Surgery Language Workshop
Surgery, in general, has a vocabulary all its own. The ME who edits surgical reports must know not only the basic medical
terminology—the anatomical and physiological terminology required by the discipline or whatever medical specialty the
surgery represents—but also know (or know where to find) the names of the surgical instruments, sutures, dressings,
incision types, positions, and procedural protocols, among other things. With the advances in medicine and surgical
procedures, the required vocabulary and knowledge also grows and changes. Understanding and editing surgical reports
can definitely be a challenge for the ME.
This surgery language workshop will cover both General Surgery terminology and surgical terminology in general.
COMMON SURGERY ROOT WORDS AND COMBINING FORMS
Root Word & Combining Form
Meaning
Example
adip/o
fat
adipose
acr/o
aer/o
angi/o
ankyl/o
bucc/o
caud/o
cephal/o
chondr/o
colp/o
cost/o
cry/o
crypt/o
cyan/o
dist/o
dors/o
enter/o
hist/o
lapar/o
myel/o
ne/o
necr/o
odyn/o
pneum/o
proxim/o
py/o
extremities
air
vessel
crooked or fused
cheek
tail
head
cartilage
hollow/vagina
rib
cold
hide, conceal
blue
far/distant from origin
toward back/on the back
intestine
tissue
flank/abdominal wall
marrow/spinal cord
new
dead/corpse
pain/distress
air/breathing/lung
nearest point of origin
pus
acromegaly
aeration
angiogram
ankylosing
buccal
caudate
cephalad
chondromalacia
colporrhaphy
costovertebral
cryogenic
cryptorchism
cyanotic
distally
dorsolateral
enterocolitis
histoplasmosis
laparotomy
myeloma
neoblastic
necrosis
odynophagia
pneumoperitoneum
proximal
pyoid
scoli/o
twisted or crooked
scoliosis
thromb/o
clot
thrombosis
spondyl/o
vertebra
spondylosis
COMMON SURGERY PREFIXES
Prefix
Meaning
Example
circum-
around, circular
circumferential
bio-
cryde-
dia-
ecto-/ex-/exoeu-
lith-
mesonulli-
primiretrosub-
syn-/symtrans-
life
cold
down from, removing
through, between, across
outside, without, away
good, normal
stone
middle, moderate
none
first
behind, backward
beneath, below
together, union
across, through
biohazard
cryotherapy
decomposition
diaphragm
exophytic
euthymic
lithotripsy
mesothelial
nulliparous
primigravida
retrofit
subtalar
symphysis
transurethral
COMMON SURGERY SUFFIXES
Suffix
Meaning
Example
-clasis
break, breaking
osteoclasis
-centesis
-desis
-ectomy
-esthesia
-lysis
-meter
-metry
-oid
-oma
-opsy
-pexy
-plasty
-ptosis
-rrhaphy
puncture to withdraw fluid
binding, stabilizing, fixation
excision or removal
perception, sensitivity
loosening, freeing
instrument to measure
process of measuring
resembling
tumor
excision or removal of
fixation, surgical fixation
surgical repair
to droop or fall
suture
thoracentesis
pleurodesis
tonsillectomy
paresthesia
adhesiolysis
glucometer
spirometry
ovoid
lipoma
biopsy
retinopexy
abdominoplasty
enteroptosis
herniorrhaphy
-rrhexis
rupture
capsulorrhexis
-tripsy
surgical crushing
lithotripsy
-stomy
forming an opening
COMMON SURGERY ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
Expansion
AVM
arteriovenous malformation
AAA
BiPAP
CPAP
CPR
DNR
DOB
DT
ESWL
IMA
IOL
KVO
LET
NG
NPO
NS
OR
TKO
TPN
ICU
BICU
CCU
CICU
CMICU
CSDU
CSICU
CVICU
MICU
NICU
PICU
SCICU
SCVICU
SICU
abdominal aortic aneurysm
bilevel positive airway pressure
continuous positive airway pressure
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
DO NOT RESUSCITATE
date of birth
delirium tremens
extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy
internal mammary artery
intraocular lens
keep vein open (IV)
lidocaine, epinephrine, tetracaine
nasogastric (tube)
nothing by mouth (Latin: nil per os)
normal saline
operating room
to keep open (IV)
total parenteral nutrition
intensive care unit
burn intensive care unit
coronary care unit
cardiac intensive care unit, coronary intensive care unit
coronary/medical intensive care unit
cardiac step-down unit
cardiac surgery intensive care unit
cardiovascular intensive care unit
medical intensive care unit, mobile intensive care unit
neonatal intensive care unit
pediatric intensive care unit
spinal cord intensive care unit
surgical cardiovascular intensive care unit
surgical intensive care unit
tracheostomy
STICU
TICU
surgical trauma intensive care unit
trauma intensive care unit
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