CHAPTER 4
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
CHAPTER OUTLINE
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•
•
•
Terminology
Prefixes
Suffixes
Organ System
Terminology
– Cardiovascular
– Endocrine
– Gastrointestinal
– Integumentary
– Lymph and Blood
– Muscular
Organ System
Terminology (cont.)
– Nervous
– Skeletal
– Female Reproductive
– Male Reproductive
– Respiratory
– Urinary
– Senses (Hearing, Sight)
• Drug Classifications
• Medical Abbreviations
• Review
ELEMENTS OF A MEDICAL SCIENCE WORD
‘BASIC’
• Medical science terminology is made up of
combinations of
– root words
– prefixes
– suffixes
– combining vowels
• e.g. periodontic =
peri (prefix, meaning “around”)
+ o (combining vowel)
+ dont (root word, meaning “teeth”)
+ ic (suffix, meaning “pertaining to”)
• Root words originate from either Greek or Latin.
– Greek – diagnosis and surgery
– Latin – anatomy
ROOT WORDS - EXAMPLES
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•
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card
cyst
gastr
hemat
hepat
my
pector
neur
heart
bladder
stomach
blood
liver
muscle
chest
nerve
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
pneumon lung
ocul
eye
derma
skin
ven
vein
mast
breast
oste
bone
nephr
kidney
ot
ear
PREFIXES
• Added before a word root or suffix to
alter its meaning
– hyper = excessive
• hyper/tension = high blood pressure
– an = without
• an/orexia = without appetite
– post = after
• post/partum = after child birth
– dys = painful, difficult
• dys/phas/ia = difficulty in speaking
SUFFIXES
• Added to the end of a word root or combining
vowel to modify its meaning
– -al = pertaining to
• dent/al = pertaining to teeth
– -itis = inflammation
• gastr/itis = inflammation of the stomach
– -oma = tumor
• melan/oma = black tumor
COMBINING VOWELS
• Sometimes a CV is added to make the
pronunciation of medical words easier.
• Sometimes a CV is added to connect
different word parts together.
• “O” is the most common combining vowel.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
• The cardiovascular system distributes blood throughout the
body using blood vessels called arteries, capillaries, and
veins.
– Blood transports nutrients to the body’s cells and carries waste
products away from them.
• Blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells,
platelets, and plasma.
– Erythrocytes (red blood cells) transport oxygen from the lungs to
the body and carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs.
– Leukocytes (white blood cells) fight bacterial infections by
producing antibodies.
CARDIOVACULAR SYSTEM
• The heart pumps blood through the
cardiovascular system.
– Blood pressure is reported in a two number
sequence (systole/diastole, e.g., 120/80).
– Systolic phase is the increased pressure when
blood is forced out of the heart.
– Diastolic phase is the decreased pressure when
the heart is not forcing blood out of the heart.
– A sphygmomanometer is used to measure
blood pressure.
.
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written permission from the publisher.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM ROOT
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aneur
angi
aort
arter
ather
card
cyte
embol
widening
vessel
aorta
artery
plaque
heart
cell
embolus
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
oxy
pector
phleb
stenosis
thromb
vas(cu)
ven
oxygen
chest
vein
narrowing
clot
blood vessel
vein
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
• Consists of the glands that secrete
hormones, chemicals that assist in
regulating body functions
– Glands primarily in endocrine system
• pituitary
• adrenal
• thyroid
• parathyroid
• gonads (ovaries and testes)
– Glands primarily belonging to other
organ systems
• liver
• stomach
• pancreas
• kidney
Image copyright Perspective Press and Morton Publishing Company. May
not be copied, re-used, reproduced, or re-transmitted without express
written permission from the publisher.
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM ROOT
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aden
adrena
crine
glyc
lipid
myx
nephr
gland
adrenal
to secrete
sugar
fat
mucus
kidney
•
•
•
•
•
•
pancreat
plas
somat
tetan
thym
thyroid
pancreas
development
body
tetanus
thymus
thyroid
GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) TRACT
• Contains the organs that are involved in the
digestion of foods and the absorption of
nutrients
• Not the same as the alimentary tract
– alimentary tract goes from the mouth to
the anus
• Ducts
– hepatic duct – from liver (hepatic duct)
to duodenum
– cystic duct – from gallbladder (cystic duct)
to duodenum
GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) TRACT ROOT
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•
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chol
col
duoden
enter
esophag
gastr
hemat
bile
colon
duodenum
intestine
esophagus
stomach
blood
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•
•
•
•
•
•
hepat
herni
lapar
orexia
pancreat
pepsia
phag
liver
hernia
abdomen
appetite
pancreas
digestion
swallow
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
• Covering of the body
– skin (epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous)
– hair
– nails
– mammary glands
• First line of defense
against disease and
physical hazards
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written permission from the publisher.
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM ROOT
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•
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•
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•
•
•
•
adip
cutane
derm(at)
hist
kerat
mast
melan
necr
onych
fat
skin
skin
tissue
hard
breast
black
death (of cells, etc.)
nail
LYMPH AND BLOOD SYSTEM
• The lymphatic system is responsible for collecting,
filtering, and returning plasma water leaving the blood
vessels.
– center of the body’s immune system
– thymus, tonsils, spleen, and adenoids are
outside the network
• Spleen - responsible for removing old
red blood cells
• Lymphocytes - attack bacteria and
disease cells
Image copyright Perspective Press and Morton Publishing Company. May not be copied, re-used, reproduced, or re-transmitted without express
written permission from the publisher.
LYMPH AND BLOOD SYSTEMS ROOT
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aden
bacter
cyt
hemat
hemo
leuk
gland
bacteria
cell
blood
blood
white
•
•
•
•
•
•
lymph
phleb
splen
sepsis
thromb
thym
lymph
vein
spleen
to putrefy
clot
thymus
MUSCULAR SYSTEM
• Muscles give shape and movement to the body.
– more than 600 muscles
– made up of fibers and attached to bones by tendons
• Voluntary muscles - action controlled consciously
• Involuntary muscles - operate automatically
• Agonist muscles - produce an flexor movement
• Antagonist muscles - contract or bring limb back to
original position
MUSCULAR SYSTEM ROOT
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burs
chondr
my
fibr
rhabdo
tendin
bursa
cartilage
muscle
fiber
rod
tendon
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May not be copied, re-used, reproduced, or re-transmitted without
express written permission from the publisher.
NERVOUS SYSTEM
• The neuron is the basic functional unit.
• The brain has over 100 billion neurons.
• Central nervous system (CNS) – brain
& spinal cord
• Peripheral nervous system – branches from
spinal cord
– autonomic nervous system controls the
automatic functions of the body
– somatic nervous system controls the
voluntary actions of the body.
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written permission from the publisher.
NERVOUS SYSTEM ROOT
 alges
 cerebr
 encephal
 esthes
 mening
 ment
pain
cerebrum
brain
sensation
meninges
mind
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•
•
•
•
myel
neur
phas
psycho
somat
spinal cord
nerve
speech
mind
body
SKELETAL SYSTEM
• Protects soft organs and provides structure and
support for body organs
• Contains 206 bones
– axial (skull and spinal column vertebrae)
– appendicular (arms, legs, connecting bones)
• Ligaments and Cartilage - connective tissue that
holds together the skeletal systems at joints
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express written permission from the publisher.
SKELETAL SYSTEM ROOT
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arthr
carp
crani
dactyl
femor
fibul
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humer
lord
oste
patell
joint
wrist
cranium
finger or toe
thigh bone
small lower leg
bone
upper arm bone
curve
bone
knee cap
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•
•
oste
ped, pod
pelv
phalang
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rachi
scoli
spondyl
stern
• tibi
bone
foot
pelvis
bones of fingers
and toes
vertebrae
crooked, bent
backbone
sternum,
breastbone
large lower leg
bone
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
• Produces hormones, controls menstruation, and provides for
childbearing
fallopian tube
ovary
uterus
vagina
• The mammary glands (located in breast tissue) produce and
secrete milk at childbirth.
Image copyright Perspective Press and
Morton Publishing Company. May not
be copied, re-used, reproduced, or retransmitted without express written
permission from the publisher.
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM ROOT
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cervic
condyle
eclamps
gynec
hyster
lact
mamm
mast
cervix
knob, knuckle
shining forth
woman
uterus
milk
breast
breast
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•
men
metr
ovari
salping
toc
uter
vagin
menstruation
uterus
ovary
fallopian tube
birth
uterine
vagina
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
• Produces sperm and secretes testosterone
• Primary sex organs – testes (testicles)
• Other organs
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–
–
–
–
seminal glands
vas deferens
prostate gland
penis
urethra
Image copyright Perspective Press and Morton Publishing Company. May not be copied, re-used, reproduced, or re-transmitted without express written permission
from the publisher.
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM ROOT
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•
•
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•
andr
bala n
crypt
orch
orchid
prostat
male
glans penis
hidden
testis
testis
prostate
gland
• semin
• sperm
• vas
• varic
• test
semen
sperm
vessel, duct
varicose veins
testis, testicle
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
• Functions
– oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange
– production of sound
– body cooling
• Structures
– diaphragm
– pleural cavity
– pharynx
– larynx
– trachea and bronchial tubes
– alveolar sacs (alveoli)
Image copyright Perspective Press and Morton Publishing Company. May not be copied, re-used, reproduced, or re-transmitted without express
written permission from the publisher.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM ROOT WORDS
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•
•
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aer
aero
bronch
capn
• cyan
• laryng
• nas
air
gas
bronchus
carbon
dioxide
blue
larynx
nose
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ox
pector
pneumon
pulmon
respir
rhin
sinus
oxygen
chest
lung, air
lung
breath
nose
sinus
URINARY TRACT
• Removes waste materials from
blood
• Primary organ is kidney
• Functional unit is nephron
• Waste materials from blood
are ________ the tubule.
– filtered into
– secreted into
– reabsorbed from
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publisher.
URINARY TRACT ROOT WORDS
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albumin
cyst
glycos
keto
lith
nephr
ren
protein
bladder
glucose
ketones
stone
kidney
kidney
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ur
uria
uresis
ureter
urethr
vesic
kidney
urine, urination
urination
ureter
urethra
bladder
SENSES: HEARING
• Hearing
– external ear
– tympanic membrane (eardrum)
– middle ear (malleus, incus, stapes)
– eustachian tube
– labyrinth (vestibule, cochlea, semicircular canals)
– cochlea
• Body equilibrium
– semicircular canals,
vestibule
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permission from the publisher.
SENSES: HEARING ROOT WORDS
• acous
hearing
• myring
eardrum
• acusis
hearing
condition
• ot
ear
• salping
eustachian
tube
• tympan
eardrum
• audi
hearing
• cerumin
wax-like
• labyrinth
inner ear
SENSES: SIGHT
• The eyes provide sight.
• Complex structure involving
layers of structure
• Ability to protect and lubricate itself
• lacrimal glands
• meibomian glands
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permission from the publisher.
SENSES: SIGHT ROOT WORDS
• ambly
• blephar
• conjunctiv
• come
• glauc
• irid, ir
• lacrim
dim, dull
eyelid
conjunctiva
cornea
gray
iris
tear duct
• ocul
• ophthalm
• opia
• opt
• retin
• stigmat
eye
eye
vision
eye, vision
retina
point(ed)
DRUG CLASSIFICATIONS
• Drug class – group of drugs that have several
therapeutic properties in common
• Several classes oppose physiological processes.
• antianginals
• anticoagulants
• anticonvulsants
• antidepressants
• antidiarrheals
• antiemetics
• antihistamine
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antihyperlipidemia
antihypertensive
antiinfective
anti-inflammatory
antipruritics
antispasmodics
antitussive
OTHER CLASSES
• Analgesic
an + alges + ic =
without pain, pain killer
• Hypoglycemic
hypo + glyc + emic =
reduces blood sugar level
• Hypolipidemic
hypo + lipid + emic =
reduces cholesterol or
lipid levels
• Spermicide
sperm + i + cide =
kills sperm
PHARMACY ABBREVIATIONS
• About 10,000 abbreviations
– can be specific to one institution
– can be specific to one area of the
country