Objectives in studying the medical
terms
• Analyze words by dividing them into component
parts
the medical term can be broken down into basic
Parts in order to be understood.
• Relate the medical terms to the structure and
function of the human body.
the medical term should be explained in the
context of how the body works in health and disease
• Be aware of spelling and pronunciation problems
ilium: part of the pelvis ileum: part of small intestine
Word Analysis
prefix
root
Combining
vowel
suffix
Root
cardi
hemat
Combining Vowel
o
o
Combining Form
Cardi/o
Hemat/o
Prefixes
prefix
a- , an-
meaning
no, not,
without
auto-
self
dia-
through,
complete
endo-
within
terminology
meaning
anemia
A decreased number of
erythrocytes or an abnormality
of the hemoglobin.
autopsy
The examination of a dead body
determine the cause of death
and nature of disease.
State of complete knowledge
diagnosis
endocrinologist
Specialist of the study of the
glands that secrete within
Prefixes
prefix
terminology
meaning
epigastric
pertaining to above the stomach
epidermis
The outermost layer of the skin
out
exicision
The process of cutting out
(removal)
exo-
out
Glands secreting the chemicals to
exocrine glands the outside of the body through
tubes
hyper-
excessive,
above, more
than normal
epi-
ex-
meaning
above, upon
hyperglycemia
Condition of excessive amount of
sugar in blood
Prefixes
prefix
meaning
terminology
meaning
Deficient,
below, less
than normal
hypogastric
Pertaining to below the stomach
hypoglycemia
Condition of deficiency of sugar
in blood
in-
into, in
incision
Process of cutting in
Peri-
Surrounding,
around
pericardium
membrane or structure
surrounding the heart
Pro-
before
prognosis
State before knowledge
(prediction of the case)
Hypo-
Prefixes
prefix
meaning
terminology
meaning
re-
back,
backward,
again
resection
process of cutting back
(removal).
An operation in which an organ is
“cut back” or removed
retro-
behind
retrocardiac
pertaining to behind the heart.
Sub-
below, under
subhepatic
pertaining to below the liver.
trans-
across, through transhepatic
pertaining to across the liver
Combining Forms
Combining form
aden/o
arthr/o
bi/o
Carcin/o
meaning
terminology
meaning
adenoma
Tumor of a gland
adenitis
Inflammation of a gland
arthritis
Inflammation of a joint
biology
Study of life
biopsy
Viewing of a living tissue (using a
microscope)
carcinoma
Cancerous tumor
gland
joint
life
Cancerous,
cancer
It grows from epithelial(surface or skin) cells
that cover the outside of the body and line
organs, cavities, and tubes within the body
Combining forms
Combining form
Meaning
terminology
meaning
Cardi/o
heart
cardiology
Study of the heart
Cephal/o
head
cephalic
Pertaining to the head
Cerebr/o
Cerebrum
(largest
part of the
brain)
cerebral
Pertaining to the brain
A cerebrovascular accident (CVA)(a stroke)
occurs when damage to blood vessels in the
cerebrum causes injury to nerve cells of the
brain.
incision
Cis/o
to cut
excision
The process of cutting into the
body.
The process of cutting out of the
Combining forms
Combining form
meaning
terminology
Meaning
Glands that secrete within
crin/o
cyst/o
Derm/o
Dermat/o
Electr/o
Secrete(to
form and
give off)
Urinary
bladder: a
sac or a
cyst(sac
containing
fluid)
skin
elecricity
Endocrine glands
e.g. thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands
Secrete hormones directly within into the
bloodstream. Exocrine glands secrete
chemicals (saliva, sweat, tears) through
tubes(ducts) to the outside of the body.
cystoscopy
A process of visual examination
of the urinary bladder
dermatitis
Inflammation of the skin
hypodermic
Pertaining to below the skin
Electrocardiogram Record of the electricity of the
ECG EKG
heart
Combining forms
Combining form
meaning
terminology
meaning
encephal/o
brain
electroencephalogram
EEG
Record of the electricity of
the brain
enter/o
Intestines
enteritis
(usually the
small one)
erythrocyte
erythr/o
gastr/o
Inflammation of the
intestines
The small intestine is narrower and
longer than the large one(colon)
Red blood cell
Erythrocytes carry oxygen in the
blood
red
gastrectomy
Removal of the stomach
gastrotomy
Cutting into the stomach
stomach
Combining forms
Combining forms meaning
gnos/o
terminology
meaning
Diagnosis
State of the complete knowledge
It is made after sufficient information has been
obtained about the patient’s condition
knowledge
Prognosis
State of prior knowledge of the illness
It is a prediction about the outcome of an
illness, it is always given after diagnosis has been
determine
Study of female medical condition
gynec/o
woman,
female
hemat/o
gynecology
hematology
Study of blood
hematoma
Mass of blood
blood
hem/o
It occurs when blood is lost from blood vessels
and collects as clotted blood in a cavity or organ
under the skin.
hepat/o
liver
hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver
Combining forms
Combining forms meaning
terminology
meaning
Pertaining to cure/ treatment
iatr/o
treatment
iatrogenic
These conditions are unexpected side effects that
result from treatment by a physician
White blood cell
Leuk/o
Nephr/o
Neur/o
White
leukocyte
It helps the body fight disease
Nephritis
Inflammation of the kidney
Nephrology
Study of the kidney
neurology
Study of the nerve
kidney
nerve
Combining forms
Combining forms meaning
onc/o
Ophthalm/o
Oste/o
terminology
meaning
oncology
Study of tumor
oncologist
A tumor specialist
ophthalmoscope
An instrument for visual
examination of the eye
osteitis
Inflammation of the bone
osteoartheritis
Inflammation of the bones and the
joints
tumor
eye
bone
It is a condition of degeneration of bones and
joints that occurs as the body ages. It is often
accompanied by inflammation
Path/o
pathology
Study of diseases
pathologist
Specialist in diseases
disease
He examines biopsy samples microscopically
and examines a dead body to determine the
cause of death