Medical Terminology
Health Science Technology
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

Word Parts
Word roots
 Suffixes
 Prefixes
 Combining vowels

Word Root

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

Examples
– Neur/o= nerves
– Hepat/o= liver
– Arthr/o= joint
Word Root

Because the word root contains the
fundamental meaning of the word, each
medical term contains one or more word
roots.
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
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

–
–
–
–
–
–
Sub= under or below
Poly= many
Post= after
Intra= within
Peri= surround or protect
Pre= before
Combining Vowel

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

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

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

Poly+neur/o+itis = Polyneuritis
– Inflammation of many nerves

Arthr/o+itis= Arthritis
– Inflammation of the joint

Hepat/o+itis= Hepatitis
– Inflammation of the liver

Sub+Hepat/o+ic = Subhepatic
– Pertaining to under the liver
Medical Terms

Intra+ven/o+ous =Intravenous
– Pertaining to within the vein

Arthr/o+path+y =Arthropathy
– Condition of disease of the joint

Oste/o+itis =Osteitis
– Inflammation of the bone
Word Roots Indicating Color
Cyan/o= blue;
 -sis= state of or
condition

– cyanosis
Erythr/o= red
 Cyte=cell

– erythrocytes

Leuk/o= white
– Leukocytes

Melan/o= black
– Melanosis
polio/o=gray matter
 myel/o=spinal cord or
bone marrow
 -itis= inflammation

– Poliomyelitis
Suffixes Related to Procedures

-centesis
– Surgical puncture to remove fluid

-ectomy
– Surgical removal

-graphy
– Process of recording a picture or
record

-gram
– Record or picture

-plasty
– Surgical repair

-scopy
– Visual examination
The Double RRs

-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