Medical Terminology Bio22

Prof Carlos Liachovitzky

carlosliachovitzkybcccunyedu

ME410

Medical Terminology

bull It is the language of medicine

bull It is the language spoken throughout the world by people in the health professions

bull It is a language that includes rules of pronunciation vocabulary grammar

bull Many medical terms are composed of multiple Greek and Latin word parts (eg word roots prefixes and suffixes)

Word Root

bull Usually contains primary meaning

bull It is the main body of the word

bull Medical terms usually contain at least one word root

ndash Abnormal

ndash Bilateral

Prefixes

bull It is the word part that is placed before the root to modify its meaning

bull Prefix means pre = before + fix = fastenfix to fix at the beginning of a word

ndash Abnormal

bull Ab- = away from

ndash Intravenous

bull Intra- = within

Word Root

bull Usually contains primary meaning

bull It is the main body of the word

bull Medical terms usually contain at least one word root

ndash Abnormal

ndash Bilateral

Prefixes

bull It is the word part that is placed before the root to modify its meaning

bull Prefix means pre = before + fix = fastenfix to fix at the beginning of a word

ndash Abnormal

bull Ab- = away from

ndash Intravenous

bull Intra- = within

Prefixes

bull It is the word part that is placed before the root to modify its meaning

bull Prefix means pre = before + fix = fastenfix to fix at the beginning of a word

ndash Abnormal

bull Ab- = away from

ndash Intravenous

bull Intra- = within

Suffixes

bull A suffix is the word that is attached to the end of a word root

bull Suffix means su(b) = upon + fix = fastenfix fix ldquoon toprdquo (at the end) of a word

ndash Abnormal

bull -al = pertaining to

ndash Endocarditis

bull -itis = inflammation

CONSTRUCTION

CON STRUCT ION

bull con(com)- = ldquowith togetherrdquo

bull struct (struere) = ldquoto pile up make erect build accumulaterdquo

bull -ion = action or result

Singular and Plural

bull -a-ae vertebravertebrae

bull -is-es diagnosisdiagnoses

bull -on-a ganglionganglia

bull -um-a bacteriumbacteria

bull -us-i fungusfungi

bull -y-ies appendicectomy-ies

Singular and Plural

bull -a-ae vertebravertebrae

bull -is-es diagnosisdiagnoses

bull -on-a ganglionganglia

bull -um-a bacteriumbacteria

bull -us-i fungusfungi

bull -y-ies appendicectomy-ies

Also as MThellip

bull Eponyms eg Hodgkinrsquos lymphoma (William Hodgkin)

bull Acronyms eg CAT scan (computer axial tomography scan)

Source httpwwwcartoonstockcomdirectorymmedical_terminologyasp

Source httpwwwcartoonstockcomdirectorymmedical_terminologyasp

Greek MythologyArachnoid Mater and The Story of Arachne

Sourcehttpvovatlivejournalcom741200html

SourcehttpwwwshandsorghealthIn-depth20Reports10000044htm