basics of medical terminology

1. Pre-Med Course ‘14

2. Medical
Terminology
BY: KAREEM HUSSEIN

3. Medical Term structure
.1Prefix
.2Word root
.3Combining vowel
.4suffix

4.  Medical terms are “compound words”
 Compound terms are either
1. Prefix
2. Word root + Word root
3. Suffix
 Combining vowels are “ o, i , e , u , a or y “
They are used to make the words easier to pronounce.
Ex. Gastr/o Cardi/o

5. Prefixes
Color position Direction number
Mutual
relations

6. 1. color
1. Erythro/ ex. Erythro/cytes
2. Leuko/ ex. Leuko/cytes
3. Melano/ ex. Melanoma
4. Xantho/ ex. Xanthoma
5. Cyano/ ex. Cyanosis

7. 2. position
Ex.meaningprefix
Epidermis-supraclavicularaboveEpi = supra
Sublingual-infraredbelowSub = infra
Perianal-circumoralAroundPeri = circum
Extra&intranuclearOutside X insideExtra X intra
percutaneousthroughper
retrosternalbehindretro
mesotheliummiddlemeso

8. 3. direction
Ex.meaningprefix
upward X downwardSuperior X inferior
Near X farProximal X distal
Near center X away from
center
Medial X lateral
In front X at the backAnterior X posterior
In front X at the backVentral X dorsal
Abduction - adductionTowars X away fromAb- X ad-
Levo-rotatoryRight X leftdextro- X levo
Towards the head X away
from the head
Cranial X caudal

10. 4. number
greek latin english
Hemi- Semi- Half
Mono- Uni- One
Di- Bi- Two
Tri- Tri- Three
Tetra- Quadr- Four
Penta- Quint five
Prefix Meaning Ex.
Multi- X nulli- Many X none Multi/para
Micro- X macro- Small X big Macro/gloss/ia
Iso- equal Iso/tonic
Brady- X tachy- Slow X fast Brady/card/ia
Hyper- X hypo- Increased X decreased Hypo/therm/ia

11. 5. Mutual relations
Prefix Meaning Ex.
Homo- X hetero- Same X different homo/sexual
A- / An- Without a/pnea& an/emia
Anti- = contra- against Anti/toxin&
contra/indicated(forbidden)
Trans- Across Blood Trans/fusion
Dys- Painful or difficult Dys/pnea
Pseudo- False Pseudo/cyst
Auto- Self Auto/immunity

12. Word root
 The foundation of the medical term
 2 word roots can form medical term (combound word)
Ex. Gastr/o/spleen/ic
Root (Organ) meaning
Encephalo- Brain
Oculo- Eye
Naso- Nose
Stomato- Mouth
Dento- Teeth
Glosso- = lingo- Togue
Gastro- Stomach
Entero- Intestine
Recto- Rectum
Hepato Liver
Spleno- Spleen
Pancratico- Pancreas
Nephro- Kidney
Cardio Heart
Pulmo- lung

14. Word root + Suffix
Noun adjective
Singular & blural
Suffix meaning Ex.
Ism- / osis- Condition Hyper/thyroid/ism
Cyan/osis
Ist- Specialist card/i/olog/ist
Ology- Study of Card/i/ology
Scope- Tool to see Larynge/o/scope
itis- Inflammation Tonsil/itis
Ectomy- Surgical removal Mast/ectomy
Suffix Meaning
Ous- Having Fam/ous
Able- Ability Inject/able
ic- State of An/aem/ic

15. Singular & plural
Single plural
Gangli/on Gangli/a
Carcino/ma Carcino/mata
Cris/is Cris/es
Laryn/x Laryn/ges
Vertebr/a Vertebr/ae
Bacill/us Bacill/I
Bacteri/um Bacteri/a
Cort/ex append/ix Cort/ices append/ices
Thor/ax Thor/aces