Medical Terminology
• It is nearly impossible for even the
most experienced health
professional to be familiar with
every medical term. However,
knowledge of prefixes, suffixes,
and root words is essential. It is
vital that every health professional
be familiar with the commonly
used medical terminology.
Word Parts / Building Blocks
• Most medical terms are formed by a
combination of basic word parts.
An understanding of how these parts work
together makes interpreting medical
language easier.
Root Words
• usually indicate
the part of the
body involved
• All medical terms
must have one
or more root
words
Prefixes
• usually indicate location, time, or
number - come at the beginning
of the word
• Not all medical terms have
prefixes
Suffixes
• usually indicate the procedure,
disease, or condition - come
after the root word
• The suffix, when connected to the
root word will create a noun,
adjective, or verb.
• All medical terms have a suffix.
Combining Vowel or Combining
Form
• usually "O"
• attached to root word
• used to make medical terms easier to
pronounce
• is NOT used when suffix begins with a
vowel
• IS used when suffix begins with a
consonant
Decoding Medical Terms
• Start with the suffix and define the suffix.
• Go to the prefix and define the prefix.
• Then, go to the middle of the word; define
the word root, combining form, or both if
both exist in the same word.
• Combine the definitions to decode the
complete medical term or phrase.
Putting it together!
Prefix + Root Word + Suffix = Medical Term
POLY +
NEUR
+
Many
Nerves
+ Inflammation =
+
ITIS = POLYNEURITIS
Inflammation of many nerves
Common Medical Prefixes
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•
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•
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a - absence of; without
Ab- away from
Ad- toward, in the direction of
Dys- difficult, painful
Hyper- over, above, increased
Hypo- below, under, decreased
Inter- between, among
Common Medical Prefixes (cont.)
•
•
•
•
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•
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Intra- within, inside
Peri - surrounding, around
Poly- many
Sub- under, less, below
Super- above, excessive, beyond
Supra- above, excessive, beyond
mal - bad
Common Medical Suffixes
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•
•
•
•
•
•
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itis – inflammation
malacia – softening
megaly - enlargement
ology - the study of
ologist – specialist
osis - disease, abnormal condition
pathy – disease
ac, al, ic – pertaining to
Common Medical Root Words
• Cardi/o – heart
• Col/o - colon
• Cost/o – ribs
• Enter/o - intestines
• Gastr/o – stomach
• Hem/o – blood
• My/o – muscle
• neur/o – nerve
• oto – ear
• or/o - mouth
• Rhin/o – nose
• Hepat - liver
• Arthr/o – joint
• Cephal/o – head
• Crani/o - skull
• Derm/o, dermat/o, cutane – skin
• Nephr/o, ren/o – kidney
• Oste/o - bone
• Cyst/o – urinary bladder
• Splen/o - spleen
Common Medical Abbreviations
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•
•
•
•
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c – with
s – without
a – before
p – after
prn – as needed
NPO – nothing by mouth
Common Medical Abbreviations
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stat – immediately
IV – intravenous (through a vein)
q.d. – every day
q.i.d – four times a day
Rx – prescription
Tx - treatment
Common Medical Abbreviations
• Male
• female
Communication Connection
• A medication is to be taken once
every day (q.d.), but a health care
provider mistakenly writes q.i.d. on
the prescription. What will be the
result of writing the incorrect
abbreviation?