MEDICAL
TERMINOLOGY
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Using medical terminology

Medical terminology is used in:
◦ conversation with other professionals
◦ medical charting and documentation
◦ professional texts, journal articles
2
Using medical terminology

Understanding and using medical
terminology correctly is essential to a
successful midwifery career

Why is this essential?
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Medical terminology
•
Each health care specialty has its own terminology
and abbreviations
•
Health care professionals become so used to the
language of their specialty they forget others don’t
understand these terms
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When not to use medical
terminology
Medical conditions, diagnoses, treatments
and terms should always be explained in lay
person’s language when talking to patients,
family and community members
 Be aware of the client’s literacy level and
language of origin

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Building blocks of medical language

Medical terms are made up of several parts –
elements - that can be combined to make many
different words

Learning the meaning of these elements helps
understand many medical terms
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Building blocks of medical language
3 principle elements make up medical terms:
1.
roots and combining forms
2.
prefixes
3.
suffixes
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Each element is essential to
understanding the meaning of the
medical term
Prefix
Root
Combining
Vowel
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Suffix
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The Root
•
•
•
•
The root is the part of the medical term that
gives the main meaning
It usually refers to a structure and/or function
of the body
Roots are usually Latin or Greek in origin
All medical terms have at least one root
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Combining forms
Combining forms consist of roots plus a vowel,
usually the letter “o”
 In the dictionary, the vowel is separated from the
root with a slash mark, example:
 Gastr/o - stomach
 Enter/o – small intestine
 Cardi/o - heart

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Combining vowel
The letter “o” is called the combining vowel
It links the root to the “suffix,” the next
element in the medical term
 Used if the suffix begins with a consonant.
 Not needed if the suffix begins with a vowel


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Roots and combining forms
There are thousands of roots and combining
forms that make up medical language
 You need to learn the roots and combining
forms used in general medical terminology
and what is specific to maternity care

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Basic root words
Adip/o
Arteri/o
Arthr/o
Axill
Blephar
Bucca
Cardi/a
Cephal
Cerebr/o
fat
artery
joint
armpit
eyelid
cheek
heart
head
brain
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Basic root words
Cervic
Cholecyst
Col/o
Cost/o
Crani/o
Cyst/o
Cyt/o
Derm
Enter
neck
gallbladder
large intestine
rib
skull
urinary bladder
cell
skin
small intestine
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Basic root words
Esophag
Gastr/o
Hem/o
Hepat/o
Ren/o, nephr/o
Lapar
Laryng/o
Lumbus
esophagus
stomach
blood
liver
kidneys
abdominal wall
larynx
loin, lower part of
the back
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Basic root words
Myel/o
spinal cord
My/o, muculo
muscle
Nas/o, rhino
nose
Neur/o
nerve
Ophthalm/o, ocul/o
eye
Or/o, stomat/o mouth
Oste/o
bone
Ot/o
ear
Pancreat/o
pancreas
Pharyng/o
throat
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Basic root words
Pneum/o,
pneumon/o
Splen/o
Thorac/o
Thyroid
Trache/o
Ven/o, phleb/o
Vertebr/o
Viv/o
lung
spleen
chest
thyroid gland
windpipe, trachea
vein
vertebra
life
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Combining forms
The letter “o” is called the combining vowel
 It links the root to the “suffix,” the next element
in the medical term, if the suffix begins with a
consonant.
 The combining form is always used when linking
two roots, even if the second one starts with a
vowel.

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Suffixes

Suffixes are word elements that are attached to
the end of roots and combining forms to add to
or change their meaning

All medical terms have a suffix
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Suffixes

Each suffix can be added to many roots
itis = inflammation
appendicitis = inflamed appendix
arthritis = inflamed joint
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Suffixes

The combining vowel is used between the
root and the suffix when the suffix begins
with a consonant:
Example: cardi + o + megaly =
cardiomegaly
cardiomegaly = enlarged heart
cardi = heart, megaly = enlarged
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Suffixes
When the suffix begins with a vowel, there is
no need for a combining vowel between the
root and the suffix
 The suffix is attached to the root word
Example: gastr + itis = gastritis
gastritis = inflammation of the
stomach
gastr = stomach,
itis = inflammation

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Suffixes
Some common meanings of suffixes:
• Pathological (disease) conditions
• Diagnostic procedures
• Surgical procedures
• Pertaining to
• Produced by
• Resembling
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Suffixes
When suffixes are listed in medical dictionaries
or word lists, they are listed alphabetically
• The word is preceded by a dash and identified as
a word element
• The dash indicates something precedes it
• Dictionary entries will give the language of origin,
usually Latin or Greek
•
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Common suffixes
Pertaining to:
-ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -eal, -iac, -ic, -ical, -ose, -ous, -tic
Examples:
Cardiac (pertaining to the heart)
Cellular (pertaining to the cell)
Psychotic (pertaining to psychosis)
Corporeal (pertaining to the body)
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Common suffixes
-algia pain
-centesis surgical puncture to
remove fluid
-cide to kill, destroy
-cyte cell
-ectomy
removal of
-emia
blood
-gram
record
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Common suffixes
-graph
instrument used to record
-graphy
process of recording
-ia, - a
condition, esp. an
abnormal state
-ism condition
-itis
inflammation of
-lithiasis
presence of or formation of
stones
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Common suffixes
-logy study of
-logist
person who studies it
-megaly
enlargement
-oid
resembling
-oma
tumor
-otomy
surgical incision
-pathy
disease
-plasty
surgical repair
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Common suffixes
-plegia
paralysis
-pnea
breathing, respiration
-rrhea
drainage, flow
-scope
examination, instrument
-scopy
examination using a scope
-stasis
stoppage
-stomy
surgically create an artificial
mouth or stoma
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Prefixes
Prefixes are word elements that are attached to
the beginning of roots and combining forms to
add to or change their meaning
 Many (but not all) medical terms have a prefix

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Prefixes
Common meanings of prefixes:
Position
Direction
Time
Number
Negation, absence of
Color
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Location
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Prefixes
The same prefixes can be attached to many root
words, resulting in thousands of variations
 The prefix “hyper” means “abnormally increased
or excessive”
Hyperacid = excessively acidic
Hyperactive = abnormally active
Hypertension = persistently high blood pressure

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Prefixes





Prefixes can dramatically change the meaning of a
word
Example: “systole” means “contraction of the
heart”
The one letter prefix “a” means “without”
“Asystole” means “no contractions of the heart”
-- Just one letter makes the difference between
life and death!
Correct spelling is critical in health care
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Prefixes
When prefixes are listed in medical dictionaries and
word lists, they are located alphabetically followed
by a dash and identified as a word element
 Their origin (Latin, Greek) is usually given
 Example:
epi- word element (Gr) meaning over
poly- word element (Gr) meaning many, much

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Common prefixes
A-/anAntiAutoBiBradyDysEpi-
without, not
against
self
two, double
slow
bad, difficult, painful
over
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Common prefixes
EuHemiHyperHypoInterIntraMultiNonPeri-
good, normal
half
above, excessive
less than, under
between
within
many
not
around
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Common prefixes
Polymany, much
Postafter, behind
Pre- before, in front
Pseudofalse
Quadrifour
Semihalf
Sub- under, below
Supraabove, over
Tachyfast, rapid
Trithree
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Putting it all together
Learn the meanings of commonly used word
elements and understanding how they combine to
make a medical term
 Then you can figure out the meaning of thousands
of medical terms
 Think of each word as a combination of building
blocks or railroad cars, fitted together to create a
precise meaning

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Putting it all together
The medical term is put together like a series
of building blocks or train cars
Prefix +
Root +
Combining vowel (if needed) +
Suffix
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Putting it all together – linking the
components to define the term
Prefix
Root
Combining
Vowel
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Suffix
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Putting it all together
When you see a new term, break it down
into the elements
 Start at the end of the word and work to
the left
 Identify and define each element
 As you define each element you will
define the medical term

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Start at the end of the word and work
to the left
Prefix
Root
Combining
Vowel
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Suffix
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Example: “Echocardiogram”
echo
cardi
o
gram
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Define Echocardiogram reading from left to
right
Echo =
reflections
of sounds
Cardi =
heart
O=
connecting
vowel
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Gram =
Written,
record
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Define Echocardiogram reading from left to
right
Echo =
reflections
of sounds
Cardi =
heart
O=
connecting
vowel
Gram =
Written,
record
Echocardiogram is defined as a
written recording of the heart
using reflections of sounds
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Putting it all together
Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix
Echocardiogram
 echo = reflections of sounds
 cardi = heart
 o = connecting vowel
 gram = written, record
Echocardiogram is a written recording of the heart
using reflections of sounds
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Example: “Cytology”
No
Prefix
Cyt
o
logy
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Putting it all together
Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix
Cytology
 Cyt (root) = cell
 o = the connecting vowel
 logy = (suffix) study of
Cytology means study of the cell
A cytologist is someone who studies cells
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Example: “Bradycardia”
Brady
cardi
No
Connecting
vowel
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ia
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Putting it all together
Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix
Bradycardia
• Brady = abnormally slow
• no connecting vowel is needed because the prefix
ends with a vowel
• cardi = heart
• ia, a = condition, esp. an abnormal state
Bradycardia means a condition of abnormally slow
heart
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Example: “Splenectomy”
No
prefix
splen
No
Connecting
vowel
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ectomy
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Putting it all together
Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix
Splenectomy
 splen = (root) spleen
 no connecting vowel is needed because the
suffix begins with a vowel
 ectomy = (suffix) removal of
Splenectomy means removal of a spleen
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Putting it all together
Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix
Dyspnea
 Dys = bad, difficult, painful
 pnea = breathing, respiration
 ia, a = condition, esp. an abnormal state
Dyspnea means an abnormal condition of difficult
breathing
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Putting it all together
Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix
Hemocyte
 hem = blood
 o = connecting vowel
 cyte = cell
Hemocyte is a blood cell
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Changing the meaning of the
term
Changing one element modifies
the meaning of the term
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brady
Bradycardia: a condition of
abnormally slow heart
Tachycardia: a condition of
abnormally fast heart
cardi
tachy
No
Connecting
vowel
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a
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Tachycardia: a condition of abnormally
fast heart
Tachypnea: a condition of abnormally
fast breathing
cardi
tachy
pne
No
Connecting
vowel
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a
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Spelling
Correct spelling is critical in health care.
 Misspelled words can lead to diagnostic, medication
and treatment errors
 Some words look or sound similar and can be
confused

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Spelling

Pay attention to the context to help you figure out
the correct meaning of a term

Example: “The client has a fractured ilium”
ilium = part of the hip bone
ileum = part of the intestine
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Singular and plural
Because many medical terms come from Greek
and Latin words, the plural forms of the words
are not made by adding an “s” as in English
 Memorize the guidelines
 When in doubt, memorize the specific words

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Changing singular to plural
If the word Change it Examples:
ends in
to
singular, plural
-a
-ae
vertebra, vertebrae
-ex or -ix
-ices
index, indices
-is
-itis
-nx
-on
-um
-es
-ides
-ges
-a
-a
diagnosis, diagnoses
arthritis, arthritides
phalanx, phalanges
ganglion, ganglia
ovum, ova
-us
-i
alveolus, alveoli
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Pronunciation guidelines
The “soft” pronunciation of the consonant is used
when followed by e, i or y
• “c” sounds like “s”
cell, circulation, cyst
• “g” sounds like “j” when followed by e, i or y
genetic, gingivitis, gestation
• “ch” sounds like “k”
chronic, chromium, cholecystitis, psychologist
•
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Pronunciation guidelines
When a word ends in “i” it is pronounced
like “eye” as in
bacilli
 “x” is pronounced “z” as in
xylocaine
xenophobic

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Pronunciation guidelines
When “P” is at the beginning of words followed by a
consonant:
 “ph” is pronounced “f” as in
pharmacy
 “pn” is pronounced “n” (silent “p”) as in
pneumonia, pneumococcus
 “ps” is pronounced “s” (silent “p”) as in
psychotic,
psychosocial
psychologist
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Abbreviations & symbols
Medical abbreviations and symbols are a
“short hand” for medical professionals
 Most have been standardized and are
universally accepted

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Abbreviations & symbols
•
Individual facilities and specialties may use
their own specific abbreviations and
symbols or use a symbol differently
Example:
Means “change”
• In maternity care it is also used to mean
“trimester”
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The context indicates the meaning
Client S.J., 24 yo, 8 weeks gestation, c/o 1st
bleeding
 Client S.J., 24 yo, 8 weeks gestation, c/o
constipation. Recommend
her PNV Rx @
her next PNV.

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Abbreviations & symbols
Don’t assume you know what an abbreviation
or symbol means.
 Learn the abbreviations and symbols used on
your clinical site during orientation to the
practice, through chart review, and by asking.

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Abbreviations & symbols
Don’t use your own personal abbreviations in
health care documents.
 Use only standard medically accepted abbreviations
and those used by the facility on your clinical site
 Use capital and small letters appropriately
 Non-standard abbreviations can result in medical
errors and fines for the agency when discovered
during chart audits

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Common abbreviations & symbols
ā
before
ad lib freely; at will
a.c.
before a meal
b.i.d.
twice a day
BM
bowel movement
BP
blood pressure
c
with
CDC
Centers for Disease Control
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Medical abbreviations & symbols
c/o
complains of
d/c
discontinue
h.
hour
H2 O
water
h.s.
At night, at bedtime
I&O
intake and output
lab.
Laboratory
n.p.o. Nothing by mouth
n&v
nausea and vomiting
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Medical abbreviations & symbols
O2
O.D.
O.S.
O.U.
p
P
p.c.
P.O.
oxygen
Right eye
Left eye
Each eye
after
pulse
After meals
By mouth
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Medical abbreviations & symbols
p.r.n. As needed
q.d.
Daily, once a day
q.h.
Every hour
q.i.d.
Four times a day
R
respiration
RR
respiration rate
s
without
stat.
immediately
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Medical abbreviations & symbols
T
t.i.d.
TPR
temperature
Three times a day
temperature, pulse and
respiration
Tx
Treatment; traction
VS
vital signs
Wt.
Weight
x
multiplied by
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Medical symbols
>
<
↓
↑
↘
↗
#
greater than
less than
decreased, down, lower
increased, higher, up, elevate
decreasing
increasing
pound or number
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Medical symbols
′
″
o
♂
♀
∆
@
foot or minute
inch or second
degree
male
female
change, trimester
at
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Medical Dictionary
Taber’s or Mosby’s available in bookstores,
come with textbooks and CDs
 Medical dictionaries are available online
 Add medical terms to your computer’s spell
check program

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Choosing a medical dictionary






Explanations of medical procedures, conditions,
disorders and diseases
Clear, easy to understand definitions
Pronunciation guidelines
Abbreviations and symbols
Useful diagrams, charts, reference tables
containing information like lab values, conversion
tables (metric to standard), etc
Vocabulary useful to your chosen field
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Learn medical terminology
•
•
•
•
•
•
Study and learn a few words every day
Make flash cards
Practice using terms verbally
Use symbols and abbreviations when you write
notes
Use a medical dictionary for reference
Ask for a definition when you hear a term or see
an abbreviation that you don’t know
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1120 LEGAL AND ETHICAL ASPECTS
OF MIDWIFERY
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
THE END
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