Introduction to Medical Terminology
Importance of Medical Terminology

A fundamental understanding of medical
terminology is essential for all health
professionals from the doctors, nurses
health professionals who provide primary
care, therapy and rehabilitation to
ancillary personnel who work with
medical records, medical bills and other
patient care related documents in the
health care setting.
Learning a Medical Language

You will learn:
◦ Component parts used in the construction
and definition of medical terms
◦ Spelling
◦ Pronunciation
Analysis of Terms

Medical terms are made up of some or all
of the following 4 basic elements:
◦
◦
◦
◦
Prefix
Word root
Suffix
Combining form (a root word + a
combining vowel)
Not all of these elements are used in every
medical term.
Word Root

A word root is the core of a medical
term and is the main meaning of the
word.

The root of a medical term is equivalent
to a noun.
Word Root

In medical terminology word roots may
represent….
◦ ORGANS: Derm = Skin
◦ BODY FUNCTIONS: Hidr = Sweat
◦ PROCEDURES: Radi = Radiation/X-ray
Most medical terms have at least 1 word root!!
Combining vowel
In medical terminology the word root
usually is associated with a vowel, which is
usually “o” but sometimes “i”.
 The vowel helps combine the word root
with a suffix or another word root.
Therefore it is called a combining vowel.
Using a combining vowel makes
pronunciation easier, which is its main
purpose.
 Ex. Gastr/o
Gastrointestinal

Combining Form
A word root PLUS a combining vowel is
called a Combining Form.
 Ex. Stethoscope
 “Steth” is the word root meaning chest
 “o” is the combining vowel
 So together “steth/o” is a combining
form.
 Scope is a suffix meaning “instrument
used for examining or recording

Combining Form Continued
A combining vowel is not always used in a
medical term.
Ex. Proximal (pertaining to the nearest
point of attachment)
The combining form is Proxim/o
(which means “near, nearest”)
The word root is Proxim
Suffixes

Placed at the end of the word.

The suffix has it’s own meaning and changes the
meaning of the medical term.
◦ Tonsill/itis
◦ itis means “inflamation of ” (condition)
◦ Tosill/ectomy
◦ ectomy means “removal” (procedure)
Suffix Example

In the term “Cardiac,” the suffix “-ac,”,
meaning “pertaining to,”

“Cardi/o” means “heart”

In this instance the combining vowel was
not used.
Prefixes

Attached to the beginning of a word or
word root.

Adding or changing a prefix changes the
meaning of the word.
Prefix Example
“lateral” means “pertaining to the side.”
 The prefix “bi-”, which means “two,”
modifies its meaning.
 “Bilateral” means “pertaining to two
sides.”

Analysis of Terms
An
exact correspondence
usually does not exist
between the modern
translation of a medical
term and its Greek or Latin
origins
Example
The suffix”-emia” means blood
 The prefix “an-” means without or not.
 “Anemia is literally translated as “having
no blood.”

◦ Anemia is defined in the medical dictionary as
a blood disorder characterized by a reduction
in red blood cells
3 Steps to Defining Medical Words

Step 1
◦ Define suffix, or last part of the word first
Example: “gastrointestinal”
Start with suffix –al (pertaining to)
3 Steps to Defining Medical Words

Step 2
◦ Define the first part of the word (which may
be a word root, combining form or prefix,
 Gastrointestinal
 Gastr/o means stomach
3 Steps to Defining Medical Words

Step 3
◦ Define the middle parts of the word.
 Gastrointestinal
 Intestin means intestines
 So the whole meaning to the medical term is Pertaining to
the stomach and intestines
3 Rules for Building Medical Words

Rule #1
◦ A word root links a suffix that begins with a
vowel.
◦ Hepat
-itis = Hepatitis
◦ (drop the combining vowel when the
suffix begins with a vowel)
3 Rules for Building Medical Words

Rule #2
◦ A combining form (word root + combining
vowel) links a suffix that begins with a
consonant.
◦ Hepat/o
-cyte = hepatocyte
◦ (keep the combining vowel when the
suffix begins with a consonant)
3 Rules for Building Medical Words

Rule #3
◦ A combining form links one root to another
root to form a compound word. Even if the
second root begins with a vowel.
◦ Oste/o
arthr
-itis = osteoarthritis
Practice Assignment

1-1 thru 1-5 pp. 9-11
Review

3 Steps for Defining Medical Terminology
◦
◦
◦

3 Rules for Building Medical Terminology
◦
◦
◦
Review

Identify the following medical word
components
◦
◦
◦
◦
Gastr/o
Nephr
-itis
Pro-
Pronunciation Rules
ae and oe only second vowel is
pronounced (bursae, pleurae, and
roentgen)
 Soft sound of s and j are given to c and g,
respectively, before e, I, and y in words of
greek and latin origin (cerebrum,
circumcision, cycle, gel, gingivitis, giant and
gyrate).
 Before other letters c and g have a hard
sound (cardiac, cast, gastric, and gonad)

Pronunciation Rules
The letters ch are sometimes pronounced like k
(cholesterol, cholera, cholemia)
 When pn appears at the beginning of a word,
the p and the n are pronounced (pneumonia,
and pneumotoxin)
 When ps appears at the beginning of a word,
the p is silent and only the s is pronounced
(psychology, psychosis)
 When forming the final letter or letters of a
word, e and es are often pronounced separate
syllables (syncope, systole, nares)

Pronunciation Rules
When pn appears in the middle the p and
the n are pronounced (orthopnea,
hyperpnea)
 When i appears at the end of a word it is
pronounced eye.
 All other vowels and consonants have
normal English sounds

Pronunciation Marks
Pronunciation Review
Macron gives what type of sound to a
vowel?
 Breve gives what type of sound to a
vowel?
 pn in the middle of the word both the p
and the n are pronounced. T or F?
 Pronounce the following word. Bursae
 Pronounce the following words.
Circumcision, Gel
