PHARMACEUTICAL TERMINOLOGYChapter 4

TERMINOLOGY Medicine has a language of its own, and its

vocabulary includes terms built from Greek and Latin word parts, eponyms, acronyms and modern language.

The majority of medical terms come from Greek and Latin word parts, some of which were used by Hippocrates and Aristotle more than 2400 years ago.

WORD ROOTS A word root is the word part that is the core

of the word, it contains the fundamental meaning of the word. Card heart Cyst bladder Gastr stomach

SUFFIX A suffix is a word part attached to the end of

the word root to modify its meaning. Cardi/ac

-ac is a suffix meaning pertaining to

PREFIX A prefix is a word part attached to the

beginning of a word root to modify its meaning. Sub/hepat/ic

Sub- is a prefix that means under Hepat – is a word root -ic is a suffix meaning pertaining to

COMBINING VOWELS A combining vowel is a word part, usually an

‘o’ and used to ease pronunciation A combining vowel is:

Placed to connect two word roots Oste/o/arthr/itis

Placed to connect a word root and a suffix Arthr/o/plasty

Not used to connect a prefix and a word root prenatal

Not used when the suffix begins with a vowel Hepat/ic

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY The cardiovascular system pumps and

transports blood throughout the body. It consists of the heart and blood vessels.

The heart pumps blood containing oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues through the arteries.

The blood carrying carbon dioxide and waste is carried from the tissues through the veins to organs of excretion.

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY The Endocrine system regulates body

activities through the use of chemical messengers called hormones. When released into the bloodstream hormones influence metabolic activities, growth, and development.

Hormones are excreted by endocrine glands and transported throughout the body.

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY The digestive system (gastrointestinal

tract), is made up of several digestive organs. The organs connect to form a continuous passageway from the mouth to the anus.

With the help of accessory organs, the digestive tract prepares ingested food for use by the body cells through physical and chemical digestion and elimination

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY The integumentary system is composed of

the skin, nails, and glands. The skin forms a protective covering for the body that, when unbroken, prevents entry of bacteria and other invading organisms.

The skin also protects the body from water loss, damaging effects of ultraviolet light, and regulates body temperature.

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY The lymphatic system has three functions:

to return excessive tissue fluid to the blood, absorb fats and fat-soluable vitamins from the small intestine and transport them to the blood, and provide defense against infection

The lymphatic system is a network of vessels, ducts, nodes, and organs.

Organ System Terminology

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY

The functions of the muscular system are movement, posture, joint stability and heat production.

The body contains more than 600 muscles which give shape and movement to it.

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY The nervous system and the endocrine systems

work together to regulate and control other body systems.

The nervous system has two parts The peripheral nervous system – made up of the

cranial nerves, which carry impulses between the brain, neck, head, spinal nerves which carry messages between the spinal cord and abdomen, limbs, and chest.

The central nervous system – consists of the brain and spinal cord.

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY The functions of the skeletal system are to

provide a framework for the body, to protect the soft body parts such as the brain, store calcium, and produce blood cells.

There are 206 bones in the body which are held together at joints by connective tissue called ligaments and cartilage. A tendon is connective tissue that attaches muscles to

bones A ligament is connective tissue that attaches one bone

to another at a joint

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY The female reproductive system produces the

female egg cells (ovum) and hormones (estrogen and progesterone) and also provides for menstruation, conception, and pregnancy.

The function of the male reproductive system is to produce, sustain, and transport sperm, the male reproductive cell, and to secrete the male hormone testosterone.

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY The function of the respiratory system is the

exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and body cells. This process is called respiration.

Inhalation brings air into the lungs and exhalation expels air from the lungs.

Respiration, or breathing, normally occurs every 3 to 5 seconds.

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY The urinary system removes waste material

from the body, regulates fluid volume and maintains electrolyte concentration in the body fluid.

Urine is produced as plasma water is filtered. Urine leaves the kidney through the ureters, collects in the bladder, and is excreted through the urethra.

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY Senses: Hearing – the functions of the ear are to

hear and provide the sense of balance. The ear is made up of three parts, the external ear, the middle ear and the inner ear.

We hear because sound waves vibrate through the ear where they are transformed into nerve impulses that are then carried to the brain.

ORGAN SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY Senses: Eye – The eyes are organs of vision and

are located in a bony protective cavity of the skull called the orbit.

The eyelids protect and lubricate the eye. The conjunctiva is the membrane between the

eye and the eyelid. Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva) is also known as “pink eye.”