Medical Terminology

1. Medical Terminology Introduction

2. Medical language Majority of terms are based in Latin or Greek Ex: herpes – based on the Greek work herpo meaning “creep along”. Herpes is used to describe the skin condition because it seems to “creep along” the skin.

3. Most medical terms can be broken down into one or more word parts. • Roots • Prefixes • Suffixes • Linking or combining vowels

4. WORD ROOTS • Are the meaning or base of the term • Every medical term has at least one word root • Ex: hepatitis – hepat is the word root and means liver.

5. SUFFIX • Attached to the end of the word root to modify its meaning. • Ex: Hepatic – ic (meaning “pertaining to”) is the suffix.

6. PREFIX • Attached to the beginning of a word root to modify its meaning. • Ex: subhepatic – sub (meaning “under”) is the prefix.

7. RULES • Part of the word • Usually is an “o” • Used between two word roots • Used between a word root and a suffix to ease pronunciation

8. RULES • All prefixes must go at the beginning of the word • All suffixes must go at the end of the word • All words must have a suffix • The combining vowel which is usually an “o” should be dropped when combining with a suffix that begins with a vowel.

9. HEMATOLOGY HEMATO/LOGY Root Suffix (blood) (Study of) When you analyze a medical term, begin at the end of the word. The ending of a word is called a suffix. All medical terms contain suffixes. Word Analysis

10. HEMATOLOGY HEMAT/O/LOGY Root Suffix (blood) (Study of) Combining Vowel Root + combining vowel + suffix Start at the suffix Logy = Study of Then go back to the beginning of the word. Hemat = blood Analysis (put it together) Study of blood Word Analysis

11. BIOLOGIST BIO/LOGIST Root Suffix (Life) (Specialist in) Root + suffix Start at the suffix Logist = specialist in (the study of) Go to the beginning Bio = life Analysis Specialist in (the study of) life Word Analysis

12. CARDIOGRAM CARDI/O/GRAM Root Suffix (heart) (record) Root + suffix Start at the suffix Gram = record Go the to beginning Cardio = heart Analysis Record of the heart Word Analysis

13. ELECTROCARDIOGRAM ELECTRO/CARDIO/GRAM Root Root Suffix (electricity) (heart) (record) Root + root + suffix Start at the suffix Gram = record Go the to beginning Electro = electricity Cardio= heart Analysis Record of the electricity in the heart Word Analysis

14. Roots Cardio = heart Gastro = stomach Hemato = blood Dermato = skin Suffix -logy = study of -logist = specialist -gram = record -ac = pertaining to -itis = inflammation CARDIOLOGY CARDIO/LOGY Study of the heart CARDIOLOGIST CARDIO/LOGIST Specialist in the heart HEMATOLOGIST HEMATO/LOGIST Specialist in blood Word Analysis

15. Roots Cardio = heart Gastro = stomach Hemato = blood Derma = skin Suffix -logy = study of -logist = specialist -gram = record -ac = pertaining to -itis = inflammation CARDIAC CARDI/AC Pertaining to the heart What’s different? The combining vowel is dropped when the suffix begins with a vowel. Word Analysis

16. Roots Cardio = heart Gastro = stomach Hemato = blood Dermato = skin Suffix -logy = study of -logist = specialist -gram = record -ac = pertaining to -itis = inflammation DERMATITIS DERMAT/ITIS Inflammation of the skin Word Analysis

17. Roots Cardi/o = heart Gastr/o = stomach Hemat/o = blood Dermat/o = skin Suffix -logy = study of -logist = specialist -gram = record -ac = pertaining to -itis = inflammation GASTRITIS GASTR/ITIS Inflammation of the stomach Word Analysis

18. Roots Cardi/o = heart Gastr/o = stomach Hemat/o = blood Enter/o = intestines Suffix -logy = study of -logist = specialist -gram = record -ac = pertaining to -itis = inflammation GASTROENTEROLOGY GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGY Study of the stomach and intestines 2 root words = OK 2 CV = OK Between roots the combining vowel is notdropped, even if the second root begins with a vowel. Word Analysis

19. Roots Electr/o = electicity Encephal/o = brain Gastr/o = stomach Suffix -logy = study of -logist = specialist -gram = record -ac = pertaining to -itis = inflammation ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM ELECTR/O/ENCEPHAL/O/GRAM Record of the electricity in the brain Word Analysis

20. Word Analysis Prefix • a word-part attached to the beginning of the term

21. Prefix Brady = slow Tachy = fast Root Cardi/o = heart Suffix -ia = condition / disease BRADYCARDIA BRADY/CARD/IA Condition of a slow heart Word Analysis

22. Prefix Brady = slow Tachy = fast Root Cardi/o = heart Suffix -ia = condition / disease TACHYCARDIA TACHY/CARD/IA Condition of a fast heart Word Analysis

23. Word Analysis - Review • Root = gives the essential meaning of the term • Suffix = the word ending • Prefix = a small part added to the beginning of a term • Combining vowel = connects roots to suffixes and roots to other roots • Combining form = combination of the root and a combining vowel

24. Word Analysis - Rules • Read the meaning of medical words from the suffix, then to the beginning of the word and across • Drop the combining vowel before a suffix that starts with a vowel • Keep the combining vowel between roots, even if the root begins with a vowel

25. Expectations • Every week you will be given new prefixes, roots, or suffixes to learn. • You will need to be able to give the meaning the medical terms created from that list • You will need to be able to give the medical term if you are given the meaning • Spelling is important!