Medical Terminology• Medical terms are made up of parts of words (elements)-
prefixes, roots and suffixes. Most originate from Greek or Latin words.
• The combination forms our medical terms.• Prefix-a word element placed before the root. Always used
with a root! Example olig (scant); oliguria (scant urine)• Root-the word element containing the basic meaning of the
word. It can be combined with other roots, prefixes or suffixes. A vowel (o or i) is added when 2 roots or a suffix is added to the root to help with pronunciation (if not one).
• Suffix-word element placed after a root. Always used with a root! Nephro (kidney); -itis (inflammation of)
Medical Terminology (cont)• Medical terms are formed by combining the elements.
Prefixes are first and suffixes are last.• Examples:• The suffix-ectomy (excision, removal of) is combined with
the root-mast (breast) to form mastectomy-removal of the breast. Sometimes 2 suffixes can be used.
• The prefix-dys (bad, difficult, abnormal) is combined with the root-pnea (breathing, respiration) to form dyspnea-difficulty breathing.
• The prefix-endo (inner, inside) is combined with the root- card (heart), and the suffix- itis (inflammation) to from endocarditis-inflammation of the inner side of the heart.
Medical Terminology Challenge
•Determine the medical condition based on the prefix, root (start by deciding main word), and suffix (if present- it comes first) found on pages 72-73 of your textbook. Pair with the most correct answers wins!
Practice: Heart (root) + enlargement (suffix)= cardio + (o or i) + megaly = cardiomegaly
Kidney (root) + disease (suffix)
Blood (root) + excessive flow (suffix)
stomach + creation of an opening
blue + condition (be careful picking)
Without, not, lack of + breathing, respiration
Skull + incision, cutting into
Vein (use 1st on list) + inflammation
clot, thrombus + cell + lack, deficiency
Bonus: excessive, too much, high + thyroid + a condition
Bonus:
•What does CABG stand for?
Bonus:
• Describe Biot’s respirations