MEDICAL
TERMINOLOGY
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
Why is medical
terminology so
important?
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
• Universal language for all health care workers
• Better understanding when reading charts/care plans
• Makes reporting/recording easier & faster
Ex. Patient complains of lower left quadrant pain and has
nausea and vomiting = Pt. c/o LLQ pain & N/V
• To understand medical terminology we have to:
– Analyze words by dividing them into parts
• Prefix
• Root word
• Suffix
– Relate the terms to the structure and function of the body
PREFIX
• A prefix is a word element placed at the beginning of a
word.
• Prefixes are always combined with other word
elements, never alone.
• It usually indicates time, direction or number/amount.
HYPER = above normal
HYPO = below normal
THEREFORE:
HYPERTENSION = above normal blood pressure
HYPOTENSION = below normal blood pressure
ROOT
A root word contains the basic meaning of the word.
• It can be combined with prefixes, suffixes or other root words to
form a medical term.
• A root word usually indicates a body part, and is the foundation
of the term.
• The combining vowel, usually “o” links the root to the suffix or
to another root word. It is then called a “combining form”.
• This combining vowel is only used when the suffix or root word
that it’s being linked to begins with a consonant.
ARTHR = joint (root word)
SCOPY = examination using a scope (suffix)
THEREFORE:
Arthr/o/scopy = examination of a joint using a scope
ROOT
1. End – within (root)
Scope – examination with a scope (suffix)
= End/o/scope – to examine within the body using a scope
2. Electr – electricity (root)
Cardi – heart (root)
Gram – record (suffix)
= Electr/o/cardi/o/gram
TRY THIS
Gastr – stomach
It is – inflammation
= ??
SUFFIX
• A suffix is placed at the end of a word and is
combined with a prefix or root word.
• They are never used alone.
• Suffixes usually indicate a procedure, condition
or disease.
RHIN (O) = nose (root word)
PLASTY = surgical repair or reshaping (suffix)
THEREFORE:
RHIN/O/PLASTY = surgical repair or
reshaping of the nose
LET’S TRY SOME
PREFIXES
ROOT
SUFFIX
Hypo =
Peri =
Pre =
Hyper =
Post =
Tachy =
Brady =
Cardio =
Ectomy =
Laryngo =
Otomy =
Oto =
Algia =
Endo =
Rrhea =
Gastro =
Ologist =
Myo =
Rrhage =
Arthro =
Necrosis =
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
4 REGIONS OF THE ABDOMEN
• Left upper quadrant
• Right upper quadrant
• Left lower quadrant
• Right lower quadrant
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
DIVISIONS OF THE BACK
•
•
•
•
•
Cervical – Neck region (C1-C7)
Thoracic – Chest region (T1-T12)
Lumbar – Waist region (L1-L5)
Sacral – Region of the sacrum (S1-S5)
Coccygeal – Region of the coccyx
• The numbers indicate the number of vertebrae in each
division
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
• Distal – far from the beginning of a structure or point of
attachment
• Proximal – near the beginning of a structure or point of attachment
• Anterior (ventral) – located at or toward the front of the body or
body part
• Medial – relating to or located at or near the middle or midline of
the body or body part
• Posterior (dorsal) – located at or toward the back of the body or
body part
• Lateral – relating to or located at the side of the body or body part
• Superior – above another structure
• Inferior- below another structure