Medical Terminology
AAIMT©
Medical Terminology Document
0
Revised: September 3, 2010
Medical Terminology
Q: What is medical terminology?
A: The technical language of the health care community. It is made up of generally accepted terms and
descriptions that convey information about the human body and medicine in a standardized format.
Q: Why, as a massage therapist, do I need to know this?
A: You will be able to exchange information and ideas with a wide variety of other health care
practitioners and you will understand the universal language of anatomy and physiology, which is
used to teach all of the classes here at AAIMT.
Q: Do I have to memorize ALL of these terms?
A: No, you should come away from this lesson with an understanding of the basic structure of medical
terminology, how to look for clues about the meaning of a word, and how to look the terms up.
Do words like splenectomy, homeostasis, and lateral epicondyle look like made up words to you? Guess
what, they are!
These words are correct medical terminology for the following concepts…
Splenectomy: A surgical removal of the spleen.
Homeostasis: the maintenance of relatively stable internal physiological conditions (as body temperature
or the pH of blood) in higher animals under fluctuating environmental conditions.
Epicondyle: any of several prominences on the distal part of a long bone serving for the attachment of
muscles and ligaments.
You can see the complexity of each of these concepts, yet each idea can be represented by a single word.
This is because we have developed a standardized, universally accepted language of medical terminology
to communicate with. This is the height of language development for human beings, when vastly complex
and subtle concepts can be represented clearly by a single word or phrase. These words can represent so
much because they are actually made up of smaller words that have their own complex meanings and
histories, compounded together.
By the end of this lesson you should feel comfortable meeting new medical terminology in your daily life.
You will be able to look at a word, figure out the pronunciation, be able to break it down into component
structures, and have several good reference sources to look up the definition. In short you will be learning
a new language.
Language is a tool for communication. All humans use language, be it verbal, pictures, or body, to
communicate with each other. Over the course of human history, language has grown and changed to
allow us to communicate effectively as our existence became more complex. It started with drawing and
pointing (not very portable or standardized methods) then moved into hand signals and finally sound. As
we needed to express more and more abstract concepts we had to come up with ways to express the subtle
differences or connections between things. What began with naming developed into connected strings of
ideas and actions.
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Medical Terminology Document
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All languages began thousands of years ago and have developed into the ones we use today. The history
of any particular word is called its etymology. Looking up the etymology of words can be fun because
they often have strange and interesting histories. Take Achilles tendon for example, it comes from a
Greek myth. As an infant, the warrior Achilles was submerged in the river Styx to make him impervious
to all wounds. His mother held him by two fingers, one on either side of his calcaneus bone, and dipped
him in the water. Later Achilles was killed at the battle of Troy by an arrow that hit him just where his
mother held his heel. Those two points are the lateral boundaries of the Achilles tendon attachment, and
strangely enough two major points in Shiatsu used to balance the energy of the body. Modern medical
terminology is mainly derived from the Greek and Latin languages. There are numerous other ones such
as Arabic, French, Hindu, Japanese, and many, many more that have also contributed to what we use
today.
Right now, at the beginning of massage therapy school, you use language called the vernacular or
common every day speech to describe the human body. You will be expanding that language as well as
your understanding of scientific or medical terminology as you go through the course. The vernacular is
what you will use to help describe these complex concepts to your self and your clients. Medical
terminology is the language you will use to communicate to your self through, your SOAP charting, and
other health care practitioners. You will also act as a communication bridge for your clients, and other
people you help educate about their bodies, across these two languages.
Effective communication is the basic function of medical terminology. It is standardized and accepted
throughout the health care industry so all practitioners can understand the information collected about
their clients or patients. An extreme example of this is someone being admitted to the emergency room of
a hospital. They will be seen by a range of medical practitioners who will ask them how they feel and take
a series of tests to determine their health. All this information will be compiled on a chart that stays with
the patient. Each subsequent health care provider should be able to read the chart, understand what has
been happening up to that point, what is important to the patient’s health, and where the treatment is
headed. You don’t want your doctor calling around to a bunch of people asking, “Now was that an
appendectomy or a tonsillectomy that we were supposed to be doing on you?”
The same thing happens with your charting of clients. The information that your client gives you may
lead you to ask for a physician’s permission before the massage. Or, you may send them to seek medical
attention and you will need to be able to explain why. More commonly, in a large clinic, your client may
go through a series of body-workers and you want the client to feel that they have been listened to, their
treatment tracked and recorded, and not have to re-explain their history every time. Efficient, accurate
communication is needed to insure people get excellent health care when they seek help for issues they
are experiencing.
You have been learning the scientific or medical names of the different body systems and structures so
you should be getting familiar at recognizing some common terms like osteo (bone), arterio (arteries),
plantar (surface of foot). You have also seen several diseases that end in the suffix it is (inflammation).
Learning to use these proper names in describing the body will help you pick up on clues to the meaning
of a new word before you look it up. That will help you save time and narrow your search when you do
reference it, and can help you ask pertinent questions if you can’t look it up when you first encounter it.
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Word Analysis
HEMAT /O/ LOGY
Root
(“blood”)
Combining
Vowel
Suffix
(“study of”)
When you analyze a scientific/medical term, begin at the end of the word, the suffix. Next, look at the
beginning of the word, which is the root. The root tells you what you are dealing with, and the suffix is a
further qualifier of the root word. So in the above example, the meaning is “the study of blood”. The
combining vowel (usually “o” or “I”) connects the root to the suffix (to make it easy to pronounce…
“hematlogy” would be tough to say!). The combining form is the root plus the combining vowel,
“Hemat/o”.
You can have more than one root … as in gastr/o/enter/o/logy”, the study of the gastro (the stomach) and
the entero (the intestines).
Analyze these words:
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Gastroscope
Gastritis
Enteritis
Gastroenteritis
Gastric
A prefix is a word part, like a suffix, except that the prefix is added onto the beginning of the work instead
of at the end…
Subgastric
Transgastric
Retrograstric
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To Review:
The important word parts needed for analyzing a term are…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Root – gives the essential subject of the word.
The Suffix – is the word part ending the word.
The Prefix – is a word part added to the beginning of the word.
The Combining Vowel – connects the root to the other word parts.
The Combining Form – is the combination of the root and the combining vowel.
Some important rules to remember are:
*
Prefix is placed at the beginning of a word.
*
Suffix is placed at the end of a word.
*
Read the meaning of the word BACKWARD - from the suffix to the beginning of the word,
THEN from beginning to end.
*
Drop the combining vowel before a suffix that starts with a vowel (lip/o=fat, -oma=tumor
combine to form “lipoma” rather than “lipooma”).
*
Keep the combining vowel between the root words (if more than one, as with
gastroenterology), even if the root begins with a vowel.
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A Brief Dictionary of Terms and Meanings
PREFIXES
a, an
ab
ad
ante
anti
aut
bi
dia
dys
endo
epi
exo
hyper
hypo
inter
intra
mal
meta
para
peri
pre
pro
re
retro
sub
supra
trans
uni
AAIMT©
Medical Terminology Document
MEANING
no, no
away
toward, near
before, forward
against
self
two, both
complete, thorough
bad, painful, difficult, abnormal
within
on top of, on, upon
outside
excessive, more than normal
below, less than normal
between
within
bad
beyond, change
beside, near
surrounding
in front of, before
forward, ahead
back
behind
under, below
above, over
across, through
one
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Combining Forms
(Root + Vowel)
abdomin/o
aden/o
angi/o
arteri/o
arthr/o
axill/o
bi/o
bronch/o
carcin/o
cardi/o
cephal/o
cerebr/o
chem/o
col/o
crani/o
cutane/o
cyst/o
cyt/o
dermat/o, derm/o
dur/o
electr/o
encephal/o
enter/o
erythr/o
esophag/o
fasci/o
gastr/o
gen/o
glyc/o
gnos/o
gynec/o
hemat/o, hem/o
hepat/o
hyster/o
inguin/o
lepar/o
leuk/o
laryng/o
lip/o
mamm/o
mast/o
my/o
nephr/o
AAIMT©
Medical Terminology Document
MEANING
abdomen
gland
vessel, usually blood vessel
artery
joint
armpit, underarm
life
bronchial tubes
cancer
heart
head
cerebrum
drug, chemical
colon
skull, cranium
skin
urinary bladder, (cyst)
cell
skin
dura mater
electricity
brain
intestine (often the small intestine)
red
esophagus
fascia
stomach
to produce, begin
sugar
knowledge
woman
blood
liver
uterus
groin
abdomen
white
voice box, larynx
fat
breast
breast
muscle
kidney
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neur/o
onc/o
opthalm/o
oste/o
ot/o
path/o
peritone/o
phleb/o
pneumen/o
psych/o
ren/o
rhin/o
sarc/o
spondyl/o
thorac/o
thromb/o
urethra/o
uter/o
vascul/o
ven/o
vertebr/o
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Medical Terminology Document
nerve
tumor
eye
bone
ear
disease
peritoneum
vein
lung
mind
kidney
nose
flesh
vertebra, spine
chest
clotting
urethra
uterus
blood vessel
vein
vertebra
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AAIMT©
Medical Terminology Document
NOUN SUFFIX
-algia
-cyte
-emia
-gen
-globin
-ia
-ism
-itis
-logist
-logy
-megaly
-oma
-osis
-pathy
-phagia
-plasm
-pnea
-rrhea
-rrhage, or –rrhagia
-sclerosis
-uria
MEANING
pain
cell
blood condition
to produce
protein
condition, disease
condition, process
inflammation
specialist in the study of
study of
enlargement
tumor or mass
condition, abnormal condition
disease condition
to eat, swallow
formation
breathing
flow, discharge
bursting forth of blood
hardening
condition of urine
ADJECTIVE SUFFIX
-al, or –eal
-ar
-ic
-ine
MEANING
pertaining to
pertaining to
pertaining to
pertaining to
PROCEDURAL SUFFIX
-centesis
-ectomy
-gram
-graphy
-lysis
-opsy
-tomy
-plasty
-scopy
-stomy
-therapy
-tomy
MEANING
surgical puncture to remove fluid
removal, resection, excision
record
process of recording
separation, breakdown, destruction
to view
the process of cutting, incision
surgical repair, surgical correction
process of visual examination
opening
treatment
incision, to cut into
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During your career as a health professional, you will need to communicate with other health
professionals. This need is present whether you are providing direct client care, as a massage therapist, or
indirect client care, as when writing reports to send to the client’s doctor. This course is to give you the
beginnings of medical terminology so you have a way of communication that all health providers will
understand.
Health professionals use specific terms and a different language to describe to each other situations they
encounter each day. You must be able to understand, spell, and pronounce the terms you will be using.
Modern medical terminology is an artificial language constructed over centuries using words and
elements from Greek and Latin origins. Some 15,000 or more words are formed from the Greek and
Latin roots. There are always new words added as there are new medical discoveries. With this medical
terminology, we can communicate clearly and effectively with each other. Just remember that every
profession has its own language.
During your day as a health professional you will:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Listen to clients describing their symptoms, and translate those descriptions into medical
terms
Speak to clients to translate and clarify information given to them by physicians and other
health professionals
Possibly speak to physicians and other health professionals to report information and ask
questions about your client
Read physicians’ comments and treatment plans in patient medical records and insurance
reports
Read results of physical examinations, procedures, and laboratory and diagnostic tests
Write to document actions taken by yourself on behalf of your client
Think critically to evaluate medical documentation for accuracy
Think critically to analyze and discover the meaning of unfamiliar medical terms
Remember, if you cannot speak the language, you cannot be on the team!!!
This course will be rudimentary. This subject is a life long learning experience for you. Throughout your
professional life, you will continue to learn by way of continuing education seminars, symposiums and
workshops. Your own experience and judgment become your most valuable resources for making your
life be the one you want it to be. Your own experience and judgment maximize your professional and
personal success. Become active when it comes to learning, no one else will spoon feed it to you.
In English, we will add an s or es to make a word plural. Since many of the medical terms have Greek
and Latin origins, the plural endings will occasionally follow the rules of these languages. Where English
rules are not preferred, plurals are formed as below:
•
•
If the term ends in a, the plural is made by adding an e to the word – example: scapula, the plural
is scapulae
When a term ends in ax, change the ax to aces to form the plural – example: thorax, the plural is
thoraces
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•
•
•
•
•
If the singular term ends in is, then the i gets changed to an e to make plural – example: neurosis,
the plural is neuroses
If the singular term ends in ix or ie, the ending is changed to ices to form the plural – example:
cervix, the plural is cervices
If the singular term ends in um, the ending is changed to an a for plural – example: septum, the
plural is septa
To form the plural of words ending is us, change to an i – example: calculus, the plural is calculi
To make a term ending in y a plural, drop the y and add ies – example: biopsy, the plural is
biopsies.
The above will be the case mostly, but there are some exceptions. The plural of virus is viruses, not viri,
for example.
When we look at these medical terms, we see a suffix (s), a prefix (p), and a root (r). Below is an
example of some of those.
Word
Pronunciation
Elements
Definition
Cervical (adj)
ser-vih-kal
s/al pertaining to
r/cervic – neck
Latin for neck
Pertaining to the
cervix or neck region
Cervix
ser-viks
Hypertension
high-per-ten-shun
Hypertensive (adj)
high-per-ten-siv
Hypotension
high-po-ten-shun
Infusion
in-fyu-zhun
p/in – in
r/fusion – to pour
Transfusion
trans-fyu-zhun
p/trans – across
Intravenous
in-trah-vee-nus
Neurology
nyu-rol-oh-jee
Lower part of uterus
s/ion condition/action Persistent high
Hyper-above normal arterial blood pres.
r/tens – pressure
pertaining to high
blood pressure
s/ive – pertaining to Persistent low
arterial blood pres.
Introduction of a
substance other than
blood intravenously
Transfer of blood
from a donor to a
recipient_______
s/ous – pertaining
Inside a vein
to
p/intra – within,
inside
____________________________________r/ven – vein______________________
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Medical Terminology Document
s/logy – study of
r/neur/o - nerve
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Medical specialty of
disorders of the
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nervous system
Neurologist
nyu-rol-oh-jist
s/logist – one who
studies and is a
specialist in
Medical specialist in
disorders of the
nervous system____
Ureter
you-ree-ter
Greek urinary
canal
Tube that connects
a kidney to the
urinary bladder
Canal leading from
the bladder to the
outside
Medical specialty of
disorders of the
urinary system____
Urethra
you-ree-thrah
Greek passage
for urine
Urology
you-rol-oh-jee
s/logy – study of
r/ur/o – urine
Uterus
you-ter-us
Latin womb
Vertebra
ver-teh-brah
Vertebrae (pl)
ver-the-bree
Latin bone in
One of the bones of
the spine
the spinal column
__________________________________
Organ in which an
egg develops into
a fetus__________
A sample abbreviation: IV – intravenous
Now sign in to your moodle and do the following exercises by inserting the correct medical term from the
above word analysis chart.
Quiz 1
1. The client has several badly fractured ______________in his spinal column.
2. The client has nerve damage. Refer him to the department of_____________.
3. Schedule this patient for an ______________of chemotherapy drugs today.
4. This client has low blood pressure, he is ______________and anemic.
5. Send this patient for ____________x-rays of his neck.
6. The doctor ordered an immediate ____________of 2 units of blood.
To get you thinking, be sure to use your knowledge of suffixes and roots:
7. If a medical specialist in the study of disorders of the nervous system is a neurologist, what is a
medical specialist in the study of disorders of the urinary system called? _____________
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Please answer the following questions on moodle. You may have to refer to your Pathology text book.
Quiz 2
1. Name three of the four word parts of a medical term.
2. What is dermatitis?
3. A cardiologist treats diseases of what body organ?
4. The plural for nucleus is?
5. What is the term for the study of the elderly?
Ok, now let’s have a look at suffixes that refer to medical conditions:
Suffix
-algia
-cele
-dynia
-ectasis, -ectasia
-emia
-iasis
-ism
-itis
-malacia
-megaly
-oma
-osis
-penia
-plegia
-pnea
-porosis
-ptosis
-rrhage
-rrhea
-rrhexis
-spasm
Refers to
pain
protrusion, hernia
pain
expansion or dilation
blood
presence of, formation of
a condition, a process or a state of
inflammation
softening
enlargement
tumor
abnormal condition
reduction of size or quantity
paralysis
breathing
porous condition
downward displacement
flowing forth
discharge
rupture
muscular contraction
Examples
neuralgia
rectocele
arthrodynia
angiectasis
anemia
cholelithiasis
dwarfism
tendinitis
fibromalacia
gastromegaly
gastroma
osteoporosis
osteopenia
hemiplegia
tachypnea
osteoporosis
nephroptosis
hemorrahage
diarrhea
hysterorrhexis
angiospasm
And also suffixes that refer to medical specialties and specialists:
Suffix
-ian
-iatrics
-iatry
-ics
-ist
-logy
Refers to
specialist
medical specialty
medical specialty
medical specialty
specialist in a field of study
study of
Examples
pediatrician
pediatrics
phychiatry
orthopedics
orthopedist
gynecology
These are just example of different types of suffixes. There are many, many more along with more types
as well.
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So, now go to your moodle and match suffixes with meanings for the below, you may want to refer to
your Pathology text book:
Quiz 3
1.
_______-cyte
2.
_______-edema
3.
_______-emesis
4.
_______-sclerosis
5.
_______-tome
6.
_______-ism
7.
_______-lith
8.
_______-lysis
9.
_______-opsy
10.
_______-pathy
11.
_______ -phobia
12.
_______-poiesis
13.
_______-stomy
14.
_______-stasis
15.
_______-stenosis
A. a morbid impulse toward a specific object or thought
B. vomiting
C. a stone, calculus, calcification
D. a condition, a process or state of
E. disease
F. visual examination
G. cell
H. disintegration
I. excessive fluid in intracellular tissues
J. instrument for cutting
K. level; unchanging
L. narrowed; blocked
M. hardness
N. permanent opening
O. producing
So, now you have a good idea of how to analyze medical terms using their roots, suffixes and prefixes.
You are off to a very good start.
Just so you know, in the second semester, there will be more medical terminology information for you
along with some challenging exercises. One of these exercises will be for you to write a report to a doctor
about a client you have been working with. This client is, of course, the doctor’s patient. So, begin
thinking about this now. This report must make use of medical terminology throughout.
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Glossary of Terms
their origin and definition related to Muscles
The following abbreviations are used: F., French; G., Greek; L., Latin; and ME., Middle English.
• Abductor (L. abducere, to move away). A muscle that draws a structure away from the axis of the
body or one of its parts, e.g. lateral rectus muscle.
• Accessorius (L. accessorius, to move toward). Accessory or supernumerary. Also denoting
specific muscles.
• Accessory (L. accessorius, to move toward). Supernumerary, adjuvant.
• Adductor (L. adducere, to bring forward). A muscle that draws a structure toward the axis of the
body or one of its parts, e.g. adductor pollicis.
• Alae (L. ala, wing). Relating to a muscle of the nose, and others.
• Anconeus (G. ankon, elbow). Musculus anconeus.
• Ani (L. anus, anal oriface). Pertaining to a muscle that supports the anus.
• Anticus (L. anticus, anterior). Designating a muscle as placed anteriorly, e.g. serratus anterior.
• Arch (L. arcus, a bow). Any structure resembling a bent bow or an arch.
• Articulationis (L. articulationes, the forming of new joints of a vine). Pertaining to muscles that
insert into a joint capsule.
• Arytenoid (G. arytenoideus, ladel-shaped). Pertaining to muscles attached to this laryngeal
cartilage.
• Atlanto- (G. Atlas, in Greek mythology a Titan who supported the world on his shoulders).
Relating to muscles attached to the second cervicle vertebra, the atlas.
• Atloideus. See Atlanto• Auricularis (L. auricularis, the external ear). Pertaining to muscles that attach to the external ear.
Also referring to the fifth digit of the hand because of its use in cleaning the external auditory
meatus.
• Axillary (L. axilla, armpit). Pertaining to muscles that are found in the region of the armpit, e.g.
axillary arch muscle.
• Azygos (G. a, without + zygon, yoke). Any unpaired muscle.
• Basilaris (G., L., basis, base). Pertaining to the base, body, or lower part of a structure, e.g., base
of the skull.
• Biceps (L. bi, two + caput, head). Two heads. Pertaining to muscles with two heads, e.g., biceps
brachii.
• Biventer (L. bi, two + venter, belly). Muscle having two bellies.
• Brachialis (G. brachion, arm). Muscles relating to the arm.
• Brachii (G. brachion, arm). Muscles of the arm.
• Brachio- (G. brachion, arm) Relating to the arm.
• Brevis (L. brevis, short, brief).A short muscle or head, e.g., short head of biceps brachii.
• Buccinator (L. buccinator, trumpeter). A muscle of the cheek.
• Bucco- (L. bucca, cheek) Pertaining to the cheek.
• Bulbo- (L. bulbus, a bulbus root). Any globular or fusiform structurs. A muscle covering a bulbar
structure.
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• Capitis (L. caput, head). Pertaining to the head.
• Capsularis (L. capsa, a chest or box). A muscle joined to a capsule as, for example, a joint. Any
structure so designated as a capsule.
• Carnosus (L. carnis, flesh or muscle). Pertaining to muscular tissue or dermal muscles.
• Carpi (G. karpos, wrist). Muscles relating to the eight carpal bones of the wrist.
• Caudatus (L. cauda, tail) The belly of a muscle. When the bellies are divided, bicaudatus.
• Cavernosus (L. caverna, a grotto or hollow). Pertaining to the cavernous tissue of the
reproductive system.
• Cerato- (G. keras, horn). Relating to muscle that arises from the greater horn of the hyoid bone.
• Chondro- (G. chondros, cartilage). Pertaining to muscles that arise from costal cartilage.
• Cilii (L. cilium, eyelid). Pertaining to the eyebrow, e.g., corrigator supercilii.
• Clavicularis (L. clavicula, small key). Pertaining to muscles associated with the clavicle.
• Cleido- (G. kleis, clavicle). Related with the clavicle.
• Coccygeus (G. kokkyx, a cuckoo). A muscle associated with the coccyx, e.g., musculus
coccygeus.
• Colli (L. collum, neck). Pertaining to the neck or to the neck of a structure, e.g., longus colli
muscle.
• Communis (L. communis, in common). Relating to more than one structure working as one unit,
e.g., extensor digitorum communis.
• Compressor (L. compressus, to press together). A muscle that, when contracted, produces
pressure on another structure.
• Condyloideus (G. kondylos, knuckle). Pertaining to a muscle attached to the outer edge of a joint
or a bony knob-like stucture.
• Constrictor (L. constringere). A muscle that, upon contraction, reduces the size of a canal, a
sphincter.
• Coraco- (G. korakoides, a crow's beak). Denoting a muscle that arises from the coracoid process
of the scapula.
• Cornu (L. cornu, horn). Any structure resembling a horn in shape.
• Corrugator (L. con, together + ruga, wrinkel). A muscle that wrinkels the skin.
• Costalis (L. costa, rib). Pertaining to muscles attached to ribs.
• Cremaster (G. kremaster, a suspender). Musculus cremaster, the muscle by which the testicles are
suspended.
• Crico- (G. kikos, a ring). Denoting muscles that attach to the cricoid cartilage.
• Crural (L. crus, leg). Pertaining to the leg (from knee to ankle) or to any other muscle designated
as a crus.
• Deltoideus (G. deltoeides, shaped like the letter delta). The musculus deltoideus, shaped like an
inverted delta.
• Dentate (L. dentatus, toothed). Notched muscles, e.g., the serrati.
• Diaphragm (G. diaphragma, a partition). Muscle diaphragma separating the thorax from the
abdomen.
• Digastricus (G. di, two + gaster, belly). Denoting muscles with two fleshy parts separated by a
tendinous intersection, e.g., musculus digastricus.
• Dilatores (ME. dilaten, to dilate or expand). Denoting a muscle that opens an orifice.
• Dorso- (L. dorsum, back). Muscles related to the dorsal surface of the body, e.g., latissimus dorsi
muscle. Also any structure related specifically to the thorax.
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• Epi- (G. epi, upon). Denoting a muscle attached to another structure, e.g., dorsoepitrochlearis
muscle.
• Epistropheus (G. epistropheus, the pivot). Muscles relating to the second cervical vertebra.
• Epitrochlearis (L. epi, upon + trochlearis, block or pulley). Pertaining to muscles associated with
the humeral epichondyle.
• Extensor (L. ex-tendre, to stretch out). A muscle that , upon contraction, tends to straighten a
limb. The antagonist of a flexor muscle.
• Femoris (L. femur, thigh). Pertaining to the femur or thigh.
• Flexor (L. flectere, to bend). A muscle that, upon contraction tends to bend a joint; the antagonist
of an extensor.
• Gastrocnemius (G. gaster, belly + kneme, leg). The belly of the leg, e.g., musculus
gastrocnemius.
• Gemelli (L. geminus, twin). The two gemelli, superior and inferior.
• Genio- (G. geneion, chin) Pertaining to muscles of the chin (mandible).
• Glosso- (G. glossa, tongue). Pertaing to a muscle that arises from, or inserts on, the tongue.
• Gluteus (G. gloutos, buttock). Pertaining to the muscles of the buttocks.
• Gracilis (L. gracilis, slender or delicate). Musculus gracilis of the thigh.
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Hallucis (L. hallux, great toe). The muscles and tendons associated with the first digit of the foot.
Humero- (G. homos, shoulder). Pertaining to the bone of the arm and muscles associated with it.
Hyo- (G. hyoeides, hyoid). Relating to the U-shaped hyoid bone and muscles associated with it.
Hyoideus. See Hyo- above.
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Iliacus (L. ilium, groin). A muscle of the groin.
Ilio- (L. ilium, groin). Pertaining to a muscle of the groin and ilium.
Indicis (L. index, one that points). The forefinger or pointer.
Inferior (L. inferior, lower). Lower, caudal.
Infra- (L. infra, below) Pertaining to a position below a named structure, e.g., infraspinatus.
Internal (L. internus, interior). Deep or away from the surface.
Inter (L. inter, between). Between or among.
Ischio- (G. ischion, hip) Pertaining to the ischium.
• Lateral (L. lateralis, lateral). To the right or left of the axial line, to the outside, away from the
midline.
• Latissimo- (L. latus, broad). A term applied to some broad flat muscles, e.g., latissimus dorsi.
• Levator (L. levare, to lift). One of several muscles whose function is to lift the structure to which
it is attached, e.g., levator palpebrae superiorus.
• Linguae (L. lingua, tongue). Pertaining to, or toward, the tongue.
• Longissimus (L. longus, long). A name given to certain long muscles, e.g., longissimus capitis.
• Lumborum (L. lumbus, a loin) Pertaining to the back and sides between the pelvis and ribs.
• Lumbricales (L. lumbricus, an earthworm). Muscles resembling earthworms, e.g. the lumbricals.
• Mandibulo- (L. mandere, to chew). Pertaining to a muscle arising from the mandible.
• Manus (L. manus, hand). Pertaining to the muscles of the hand.
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• Masseter (G. maseter, masticator). A large masticatory muscle of the jaw.
• Mastoideus (G. mastos, breast + eidos, resemblance). Resembling a mamma or a breast- shaped
structure.
• Medial (L. medialis, middle). Relating to muscle nearer to the median or midsagittal plane.
• Mentalis (L. mentum, chin). Relating to the muscles of the chin, e.g., musculus mentalis.
• Mento- (L. mentum, chin). See Mentalis.
• Metacarpo- (G. meta, after + carpus, wrist). Pertaining to the bones adjacent to the wrist.
• Musculus (L. mus, mouse). A muscle.
• Myo- (G. mys, a muscle). Relating to a muscle.
• Mytiformis (G. mytilos, mussel + forma, shape). Shaped like the shellfish, e.g., musculus
mytiformis.
• Naris(L. naris, nostril). Pertaining to muscles associated with the nostril.
• Nasalis(L. nasus, nose). Pertaining to the nose.
• Nuchae(F. nuque, back of the neck). Muscles associated with the back of the neck.
• Obturator (L. obturare, to occlude). Pertaining to muscles associated with the obturator
membrane, which closes the obturator foramen.
• Occipitalis (L. ob, before or against + caput, head). Pertaining to muscles attached to the occipital
bone.
• Omo (L. omo, shoulder). Pertaining to muscle attached to the scapula.
• Opponens ( L. opponere, to place against). A name given to several adductor muscles of the
fingers and toes.
• Oris (L. oris, mouth). Relating to the entrance to the digestive tube, or mouth.
• Os (L. os, bone) a bone
• Palato- (L. palatum, palate). Relating to the hard or soft palate.
• Palmaris (L. palma, palm of the hand). Pertaining to muscles of the forearm, which may insert
into the palmar aponeurosis.
• Palpebrae (L. palpebra, eyelid). The eyelid.
• Panniculus (L. pannus, cloth). Pertaining to a thin sheet of dermal muscle.
• Pectineus (L. pecten, a comb). Pertaining to the os pubis or any ridged structure. A muscle.
• Pectoro- (L.pectus, pector-, chest). Pertaining to the muscles of the chest wall.
• Pedis (L. pes, foot). Refering to the foot.
• Penis (L. penis, tail). The male reproductive organ.
• Peroneus (G. perone, brooch or fibula). Pertaining to several muscles on the lateral or fibular side
of the leg.
• Phalangei (F., G., L. phalanx, a formation of Roman soldiers). Pertaining to the bones of the
fingers.
• Pharyngeus (G. pharynx, throat). Pertaining to the pharynx.
• Piriformis (L. pirum, pear + forma, shaped). Pear-shaped.
• Pisiform (L. pisum, pea + forma). Pea-shaped or pea sized.
• Plantaris (L. plantaris, sole of the foot) Pertaining to a muscle of the foot, musculus plantaris.
• Platysma (G. platys, flat or broad). A broad flat dermal muscle of the thorax and neck.
• Pollicis (L. pollex, thumb). Relating to the thumb.
• Popliteus (L. poples, the ham of the knee). Pertaining to a muscle of the popliteal space.
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• Procerus (L. procerus, long or stretched-out). A muscle of the nose.
• Pronator (L. pronare, to bend forward). A muscle that, on contraction, rotates the hand so that the
palm of the hand faces backward when the arm is in the anatomical position.
• Psoas (G. psoa, muscle of the loin). Pertaining to muscles in the lumbosacral region, the
"tenderloin".
• Pterygoideus (G. pteryx, or pteryg-, wing + eidos, resemblance). Wing-shaped. Applied to
muscles associated with the pterygoid processes of the sphenoid bone.
• Pubo- (L. pubes, genitalis). Pertaing to muscles attaching to the os pubis.
• Pyramidalis (G. pyramis, pyramid). Applied to muscles having, more or less, pyramidal shape.
• Quadratus (L. quadratus, square). More or less square-shaped muscles.
• Quadriceps (L. quadi-, four + caput, head). A name given to a muscle having four heads, e.g.,
quadriceps femoris.
• Quinti (L. quintus, fifth). Fifth, as in the fifth digit.
• Radio- (L. radius, ray). Pertaining to muscles associated with the radius of the forearm.
• Rectalis (L. rectus, straight). Pertaining to muscles associated with the distal segment of the large
intestine.
• Rhombo- (G. rhombos, a rhomb). Resembling a rhomb, an oblique parallelogram of unequal
sides. Relating to two superficial muscles of the back.
• Risorius (L. risor, laughter). Pertaining to a facial muscle, i.e., musculus risorius.
• Salpingo- (G. salpinx, trumpet). Pertaining to a muscle fascicle attached to the eustachian
(auditory) tube and pharynx.
• Saphenous (G. saphenes, visible) Pertaining to a muscle that is associated with the saphenous
vein.
• Sartorius (L. sartor, a tailor). Musculus sartorius.
• Scalenus (G. skalenos, uneven). Pertaining to muscles having uneven sides or length.
• Scapulo- (L. scapulae, shoulder blades). Pertaining to a muscle associated with the scapula.
• Semi- (L. semis, half). Prefix denoting half or partly.
• Serratus (L. serra, saw). Pertaining to muscles that are serrated, notched, or dentate.
• Soleus (L. solea, a sandal [foot]). Musculus soleus.
• Spinous (L. spina, thorn). Related to the spinous processes of the vertebral column.
• Splenius (G. splenion, a bandage). Musculus splenius and others.
• Stapedius (L. stapes, stirrup). A muscle inserted into the stapes. Musculus stapedius.
• Sterno- (G. sternon, the chest). Pertaining to muscles attached to the sternum.
• Stylo- (G. stylos, pillar or post). Pertaining to muscles attached to the styloid process of the
temporal bone.
• Sub- (L. sub, under). Denoting muscles that are beneath or inferior to a named structure, e.g.,
subclavius.
• Superior (L. superus, above). Denoting a muscle located above another muscle in an inferior
position or to another structure to which it is attached.
• Supinator (L. supinare, to place on back). Denoting a muscle that, upon contraction, rotates the
forearm and hand with the palm facing anteriorly when the hand and forearm are in the anatomical
position.
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• Supra- (L. supra, above). Prefix to note the position of a muscle above a named structure, e.g.,
supracostalis.
• Suralis (L. sura, calf of the leg). Relating to the calf.
• Temporalis (L. tempus, time or temple). Relating to the temple, musculus temporalis.
• Tensor (L. tendere, to stretch). Pertaining to a muscle whose function is to make a structure, to
which it is attached, firm and tense.
• Teres (L. tero, round or smooth). Denoting certain muscles that are round and long.
• Thyro- (G. thyreos, an oblong shield). Denoting certain muscles attached to the thyroid cartilage.
• Tibialis (L. tibia, a pipe or flute). Pertaining to muscles attached to the tibia.
• Trachelian (G. trachelos, neck). Pertaining to muscles associated with the neck.
• Transversus (L. trans, across + vertare, to turn). Denoting muscles that lie across the long axis of
an organ or a part.
• Trapezius (G. trapezion, a table) A four sided muscle having no two sides that are parallel.
Musculus trapezius.
• Triangularis (L. tri, three + angulus, angle). A muscle that is, more or less, triangular in shape.
• Triceps (L. tri, three + caput, head). Denoting a muscle with three heads, e.g., musculus triceps.
• Triticeo- (L. triticum, a grain of wheat). Pertaining to a muscle attached in part to the cartilago
triticea.
• Ulnaris (L. ulna, elbow forearm). Pertaining to the larger and more medial of the two bones of the
forearm.
• Uncinatus (L. uncus, hook). Os hamatum or uniform bone. A muscle attached to the hook of the
hamate, e.g., pisiuncinatus.
• Urethrae (G. ourethra, urethra). Relating to the urethra, e. g., musculus sphincter urethrae.
• Vaginae (L. vagina, sheath). Pertaining to a muscle attached to a joint capsule.
• Vastus (L. vastus, huge). A large muscle of the thigh, musculus quadriceps with three vasti and a
rectus.
• Zygomaticus (G. zygoma, a bar or bolt) Pertaining to the zygomatic bone, e.g., musculus
zygomaticus.
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