Medical Terminology

• It is nearly impossible for even the most experienced health

professional to be familiar with every medical term. However,

knowledge of prefixes, suffixes, and root words is essential. It is

vital that every health professional be familiar with the commonly

used medical terminology.

Word Parts / Building Blocks

• Most medical terms are formed by a combination of basic word parts.An understanding of how these parts work together makes interpreting medical language easier.

Root Words

• usually indicate the part of the body involved

• All medical terms must have one or more root words

Prefixes

• usually indicate location, time, or number - come at the beginning

of the word • Not all medical terms have

prefixes

Suffixes • usually indicate the procedure,

disease, or condition - come after the root word

• The suffix, when connected to the root word will create a noun, adjective, or verb.

• All medical terms have a suffix.

Combining Vowel or Combining Form

• usually "O" • attached to root word• used to make medical terms easier to

pronounce• is NOT used when suffix begins with a

vowel• IS used when suffix begins with a

consonant

Decoding Medical Terms

• Start with the suffix and define the suffix.• Go to the prefix and define the prefix.• Then, go to the middle of the word; define

the word root, combining form, or both if both exist in the same word.

• Combine the definitions to decode the complete medical term or phrase.

Putting it together!Prefix + Root Word + Suffix = Medical Term

POLY + NEUR + ITIS = POLYNEURITIS

Many + Nerves + Inflammation =

Inflammation of many nerves

Common Medical Prefixes

• a - absence of; without • Ab- away from • Ad- toward, in the direction of • Dys- difficult, painful • Hyper- over, above, increased • Hypo- below, under, decreased • Inter- between, among

Common Medical Prefixes (cont.)

• Intra- within, inside • Peri - surrounding, around • Poly- many • Sub- under, less, below • Super- above, excessive, beyond • Supra- above, excessive, beyond • mal - bad

Common Medical Suffixes • itis – inflammation • malacia – softening• megaly - enlargement • ology - the study of• ologist – specialist• osis - disease, abnormal condition• pathy – disease• ac, al, ic – pertaining to

Common Medical Root Words

• Cardi/o – heart

• Col/o - colon

• Cost/o – ribs

• Enter/o - intestines

• Gastr/o – stomach

• Hem/o – blood

• My/o – muscle

• neur/o – nerve

• oto – ear

• or/o - mouth

• Rhin/o – nose

• Hepat - liver

• Arthr/o – joint

• Cephal/o – head

• Crani/o - skull

• Derm/o, dermat/o, cutane – skin

• Nephr/o, ren/o – kidney

• Oste/o - bone

• Cyst/o – urinary bladder

• Splen/o - spleen

Common Medical Abbreviations

• c – with• s – without• a – before• p – after• prn – as needed• NPO – nothing by mouth

Common Medical Abbreviations

• stat – immediately• IV – intravenous (through a vein)• q.d. – every day• q.i.d – four times a day• Rx – prescription• Tx - treatment

Common Medical Abbreviations

• Male

• female

Communication Connection

• A medication is to be taken once every day (q.d.), but a health care provider mistakenly writes q.i.d. on the prescription. What will be the result of writing the incorrect abbreviation?