Mrs. Mabe
Vet Med Terminology & Abbreviations
Common Root Words
ROOT
ARTHR/O
CARDI/O
CHEM/O
COL/O
CUTANE/O
CYST/O
DENT/O
ELECTR/O
ENTER/O
GASTR/O
HEM/O
HEPAT/O
HYSTER/O
LAPAR/O
MASTNAS/ONEPHR/OOSTE/OOVARI/ORADI/ORECT/ORHIN/OURIN/OUTER/O-
MEANING
Common Prefixes
(added at the beginning of a word to change the meaning)
Numbers-
Measurements-
Position and/or direction-
Negatives-
Color-
EXAMPLE- cardi/o is the root word meaning heart.
The suffix brady means abnormally slow; therefore bradycardia means the
condition of an abnormally slow heartbeat.
The prefix tachy means abnormally fast; therefore, tachycardia means the
condition of an abnormally fast heartbeat.
Many prefixes have opposites that can be used to learn their meanings.
ab- =away from, as in abduction
ad-= toward, as in adduction
pre-= before, as in preoperative
post-=after, as in postoperative
Common Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example
anemia
Definition
A- or AN-
without; no
without or no blood cell production
AB-
away from
AD-
toward
ANTI-
against; to stop
anticoagulant medicine used to stop bleeding
outside
ectoskeleton bones located outside the body
outside
exothermic body temp. controlled outside body
DYSECTOENDOEXOHYPER-
above normal
HYPO-
below normal
INTER-
between
INTRA-
within
OLIGOPERI-
around
POLY-
many, excessive
POST-
after
PRE-
perioperative around or during the surgery
polyuria
excessive urine production
before
SUB-
below
subcutaneous
below the skin
SUPER-
above
superimposed
above the surface
Suffixes Meaning “Pertaining To”
SUFFIX
TERM
-AC
cardiac
-AL
renal
-AN
ovarian
-AR
lumbar
-ARY
alimentary
-EAL
laryngeal
-IC
enteric
-INE
uterine
-OUS
cutaneous
-TIC
nephrotic
MEANING
pertaining to the heart
pertaining to the kidney
pertaining to the ovary
pertaining to the loin or lower back
pertaining to the gastrointestinal tract
pertaining to the larynx
pertaining to the intestines
pertaining to the uterus
pertaining to the skin
pertaining to the kidneys
Suffixes are located at the end of the word. They commonly define surgical or
medical procedures and conditions.
Common Suffixes
SUFFIX
MEANING
EXAMPLE
DEFINITION
-CENTESIS surgical puncture into
cystocentesis surgical puncture with a needle Into the bladder.
-ECTOMY surgical removal of
ovariohysterectomy surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus.
-EMIA
blood
hypocalcemia
-GRAM
a record of
electrocardiogram a record of the electrical activity of the heart.
-GRAPH
to record with an instrument radiograph
-GRAPHY to record using an instrument. radiography
-IT IS
-LOGY
-LYSIS
-MEGALY
-OSIS
-PATHY
-PEXY
-PLASTY
-RRHAGE
-RRHEA
-SCOPE
-SCOPY
-STOMY
-THERAPY
-TOMY
low blood calcium
a record made using radiation; x-ray
taking pictures using radiation.
Putting it All together
With basic understanding of prefixes, suffixes, and root words, it becomes
easy to break down words into parts to define new terminology. When
dissecting a term, use a slash mark to isolate each part of the word. Then
focus on the meaning of each dissected part of the word. Once the
meaning of each word part is determined, place the meaning into a logically
formed definition. Examples:
ARTHR/IT IS
inflammation of the joint
CARDIO/LOGY
the study of the heart
CARDIO/MEGALY enlargement of the heart
CYSTO/CENTESIS to puncture into the urinary bladder
HEMAT/URIA
inflammation of the liver
HEPATITUS
inflammation of the liver
GASTR/IC
pertaining to the stomach
LAPARO/TOMY
surgical incision into the abdomen
MAST/ECTOMY
Surgical removal of the mammary gland
OVARIO/HYSTER/ECTOMY surgical removal of ovaries and uterus
Radio/GRAPH
to record using radiation
RHINO/Plasty
the surgical repair of the nose
URINA/LYSIS
to break down urine
TERMINOLOGY TIP- PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. PRACTICE FOR 5-10 minutes daily.
COMMON DIRECTIONAL TERMS
TERM
MEANING
Aspect
area
Caudal
toward the tail
Cranial
toward the head
Distal
away from the center of the body
Dorsal
toward the back area
Lateral
side of the body; toward the outside
Medial
inside of an area; toward the inside
Palmar
Plantar
Proximal
Recumbency
Recumbent
Rostral
Transverse
Across an area dividing it into cranial and caudal sections.
ventral
Boston Terrier represents Directional terminology
Medial Versus Lateral.
COMMON TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN VETERINARY PRACTICE
The veterinary field has developed common universal terms used in the
industry to relate to patient history, species information, the physical exam,
and pharmacy terms. Many have common abbreviations used in recording
medical records and treatment boards.
SPECIES TERMS
AMPHIBIAN
AVIAN
BOVINE
CANINE
CAPRINE
CAVY
EQUINE
FELINE
LAGOMORPH
MURINE
OVINE
PORCINE
POULTRY
PRIMATE
REPTILE
TERRAPIN
COMMON VETERINARY ABBREVIATIONS
C or Cast
C-Sect
d
d/c
DLH
DSH
d/o
EX
F
K-9
M
Mo
NM
o
p/u
rec
S or SF
S/R
Sx
Wk
y or yr
TERMS RELATED TO PATIENT HISTORY
ANOREXIA
BM
D
DYSURIA
Dz
HBC
HEMATURIA
Hx
LETHARGIC
PD
PU
U
V
V/D
TERMS RELATED TO PHYSICAL EXAM
ACUTE
ANALS or AG
BAR
CHRONIC
CRT
Dx
FeLV
FIP
FIV
HR
L
LN
Mm
N or (-)
NR
NSF
PE
Px
QAR
R
RR
Rx
SOAP
TPR
Tx
URI
UTI
WNL
Wt
+
LAB TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Bx
CBC
CHEM
C/S or C & S
Cysto
Fecal
HW
PCV
T4
UA
PHARMACY TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
BID
Cap
cc
d
EOD
h
kg
mg
ml
NPO
oz
PO
prn
q
qd
QID
Rx
SID
Tab
TID
w
/
# or lb
#
EYES AND EARS
AD
AS
AU
OD
OS
OU
TERMINOLOGY TIP
When reading a pharmacy prescription label, write out all the information on
the label including the abbreviations and verify it is correct before typing and
labeling the container.