Medical
Terminology
A
Presentation
by
Lori Agid
epiphyseal
junction
Retinohypothalamic
esophageal
…unfolding Subdural
the
dysmotility
hematoma
language of medicine
Infrapatellar tendon
GREEK OR LATIN BASED
Approximately 75% of medical
terms are based on either
Greek or Latin
Medical terminology is composed a series of 3 main components:
PREFIX
WORD ROOT
SUFFIX
The word root is the noun (the body part) or the subject of the
sentence. The word root never changes unless the word changes.
The prefix attaches to the front of the word root. Depending on the
prefix used, the meaning of the word root will change.
The suffix attaches to the end of the word root and like the prefix, the
definition of the word root depends on the suffix, as well.
Let us take a look at some examples:
epi
above
gastr
stomach
itis
inflammation
di
gastr
ic
two
stomach
pertaining to
sub
below
gastr
stomach
ectomy
excision of
In this example, the word root stays the
same, but the prefix and suffix differences
change its meaning.
Combining Vowel – CV

Along with the word root, prefix and suffix, there is a
combining vowel, most often an “o” - occasionally an “i”

It connects between the word root and suffix in order to
make the word flow, when ordinarily there would be two
connecting consonants; gastr – (stomach)
tomy –
(incision into)

It would be difficult to combine gastrtomy – so we put an
o in between to form the word: gastrotomy
Who can remember walking down the pharmacy aisle
holding hands with mom or dad looking up at the sign
above that said analgesics? Why didn’t the sign say
“pain reliever?” What did “analgesic” mean?
eyecare
babycare
analgesics batteries
eardrops domestics
The breakdown of the word
an – alges – ic is as follows:
prefix
an
(without)
root word
suffix
alges(ia)
ic
(pain)
(pertaining to)
When people begin to learn medical
terminology they tend to get overwhelned
with fear that there is too much to learn and
memorize. It is merely memorization and
repetition. The more we see the words used,
the more we remember them.
The only reason we know words like
analgesic, hepatitis, tonsillitis, vasectomy,
and mammogram - is because of lifelong
media exposure. Most do not know the
word root, prefix, and suffix breakdown of
these words.
WORD ROOT
In grade school, we learned this as the subject
(noun) of the sentence. As regards to medicine,
the word root will refer to the body part.
Crani/o - skull
Cervic/o - neck
Cephal/o - head
Thorac/o - thorax
Lumb/o –
lumbar spine
ENGLISH
GREEK
ORIGIN
WORD ROOT
Heart
Kardia
Cardi
Bone
Osteon
Oste
Kidney
Nephros
Nephr
Stomach
Gaster
Gastr
Liver
Hepar
Hepat
THE SUFFIX
The suffix is always the word ending. It attaches at
the end of the word root, usually with an “o” –
(noted previously – combining vowel or CV).
The suffix usually indicates a procedure, condition,
disease, or part of speech. It gives more information
about the noun.
Medical terms always have a suffix, but do not
require a prefix.
Let’s start with a common suffix that you know; itis.
Adding “itis” to our original list of word roots:
cardi + itis = carditis
inflammation of the heart
oste + itis = osteitis
inflammation of the bone
nephr + itis = nephritis
inflammation of the kidney
gastr + itis = gastritis
inflammation of the stomach
hepat + itis = hepatitis
inflammation of the liver
Here is your test – how many words can you think of that
end in itis? I have 9 boxes!!! Put your thinking caps on!!
a
b
c
d
l
t
o
v
p
Suffix Examples
arthr/o /centesis
arthrocentesis
joint
surgical puncture joint
puncture
thorac/o/tomy
thoracotomy
chest
incision into the chest
incision
gastr/o/megaly
stomach
gastromegaly
enlargement enlargement of the stomach
cardi/ac
cardiac
Heart pertaining to
pertaining to the heart
VARIOUS SUFFIXES AND MEANINGS
-ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -eal,
ical, -ile, -ory, -ous, -ic; pertaining to
-a, -e, -y a noun ending
-ad toward; increase
-algesia sensitivity to pain
-algia, -dynia pain
-ase enzyme
-ate something that…
-blast embryonic stage of development (immature)
-cele swelling; herniation
-centesis surgical puncture to withdraw fluid-cide to kill; to destroy
-clasis crushing or breaking up
-cyte cell
-desis binding or surgical fusion
-ectasia stretching or dilatation
-ectomy surgical excision (removal)
-emesis to vomit
-emia blood condition
-er one who
-esis, -ia, -ism condition of…
-gen that which generates
-genesis generating; formation
-genic pertaining to formation; producing
-gram record or picture
-graph instrument used to record
-graphy process of recording
-gravida pregnancy
-ian, -ician specialist in a field of study
-iasis, -osis abnormal condition of…
-iatric(s) relating to medicine; physicians; or medical treatment
THE PREFIX
 Word
element located at the beginning
of the word root
 Changes
 Usually
the meaning of the word
indicates a number, time,
position, direction, color, or sense of
negation
Prefix examples
 A-
mast
without
breast
 Bilater
two
side
 hypertherm
excessive heat
 intramuscul
within
muscle
-ia
condition
-al
pertaining to
-ia
condition
-ar
pertaining to
VARIOUS PREFIXES AND MEANINGS
bi dipl hemi hyper macro micro mono multi eu
two
double
half
excess
large
small
one
many
good
intrainfraoligodextrolevobradytachymalbrachy-
within
below
too few
right
left
slow
fast
bad
short
Two Word Roots
Some medical terms have more than
one word root:
Osteochondritis
Oste / o / chondr /
itis
Bone / cv /cartilage / inflammation
Cardiomyopathy
Cardi/o/my/o/pathy
Heart/cv/muscle/o/disease
We could not end this quick
terminology
lesson
without
having a bit of fun; so beware of
the following medical terminology
mispronunciations…..
Medical Terminology
Mispronunciations
Artery - The study of fine paintings.
 Bacteria – Back door of a cafeteria.
 Barium - What you do when CPR fails.
 Benign - What you are after you be eight.
 Coma - A punctuation mark.
 Morbid - A higher offer.
 Urine - Opposite of you’re out.
 Tablet - A small table.
 GI Series – Soldier’s ball game.

ORGAN SYSTEMS
The body is divided into 10 or so main organ
systems.
Organ Systems
BODY PLANES
Body Planes

In medicine the body has
designated imaginary
horizontal and vertical
lines.

It is easier to describe the
location of the problem or
the affected area.
Midline (Midsagittal) Plane
IMAGINE THE BODY
LIKE A HARD COVER
BOOK – THE MIDDLE
WOULD BE THE
“MIDLINE” OR
“MIDSAGITTAL”
LINE.
ANY LINE TO THE
RIGHT OR LEFT OF
THE MIDDLE IS
STILL CONSIDERED
SAGITTAL, BUT NOT
“MIDSAGITTAL”
A
A
N
A
T
O
M
I
C
L
I
G
N
M
E
N
T
Coronal Plane
Transverse Plane
In terms of opposites:
Frontal (coronal)
plane
ANTERIOR: front of body
POSTERIOR: back of body
Superior
(cranial)
Transverse
plane
VENTRAL: frontward
(toward belly)like anterior
DORSAL: backward like
posterior
Inferior
(caudal)
MEDIAL: toward midline of
body
LATERAL: toward side of
body
Anterior (ventral)
Posterior (dorsal)
SUPERIOR: upward/above
(toward the head)
INFERIOR: toward the tail or
feet (below)
Opposites (cont’d):
Frontal (coronal)
plane
Superior
(cranial)
Transverse
plane
Inferior
(caudal)
Anterior (ventral)
Posterior (dorsal)
CRANIAL: toward the head
CAUDAL: to the tail
DISTAL: farthest from the point
of origin of a body part
(example: the fingers would be
distal when looking at an x-ray
of an arm)
PROXIMAL: nearest to the
point of origin of a body part
(example: the shoulder would
be proximal when looking at an
x-ray of the arm
ABDUCTION – AWAY FROM
BODY TRUNK
ADDUCTION – TOWARD
BODY TRUNK
Superficial = Pertaining to
the surface of the body
Deep = Pertaining to
away from the surface of
the body
Prone and Supine
Dorsiflexion
Plantar Flexion
Plantar Flexion
Dorsiflexion
THE FINAL POSITION….
THE END