Medical Teminology
Medical Terminology
• Formed primarily from Greek and Latin Words
• One term can mean a complete phrase in
English
• Need to understand basic word parts, build and
decode terms
• A sound knowledge of medical terminology is
vital for a career in health care.
Medical Terminology
• Word Root (WR): basic meaning of
the medical term.
• Combining form (CF): word root
plus a vowel used to help pronounce
the term
Medical Terminology
• Prefix (P) is used at the beginning of
the term to describe, modify, or limit
the term
• Suffix (S) is the word ending that
when connected to the word root
create a noun, adjective, or verb
Decoding Medical Terminology
Define the medical term: Intraneural
• 1. Start with the suffix and define it
– -al = pertaining to
• 2. Next define the prefix
– Intra- = with in
• 3. Define the word root or middle word
– -neura- = nerve
• 4. Combine the definitions to decode the term
– Complete word Intraneural = pertaining to within a
nerve
Directions, Planes, and Regions
• Special Terms used to
identify areas of the
body
• Based upon the
anatomical position
• Uses Directions and
Regions of the body to
specify locations
Planes of the Body
• Sagittal Plane:
divides body into
two parts, right
and left sections
Planes of the Body
• Frontal or coronal
Plane: divides
body into anterior
and posterior
sections
Planes of the Body
• Transverse Plane:
divides body
horizontally into a
top/superior and a
bottom/inferior
parts.
Directional Terms Defined
•
•
•
•
Anterior/Ventral – Front side of body
Posterior/Dorsal – Back side of body
Inferior – below another structure
Superior – above another structure
Directional Terms Defined
• Lateral – towards the side of the body
• Medial – to the middle or midline of
the body
• Deep – through the surface
• Superficial – on or near the surface
Directional Terms Defined
• Proximal – near the point of attachment to the
trunk
• Distal – away from the point of attachment to
the trunk
• Supine – lying on one’s spine/back facing
upward
• Prone – lying on one’s stomach facing
downward
Medical Terminology Prefixes to Know
• A- : absence of
• Ab- : from; away
• Ante-: before
• Anti-: Against
• Brady-: slow
Medical Terminology Prefixes to Know
• Epi- on; upon; over
• Para-: beside, beyond
• Per-: through
• Post- : after
• Retro- back, behind, after
Medical Terminology Prefixes to Know
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sub -: under; below
Super-: over, above
Supra-: above
Tachy- : fast, rapid
Trans - : through, across
Ultra – beyond, excess
Medical Terminology Suffixes to Know
• -al: pertaining to
• -algia: pain
• -apheresis: removal
• -cidal: killing
• -clysis: irrigating, washing
Medical Terminology Suffixes to Know
• -cyte: cell
• -ectasis: stretching out
• -emesis: vomiting
• -iasis: condition
• -genesis: origin, cause
Medical Terminology Suffixes to Know
• --iatry: physician, treatment
• -ician: one who
• -ism: state of
• -itis: inflammation
Medical Terminology Suffixes to Know
• -ologist: one who studies and
practices (specialist)
• -ology: study of
• -oma: tumor, swelling
• -opsy: to view
• -orrhea: flow, excessive discharge
Medical Terminology Root Words to
Know
–Acr: extremities, height
–Aden: gland
–Arteri: artery
–Arthr: joint
–Articul: joint
Medical Terminology Root Words to
Know
–Axill: armpit
–Brachi: arm
–Cardi: heart
–Carp: carpals/ wrist bones
Medical Terminology Root Words to
Know
–Cardi: heart
–Cephal: head
–Chondr: cartilage
–Clavic: clavicle (collarbone)
Medical Terminology Root Words to
Know
–Cost: rib
–Cry: cold
–Cutane: skin
–Derm: skin
–Dors: back of the body
Medical Terminology Root Words to
Know
–Femor: femur (upper leg bone)
–Gastr: stomach
–Hem: blood
–Hist: tissue
–Lact: milk
Medical Terminology Root Words to
Know
–Later: side
–Lip: fat
–Mandibul: mandible (lower
jawbone)
–Menisc: cresent Menisc
Medical Terminology Root Words to
Know
–Myos: muscle
–my: muscle
–Neur: nerve
–Opt: vision
–Oste: bone
Medical Terminology Root Words to
Know
–Patell: patella (knee cap)
–Path: disease
–Pneum: lung, air
–Pod: foot
Medical Terminology Root Words to
Know
–Pulmon: lung
–Quardr: four
–Radi: radius (lower arm bone)
–Sphygm: pulse
Medical Terminology Root Words to
Know
–Spondyl: vertebra, spinal column
–Stern: sternum(breast bone)
–Tars: tarsals (ankle bones)
–Tend: tendons
Medical Terminology Root Words to
Know
–Tibi: tibia (lower leg bone)
–Vertebra: vertebra, spinal column
–Xer: dry