A Introduction To Medical Terminology

MEDICAL
TERMINOLOGY
THE BASIS OF THE LANGUAGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF MEDICINE
DR. FREDERICK PHILEMON P.

OBJECTIVE OF THE COURSE
 Definition of Medical terminology
 •Importance of medical terminology
 •Medical word elements
 •Word roots
 •Combining forms
 •Suffixes
 •Prefixes
 •Basic rules
 •Defining medical words
 •Building medical words
 •Pronunciation Guidelines
Definition of Medical terminology
 Medical terminology is a system of
words that are used to describe specific
medical aspects and diseases. It is
based on standard root words, prefixes,
and suffixes. Or, it is a language that is
used to accurately describe the human
body and associated components,
conditions, processes and procedures in
a science-based manner.
Definition continues
 The words – or terms – which make up the language of medicine
are referred to as the terminology of the medical field…known as
medical terminology.
 •Like every other language, medical terminology has changed
over time and will continue to change.
 •Medical terminology has evolved in great measure from the Latin
and Greek languages.
 Other older roots have their origins in Arabic.
 Some modern roots are taken from the English Language. This
reflects the pre-eminence of the English language in medicine and
biomedical sciences for the past half century.
 Some words in modern medical terminology have been borrowed
from biology. Many of these are names of genus and species of
pathogen
Significance of Medical Terminology
 Simplify communication/break down the language barrier.

 Easy understanding(common language)
 They are specific terminologies, thus makes no need to
use general terminology
 Medical terminology is also employed when describing
diseases or procedures. As an example, review
acute pancreatitis in the posterior portion of the organ.
The root (pancrea-) indicates the organ of involvement,
the pancreas. The suffix (-itis) indicates an
inflammation.
Medical Word Elements
Word Elements
Suffixes: Surgical Procedures
 -centesis – to puncture/tap to draw fluid from
 -desis – surgical fixation, fusion
 -ectomy – excision, removal, cut out
 -pexy - fixation
 -plasty – surgical repair, correction
 -rrhaphy – suture
 -sect – to cut
 -stomy – forming a new opening
 -tome – instrument for cutting
 -tomy – incision into, cut into
 -tripsy – to crush, break down
 -puncture – to pierce a surface
Suffixes: Diagnostic Procedure
 -assay – examine, analyze

 -gram – written record, recording
 -graph – instrument for recording
 -graphy – process of recording
 -manometer – instrument for measuring pressure
 -manometry – process of measuring pressure
 -meter – instrument for measuring
 -metery – process of measuring
 -opsy – to view
 -scope - instrument for examining
 -scopy – process of examining, examination
Three Rules of Word Building
 There are three important rules of word
building:

■Rule 1: A word root links a suffi x that
begins with a vowel.

■Rule 2: A combining form (root + o) links a
suffi x that begins with a consonant.

■Rule 3: A combining form (root + o) links a
root to another root to form a compound
word. (This
 rule holds true even if the next root begins
Common Prefixes
•
 Ab- away from midline Homo- same, similar
 Ab- away from midline
 •Hyster- uterus
 •Acu- needle
 •Anti- against  •Men- menstruation
 •Auto- self  •Quadri- four
 •Bi- two, both, double  •Re- back, again
 •Dys- abnormal, bad, painful  •Super- above, beyond
 •Hemi- half  •Tri- three
 •Hetero- opposite, different
Prefixes Continued
Hydro- fluid, water •Poly- many, much

 •Inter- between  •Post- after, behind
 •Intra- within  •Pro- before, in front of, forward
 •Iso- equal  •Retro- behind, backward
 •Mal- ill, bad  •Sub- under, below, beneath
 •Meta- after, beyond, change  •Supra- above, on the top side
 •Multi- many, more than one  •Tachy- fast
 •Neo- new or abnormal  •Trans- across, over
Other Rules…
 To define medical terms, divide or slash them into their

component parts; these word components are called
prefixes, suffixes, and roots.
 Use the hyphen ( - ) after the word component to
indicate that it is a prefix; use it after the combining form
to indicate that it needs a suffix; use it before the word
component to indicate it is a suffix.
 For example: Epi-gastr/o/-cele
Rules continued…
 Use the combining vowel “o” when a suffix begins with a

consonant. i.e Termin/o/logy
 Use the combining vowel “o” when combining two roots only if
the second root begins with a consonant. i.e. Pneum/o/thorax
 Do not use the combining vowel “o” if you are combining a
second root that begins with a vowel or a suffix that begins
with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y). i.e.
Pneum/arthr/osis
 Add –y to a word to indicate a procedure (gastroscopy) or –ly
to indicate an act or process (splenomegaly).
Rules Continued…
 The suffix –osis always denotes a condition (usually

abnormal). When combined with the color roots
erythr/o- (red) and leuk/o- (white), it represents a
condition of abnormally increased blood cells.
 Most of the time, word components denoting color
are used as prefixes. However, sometimes they are
the root of the medical term.
Body Systems
 BLOOD
 REPRODUCTIVE – FEMALE
 CARDIOVASCULAR
 REPRODUCTIVE – FEMALE
 ENDOCRINE
 REPRODUCTIVE – MALE
 GASTROINTESTINAL
 RESPIRATORY
 INTEGUMENTARY
 SENSES (5)
 LYMPHATIC/IMMUNE
 SKELETAL
 MUSCULAR
 URINARY
 NERVOUS
CONCLUSION
Medical terminology remains
the basic language of
medicine. Hence, it is highly
recommended for anyone
who wishes to study medical
courses or medicine.
THANK YOU
REFERENCES
 Medical Terminology Simplified by

Barbara A. Gylis , Regina M. Masters
 Elsevier's Medical Terminology for the Practising
Nurse

A Introduction To Medical Terminology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A Introduction To Medical Terminology

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

A Introduction To Medical Terminology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MEDICAL

DR. FREDERICK PHILEMON P.

 Simplify communication/break down the language barrier.

 -assay – examine, analyze

Hydro- fluid, water •Poly- many, much

 To define medical terms, divide or slash them into their

 Use the combining vowel “o” when a suffix begins with a

 The suffix –osis always denotes a condition (usually

 Medical Terminology Simplified by

You might also like