Medical Terminology

2nd Lect Medical Terminology Wensday 26/11/2014

Word Structure:
Most medical words are composed of two or more termsor elements . To define a medical word: •divide the word or term into its elements
• analyze the elements
• define the word Examples: Pericarditis (Inflammation around the heart )
Peri- ( prefix ) = around; card( Root ) = heart; - itis( suffix ) = inflammation
Oncology (Study of tumors )
onco = tumor, mass; logy = study of
Terms Term + Term (.....+.....) = medical word
There are five categories of termsor word elements
1.Prefix - beginning of a word (ex., pre____; post_____) Designated by a “____” after the term.
2.Suffix - ending of a word (ex., _____stomy; _____itis) Designated by a “____” before the term.
3.Root - foundation/base of a word (ex., hepat; gastr)
4.Combining vowel - vowel (usually “o”) added to a root (ex., gastro). Use a combining vowel when joining: a.Root to another root (ex., gastrohepatitis) b.Root to a suffix beginning with a consonant (ex., cardiomegaly)
5.Combining form - root + vowel (ex., hepat/o; gastr/o) Designated by a “/” between the root and the vowel Examples: leukocytosis ; leuko (combining form) = white ; cyt (root) = cell ; osis (suffix) = condition of Definition: condition of excessive white blood cells (leukocytes)
Hematotoxic ; hemato (combining form) = blood ; tox (root) = poison ; ic (suffix) = pertaining to Definition: pertaining to blood poisoning
Notes :
1.Some terms have more than one definition. To determine the correct definition in a particular medical word, analyze the other terms in the word. Example: Poliomyelitis polio = gray (matter) ; myel = spinal cord, bone marrow itis = inflammation Definition: Inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord. The bone marrow does not have gray matter.
2.Some terms may function as a root/combining form in one word and a suffix in another word. Classification depends upon the specific medical word. Examples: Cytology : cyt( o ) (combining form) = cell ; logy (suffix) = study of ; Definition: Study of cells
Erythrocyte : erythr( o ) (combining form) = red ; cyte (suffix) = cell Definition: Red blood cell
Hypertension high pressure -Ion ( suffix ) = condition
Hyper – ( prefix ) = high or excessive ; tens ( root ) contract or press
Gastroenteritis ( inflammation of stomach& intestine ) -itis( suffix ) = inflammation Gastr( o ) = ( Combining form) stomach enter ( root ) = intestine
Hypoglcemia Definition is a drop or low blood sugar -emia( suffix ) = ( condition of blood ) Hypo – ( prefix ) = low glyc ( root ) = glucose or sugar