© 2015, cengage learning. all rights reserved. introduction to medical terminology chapter 1

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Introduction to Medical TerminologyIntroduction to Medical Terminology

Chapter 1

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Primary Medical Terms

• Primary medical terms enable you to prioritize terms in your study of medical terminology.

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Word Parts Are the Key!

• Four basic types of word parts are used tocreate complex medical terms:

– Word roots– Combining forms– Suffixes– Prefixes

(continues)

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Word Parts Are the Key!

© C

enga

ge L

earn

ing

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Word Roots

• Word roots usually, but not always, indicate thepart of the body involved.

(continues)

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Word Roots

• Examples:– cardi = heart

– gastr = stomach

– neur = nerveNote: Word roots do not mean pertaining to orrelating to; that meaning comes from the suffix.

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Combining Forms

• Created by adding a vowel (usually the letter“o”) to the end of a word root.

• Used when connecting word roots or whenthe word root is joined to a suffix that beginswith a consonant.

(continues)

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Combining Forms

• Examples:– cardi/o = heart

– gastr/o = stomach

– neur/o = nerve

(continues)

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Combining Forms

© C

enga

ge L

earn

ing

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Suffixes

• Suffixes usually, but not always, indicate theprocedure, condition, disorder, or disease.

• Examples:– cardiomegaly

– gastralgia

– neuritis

(continues)

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Suffixes

• Example:

© C

enga

ge L

earn

ing

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Prefixes

• Prefixes usually, but not always, indicatelocation, time, number, or status.

• Examples:– pericardium

– epigastric

– polyneuritis

(continues)

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Prefixes

• Example:

© C

enga

ge L

earn

ing

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Determining Meanings on theBasis of Word Parts

• Decipher these medical terms based on theirword parts:– cardiologist

– gastritis

– neuralgia

(continues)

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Determining Meanings on theBasis of Word Parts

• An example to take apart:

© C

enga

ge L

earn

ing

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Additional Lessons in This Chapter

• Using a medical dictionary

• The “sounds-like” pronunciation system

• Why spelling counts

• Caution when using abbreviations

(continues)

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Additional Lessons in This Chapter

• Singular and plural endings

• Basic medical terms

• Look-alike, sound-alike terms and word parts

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Key Word Parts and Definitions

• -algia – pain, painful condition

• dys- – bad, difficult, or painful

• -ectomy – surgical removal, cutting out, excision

• hyper-– excessive, increased

(continues)

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Key Word Parts and Definitions

• hypo- – deficient, decreased

• -itis – inflammation

• -osis – abnormal condition, disease

(continues)

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Key Word Parts and Definitions

• -ostomy – the surgical creation of an artificial opening to the

body surface

• -otomy – cutting, surgical incision

• -plasty – surgical repair

• -rrhage – bleeding, abnormal excessive fluid discharge

(continues)

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Key Word Parts and Definitions

• -rrhaphy – surgical suturing

• -rrhea – flow or discharge

• -rrhexis – rupture

• -sclerosis – abnormal hardening

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

QuestionsQuestions

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Question

A vertebra is a bone in the spine. What is theplural of vertebra?

a. vertebras

b. vertebri

c. vertebrae

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Question

Inter- means within or inside.

True or False?

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Question

Losing a large amount of blood in a shorttime is a:

a. hemorage

b. hemorrhage

c. hemorhage

© 2015, Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Question

The ilium is part of the hip bone, and the ileum ispart of the small intestine.

True or False?