Chapter 1: introduction to Medical Terminology

Ehrlich/Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 8 th Edition. © 2018 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
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Word Parts Are the Key
• Learning medical terminology is much easier once you understand how word
parts work together to form medical terms
• The majority of the word parts used in medical terminology are of Latin origin
• Some are derived from Greek, and a few are from other languages
Four Types of Word Parts
• Word root
o (Example, gastr: stomach)
• Combining form
o (Example, gastr/o)
• Suffix
o (Example, -itis)
• Prefix
o (Example, hyper-)
Word Parts
Word Roots
• Word roots act as the foundation for most medical terms
• They usually, but not always, describe the part of the body that is involved
• Some word roots indicate color
Combining Forms Vowels
• A combining form includes a vowel, usually the letter o, added to the end of a
word root
• Aids in pronunciation
• In combining two word roots, a combining form is added to the first word root
o A combining vowel is used at the end of the second word root only if the suffix
begins with a consonant
• Combining form is used at the end of the second word root if the suffix
begins with a vowel
Word Roots/Combining Forms
Suffixes (1 of 3)
• Added at the end of a word to complete the term
• Suffixes usually, but not always, indicate a procedure, condition, disorder, or
disease
• A combining vowel is used when suffix begins with a consonant
• Example, neuroplasty
o When joining neur/o (nerve) with suffix -plasty (surgical repair), combining vowel
"o" is used because suffix begins with a consonant
Suffixes (2 of 3)
• A combining vowel is not used when suffix begins with a vowel
• Example, tonsillitis
o When joining tonsill (tonsils) with suffix -itis (inflammation), combining vowel "o" is
not used because suffix begins with a vowel
o A tonsillectomy (ton-sih-LECK-toh-mee) is the surgical removal of the tonsils
Suffixes (3 of 3)
Suffixes as Noun Endings
• Suffix may change a word root into a noun
o Noun: person, place, or thing
o Example, cranium
• crani: skull
• -um: noun ending
Suffixes that Mean "Pertaining To"
• Suffixes may change the meaning of word root into an adjective
o Adjective: defines or describes
o Example, cardiac
• cardi: heart
• -ac: pertaining to
Suffixes that Mean "Abnormal Condition or Disease"

• Suffixes may be used to change the meaning of a wood root to describe an

abnormal condition
o Example, gastrosis
• gastr: stomach
• -osis: abnormal condition or disease
Suffixes Related to Pathology
• Suffixes may be used to describe a disease
• Pathology: study of all aspects of disease
• Examples:
o -algia: pain and suffering
o -dynia is another suffix meaning pain
o -itis: inflammation
o -megaly: enlargement
o -malacia means abnormal softening
o -necrosis means tissue death
o -sclerosis means abnormal hardening
o -stenosis means abnormal narrowing
Suffixes Related to Procedures
• Suffix may be used to describe a procedure
• Examples:
o -centesis: surgical puncture to remove fluid
o -graphy: producing a picture or record
o -gram means a picture or record
o -plasty means surgical repair
o -scopy: visual examination
The "Double R" Suffixes (1 of 4)
• Suffixes that begin with two of the letter "r"
• Greek origin
• Study them and learn the differences
The "Double R" Suffixes (2 of 4)
• -rrhage and -rrhagia: bleeding
o Mostly used to describe sudden, severe bleeding
o Example,
• Hemorrhage: the loss of a large amount of blood in a short time
• (hem/o: blood; -rrhage: abnormal excessive fluid discharge)
The "Double R" Suffixes (3 of 4)
• -rrhaphy: surgical suturing
• Example:
o Tenorrhaphy (ten-OR-ah-fee) is the surgical suturing of a tendon
o (ten/o means tendon, and -rrhaphy means surgical suturing)
The "Double R" Suffixes (4 of 4)
• -rrhea: flow or discharge of body fluids
• Example:
o Diarrhea: the frequent flow of loose or watery stools
o (dia-: through; -rrhea: flow or discharge)
Prefixes (1 of 2)
• Added at the beginning of a word
• Usually indicates location, time, or number
• Examples,
o Prenatal: before birth
• (pre-: before; nat: birth; -al: pertaining to)
Prefixes (2 of 2)
Contrasting and Confusing Prefixes
• May have similar spellings, but opposite meanings
• Examples,
o ab-: away from
o ad-: toward
o inter-: between or among
o intra-: within or inside
Determining Meanings on the Basis of Word Parts

• Knowing the meaning of the word parts often makes it possible to figure out
the definition of an unfamiliar medical term.
Taking Terms Apart (1 of 3)
• First, separate into word parts
• Always start at the end of the word, with the suffix, and work toward the
beginning
• As you separate the word parts, identify the meaning of each
• Because some word parts have more than one meaning, it also is necessary
to determine the context in which the term is being used
• If you have any doubt, use your medical dictionary
• Not all medical terms are made up of word parts
Taking Terms Apart (2 of 3)
• Example,
• Otorhinolaryngology
o Suffix -ology: the study of
o Word root laryng: larynx or throat
• Combining vowel is not used here because word root is joining a suffix that
begins with a vowel
o Combining form rhin/o: nose
• Combining vowel is used here because word root rhin is joining another word
root
Taking Terms Apart (3 of 3)
Guessing at Meanings
• Attempt to decide the meaning of the word
• Always double-check for accuracy because some terms have more than one
meaning
• A medical dictionary or trusted online resource is an important medical
terminology tool
Medical Dictionary Use
• Important part of mastering the correct use of medical terms
• Spend a few minutes reviewing its user guide, table of contents, and
appendices
• Listen carefully to the term, and write it down
• Most printed dictionaries use categories
• When you are looking for a term that includes more than one word, begin
your search with the last term
Searching for Definitions on the Internet
• Only use reputable websites
• Refer to at least two websites
• Be aware of search terms
• Double-check spelling and meaning of the term for which you are searching
Pronunciation
• Commonly accepted pronunciation appears in parenthesis next to the term
• Pronounce a new word by saying it as it is spelled in the parentheses.
• Primary emphasis shown in uppercase boldface letters (eh-DEE-mah)
• Secondary emphasis shown in boldface lowercase letters (ah-pen-dih-SIGH-tis)
Spelling is Always Important
• Changing just one or two letters may completely change the meaning of a
word
• Many medical terms are known as "look-alike, sound-alike”
• The spelling shown in this text is commonly accepted in the United States
Singular and Plural Endings
• Many medical terms have Greek or Latin origins
• As a result of these different origins, there are unusual rules for changing a
singular word into a plural form
• English endings have been adopted for some commonly used terms
Basic Medical Terms to Describe Diseases
• Further study may be required in learning medical terms that describe
diseases and disease conditions
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (1 of 11)

• Many medical terms may look and sound similar but their meanings are
different
• Study these terms carefully
• It is important that you pay close attention to these terms and word parts as
you encounter them
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (2 of 11)

• Examples
o arteri/o: artery
• Endarterial (end-ar-TEE-ree-al) means pertaining to the interior or lining of an
artery
o ather/o: plaque or fatty substance
• An atheroma (ath-er-OH-mah) is a fatty deposit within the wall of an artery
o arthr/o: joint
• Arthralgia (ar-THRAL-jee-ah) means pain in a joint or joints
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (3 of 11)

• Examples
o -ectomy: surgical removal
• An appendectomy (ap-en-DECK-toh-mee) is the surgical removal of the
appendix
o -ostomy: surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body surface
• The surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body surface
o -otomy: cutting or a surgical incision
• Means cutting or a surgical incision
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (4 of 11)

• Examples
o - Fissure (FISH-ur)
• Groove or crack-like sore of the skin
o - Fistula (FIS-chuh-lah)
• An abnormal passage, usually between two internal organs or leading from
an organ to the surface of the body
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (5 of 11)

• Examples
o ileum (ILL-ee-um): the last and longest portion of the small intestine. Memory aid:
ileum is spelled with an "e" as in intestine.
o ilium (ILL-ee-um): part of the hip bone. Memory aid: ilium is spelled with an "i " as
in hip.
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (6 of 11)

• Examples
o An infection (in-FECK-shun) is the invasion of the body by a pathogenic (disease-
producing) organism
o Inflammation (in-flah-MAY-shun) is a localized response to an injury or to the
destruction of tissues
• Examples
o A laceration (lass-er-AY-shun) is a torn or jagged wound or an accidental cut
o A lesion (LEE-zhun) is a pathologic change of the tissues due to disease or injury
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (7 of 11)

• Examples
o The adjective mucous (MYOU-kus) describes the specialized membranes that
line the body cavities
o The noun mucus (MYOU-kus), which is pronounced the same way, refers to the
fluid secreted by these mucous membranes
• Examples
o myc/o means fungus
o myel/o means bone marrow or spinal cord
o my/o means muscle
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (8 of 11)

• Examples
o -ologist means specialist
o -ology means the study of
• Examples
o myc/o means fungus
o myel/o means bone marrow or spinal cord
o my/o means muscle
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (9 of 11)

• Examples
o Palpation (pal-PAY-shun) is an examination technique in which the examiner’s
hands are used to feel the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body
parts
o Palpitation (pal-pih-TAY-shun) is a pounding or racing heart
• Examples
o pyel/o means renal pelvis, which is part of the kidney
o py/o means pus
o pyr/o means fever or fire
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (10 of 11)

• Examples
o Supination (soo-pih-NAY-shun) is the act of rotating the arm so that the palm of
the hand is forward or upward
o Suppuration (sup-you-RAY-shun) is the formation of pus
• Examples
o Triage (tree-AHZH) is the medical screening of patients to determine their relative
priority of need and the proper place of treatment
o Trauma (TRAW-mah) means wound or injury
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (11 of 11)

• Examples
o Viral (VYE-ral) means pertaining to a virus (vir means virus or poison, and -al
means pertaining to)
• Examples
o Virile (VIR-ill) means having the nature, properties, or qualities of an adult male
Using Abbreviations
• Used frequently to record long and complex medical terms
• May lead to confusion and errors
• Be familiar with the "Do Not Use" abbreviations of your facility
• Use only accepted abbreviations
• When in doubt, spell it out
• The Joint Commission, an organization founded in 1910 to standardize
medical practices, publishes an official list of commonly confused “Do Not
Use” abbreviations
Answers to Learning Exercises
Chapter 1 Answers (1 of 9)
Matching Word Parts 1 Matching Word Parts 2
• 1.1 dys- • 1.6 -osis
• 1.2 hyper- • 1.7 -malacia
• 1.3 -megaly • 1.8 hypo-
• 1.4 -algia • 1.9 -itis
• 1.5 -ectomy • 1.10 -necrosis
Chapter 1 Answers (2 of 9)
Matching Word Parts 3 Matching Word Parts 4
• 1.11 -rrhage • 1.16 -scopy
• 1.12 -ostomy • 1.17 -ac
• 1.13 -otomy • 1.18 -stenosis
• 1.14 -plasty • 1.19 -sclerosis
• 1.15 –rrhaphy • 1.20 -rrhea
Chapter 1 Answers (3 of 9)
Definitions Matching Terms and Definitions 1
• 1.21 myelopathy • 1.26 leukocyte
• 1.22 hypertension • 1.27 prognosis
• 1.23 natal • 1.28 edema
• 1.24 symptom • 1.29 acute
• 1.25 disease • 1.30 supination
Chapter 1 Answers (4 of 9)
Matching Terms and Which Word?
Definitions 2 • 1.36 gastritis
• 1.31 palpation • 1.37 suppuration
• 1.32 exudate • 1.38 trauma
• 1.33 lesion • 1.39 viral
• 1.34 palpitation • 1.40 appendectomy
• 1.35 laceration
Chapter 1 Answers (5 of 9)
Spelling Counts Matching Terms
• 1.41 eponym • 1.46 tendinitis
• 1.42 inflammation • 1.47 syndrome
• 1.43 fissure • 1.48 tenorrhaphy
• 1.44 neurorrhaphy • 1.49 gastralgia
• 1.45 tonsillitis • 1.50 pyoderma
Chapter 1 Answers (6 of 9)
Term Selection Sentence Completion
• 1.51 arteriosclerosis • 1.56 hypotension
• 1.52 sign • 1.57 angiography
• 1.53 gastroenteritis • 1.58 supracostal
• 1.54 arthralgia • 1.59 differential
• 1.55 dermatologist • 1.60 fistula
Chapter 1 Answers (7 of 9)
True/False Word Surgery
• 1.61 True • 1.66 ot/o, rhin/o, laryng, -ology
• 1.62 False • 1.67 myc, -osis
• 1.63 True • 1.68 poli/o, myel, -itis
• 1.64 False • 1.69 neo-, nat, -ology
• 1.65 True • 1.70 end-, arteri, -al
Chapter 1 Answers (8 of 9)
Clinical Conditions Which Is the Correct Medical Term?
• 1.71 intramuscular • 1.81 neuroplasty
• 1.72 abdominocentesis • 1.82 hemorrhage
• 1.73 acronym • 1.83 arterionecrosis
• 1.74 phalanges • 1.84 interstitial
• 1.75 triage • 1.85 hepatomegaly
• 1.76 diagnosis
• 1.77 pathology
• 1.78 remission
• 1.79 pyrosis
• 1.80 diarrhea
Chapter 1 Answers (9 of 9)
Challenge Word Building Labeling Exercises
• 1.86 cardiologist • 1.96 myel/o
• 1.87 rhinorrhea • 1.97 my/o
• 1.88 arthritis • 1.98 oste/o
• 1.89 neonatologist • 1.99 neur/o
• 1.90 neurotomy • 1.100 arthr/o
• 1.91 carditis
• 1.92 rhinalgia
• 1.93 neuralgia
• 1.94 cardiotomy
• 1.95 rhinitis