown of red blood cells Softening of the brain dwarfism http://www.besthealthadvisor.com pericardium dermatologist arthritis http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/psoriaticarthritis -megaly enlargement splenomegaly -oid resemblance to polypoid -oma tumor, mass hepatoma -osis a condition, a disease a disease, an illness fixation psychosis -pathy -pexy -plasty surgical repair, reconstruction neuropathy orchidopexy rhinoplasty Enlargement of the spleen Resemblance to a polyp Malignant tumor of the liver A disease condition of the mind An illness involving the nerves To bring down or fix the testicle unto the scrotum Surgical repair of the nose Uterine polyp (polypoid) http://diseaseszoom.com hepatoma http://www.surgical-tutor.org.uk rhinoplasty -ptosis to droop, prolapse -rrhage excessive discharge - rrhagia -rrhaphy nephroptosis hemorrhage menorrhagia surgical suturing herniorrhaphy -rrhea flowing, discharge rhinorrhea -sclerosis hardening arteriosclerosis -scope instrument for viewing the process of viewing using an instrument bronchoscope -scopy gastroscopy Downward displacement of the kidney Excessive discharge of blood Excessive bleeding during menstruation Surgical suturing of defect causing hernia Discharge from the nose Hardening of the arteries Instrument for viewing the bronchi The process of viewing the stomach using a gastroscope rhinorrhea atherosclerosis http://cikgurumaizah.blogspot.com http://wikiwel.com -sis action, condition, process -spasm involuntary contractions -stasis slowing, stable state -stomy creation of an artificial opening -tome cutting instrument -tomy incision into -tripsy to crush stasis A stoppage of flow of body fluid laryngospasm Involuntary contraction of the larynx hemostasis To stop or control bleeding colostomy Creation of an opening through the abdominal wall via the colon osteotome An instrument for cutting bone craniotomy Incision into the cranium lithotripsy To crush a stone osteotomes colostomy Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy http://www.kidneystoners.org/treatments/eswl / Combining Forms: Planes and Direction of Reference Combining Form Anter/o Caud/o Meaning(s) in front, in front of tail end, posterior Medical Term Anterior Caudal Cephal/o towards the head Cephalic Centr/o midline, middle Central Dist/o away from midline or away from point of origin at the back, at the back of, posterior Distal Dors/o Dorsal Extern/o Infer/o Intern/o Later/o Medi/o Pariet/o Peripheri/o Poster/o Proxim/o Super/o Ventr/o Viscer/o outside below, under inside, within to the side of middle, midline forming the wall of at the edge of behind, at the back of near the point of origin on top of, towards the head anterior, in front referring to internal organs of the body External Inferior Internal Lateral Medial Parietal Periphery Posterior Proximal Superior Ventral Visceral Visceral Organs (Internal Organs) http://health.allrefer.com Parietal Bones ( Wall of the Cranium) Combining Forms describing Color or Description Combining Form Chlor/o Meaning green Medical Term chlorophyll Cyan/o blue cyanosis Erythr/o Melan/o red black erythrocytes melanocytes Xanth/o yellow xanthochromia Meaning Green pigment in plants Bluish discoloration of skin and mucous membrane Red Blood Cells Cells that produce dark brown to black pigment (melanin) in skin Yellowish appearance of cerebrospinal fluid Cyanosis Cyanosis due to a congenital heart disease Melanocytes http://www.jhunewsletter.com Xanthochromia http://hermanfamilyblahg.blogspot.com/2011/02/xanthochromia.html Do the Exercise Medical Terminology: Common Surgical Words and Word Components ‘-tomy’ : to make a cut or to incise laparotomy – incision into the abdominal wall thoracotomy – incision into the chest craniotomy – incision into the skull myringotomy – incision into the ear drum tracheotomy – incision into the trachea gastrotomy – incision into the stomach Medical Terminology: Common Surgical Words and Word Components ‘ – ectomy’ : to surgically remove or to excise appendectomy – excision of the appendix tonsillectomy – excision of the tonsils cholecystectomy –excision of the gall bladder hysterectomy – excision of the uterus oophorectomy – excision of an ovary nephrectomy – excision of a kidney Medical Terminology: Common Surgical Words and Word Components ‘- scope’ : an instrument for viewing laparoscope – an instrument to view the abdominal cavity gastroscope – an instrument to view the stomach bronchoscope – an instrument to view the bronchi colonoscope – an instrument to view the large intestine colposcope – an instrument to view the vagina Integumentary System (Skin and Appendages) Combining Form Meaning Adip/o fat Caus/o or Cauter/o heat, burn Medical Term adipose cautery Meaning Fat tissue An instrument to destroy abnormal tissue by burning Cutane/o or Derm/o or Dermat/o Pertaining to subcutaneous the skin dermatitis Under the skin Inflammation of the skin Diaphor/o Profuse sweating To sweat excessively diaphoresis Dermatitis with erythema Electrocautery Subcutaneous Fat Erythem/o or Erythemat/o redness of skin erythematous Red or flushed Hydr/o pertaining to water /fluid dyshydrosis Kerat/o pertaining to a keratin horny substance Leuk/o white leukoderma Lip/o fat, adipose liposuction Skin condition that presents with fluidfilled blisters Horny protective protein in the skin Skin with no pigmentation Removal of fat through suction Dyshydrosis Leukoderma (Vitiligo) https://courses.cit.cornell.edu http://dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu Melan/o black Myc/o pertaining to fungus mycosis nail onychomycosis Onych/o or Ungu/o Phyt/o Pil/o or Trich/o Py/o Seb/o or Sebace/o or Steat/o melanocytes plant phytonutrient hair trichomalacia pus sebum pyoderma sebaceous Cells that produce dark brown/ black pigment (melanin) Fungal infection Fungal infection of the nail Healthy plant nutrients Soft, fragile, swollen hair Pus on the skin Pertaining to sebum or fat Squam/o scale squamous Xer/o dry xeroderma Thin and flat like a scale Dry skin Onychomycosis http://en.wikipedia.org Squamous Cells Sebaceous Gland Pyoderma http://www.healthhype.com Musculoskeletal System Combining Form Ankyl/o Meaning stiff Medical Term ankylosis Meaning Stiffening of a joint The following combining forms “pertain to” the anatomical part listed: Arthr/o joint arthralgia Joint pain Burs/o sac of fluid bursitis Inflammation of near joints a bursa Calc/o calcium hypocalcemia Low calcium levels in blood Carp/o wrist bones carpal Referring to wrist bones Cervic/o neck, cervix cervical Referring to the of the uterus neck Chondr/o cartilage chondrocytes Cartilage cells Chondrocytes Clavicul/o Coccyg/o Cost/o Crani/o Femor/o Fibul/o Humer/o Ili/o Ischi/o clavicle, collar bone coccyx, tail bone rib skull femur, thigh bone fibula, calf bone humerus, arm bone Ilium, a pelvic bone Ischium, a pelvic bone clavicular coccygeal intercostal craniotomy femoral fibular humeral ilial ischial Referring to the clavicle Referring to the coccyx Between the ribs An incision into the skull Referring to the femur Referring to the fibula Referring to the humerus Referring to the ilium Referring to the ischium Intercostal Carpal Lumb/o Metacarp/o Metatars/o Muscul/o or My/o lower back, loin metacarpals, hand bones metatarsals, foot bones muscle lumbar metacarpal metatarsal muscular myoma Myel/o bone marrow myeloma Oste/o bone endosteum Referring to the lumbar area Referring to the hand bones Referring to the foot bones Referring to muscles A tumor involving the muscles of the uterus Cancerous growth of plasma cells from bone marrow Membrane forming the inner lining of the bone marrow Metacarpals http://www.mdguidelines.com Metatarsals http://www.physioroom.com Periosteum and Endosteum Patell/o Pelv/i Phalang/o Pub/o or Pubic Sacr/o Scapul/o Spondyl/o Stern/o patella, knee cap hip bone patellar phalanges, fingers and toes pubis, anterior part of hip bone sacrum phalangeal scapula, shoulder blade vertebra,back bone sternum, breast bone scapular pelvic pubic sacral spondylitis sternal Referring to the knee cap Referring to the hip bone Referring to the toes and fingers Referring to the pubis Referring to the sacrum Referring to the scapula Inflammation of the vertebra Referring to the breast bone Bones of the Skeleton Tars/o Ten/o or Tend/o Thorac/o Tibi/o Uln/o Vertebr/o tarsus, ankle bone tendon tarsal thorax, chest tibia, shin bone ulna, a forearm bone vertebra, back bone thoracic tibial Referring to the thorax Referring to the tibia ulnar Referring to the ulna tendonitis vertebral Referring to the ankle bone Inflammation of the tendon Referring to the back bone Bones of the Skeleton Nervous System Combining Form Meaning Alges/o sensitivity to pain Angi/o blood vessel Caus/o burn Cerebell/o cerebellum Medical Term analgesia Meaning Absence of pain angiopathy Cerebr/o cerebrum cerebral Comat/o coma comatose Crani/o cranium, skull cold craniotomy Disease of the blood vessel Burning pain Referring to the cerebellum Referring to the cerebrum Referring to being in a state of coma To make an incision into the cranium Use of low temperature as a form of treatment Cry/o causalgia cerebellar cryotherapy Dur/o dura mater epidural Encephal/o Gli/o brain glial cells encephalitis Hydr/o water hydrocephalus Mening/o meninges or Meningi/o Myel/o spinal cord meningeal Narc/o narcosis numbness stupor asleep myelitis Above the outer covering of the brain and the spinal cord Inflammation of the brain Supportive cells of the nervous system Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain Referring to the meninges Inflammation of the spinal cord Condition of deep sleep or unconsciousness Meninges Hydrocephalus http://www.thewellingtonneurosurgeryunit.com http://www.schrf.org Neur/o Pont/o Radicul/o nerve pons nerve root Spin/o spine spinal backbone to cut off, syncope Fainting faint coordination ataxia Absence of coordination thalamus thalamic Referring to the thalamus nourishment hypertrophy Increase in the volume development of a tissue or organ vagus nerve vagal Referring to the vagus nerve Syncop/o Tax/o Thalam/o Troph/o Vag/o neurology pontine radiculitis Study of the nervous system Referring to the pons Inflammation of the nerve root Referring to the spine Thalamus Pons Nerve Root – Radicul/o Do Exercise 2 Senses – The Eye Senses: Eye Combining Form Meaning Aque/o water Medical Term aqueous Ambly/o dim, dull amblyopia Blephar/o or Palpebr/o eyelid blepharitis Conjunctiv/o conjunctiva conjunctival Cor/o pupil anisocoria Corne/o cornea corneal Meaning Referring to a watery composition Reduced vision due to structural or developmental eye problems Inflammation of the eyelid Referring to the conjunctiva Inequality in the size of the pupils Referring to the cornea Cornea Pupil Aqueous Humor Lower Lid Cycl/o Dacry/o ciliary body cycloplegia of the eye tear dacryocystitis Dipl/o Glauc/o double gray Ir/o or Irid/o Kerat/o iris iridic cornea keratitis Lacrim/o Mi/o Mydr/o diplopia glaucoma lacrimal lacrimal duct, tear smaller, miosis less wide mydriasis Paralysis of the ciliary body of the eye Inflammation of the nasolacrimal sac Double vision Increased eye pressure that may lead to blindness Referring to the iris muscle of the eye Inflammation of the cornea Referring to lacrimal duct Constriction of the pupil Dilatation of the pupil Lacrimal Gland/ Sac/Duct Iris Ocul/o or Ophthalmo Opt/o or Optic/o eye ocular eye, vision optometrist Papill/o optic disc papilledema Phac/o lens of the eye light old age phacomalacia Phot/o Presby/o Pupill/o pupil of the eye photophobia presbyopia pupillary Referring to the eye A health professional licensed to diagnose and treat eye diseases Optic disc swelling due to increased intracranial pressure Softening of the lens of the eye Sensitivity to light Decreased ability of the lens to focus due to old age Referring to the pupil Photophobia Presbyopia Retin/o Scler/o Uve/o retina sclera uvea retinopathy scleral uveitis Vitre/o glass Xer/o dry Disease of the retina Referring to the sclera Inflammation of the uvea vitreous Referring to the glasslike fluid behind the lens xerophthalmia Dryness of the eye Suffixes -opia or -opsia vision myopia Nearsightedness -tropia direction esotropia Squint where one or both eyes turn inward Sclera Uvea Retina Optic Disk Esotropia The Ear Ear Combining Form Acous/o or Audio Aur/o or Auricul/o Meaning hearing Medical Term acoustic ear auricle Cochle/o cochlea cochlear Mastoid/o mastoid process eardrum mastoiditis Myring/o or tympan/o myringotomy Meaning Referring to sound or hearing The outer projecting part of the ear Referring to the cochlea Inflammation of the mastoid Incision into the ear drum Ossicul/o ossicles ossicular Ot/o Staped/o ear stapes otitis stapedius Suffixes - cusis -otia hearing presbycusis ear condition microtia Referring to the small bones in the middle ear Inflammation of the ear Referring to the smallest muscle in the human body used to stabilize the smallest bone, the stapes Age-related hearing loss Congenital underdevelopment of the pinna Normal Eardrum Myringotomy Microtia Blood – Leukocytes with granules Blood - Erythrocytes Blood Combining Form Agglutin/o Meaning clumping Medical Term agglutination Bas/o base Chrom/o color Coagul/o Cyt/o Eosin/o or Erythr/o Granul/o clotting cell red Meaning Clumping of red blood cells basophil White blood cell that stains with basic dye polychromatic Having several colors coagulation Blood clotting leukocyte White blood cell erythrocyte Red blood cell granules granulocytes White blood cells with cytoplasmic granules Hem/o or blood hematology Hemat/o Hemoglobin/o hemoglobin Leuk/o white leukocyte Mon/o single monocyte Morph/o shape Neutr/o neutral Nucle/o Phag/o nucleus eat The study of the blood and blood diseases Protein in red blood cell White blood cell White blood cell with a single well-defined nucleus morphology Study that deals with the shape or form of living things neutrophil White blood cell with cytoplasmic granules that are neither red or blue multinucleated A cell with many nuclei phagocyte A white blood cell that digests harmful organisms and foreign bodies You Tube: Phagocytose 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWItglvTiLc You Tube: White Blood Cell chasing and ‘eating’ bacterium Thromb/o Suffixes -apheresis -blast - cytosis - emia - clot removing a certain component from blood embryonic cell a cell condition blood thrombosis Abnormal blood clotting in blood vessels plasmapheresis Removal of plasma from blood erythroblast Precursor red blood cell histiocytosis Abnormal increase in the number of histiocytes Inadequate count of red blood cells and/or hemoglobin anemia Deep Vein Thrombosis - globin protein hemoglobin or globulin -lytic destroying hemolytic decomposition -phoresis -plasia - poiesis migration formation or development production electrophoresis aplasia leukopoiesis Protein in red blood cell Characterized by destruction of red blood cells Movement and separation of macromolecules using electricity Non-development Production of white blood cells Hemolysis Heart: Layers of the Heart, Major Blood Vessels Cardiovascular System Combining Form Aneurysm/o Angi/o or Vas/o Aort/o Arter/o or Arteri/o Ather/o Meaning aneurysm or abnormal widening of blood vessel blood vessel Medical Term aneurysmal angiopathy aorta aortic artery arteriosclerosis plaque atherosclerosis Meaning Referring to an aneurysm Disease of the blood vessel Referring to the aorta Hardening of the arteries Hardening of arteries due to fat plaque formation Aortic Aneurysm Atri/o atrium Cardi/o heart or Coron/o atrial cardiomegaly Referring to the atrium Enlargement of the heart Cyan/o blue cyanotic Isch/o to hold back lymph ischemia Bluish discoloration of the mucous membranes and nailbeds Restriction of blood supply to tissues Referring to lymph Lymph/o Lympath/o My/o Pericardi/o lymphatic muscle myocardium pericardium pericarditis Muscle of the heart Inflammation of the pericardium Phleb/o or Ven/o Sphygm/o Valv/o Ventricul/o vein phlebotomy To make an incision or puncture into a vein pulse sphygmomanometer A device to measure blood pressure valve valvular Referring to a heart valve ventricle ventricular Referring to the ventricle Sphygmomanometer Heart Valves and Ventricles Lymphatic System Lymphatic System Combining Form Cervic/o Immun/o Lymph/o Lymphaden/o Meaning neck immune protection lymph lymph node Lymphangi/o lymph vessel Splen/o spleen Thym/o thymus Medical Term cervical immunity Meaning Referring to the neck Protection against disease lymphatic Referring to lymph lymphadenitis Inflammation of the lymph node lymphangitis Inflammation of lymph vessels splenectomy Surgical excision of the spleen thymectomy Surgical excision of the thymus Respiratory System Respiratory System Combining Form Meaning Alveol/o alveolus Bronch/o or bronchus Bronchi/o Laryng/o larynx Lob/o lobe Nas/o or Rhin/o Ox/o Pharyng/o Phren/o nose Medical Term Meaning alveolar Referring to the alveolus bronchiectasis Irreversible widening of the bronchi laryngeal Referring to the larynx lobectomy Surgical removal of a lobe of the lung nasal Referring to the nose oxygen oxygenation pharynx throat diaphragm pharyngeal phrenic Process by which oxygen enters tissues Referring to the throat Referring to the diaphragm Thoracic Cavity – Lobes of the Lung, Diaphragm Pleur/o pleura Pneum/o or Pneumon/o lung, air or Pulm/o or Pulmon/o pleuritis/pleurisy Inflammation of the pleura pulmonology Study of the lung and diseases of the lung Thorac/o Trache/o thoracic endotracheal Referring to the chest Within the trachea Suffixes -ole -pnea chest trachea little bronchiole breathing dyspnea apnea eupnea Small bronchus Difficulty of breathing Pause in breathing or not breathing Normal breathing Endotracheal Tube Digestive System Combining Form Abdomin/o Meaning abdomen An/o Append/o or Appendic/o anus appendix Bil/i or Chol/e Cec/o Cholecyst/o Col/o or Colon/o bile cecum gall bladder large intestine Medical Term abdominal Meaning Referring to the abdomen anal Referring to the anus appendectomy Surgical removal of the appendix bilious Having the characteristic of bile cecal Referring to the cecum cholecystectomy Surgical excision of the gall bladder colostomy Surgical creation of an opening through the large intestine Dent/i or Dent/o or Odont/o Doch/o Duoden/o Enter/o or Intestin/o Esophag/o Gastr/o tooth dental Referring to the tooth duct duodenum choledochal duodenal Referring to the bile ducts Referring to the duodenum intestine esophagus stomach intestinal Referring to the small intestine esophageal Referring to the esophagus gastrectomy Surgical removal of the stomach gingivitis Inflammation of the gums Gingiv/o gum Gloss/o or Lingu/o Hepat/o Ile/o Jejun/o tongue liver ileum jejunum glossitis hepatitis ileal jejunal Inflammation of the tongue Inflammation of the liver Referring to the ileum Referring to the jejunum Parts of the Small Intestines Lapar/o abdominal wall laparoscopy Omphal/o umbilicus, navel omphalitis Or/o mouth Pancreat/o pancreas Periton/o peritoneum oral pancreatic peritoneal Proct/o or Rect/o anus and rectum proctoscope Sial/o saliva sialography Sigmoid/o sigmoid colon mouth Stomat/o Viewing the abdomen through the abdominal wall Inflammation of the umbilicus Referring to the mouth Referring to the pancreas Referring to the peritoneum An instrument to view the rectum Radiologic examination of salivary glands sigmoidoscopy An instrument to view the sigmoid colon stomatitis Inflammation of the mucous lining of structures in the mouth Parts of the Colon Urinary System Genitourinary System Combining Form Albumin/o Meaning albumin Cyst/o or Vesic/o Glomerul/o urinary bladder glomerulus Hydr/o water Lith/o stone Medical Term albuminuria Meaning Abnormal presence of albumin in the urine cystitis Inflammation of the urinary bladder glomerular Referring to the glomerulus dehydration Excessive loss of body water nephrolithiasis Presence of kidney stones Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy for nephrolithiasis http://www.kidneystoners.org/treatments/eswl / Olig/o Pyel/o scanty renal pelvis oliguria pyelonephritis Ren/o Trigon/o Ureter/o Urethr/o Urin/o kidney trigone ureter urethro urine renal trigonal ureteral urethral urinary Scanty urination Urinary Tract Infection that has involved the renal pelvis Referring to the kidney Referring to the trigone Referring to the ureter Referring to the urethra Referring to urine URINARY BLADDER ) Female Reproductive System Female Reproductive System Combining Form Meaning Amni/o amnion Medical Term amniocentesis Cervic/o cervicitis cervix of the uterus Colp/o or Vagin/o vagina Culd/o cul-de-sac culdocentesis Fet/o Gon/o fetus seed colposcopy fetal gonads Meaning Removal of small amount of amniotic fluid from the uterus Inflammation of the cervix Procedure to view the vagina and cervix Extraction of fluid from the cul-de-sac using a needle Referring to the fetus Reproductive organs (testes/ovaries) Cul de Sac Gynec/o woman gynecology Hyster/o or uterus Uter/o or Metr/o hysterectomy Mamm/o or Mast/o breast mammography Men/o menses menarche Myom/o muscle tumor birth myoma Nat/i postnatal Study of female reproductive organs and diseases of these Surgical removal of the uterus Radiographic examination of the human breast The first menstruation of a girl Tumor in the uterine muscle After birth of fetus Oophor/o or Ovar/o Par/o Salping/o Vulv/o ovary oophorectomy to give birth fallopian tube vulva parity salpingectomy vulvar Surgical removal of the ovary Number of times a woman has given birth Surgical removal of the fallopian tube Referring to the vulva Male Reproductive System Male Reproductive System Combining Form Meaning Epididym/o epididymis Medical Term epididymal Genit/o reproduction genital Orchi/o or Orchid/o or Test/o or Testi/o Pen/o testis penis orchidopexy penile Meaning Referring to the epididymis Referring to the external accessory reproductive organs Surgically bring an undescended testis into the scrotum Referring to the penis Prostat/o Scrot/o Semin/o Spermat/o Varic/o Vas/o prostate prostatic gland scrotum scrotal semen seminal sperm cell spermatogenesis varicose varicosity veins vas deferens vasectomy Referring to the prostate gland Referring to the scrotum Referring to semen Production of sperms Condition of having markedly dilated veins To surgically cut the vas deferens as a form of birth control Endocrine System Endocrine System Combining Form Aden/o Adren/o or Adrenal/o Calc/o Meaning gland adrenal gland calcium Cortic/o Crin/o adrenal cortex secrete Estr/o female Gluc/o or Glyc/o glucose sugar Medical Term adenoma adrenalectomy Meaning Glandular tumor Surgical removal of the adrenal gland hypercalcemia High blood levels of calcium cortical Referring to adrenal cortex endocrine To secrete into tissue fluid estrogen The feminizing hormone hyperglycemia High blood glucose Home/o constant homeostatis Kal/i potassium hypokalemia Pancreat/o pancreas Parathyroid/o parathyroid gland Pituitar/o pituitary gland Thyr/o or thyroid Thyroid/o gland pancreatic parathyroid pituitary thyroidal Maintenance of a stable internal environment Low levels of potassium in blood Referring to the pancreas Referring to the parathyroid gland Referring to the pituitary gland Referring to the thyroid gland Do Exercise 3 ABBREVIATIONS Commonly-Used Abbreviations 1.ABG arterial blood gas 2. ACLS advanced cardiac life support 3. AD right ear 4. AF atrial fibrillation 5. AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome 6. AK above the knee 7. A/P anterior-posterior 8. ARD acute respiratory disease 9. AS left ear 10. ASD atrial septal defect 11. A/V atrioventricular 12. BCLS basic cardiac life support 13. B.i.d. twice a DAY 14. BK below the knee 15. BP blood pressure 16. BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy 17. BSA body surface area 18. BUN blood urea nitrogen 19. Bx biopsy 20. Ca Cancer 21. CABG cardiac artery bypass graft 22. CAD coronary artery disease 23. CAT computed axial tomography 24. CBC complete blood count 25. CHF congestive heart failure 26. CNS central nervous system 27. COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 28. CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation 29. CSF cerebrospinal fluid 30. CVA cerebrovascular accident 31. CVP central venous pressure 32. D & C dilation (dilatation) and curettage 33. D/C discontinue 34. DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation 35. DJD degenerative joint disease 36. DNR do not resuscitate 37. DX diagnosis 38. ECG (EKG) electrocardiogram; electrocardiograph 39. EEG electroencephalogram; electroencephalograph 40. ENT ear, nose and throat 41. Fx fracture 42. GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease 43. gm gram 44. GSW gun shot wound 45. gt (gtt) drop 46. GU genitourinary 47. GYN gynecology 48. H & P history and physical 49. HBV hepatitis B virus 50. HCT hematocrit 51. HIV human immunodeficiency virus 52. I & D incision and drainage 53. ICP intracranial pressure 54. ICU intensive care unit 55. IM intramuscular 56. IOP intraocular pressure 57. IV intravenous 58. KUB kidney, ureter, bladder 59. L&D labor and delivery 60. LLQ left lower quadrant 61. LUQ left upper quadrant 62. MRI magnetic resonance imaging 63. NKA no known allergies 64. NPO (n.p.o.) nothing by mouth 65. NS normal saline 66. OD right eye 67. OS left eye 68. OU both eyes 69. P/A posterior-anterior 70. PAD peripheral artery disease 71. PACU post-anesthesia care unit 72. PDA patent ductus arteriosus 73. PET positron emission tomography 74. PID pelvic inflammatory disease 75. PRN as needed 76. PVC premature ventricular contraction 77. RBC red blood cell 78. RLQ right lower quadrant 79. ROM range of motion 80. RUQ right upper quadrant 81. Rx drug prescription 82. Stat immediately 83. STD sexually transmitted disease 84. TAH/BSO total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy 85. T&A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy 86. TB tuberculosis 87. TENS transcutaneous electrical nerve simulation 88. TIA transient ischemic attack 89. t.i.d three times a DAY 90. TMJ temporomandibular joint 91. TPR temperature, pulse, respiration 92. TURP transurethral resection of the prostate 93. UA (U/A) urinalysis 94. URI upper respiratory infection 95. UTI urinary tract infection 96. VSD ventricular septal defect 97. WBC white blood cell The Joint Commission “DO NOT USE” Abbreviation List Do Not Use Use Instead U (unit) Write “unit” IU (international unit) Write “international unit” Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily) Write “daily” Q.O.D, QOD, q.o.d., qod (every other DAY) Write “every other DAY” Trailing zero (X.O mg) Write X mg Lack of leading zero (.X mg) Write O.X mg MS Write “morphine sulfate” MSO4 and MgSO4 Write “magnesium sulfate” The Joint Commission Abbreviations for possible future inclusion on the “Do Not Use” List Do Not Use >(greater than) <(less than) Abbreviations for drug names Apothecary units @ cc μg Use Instead Write “greater than” Write “less than” Write drug names in full Use metric units Write “at” Write “mL”, “ml” or “milliliters” Write “mcg” or “micrograms” Do Exercise on Abbreviations References: 1. Chabner DE, Medical Terminology – A Short Course, 6th Edition 2012 2. Thibodeau GA and Patton KT, Structure and Function of the Body, 14th Edition 2012 3. Frenay AC and Mahoney RM, Understanding Medical Terminology, 8th Edition 1991 4. http://www.globalrph.com
