Introduction to Medical
Terminology
MRS. OLIVER
ST 110
Objectives
 Identify word parts and their role in forming medical
terms
 Analyze unfamiliar terms
 Define commonly used prefixes, word roots,
combining forms, and suffixes
Objectives, cont’d
 Pronounce medical terms correctly
 Recognize the importance of spelling medical
terms correctly
 Correctly use abbreviations
 Recognize, define, spell, and pronounce medical
terms
Word Parts
 Four Types
 Word Roots
 Combining Forms/vowels
 Suffixes
 Prefixes
Word Root
 Usually describe body part involved
heminephroplasty
 May also indicate color
 Examples: cyan/o, erythr/o
cyanosis
erythrocyte
Combining Vowels
 May be needed between the word root and suffix
heminephroplasty
 “O” is the most common
Suffixes
 Added to the end of a word root
 Usually indicates procedure, condition, disorder or
disease
tonsillitis
tonsillectomy
 Can mean pertaining to, abnormal condition
 Also used as a noun, to indicate pathology, or
relate to the type of procedure
Suffixes
 Can be used as noun endings
 Name of person, place or thing
 In medical terminology, suffixes can change the
word root into a noun.

EX. Cranium
Crani-skull
 Um-noun ending

 Appendix A
Suffixes
 “Pertaining to”
 Adjective- describes or defines a thing
 In medical terminology, suffixes can change the
word root into an adjective.

EX. Cardiac
Cardi –heart
 Ac- pertaining to

Suffixes
 Abnormal condition or disease
 EX gastrosis
Gastro- stomach
 Osis- abnormal condition or disease

Suffixes
 Related to pathology
 Study of all aspects of diseases.
path- disease
 ology- study of


Describe specific disease conditions

Gastralgia
 gastr-stomach
 algia-pain and suffering
Suffixes
Common Medical
Common Surgical
 -osis:










 -ac:
 -algia:
 -itis:
 -malacia:
 -necrosis:
 -stenosis:
-otomy
-ectomy
-plasty
-ostomy
- rrhaphy
-pexy
-lysis
-scopy
-graphy
-desis
“Double R” Suffixes
 -rrhage
 -rrhaphy
 -rrhea
 -rrhexis
Prefixes
 Added to beginning of word
 Usually indicates location, time, or number
heminephroplasty
 Some can be similar in spelling, but opposite in
meaning
Prefixes
 Pre Peri Post Ab Dys Hyper Hypo-
How Can I Determine the Meaning of a Word Just by Looking
At It?
 Take the term apart
 Guess
 Use a medical dictionary
 Look on the net
Using a Medical Dictionary
 Spelling
 If you don’t know how to spell the word, sound it out and write
it down
 If that doesn’t work, look for alternative spellings based on the
beginning sound
Spelling
 ACCURACY is extremely important
 Changing just one or two letters can change the
entire meaning of a word

Example: “ileum” is a part of the small intestine, and “ilium” is
part of the hip bone
Pronunciation
 New terms will be written in bold
 The pronunciation will be in parentheses
 Just say the word like it is written in the parentheses
 The part that receives the most emphasis will be in
BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS
 The part with secondary emphasis will be in bold
lowercase letters
nephrectomy
root suffix
nephr/ectomy
kidney/surgical removal of
The surgical removal of the a kidney
nephroplasty
root cv suffix
nephr/o/plasty
kidney/surgical repair
Surgical repair of a kidney
gastroenteritis
root cv root suffix
gastr/o/enter/itis
stomach / small intestine /inflammation of
Inflammation of the stomach & small intestine
Singulars and Plurals
 There are unusual rules for changing a singular word
into a plural one
 The rules are foreign to us because most medical
terms are of Greek or Latin origins
The Rules
 If a word ends in “a”, the plural will have an “e”
added. Ex. Bursa to bursae
 If it ends in “ex” or “ix”, change it to “ices”

Ex. Appendix becomes appendices
 If the term ends in “um”, change it to an “a”
 Ex. Ovum changes to ova
 See table 1.6 for the others
Don’t Panic!!!!
 All of these rules may seem overwhelming, but they
will soon become second nature
 If in doubt, look for the plural form in a medical
dictionary
Abbreviations
 Frequently used as a short-hand method of writing
long and complex words or phrases
 Some can be confusing, so watch out!
 Example: BE means “below elbow” and “barium enema”
 A patient would be UPSET if these two terms were
confused!
Basic Terms
 Sign
 Symptom
 Syndrome
 Diagnosis
 Prognosis
 Acute
 Chronic
 remission
Review
What
parts?
are the four types of word
Review
What
are the four types of word
parts?
Word roots, combining forms, suffixes, prefixes
Review
 What does a word root usually describe?
Review
 What does a word root usually describe?
The body part involved
Review
 Where is a suffix added to a word?
Review
 Where is a suffix added to a word?
At the end of a root word
Review
 What are some examples of “Double R” suffixes?
Review
 What are some examples of “Double R” suffixes?
-rrhaphy, -rrhage, -rrhea, -rrhexis
Review
 What part of the root word are prefixes added to?
Review
 What part of the root word are prefixes added to?
The beginning of the word
Review
 Is accuracy important when spelling a medical term?
Review
 Is accuracy important when spelling a medical term?
ABSOLUTELY!!!
Review
 What are some examples of basic medical terms?
Review
 What are some examples of basic medical terms?
Sign, symptom, syndrome, acute, chronic…