Essentials of Maternal-Infant Care
Medical Terminology
with Gloria Lemay
Medical Terminology
Developing knowledge of medical terminology allows doulas to become an interpreter
for clients and hospital personnel. Understanding the way that terms have come into use
from Latin and Greek origins and how words are constructed in a logical sequence can
turn mysterious terms into simple-to-solve puzzles. Did you know that the word
“perineum” is comprised of “peri” (meaning around) and “neum” (the temple)?
Knowing some anatomy (structure) of the human body plus some physiology (function)
and pathology (disease), is the first step to getting adept at speaking this unique and
universal language. Medical terminology is a type of shorthand that uses one or two
words to replace longer sentences which, even though long, might not have the
descriptive force and accuracy of the shorter medical term.
Most medical terms are made up of two or more parts. The main part is the root, or the
combining form to which the other parts are attached. Prefixes come before the root and
suffixes come after the root. Sometimes there will be words with two or more roots and
these are called compound words.
Here are some examples:
Roots: therm (heat)
Cardio (heart)
Pulmonary (related to the lungs)
Metr (related to the uterus)
Hyster (uterus)
Abdomino (belly or abdomen)
Prefixes: hypo (below normal)
Endo (within)
A, an (absence or deficiency)
Contra (against)
Neo (new)
Suffixes: ia (condition or state of being)
Itis (inflammation)
Ectomy (removal of)
Plasty (plastic surgery)
Ology (study of)
Ia (condition or state of being)
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Essentials of Maternal-Infant Care
Medical Terminology
with Gloria Lemay
Break the following words into prefix, root, and suffix components:
Hypothermia (below normal body temperature)
Cardiopulmonary (heart/lungs)
Endometritis (inflammation of the uterine lining)
Abdominohysterectomy (removal of the uterus through the abdominal wall)
Rules to Remember
- about 90% of the time, the part of the word indicated first comes last
e.g.
cystitis (inflammation—itis)
(of the bladder—cyst)
gynecologist (one who specializes—ologist)
(in female disorders—gynec)
-where body systems are involved, words are usually built in the order that the organs are
learned in the system. For example:
hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy
(uterus)(Fallopian tubes)(ovary)(removal of)
Medical Dictionaries
The most useful type of medical dictionary for a student is one that is light and easily
carried to courses, births and conferences. Avoid the temptation to get the biggest. A
simple paperback medical dictionary is sufficient for your needs. You will be able to
look up suffixes and prefixes separately. There is an online dictionary at
http://www.miriamwebster.com, which is an excellent resource.
When you look up one word in a dictionary, it will lead you to another and another. This
is how you build your vocabulary.
Notice in the following terms how the construction of the words is becoming clearer:
1. BIO LOGY-the study of living things
2. ARTHR ITIS -inflammation of a joint
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Essentials of Maternal-Infant Care
Medical Terminology
with Gloria Lemay
3. ADEN ECTOMY-removal of a gland
4. CYTO LOGY-the scientific study of cells
5. INTER COSTAL-the space between the ribs
6. CARCIN OMA-a cancerous tumor
7. HEMAT OMA-a blood filled tumor
8. HEMAT OLOGY-the study of blood and its constituents
9. INTRA CELLULAR-within a cell
10. HEMO LYSIS-dissolution or disintegration of blood cells (especially red blood
cells)
Find dictionary definitions for the following:
Ovaries
Oviducts
Uterus
Menstrual Cycle
Vagina
Greater vestibular glands
Vulva
Perineum
Embryo
Fetus
Neonate
Mammary glands
Menopause
Fundus
Dysmenorrhea
Corpus luteum
Parturition
Ectopic
Monozygotic
Fornices
Amenorrhea
Salpingitis
Cervix
GRAVIDA and PARITY
Gravida: (“to bear”) a pregnant woman. Any pregnancy including the present one.
Para: (“to give birth”) a woman who has given birth. Includes any birth after 20
weeks, whether live or dead.
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Essentials of Maternal-Infant Care
Medical Terminology
with Gloria Lemay
Nulligravida: a woman who has never been pregnant.
Primigravida: A woman who is pregnant for the first time.
Multigravida: a woman who has been pregnant more than once; she may not have given
birth to a child of viable age.
Nullipara: a woman who has never given birth to a child over 22 weeks gestation.
Primipara: a woman who is giving birth for the first time.
Multipara: a woman who has given birth more than once at more than 22 weeks
gestation.
Grand multipara: a woman who has given birth to five or more children at more than 22
weeks gestation.
Term: birth that occurs between 38-42 weeks of pregnancy
Preterm: birth that occurs between 24-27 weeks of pregnancy
Post term: birth that occurs after 42 weeks of pregnancy
A multiple pregnancy is considered as one pregnancy; the number of births is counted as
the babies birthed. Abortions, both spontaneous and induced, are counted as gravida.
After 20 weeks, all are counted as para, including stillbirths. The current pregnancy is
counted as gravida until the time of birth.
While the simple gravida _____para_____ is still used, a more detailed system of listing
pregnancies is now recommended. This system is called by the abbreviation GTPAL, as
it provides information about each gravida or pregnancy.
Gravida_____Term______Premature______Ab_____Living Child______
Karen is pregnant. She has had three term births, one miscarriage and three living
children.
We would construct her GTPAL: G 5
Create a GTPAL for yourself.
T 3 P 0
Ab. 1
L3
G ___T__ P____Ab. ___ L___
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Essentials of Maternal-Infant Care
Medical Terminology
with Gloria Lemay
Break down the following words into prefix, root and suffix. Write out a sentence using
each word when you are certain of its meaning:
Anencephalic
Apgar score
Asynclitism
Bilirubin
Bradycardia
Caput
Cyanosis
Edema
Fundus
Kegel
Ketonuria
Mastitis
Morbidity
Prolactin
Quickening
Thrush
Vaginitis
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Essentials of Maternal-Infant Care
Medical Terminology
with Gloria Lemay
Combine appropriate word parts from the list below and print the correct words in the
blanks:
-costal
hemo-or hemato-ectomy
inter-itis
cyto-lysis
aden-oma
arthr-logy
biooste- or osteocarcinintra-cellular
1. A cancerous tumor is called a ____________________________.
2. A tumor made of glandular kinds of tissue is an ______________________.
3. A tumor filled with blood is a _________________.
4. The study of blood and its constituents is _______________.
5. The scientific study of cells is known as_________________.
6. The study of living things is called ___________________.
7. Inflammation of a joint is known as _____________________.
8. Removal of a gland is called__________________________.
9. Removal of a joint is ___________________________.
10. The space between the ribs is ___________________.
11. The word that means “between cells” is ______________________.
12. The word that means “inside” or “within a cell” is _________________.
13. The dissolution or disintegration of blood cells (especially red blood cells) is
called________________________.
14. A firm tumor made of bone or bonelike tissue is known as
an__________________.
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