Warm-Up
Mrs. Jones is admitted to the hospital with the following orders:
Dx - pancreatitis, dysphagia, gastralgia
Sx – NVD, severe HA
Xray – abd. MRI, KUB
Lab – CBC, UA, Pt, PTT
Diet – NPO except for cl liq.
Activity – Ad lib, VS q 2 hs.
On a sheet of notebook paper, write the real words for the above
abbreviations. Write them in the same order listed above with
the words listed instead of the abbreviations.
Introduction to
Medical Terminology
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
To understand medical
terminology, it is important to
understand the process of
dividing medical words into
component parts.
of words will make
Analysis
medical terminology easier to
understand
and remember.
ORIGINS
Word parts generally come
from two language origins:
Greek
Latin
5 BASIC WORD PARTS
Root word
Suffix
Prefixes
Combining vowel
Combining form
ROOT WORD
Root Word – foundation of the word, usually
relates to a part of a body:
Examples:
cardi -
cephal –
gastr –
cyt –
A medical term can have one or more root words.
Ex. – cardi/o/thorac/ic = pertaining to heart and
chest
SUFFIXES
Are word ending; usually indicates a
procedure, condition, disorder or disease.
Examples:
-itis= inflammation -ic= pertaining to
-logy =study of -lysis =destruction
Read from the suffix backwards to the
root word for the correct meaning.
Give me an example?
All medical words have suffixes
PREFIXES
Word beginning; usually indicates location,
direction, size, color, or a number
Examples:
a- without
pre- before
hyper- decreased
sub- less, under, or below
Not all medical words have prefixes
COMBINING VOWELS
AND FORMS
Combining Vowel
A vowel that links two word parts together
Usually an ‘o’
Has no meaning of it’s own
Combining Form – root word plus a combining vowel
Examples:
Hemat/o –
Cardi/o –
Gastr/o –
Oste/o –
RULES FOR USING
COMBINING VOWELS
1. When the ending of the root word and
the beginning of the suffix are both
consonants, use a combining vowel.
Example – hemat/o/logy
2. When the ending of the root word is a
consonant, and the beginning of the suffix
is a vowel, do not use a combining vowel.
Example – gastr/itis
RULES FOR USING
COMBINING VOWELS
3. A combining vowel is always used when
two root words are joined.
Example – cardi/o/thorac/ic
4. A prefix does not require a combining
vowel
Example – epi/gastr/ic
TAKING TERMS APART
Determine a medical word’s meaning by
looking at the component pieces.
Start at the suffix (all medical terms will have
one)
Identify if there is a prefix (not all medical terms
will have one)
Locate the root words (there may be more than
one)
Identify the meaning of each word part as you
separate them
SPELLLING
In medicine, spelling is critical!!!
One wrong letter could mean an
entirely different place on the body or
test to be performed
Examples – ilium and ileum, PAC and
PVC, etc…
Remember!
If you have any doubt about the correct
meaning of a word, use a medical dictionary
(appendix, internet) to double check the
definition.
Additional Help
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fiE
szFPRE8
TIME TO PRACTICE!!!
1. Write the following words on your paper leaving 4 spaces
between words:
Pericarditis • Hyperemesis
Rhinorrhea • Gastrorrhexis
2. Step 1 - Using the textbook (p. 96-100), break each medical
word into word parts by placing a line in between the breaks
(a / pnea)
3. Step 2 - define the meaning of each word part by using the
definition in the appendix
(a = no, not, without and -pnea = breathing)
3. Step 3 - Finally, write the definition of each medical word
(apnea = without breathing or no breathing)
Activity
Mrs. Jones is admitted to the hospital with the following orders:
Dx - pancreatitis, dysphagia, gastralgia
Sx – NVD, severe HA
Xray – abd. MRI, KUB
Lab – CBC, UA, Pt, PTT
Diet – NPO except for cl liq.
Activity – Ad lib, VS q 2 hs.
On a sheet the same sheet of paper you used for the warm-up, use the
textbook and define the three medical conditions using the process we
just practiced (break down, define the parts, define the word) .
Then, write down the correct meanings of the abbreviations listed above.
How did your warm up predictions compare to the real words??