Medical Terminology

Medical AbbreviationsPrefix / Suffix

Interpreting Word Parts

• Parts include prefix, suffix, & word roots

• Word roots = main word (prefix / suffix can be added)

• Prefix = syllable/word @ the beginning of a word root

• Suffix = syllable/word @ the end of a word root

Examples

1. Tonsillitis Tonsil = word rootitis = suffix

2. AppendicitisAppendix = word rootitis = suffix

Examples

1. Bradycardiaocardia = word rootoBrady = prefix

2. Apneaopnea = word rootoA = prefix

Medical Words

• Define each word by identifying the word parts

1. Encephalitis2. Encephalogram3. Hepatomegaly4. Cystitis

A’s

• A-, an-• Ab-• Ad-• Adren-• Alba-• Algia• Angio-• Anti-• Arterio-• Arthr-

B’s

• Bi-• Brachi-• Brady-• Bronchi-• Bucc-

C’s• Carcin-• Cardi-• -centesis• Cephal-• Cerebro-• Chol-• -clysis• Col-• Cranio-• Cyan-• Cyst-• Cyt-

D’s

• Dent-• Derm-• -desis• Dis-• Dys-• Dorsi-• Duoden-

E’s

• -ectomy• Electro-• -emia• Encephal-• Endo-• -esis• -emesis• Enter-• Erythro-

F’s

• Faci-• -fascia• Fibr-• -form• Fore-• -fuge

G’s

• Gast-• Gingiv-• Gluco-• -gram• -graph• Geronto-• Gly-

H’s

• Hema(o)-• Hepat-• Hydro-• Hyper-• Hypo-

I’s

• -ia, -iais• -ic, -ac• Idio-• Inter-• Intra-• -ism• Iso-• -itis

K’s

• -kinesis, -kinetic

L’s

• Latero-• Leuko-• -logy (-ology)• Lympho-• -lys

M’s

• Macro-• Mal-• -mania• -megaly• Micro-• Muc-• Multi-• Myo-

N’s

• Naso-• Nephro-• Neuro-• Noct-• Non-

O’s

• Ocul-• Oligo-• -ologist• -ology• -oma• -opia• Osteo-• -oscopy• -otomy

P’s

• Pancreat-• Path-• -pepsis• Pharyng-• -phasia• Phleb-

Q’s & R’s

• Quad-

• Radi-• Ren(o)-• Rhin-• -rraphy

S’s• Sanguine-• Sarc-• -sarcoma• -sclerosis• -scope• -scopy• -sect• Semi-• -soma• -spasm• Spleno-• -stasis• Sterno-• Sub-• sym

T’s

• Tachy-• -therapy• Thermo-• Thoraco-• Thrombo-• Thyro-• -toxic• Trach-• Tri-• -trophy• Tympano-

U’s

• Ultra-• Uni-• Uro-• Ureter-• Urethro• -uria

V’s

• Vaso-• Vena-• Ventro-• Vertebr(o)-• Viscero-

X’s & Z’s

• -xenia

• Zoo-• Zymo-