Medical Terminology Chapter 1: Basic Term Components

Gus: Now, gimme a word, any word, and I'll show you how the root of that word is Greek.

Okay? How about arachnophobia? Arachna, that comes from the Greek word for spider, and

phobia is a phobia, is mean fear. So, fear of spider, there you go.

Schoolgirl: Okay, Mr. Portokalos. How about the word kimono?

Etymology

Etymology is the study of the origins and historical meanings of words

[Gr. etymos, true, real, actual + -logia "study of, a speaking of]

Etymology of English Medical Terms

1. Compound Terms

Osteoarthrotomy (st--r-thrt-m) [Gr. osteon, bone + arthron, joint + tome, incision] Surgical excision of the articular end of a bone

Etymology of English Medical Terms

1. Compound Terms

2. Loan Words

Angina (an-jn, anj-) [L. angina, quinsy, fr. angere, to choke] 1. Angina pectoris 2. Acute sore throat

Etymology of Medical Terms

1. Compound Terms

2. Loan Words

3. Eponyms [Gr. epi, upon + onyma, name]

Hippocratic Facies Proteus

Etymology of Medical Terms

mithradatism [Mithridates, king of Pontus, 132-63 b.c., supposed to have acquired immunity in this fashion]

pons pl. pontes [L., bridge]

eccentric [Gr. ek, out, + kentron, center]

Are there any practical benefits to the continued use of Greek and Latin in medical terminology?

Practical Reasons for the Use of Greek and Latin in Medical Terminology

1. Easily combined

Myelomeningocele = myelo- + meningo- + -cele

Practical Reasons for the Use of Greek and Latin in Medical Terminology

1. Easily combined

2. Medicine and the natural sciences often use the same Greek and Latin words and word elements

L. cortex, corticis, bark

adrenocorticotrophic

corticiferous

Practical Reasons for the Use of Greek and Latin in Medical Terminology

1. Easily combined

2. Medicine and sciences often use the same Greek and Latin words and word elements

3. Partial restoration of an international language

arteriosklerose (German)

artriosclrose (French)

arteriosclerosi (Italian)

arteriosclerosis (English)

Why are most medical terms derived from Greek words?

Ancient Greek Medicines Origins

Hippocratic Corpus and Hippocrates

Ancient Greek Medicine Theories

Naturalism

Humoralism

Ancient Greek Medicines Influence

Ancient Greek Medical Terms

Ancient Terms for Disease

Melancholia, Gonorrhea, Carcinoma

Ancient Greek Medical Terms

Ancient Terms for Disease

Descriptive in nature

Amnion

Why are there so many Latin words in medical terminology?

Assimilation of Greek medicine into Roman culture

Conquest of Greek lands

Assimilation of Greek medicine into Roman culture

Conquest of Greek lands

Greek medical theories and words translated into Latin

Assimilation of Greek medicine into Roman culture

Conquest of Greek lands

Greek medical theories and words translated into Latin

Latin became the lingua franca of European academics

Assimilation of Greek medicine into Roman culture

Conquest of Greek lands

Greek medical theories and words translated into Latin

Latin was the lingua franca of European academics

Today Latin is the language of anatomical and biological nomenclature systems

Latinization of Greek Terms

Change Letters

= Bronchos

Latinization of Greek Terms

Change Letters

= bronchos

Endings

-os to -us, bronchos = bronchus

-e to -a, theke = theca

Substitution

encephalos = cerebrum

karkinos = cancer

Synonyms in Medical Terminology

Greek

nephr/o (nephros)

odont/o (odous)

omphal/o (omphalos)

mast/o (mastos)

Latin

ren/o (ren)

dent/o (dens)

umbilic/o (umbilicus)

mamm/o (mamma)

Basic Term Components

Most medical terms have three components:

Root

Root Greek or Latin Example

Angi- Angion Angitis

Aden- Aden Adenitis

Cortic- Cortex, Corticis Corticitis

Root

Medical terms often contain more than one root:

hydromyelia

HYDR- (root), water + MYEL- (root), spinal cord + -IA (suffix) condition of

Suffix

Suffix Part of Speech Meaning Example

-IC Adjective pertaining to phobic

(pertaining to

fear)

-IA Noun state or condition

of

hemiplegia

(condition of

paralysis of half

the body)

-ATE Verb to put into action,

perform

ligate (to apply a

ligature)

-AD

Adverb

in the direction

of; toward

cephalad (toward

the head)

Compound Suffixes and Suffix Forms

Greek or

Latin Root

Suffix Compound

Suffix

Meaning Example

stenos

(narrowed)

-OSIS

(condition)

-STENOSIS condition of

narrowed

angiostenosis

raphe (suture) -Y

(act of)

-RRHAPHY act of suturing angiorrhaphy

poiein (to

make)

-ESIS

(state of)

-POIESIS making of,

formation of

angiopoiesis

gramma, that

which is drawn

-GRAM Record arthrogram

Prefix

Prefix Meaning Example

EU- Normal eupnea (normal

breathing)

DYS- Difficult dyspnea (difficulty

breathing)

INTRA- Within intracystic (pertaining to

within a bladder)

EXTRA- Outside extracystic (pertaining to

outside a bladder)

Prefix

Not every medical term begins with a prefix:

anterolateral

ANTER- (root) front + LATER- (root) side + -AL (suffix) pertaining to

Prefix

In some instances, more than one prefix may be attached to a single term:

subendocardial

SUB- (prefix) under + ENDO- (prefix) within + CARDI (root) heart + AL (suffix) pertaining to

Forming Compound Terms

Elision

meso- (prefix) + enter- (root) + on (suffix) = mesenteron

peri- (prefix) + cardi- (root) + itis (suffix) = pericarditis

Forming Compound Terms

Elision

Assimilation

con + rugator = corrugator

in + perfect = imperfect

Combining Vowel

A combining vowel is used to join a root to another root or to a suffix. The vowels most commonly used are o and i; vowels such as a, y, and u are sometimes use, albeit far less often.

Combining Vowel A combining vowel does not add any meaning to the

word; it is used simply for the sake of euphony.

Combining Vowels

A root with a combining vowel is commonly referred to as a combining form.

Root Combining

Vowel

Combining

Form

Example

HYDR- O HYDR/O hydrophobia

CEREBELL- I CEREBELL/I cerebellipetal

CEREBELL- O CEREBELL/O cerebellospinal

Basic Term Components

Hyperlipemia

Prefix hyper-

Root lip

Combining form lip/o

Suffix -emia

Word Analysis

Microlithiasis

Rhinostenosis

Carcinophobia

Hypoesthesia

Pericardium

For Next Lecture

Continue to study tables entitled Common Suffixes, Common Prefixes, and Common Combining Forms.

Definitions, Spelling, Plurals