CHAPTER
5
Medical Terminology
UNIT
1
Introduction to Medical
Terminology
5-2
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Basic Principles behind
Medical Terminology
5-3
Most medical terminology stems from
Greek or Latin origin.
Some medical terms are associated with
the physician or scientist who discovered
the organ or created the procedure.
(continued)
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Basic Principles behind
Medical Terminology
Most medical terms have three parts:
1.
Prefix
2.
Combining form or word root
3.
Modifier
Appears at the beginning of the term
Main meaning
Suffix
Modifier
Appears at the end of the term
5-4
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Properly Breaking Up Medical Terms to
Help Define the Meaning
First, identify the suffix to determine the
meaning of the term.
Then look for any prefix at the beginning
of the term.
Finally, look for the meaning of the word
root.
5-5
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Remember the Rules
5-6
A prefix always goes to the left (in front of
the word) and is denoted with a hyphen
to the right.
A suffix always goes to the right (after the
word) and is denoted with a hyphen to
the left.
The word root or combining form is the
part of the word that applies to anatomy;
there can be more than one of these in a
medical term.
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Unit Summary
Does the prefix go on the left or on the
right?
Does the suffix go on the left or on the
right?
Where is the combining form placed?
5-7
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UNIT
2
Prefixes, Suffixes,
Word Roots, and
Combining Forms
5-8
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How Prefixes Alter Word Meaning
Prefixes indicate:
5-9
A location
Presence or absence of something
Quantity or lack of quantity
Size
Frequency
Position
(continued)
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How Prefixes Alter Word Meaning
Prefix
5 - 10
Meaning
Example
a-, an- without
Arrhythmia is without a
rhythm.
bi-
two
Bilateral means pertaining to
two sides.
dys-
abnormal,
painful
Dysuria is the condition of
painful urination.
(continued)
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How Prefixes Alter Word Meaning
Exceptions
Choose the prefix based on the word root.
If the word root begins in a vowel, choose a
prefix that ends in a consonant.
5 - 11
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How Suffixes Change Medical Terms
5 - 12
Suffixes always appear at the end of the
word.
Suffixes identify the disorder or
procedure.
(continued)
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How Suffixes Change Medical Terms
Suffix Meaning
Example
-cyte
cell
A leukocyte is a white blood
cell.
-itis
inflammation Gastritis is inflammation of
the stomach.
-logy
the study of
Cardiology is the study of
the heart.
5 - 13
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The Difference between
Combining Forms and Word Roots
Combining forms are word roots that
already have a vowel added to the end of
the root to make it easy to combine the
word root with the suffix.
5 - 14
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Common Combining Forms
and Word Roots
Combining
Form
muscul/o
Word Root
Meaning
muscul
muscle
cardi/o
cardi
heart
neur/o
neur
nerve
lip/o
lip
fat
5 - 15
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Using the Combining Vowel
Use the combining vowel whenever the
suffix begins with a consonant.
Do not use the combining vowel when
the suffix begins with a vowel.
5 - 16
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Unit Summary
True or false: Prefixes indicate location,
presence or absence, quantity, lack of
quantity, position, and frequency.
True or false: Suffixes serve to pluralize
a medical term.
5 - 17
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UNIT
3
Forming Plurals from
Singulars
5 - 18
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Determine Whether a Term is
Singular or Plural
In the English language, most terms that
end in “s” or “es” are plural.
To take a singular term that has an
English origin and make it plural, you
would simply add “s” or “es.”
Runner becomes runners.
Business becomes businesses.
5 - 19
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Changing Greek and Latin Terms
It is important that you learn to recognize
the proper conversion rules for Greek
and Latin terms.
Once you have worked with the
conversion rules, you should practice
them and, if possible, memorize them.
5 - 20
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Changing Singular to Plural
Singular Plural
Example
-a
-ae
Vertebra becomes vertebrae.
-is
-es
Diagnosis becomes diagnoses.
-um
-a
Atrium changes to atria.
-us
-i
Bacillus becomes bacilli.
-ex
-ices
Apex changes to apices.
-nx
-nges
Phalanx changes to phalanges.
5 - 21
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Unit Summary
Are the following words singular or
plural?
Appendix
Bacteria
Indices
5 - 22
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UNIT
4
Understanding and
Building Medical Terms
of Body Systems
5 - 23
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Anatomical Position
The universal point of reference used to
identify directional terms
The body is imagined as being upright,
with arms at the sides and facing
forward.
5 - 24
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Important Directional Terms
Anterior or ventral
Posterior or dorsal
5 - 25
Front
Back
(continued)
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Important Directional Terms
Inferior: below
Superior: above
Lateral: to the side
Medial: middle
Internal: inside
Superficial: on the surface
5 - 26
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Select and Define Combining Forms for
Each Body System
Integumentary system (Table 5-7)
Musculoskeletal system (Table 5-8)
5 - 27
Made up of the skin
Made up of the bones and muscles that form
our frame and provide support and
protection, as well as permit movement
(continued)
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Select and Define Combining Forms for
Each Body System
Cardiovascular system (Table 5-9)
Respiratory system (Table 5-10)
5 - 28
Made up of the heart, blood vessels, and
lymphatics
Made up of the nose, mouth, trachea,
esophagus, bronchi, and lungs
(continued)
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Select and Define Combining Forms for
Each Body System
Gastrointestinal system (Table 5-11)
Urinary system (Table 5-12)
5 - 29
Consists of the organs that allows us to
break down food, use nutrients, and
eliminate waste
Made up of the organs that filter the blood
and eliminate liquid waste
(continued)
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Select and Define Combining Forms for
Each Body System
Nervous system (Table 5-13)
Endocrine system (Table 5-14)
5 - 30
Contains the brain and spinal cord
Made up of the glands that control mental,
emotional, and physical development
(continued)
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Select and Define Combining Forms for
Each Body System
The special senses (Table 5-15)
Organs that help us to see, hear, maintain
our balance and upright stature, smell, and
taste
Reproductive system (Table 5-16)
Made up of all the specific male and female
organs that allow us to reproduce
5 - 31
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Common Medical Abbreviations
5 - 32
Abbreviations are frequently used to
save time when charting.
The medical community has developed
many common abbreviations.
These abbreviations must be universally
recognized and never just made up.
(continued)
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Common Medical Abbreviations
IV
CVA
ECG/EKG
EEG
MS
ASHD
MI
COPD
URI
UTI
CA, ca
EGD
GERD
GI
UGI
UA
GYN
GU
5 - 33
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Unit Summary
Using the knowledge learned in this
chapter, build the following medical
terms:
Surgical removal of the appendix
Abnormal enlargement of the extremities
Inflammation of the voice box
5 - 34
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Keys to Career Success
Medical terminology is the language of
health care when working with patients
and other health care professionals.
Incorrect use or spelling of medical
terminology can adversely affect patient
care.
5 - 35
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Hot Links to Career Success
www.medterms.com
MedTerms medical dictionary
www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary
Medical dictionary, medical terminology
5 - 36
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