Where did medical terminology
come from?
 Most come from Greek or Latin
 As medicine advanced, more modern terms have
come from German, French and English
 Generally medical terms for determining illness or
describing surgery have Greek origins.
 Terms for parts of the body generally have Latin
roots.
Sample Medical Record
 Mrs Gravelle is an 80 year old female with deteriorating
general health. She suffers with the following chronic
conditions: blepharitis, which occludes her vision at
time; angiocele of coronary vessels causing a tachycardia
between 120-130. frequent episodes of epistaxis. Current
complaints include SOB and congestion of the sinus and
chest area. Bilateral rales are present, nares are inflamed
with profuse rhinorrhea. Rx is BR, antibiotics QiD, 240
cc of cl liq Q1hr. Decongestant Q4h and PRN.
Pronounciation of medical terms








ch is sometimes pronounced like a k
Examples: chemoreceptor, chronic
ps is pronounced like s Examples: psychiatry, psychology
pn is pronounced with only the n sound Examples: pneumonia, pneumogastric
c and g are given the soft sound of s and j respectively Examples: cell, cilia,
genetics, Giardia

 ae and oe are pronounced ee Examples: fasciae, coelom

 i at the end of a word is pronounced eye (to form a plural) Examples: alveoli,
glomeruli

 es when forming the final letters of a word, is often pronounced as a separate
syllable Example: nares (nah’reez)
Medical Word Parts
 Prefix:Beginning part of a word preceding the word root.

Example: peri Root: Central part and determines the meaning of a word.

Example: cardi-
 Suffix:Last part of the word that changes its meaning.

Example: -itis
 Combining
A root with an added vowel for easier pronunciation.
 Form Example: rhin/o
Common Abbreviations
 Cath.
 B/P
 hs
 Spec.
 CPR
 Pc
q
 Q2h
 qod, QOD
NPO
bid
IV
HyperROM
po
qhs
Pt, pt
I&O
post
am, AM
fx
lab
w/c
qid, QID
amt.
dc
CA
Abbreviations (continued)
 ss
 pm, PM
 BR, br
 ax
 c/o
 ht
 liq.
 OOB, oob
c
postop
O2
stat
wt
cc
BRP
noct, noc.
OPD
bm, BM
CBC
s
dx
amb
H2O
Examples
 Please write the following situation out in whole
words/no abbreviations:
 58 y/o male c/o SOB and fever. Upon arrival to ED his
VS are as follows: T 102.3 P 115 R 30 BP 102/60 and
and O2 at 85%. Pt. w/hx of COPD, URI, Lung CA,
CHF and DM. Orders are as follows: stat CXR, stat
CBC, adm O2 at 2l/min and start IV of D5NS @
125ml/h. Admit to med unit, DM diet, VS Q4h, BR
w/BRP
Examples
 Write the following sentences in abbreviated format:
 20 milliequivalent of potassium chloride by mouth four




times a day before meals.
Temperature, pulse and respirations every 6hours
Eight ounces of magnesium citrate every four hours until
BM
Complete bedrest until blood pressure less than 145 three
times
Admit to Coronary Care Unit, electrocardiogram
immedately, blood work to be done: complete blood count,
blood/urea/nitrogen; vital signs every four hours
Prefixes
 Syllable or word placed at the
beginning tells the how, why, where,
when, how much, how many, direction,
time.
 Examples:
 Pre means before
 Tachy means fast
Prefixes Continued
 Brady means slow
 Hemi means half
 These are just a few examples. These prefixes
combined with root words and suffixes make
up terms that describe human anatomy,
organ systems, clinical and diagnostic
imaging, lab testing, together with clinical
procedures, surgeries and diagnoses.
Word Roots
 Definition: Main words or parts to which prefixes and
suffixes can be added.
 By learning basic prefixes, suffixes, and word roots, you will
frequently be able to interpret the meaning of a word even
when you have never before seen the word
 In the example appendicitis, the word root is appendix. By
adding the prefix pseudo, which means “false,” and the
suffix itis, which means “inflammation,” the word becomes
pseudoappendicitis. This is interpreted as a “false
inflammation of the appendix.”
Word Roots Continued
 When prefixes, suffixes, and/or word roots are joined
together, vowels are frequently added. Common
examples include a, e, i, ia, io, o and u. The vowels are
not used if the word root or suffix begins with a vowel.
 Example: encephal (o) means brain. When it is
combined with itis, meaning inflammation of, the
vowel is not used for encephalitis. When it is
combined with gram, meaning tracing or record, the
vowel “o” is added for encephalogram.
Word Roots Continued
 Example: hepat (o) means liver. When it is combined
with itis, the vowel is not used for hepatitis. When it is
combined with megaly, meaning enlarged, the vowel
“o” is added for hepatomegaly.
 Other examples:
 Peri
+ Cardi/o + Ectomy = Pericardiectomy
which is the surgical removal of a portion of the
membrane surrounding the heart.
Word Roots Continued
 Crani +
otomy = craniotomy crani means
pertaining to the skull, otomy means cutting into.
Craniotomy is surgical opening into the skull
 Leuko
+ cyte = leukocyte leuko means whit,
cyte means cell. Leukocyte is a white cell
 Para
+ plegia = paraplegia para means lower
half of body, plegia means paralysis. Paraplegia is
paralysis of the legs and lower body.
Suffixes
 Defined as a syllable or word placed at the end of a word.
The ending part of a word that modifies the meaning of
the word.
Examples:
ology-study of, science of; Biology
lysis-destruction, dissolving of; Autolysis
osis-condition, state, process; Osteoporosis
Pulling it All Together
 It is impossible to memorize all of the words
of a medical dictionary that are used in
health occupations.
 By breaking these words into parts, however,
it is sometimes possible to figure out their
meanings.
 In order to communicate effectively, health
care workers must be familiar with common
abbreviations and terminology.
Bringing Root Words and Suffixes
Together
 Examples:
 neuralgia
 hysterectomy
 mammogram
 anemia
 carditis
 thrombolysis
 colostomy
cardiomalacia
hepatomegaly
biologist
carcinoma
rhinorrhea
necrosis
cardiomyopathy
Bringing Root Words and Suffixes
together
 Examples continued:
 osteopenia
myospasm
 thrombolysis
BellWork for Monday 1/27
 When you see the statement “What word elements
are used to form common health care terms and
abbreviations?” What do you think the term elements
means? How would you explain it in terms of medical
use?
Bell Ringer for Thursday
 A patient has just had a thoracotomy. Where would
you find a surgical wound on this patient?
Back
 Lower leg
 Neck
 Chest

Bell Ringer for Thursday
 Which of the following would be a normal
complaint of a marathon runner?
 Nephrosis
 Myalgia
 Hematuria
 Hydrocephalus
Bell Ringer for Friday
 What is the most likely reason to perform a
mastectomy?
 Breast Cancer
 Fracture
 Hepatitis
 Ligament Strain
Bell Ringer for Tuesday-Root Word
 If a patient has had a cerebrovascular
accident, what part of their body has
been affected?
Bell Ringer for Friday-Prefixes
 What do you think a patient with
hypoglycemia is suffering from?
Bell Ringer for Tuesday-Root Word
 If a patient has had a cerebrovascular
accident, what part of their body has
been affected?
Bell Ringer for Thursday-Abbrev.
 Write following orders as abbreviations:
 Immediate electrocardiogram, vital signs every 2
hours, 30 cubic centimeters of cough syrup by mouth
as needed or whenever necessary
Questions
 Joe has kidney stones, he should see a:




gastroenterologist, pathologist, nephrologist or
neurologist
What prefix means before: pre, semi, sub, tachy
If a patient is turned q2h, how many times will the
patient be turned during an 8hour shift? 2,4,8,16
What instrument would a doctor use to examine the
urinary bladder? Gastroscope, proctoscope, otoscope
or cystoscope
What prefix means slow: brady, anti, bi, dys
Questions Continued:
 What health professional would use an
opthalmascope? Dentist, xray technician, a foot
doctor, an eye doctor
 What prefix means half? Hemi, contra, tachy,
contra
 Maria has osteoporosis. She needs to see a doctor
who specializes in the study of the : skin, bones, eyes
or lungs.
 Kate complained of upper abdominal pain
immediately after eating spicy food. She most likely
has: arteriosclerosis, spelnomegaly, gastritis or
nephrosis
Questions Continued
 Physicians believe that Fatima may have septicemia.
What would be tested to confirm the diagnosis: sputum,
blood, urine, spinal fluid
 Chris was hit by a baseball and needs a rhinoplasty. He
was hit in the: stomach, chest, face, pelvis
 What root word means ear: chem, erythro, neuro, oto
 What suffix means removal of: algia, ectomy, ology,
stasis
 Which of the following is symptom of pericarditis:
bloody urine, chest pain, difficulty swallowing or
headache