BASIC MEDICAL
TERMINOLOGY
MS. MARTINA DEANNE C. MENDOZA, RMT
INTRODUCTION
• Medical terminology is derived primarily from the classic
Greek and Latin languages.
• Medical terms consist of combinations of three major word
parts: prefixes, suffixes, and word roots.
• The same prefixes and suffixes are used frequently with
different word roots.
PREFIXES
• Prefixes are letters or syllables added to the beginning of a
word root to alter its meaning.
• It usually indicates direction, number, position, size, presence
or absence, or time.
SUFFIXES
• Suffixes are letters or syllables added to the end of a word
root to alter its meaning.
• In medical terminology, suffixes often indicate a disease, a
condition, or a type of procedure.
• It is necessary to memorize these common prefixes and
suffixes.
WORD ROOT AND COMBINING FORMS
• A word root is the main part of a word and may be combined with prefixes, suffixes, or
other roots.
• The combining form of a word root contains a combining vowel, usually an “o,”
which is used to facilitate pronunciation when the word root is combined with another
word root or a suffix that does not begin with a vowel.
• EXAMPLE:
• The word root for “heart” is cardi.
• The combining form is cardi/o.
• The suffix -logy means “study of.”
• The study of the heart is “cardiology.”
• A combining vowel is not used when the suffix already begins with a vowel.
WORD ROOT AND COMBINING FORMS
• When defining a medical term, begin at the last part of the
word (suffix), then define the first part of the word (prefix),
and finally, define the middle of the word (word root).
PLURAL FORMS
ABREVIATIONS
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DOH – Department of Health
CHED – Commission on Higher Education
VDRL – Venereal Disease Research Laboratories
AIDS – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
AIDs – Autoimmune disorders/diseases
AMI – Acute Myocardial Infarction
BUN – Blood Urea Nitrogen
2PPBSs – 2 hours Postprandial Blood Sugar
AFS – Acid Fast Stain
PCQACL – Philippine Council for Quality Assurance
ABREVIATIONS
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FBS – Fasting Blood Sugar
IV – Intravenous
HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus
IU – International Unit
ICU – Intensive Care Unit
K – Potassium
Na – Sodium
NPO – Nothing Per Orem
BAP – Blood Agar Plate