Medical Terminology
Objectives
Identify basic medical abbreviations
selected from a standard list
 Define prefixes, suffixes and word roots
selected from a list of words
 Spell and pronounce medical terms
correctly
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Common Abbreviations
Derived from Latin Terms
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ac (ante cibum) means "before meals"
bid (bis in die) means "twice a day"
gt (gutta) means "drop"
hs (hora somni) means "at bedtime"
od (oculus dexter) means "right eye"
os (oculus sinister) means "left eye"
po (per os) means "by mouth"
pc (post cibum) means "after meals"
prn (pro re nata) means "as needed"
q 3 h (quaque 3 hora) means "every 3 hours"
qd (quaque die) means "every day"
qid (quater in die) means "4 times a day"
Sig (signa) means "write"
tid (ter in die) means "3 times a day"
Word Parts
Word roots
 Suffixes
 Prefixes
 Combining vowels
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Word Root
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A word root is the word part that is the
core of the word
– Contains the fundamental meaning of the
word and explains what part of the body is
being talked about
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Examples
– Neur/o= nerves
– Hepat/o= liver
– Arthr/o= joint
Word Root
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Because the word root contains the
fundamental meaning of the word, each
medical term contains one or more word
roots.
Suffix
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Suffix- A word part attached to the end of
the word root to modify its meaning;
indicates the procedure, disease, or
condition
Examples
-itis= inflammation
– algia= pain
– ic= pertaining to
– ous= pertaining to
Prefix
Prefix- A word part attached to the beginning of
a word root to modify its meaning; usually
indicates location, time, or number. Not all
words have prefixes.
 Examples
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Sub= under or below
Poly= many
Post= after
Intra= within
Peri= surround or protect
Pre= before
Combining Vowel
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Combining vowel is a
word part, usually an O,
and is used:
– Between two word roots
– It is NOT used when a
suffix begins with a vowel
-IS used when a suffix
begins with a consonant
Combining Form
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A word root with the combing vowel
attached, separated by a vertical slash
– Arthr/o= joint
– Oste/o= bone
– ven/o= vein
Defining Medical Terms
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Begin by defining the suffix, then move to
the beginning of the term to complete the
definition (does not apply to all medical
terms)
Putting Medical Terms Together
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Poly+neur/o+itis = Polyneuritis
– Inflammation of many nerves
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Arthr/o+itis= Arthritis
– Inflammation of the joint
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Hepat/o+itis= Hepatitis
– Inflammation of the liver
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Sub+Hepat/o+ic = Subhepatic
– Pertaining to under the liver
Medical Terms
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Intra+ven/o+ous =Intravenous
– Pertaining to within the vein
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Arthr/o+path+y =Arthropathy
– Condition of disease of the joint
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Oste/o+itis =Osteitis
– Inflammation of the bone
Word Roots Indicating Color
Cyan/o= blue;
 -sis= state of or
condition
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– cyanosis
Erythr/o= red
 Cyte=cell
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– erythrocytes
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Leuk/o= white
– Leukocytes
Melan/o= black
 -oma=tumor, mass or
swelling

– Melanoma
polio/o=gray matter
 myel/o=spinal cord or
bone marrow
 -itis= inflammation
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– Poliomyelitis
Suffixes Related to Procedures
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-centesis
– Surgical puncture to remove fluid
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-ectomy
– Surgical removal
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-graphy
– Process of recording a picture or
record
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-gram
– Record or picture
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-plasty
– Surgical repair
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-scopy
– Visual examination
The Double RRs
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-rrhage and –rrhagia
– Mean bursting forth, an abnormal excessive
fluid discharge or bleeding
Ex: Hem/o+rrhage= hemorrhage
- means the loss of a large amount of blood in a
short time