CHAPTER 1-BASIC ELEMENTS OF A MEDICAL WORD
I. INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
A. Medical terminology is a study of word parts used to build medical terms.
B. Most medical word forms are derived from Latin or Greek and originated in 300400 B.C. Today, both of these are considered to be dead languages (they are
unchanging); therefore, medical terms are unlikely to change in our time.
1. If a word seems familiar to you, then it is probably of Latin origin. Unusual
combinations of consonants or a “K” in the middle of a word indicates a
word of Greek origin.
2. In general, Latin word roots are used to build words that describe anatomical
structures and Greek word roots are used to describe a disease, condition or
treatment.
C. Etymology-the study of words.
D. Word-building became and remains the primary way to describe new medical
discoveries.
II. FORMING MEDICAL TERMS
A. Medical terms are formed from two or more word parts. There are four major word
parts that are used to make medical terms. These four word parts are as follows:
1. A Word Root-the fundamental portion of the word that provides the primary
meaning for the word. Example-the root cardi means heart.
2. Combining Forms-refer to the word root and a combining vowel that enables
two parts to be connected together. Most often, the combining vowel is an “o”
but it may occasionally be an i, e or a.
3. Prefixes-are word parts attached to the beginning of a word or word root that
modify the meaning of that word root. Example: peri means around so if this
prefix is added to cardium, you have the word pericardium which is the bag
that surrounds and protects the heart.
4. Suffixes-are word parts attached to the end of a word or word root that modify
the meaning of that word root. Example: oid is a suffix that means like or
resemble. Thus, a fibroid is something mad of fibrous tissue.
III. DEFINING MEDICAL TERMS
A. There are 3 Steps for defining Medical Terms:
1. Define the suffix or end of the word first.
2. Define the first part of the word next.
3. Define the middle portion of the word.
B. Based on this, we essentially read a medical term starting at the end of the word.
C. Examples for Practice:
1. Gastroenteritis-
2. Echocardiography-
IV. RULES FOR BUILDING MEDICAL WORDS
A. A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel.
1. Hepat
+
itis
=
Hepatitis
B. A combining form (root + o) links a suffix that begins with a consonant.
1. Hepat/o
+
cyte
=
Hepatocyte
C. A combining form links one root to another root to form a compound word; even if
the second root begins with a vowel.
1. Osteo
+
Arthritis
=
Osteoarthritis
2. Osteo
+
Chondritis
=
Osteochondritis
V. RULES FOR PLURALIZING TERMS
A. Most English plurals are formed by adding s or es to a work. This is also true for many
medical terms (cancer-cancers; abscess-abscesses). However, medical terms derived
from ancient Greek and Latin often use the regular plural forms from those languages.
B. Specific Rules for Pluralizing Latin Terms:
1. Remove X and add ces to Latin words ending in x (appendix-appendices)
2. Remove ex and add ices to Latin words ending in ex (index-indices)
3. Remove the y and add ies to words ending in y preceded by a consonant
(mastectomy-mastectomies)
4. Add e to Latin terms ending in a a (lamina-laminae)
5. Remove us and i to Latin words ending in us (bacillus-bacilli)
6. Remove um from and ad a to Latin words ending in um
(diverticulum-diverticula)
7. Retain ma and add ta to the end of the word.
(Carcinoma-Carcinomata)
8. Drop en and add ina.
(Lumen-lumina)
C. Specific Rules for Pluralizing Greek Terms
1. Remove sis and replace it with ses in Greek words ending in sis
(psychosis-psychoses)
2. Remove on from and add a to Greek words ending in on (criterion-criteria)
D. Complete Activity 2-7, page 28 for practice!
VI. LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES
A. Legally and ethically, health care workers are required to uphold a number of rights for
patients.
B. The Patient’s Bill of Rights
1. To seek consultation with the physician(s) of their choice
2. To contract with their physician(s) on mutually agreeable terms
3. To be treated confidentially, with access to their records limited to those
involved in their care
4. To use their own resources to purchase the care of their choice
5. To refuse medical treatment even if it is recommended by their physician(s)
6. To be informed about their medical condition, along with the risks and benefits
of treatment options
7. To refuse third-party interference in their medical care, and to be confident that
their refusal of such interference is not detrimental to their care
8. To receive full disclosure of their insurance plan in plain language
VII. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA)-Act passed by
Congress that guarantees insurance coverage for workers and their families when they
change or lose their jobs
A. The Act also aims to improve efficiency in the Health Care System by encouraging the
the use of electronic data interchange in health care.