medical terminology introduction to basic word elements spelling & pronunciation
TRANSCRIPT
What is Medical Terminology
Language of medical terms or words
Derived from Latin or Greek
Used to describe diseases, diagnosis, investigations, procedures, signs and symptoms, anatomy and physiology
Structure / Elements of medical words
Are a combination of smaller words / or word parts
Consist of one or more of the following parts
1. Root words
2. Prefixes
3. Suffixes
4. Combining vowels
5. Combining forms
1. Word Root
Is the basic word part or foundation of the word
Provides the meaning to the word
Usually refers to a body part
E.g. cardi refers to the heart
gastr refers to the stomach
Example
Word Root Body Part
trache Trachea i.e. windpipe
Tracheitis means inflammation of the trachea
Pg 1
2.Prefixes ( pre means before)
Is the element at the beginning of the word
Comes before the word root
Prefix modifies or changes the meaning of the root word
Application of prefixes
The prefix pan means whole
E.g. pan + arthritis = panarthritis
arthritis of the joints
Application of prefixes
E.g. INTER/COSTAL
inter (between) + costal (ribs)(prefix) (word root)
INTERCOSTAL
pg1.
3.Suffixes
Come at the end of the word root
Modifies the word root
Adds to the meaning to the word root
Pg 2
Application of Suffixes
Itis - means inflammation
E.g. appendicitis means inflammation of the appendix
Algia - means pain
E.g. pharynalgia means pain of the throat
Pg 2
Suffixes that mean relating to
ac cardiac Relating to the heart
al skeletal Relating to the skeleton
ar muscular Relating to the muscle
ary urinary Relating to urine
ic epigastric Relating to above the stomach
ive infective relating to infection
ous nervous Relating to nerves
4.Combining vowels
used to join various parts of the word
a,e,i,o,u
Most common vowels used are “o” and “i”
Acts like a maths “+” sign
E.g. cardi /o/ logistPg 2,3
5.Combining form
Is simply a root word plus a combining vowel
E.g. gastr = root word for stomach gastro = combining form of stomach
Gastro can now be joined to another root word or suffix
Makes words easier to pronounce
More combining forms
Body Part Word Root Combining Form
stomach gastr gastro
intestine enter entero
heart cardi cardio
nose rhin rhino
skin
*
dermat dermato
*
Interpreting the meaning of medical terms Breaking the words down makes it easier
E.g. Gastro /enter / itis
then look up meaning of each component
Read the word backwards beginning with the suffix
Listen to experts
Ask your supervisor for clarification if unsure
Interpreting medical termse.g. Gastroenterology1.break up the word into its components
2.e.g.gastro / entero / logy
3.then read the meaning backwards i.e.
1.logy = study of
2.entero = intestines
3.gastro = stomach
Meaning – study of the intestines and stomach
Interpreting medical termse.g. gastroenteric Gastr (stomach) / o / enter (intestines) / ic
root combining root suffix
vowel
Gastroenteric means relating to the stomach & intestines
Interpreting medical termse.g.Rhinoplasty
Rhin (nose) / o / plasty (surgical repair of)
root combining suffix
vowel
Rhinoplasty means surgical repair of the nose
Dermatologist
Dermat (skin) / o / logist (specialist)
root combining suffix
vowel
Dermatologist means specialist who studies the skin
Dropping a vowel when joining words
If root word ends in a vowel & suffix begins with a vowel, combining vowel is dropped
e.g. gastr/o + -itis = gastritis (stomach) (inflammation of)
If a prefix ends in a vowel & root word begins with a vowel the combining vowel is dropped
e.g. anti + acid = antacid (not antiacid) (against) (acid) (works against acid)
When to leave the combining vowel in
If the suffix begins with a consonant the combining vowel stays
e.g. cardio + pathy = cardiopathy
Pronunciation
Lightly emphasise the first syllable
Break up the words
E.g. pericarditis peri card it is
gastroenteritis gastro entero it is
Myocardium myo cardi um
Using dictionaries
Stress marks used when word has > one syllable
Stress mark ‘ or , placed before syllable to be stressed
Symbol “ə” is a neutral or unstressed vowel e.g. “a”in above or “e” in sicken
Look up respiration
gastrostomy
Hints for pronouncing
Consonant Example
c (before a,o,u) = k Cavity, colon,cure
c (before e,i ) = s Cephalic, cirrhosis
ch = k cholesterol
g (before a, o, u) = g gallstone,gonad
g (before e, i ) = j generic, giant
Hints for pronouncing
Consonant Example
ph = f phase, pharnyx
pn = n pneumonia
ps = s psychiatry, psychology
pt = t ptosis, pterygium
rh,rrh rhythm, haemorrhoid
Spelling medical terms correctly
Abduction
Adduction
move away from
move towards
Arteritis
Arthitis
inflammation of an artery
inflammation of a joint
Ileum
Iliumlower part of small intestine hip bone
Plurals
Most words are made plural by adding used “s”, or replacing “y” with “ies”
but Latin words use other letters
Application of plurals
Singular ending
Plural ending
Singular example
Plural example
meaning
-a -ae vertebra
hernia
vertebrae
herniae
part of spine
protrusion of an organ
-is -es diagnosis
testis
diagnoses
testes
identification of a disease
male sex organ
-um -a bacterium
ovum
bacteria
ova
microorganism
female egg cell
-us -i bronchus
bacillus
bronchi
bacilli
small airway
type of bacterium
English & American Spelling
American spelling drops any silent vowels i.e an “o” or “a” that is silent is left out of the spelling
If “c” is pronounced as a hard “k” sound the Americans will spell it with a “k”
Both English & American is used
American versus English spelling
English American Pronunciation Meaning
diarrhoea diarrhea di – a - rear watery bowel motion
foetal fetal fee - tal child in womb
haematologist hematologist hem –a – tol - ogist
blood specialist
leucocyte leukocyte lew – ko - site white blood cell
oedema edema e- deema swelling
paediatrics pediatrics peedi - atrics area of child health
Medical termsDiseases and disorders Aetiology - study of cause of diseases Signs – clinical evidence of cause of diseases or
disorders Symptoms – indicators of disease that the patient is
experiencing Disease – set of signs and symptoms that disrupts
normal function of a body system or organ Diagnosis – is when the doctor finds or decides what
is causing the signs and symptoms i.e. the disease or disorder
Diseases and disorders
Prognosis – forecast of the outcome / recovery from the disease
Morbidity – presence of illness or disease Mortality – death Acute – beginning abruptly and usually
intense Chronic – refers to something lasting for a
long time Terminal - will cause deathPg 6
Disorder prefixes
Disorder Prefixes Meaning
a, an without
brady slow
dys difficult or painful
hyper above
hypo below
oligo few
poly many
tachy fast