Medical Terminology
Introduction & Building Medical Terms
Medical Terminology
Medical terminology is comprised of root
words, prefixes, suffixes and combining
forms
Most of these parts are derived from
Greek or Latin roots
Medical Terminology
Correct spelling of these terms is
imperative due to the critical
circumstances in which they are used
Pronunciation usually follows the rules of
the English language
Medical Terminology
Pronunciations:
~ c and g have the soft sounds
of s or j, respectively, before
e, i, & y
~ c and g have harsh sounds
before a, o, and u
~ ch is sometimes pronounced
like k
Medical Terminology
Pronunciations:
~ ps is pronounced like s
~ pn is pronounced like n
~ ae is pronounced like ee
~ i at the end of a word is a
long i
Medical Terminology
Medical Terminology
Memorizing commonly used roots,
prefixes and suffixes makes learning new
terminology a simple task
Medical Terminology
Root words are the basic descriptive part
of a medical term:
~ usually accompanied by
prefixes, suffixes or both
~ many times followed by a
combining vowel forming a
combining form
Medical Terminology
Root words are the basic descriptive part
of a medical term:
~ combining vowels are used
with suffixes that start with
a consonant and with other
combining forms
Medical Terminology
Root words are the basic descriptive part
of a medical term:
~ combining vowels are
dropped when the combining
form is added to a suffix
beginning with a vowel
Medical Terminology
Terms containing two root words are
called compound words
Medical Terminology
Root word examples:
~ arthr
(joint)
~ card
(heart)
~ cephal
(head)
~ pod
(foot)
~ ophthalm (eye)
Medical Terminology
Root word examples:
~ cyt
(cell)
~ calc
(calcium)
~ aut
(self)
~ chrom
(color)
~ morph
(shape)
Medical Terminology
Root word examples:
~ gloss
(tongue)
~ pneum
(air)
~ gastr
(stomach)
~ leuk
(white)
~ hydr
(water)
Medical Terminology
Root word examples:
Greek
Latin
~ nephr
* ren
(kidney)
~ derma
* cut
(skin)
~ stomat
* or
(mouth)
~ carcin
* cancer (cancer)
Medical Terminology
Prefixes are terminology parts that are
placed before the root word to modify its
meaning:
~ not affected by combining
vowels
~ followed by a hyphen if
written to stand alone
Medical Terminology
Prefix examples:
~ hyper(above)
~ hypo(below)
~ pseudo- (false)
~ dys(bad)
~ de(reversing)
~ poly(many)
~ an(not)
~ a(not)
Medical Terminology
Prefix examples:
~ re(again)
~ mono(one)
~ uni(one)
~ bi(two)
~ di(two)
~ tri(three)
~ tetra(four)
~ quad(four)
Medical Terminology
Prefix examples:
~ co(together)
~ syn(together)
~ dis(apart)
~ ex(out)
~ extra(outside of)
~ intra(inside)
~ endo(inside)
~ peri(around)
Medical Terminology
Prefix examples:
~ pro(before)
~ pre(before)
~ ante(before)
~ post(after)
~ anti(against)
~ meso(middle)
~ dia(through)
~ eu(true)
Medical Terminology
Suffixes are terminology parts that are
placed after the root word to modify its
meaning:
~ does affect the combining
vowel
~ proceeded by a hyphen if
written to stand alone
Medical Terminology
Suffix examples:
~ -ology
(study of)
~ -itis
(inflammation)
~ -ia
(condition of)
~ -crine
(secrete)
~ -lytic
(destroy)
~ -tomy
(cut into)
~ -pathy
(disease)
Medical Terminology
Suffix examples:
~ -ic
(pertaining to)
~ -al
(pertaining to)
~ -eal
(pertaining to)
~ -il
(pertaining to)
~ -dyna
(pain)
~ -algia
(pain)
~ -emia
(blood)
Medical Terminology
Suffix examples:
~ -oid
(form)
~ -megaly
(enlargement)
~ -phobia
(fear of)
~ -ose
(sugar)
~ -ase
(enzyme)
~ -penia
(deficiency)
~ -osis
(condition)
Medical Terminology
Prefix
peri-
Root word
Combining form
ophthalm
periophthalmitis
Suffix
-itis
Medical Terminology
Perihepatitis – Inflammation around
the liver
peri- hepat(o) -itis
prefix
suffix
root word combining
form
Medical Terminology
Prefix
dys-
Suffix
-pnea
dyspnea
Medical Terminology
Root word
Combining form
gastr(o)
Root word
Combining form
Suffix
enter(o)
-ology
gastroenterology
Medical Terminology
Plural endings:
~ the most common are -s, -es
& -ies
~ -es for the singular -is
~ -a for the singular -um
~ -i for the singular -us
~ -ices for the singular -ex
~ -ices for the singular -is
Medical Terminology
Plural endings:
~ -ae for the singular -a
~ -s or -mata for the singular
-ma
~ -nges for the singular -nx
~ -a for the singular -on
~ -aces for the singular -ax