Medical Terminology

PALESTINIAN NATIONAL
AUTHORITY
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Medical
terminology
Summarized by:
Yamen Salem Qeshta
RN, BSN, MPH
2009-2010
0
Medical terminology is made up of terms that describe human anatomy and
physiology (body organs, systems, and their functions), body locations, diseases,
diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing, together with clinical procedures, surgeries,
and diagnoses.
Why do we need medical terminology?
A medical term usually describes in one word a disease or condition that, under normal
circumstances, would take several words to describe. The one word
gastroduodenostomy, for example, stands for “a communication between the stomach
and the first part of the small intestine”
Source of medical terminology:
 Words with Latin origins: Femur, for example, is a Latin term referring to a bone
in the leg.
 Words with Greek origins: Hemorrhage, for example, is a word with Greek origin
indicating a rapid, uncontrollable loss of blood.
 Eponyms: These are the words named after people, such as Parkinson’s disease.
 Acronyms: An abbreviation formed from the first letter of each word in a phrase.
such as CNS, central nervous system.”
Word Parts:
The fundamental unit of each medical word is the root. This establishes the basic
meaning of the word and is the part to which modifying prefixes and suffixes are added.
A suffix is a short word part or series of parts added at the end of a root to modify its
meaning, such as -itis.
A prefix is a short word part added before a root to modify its meaning, such as pre-.
Word formation is shown diagrammatically:
1
Words are formed from roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
For example, gastroduodenostomy, for example, stands for “a communication between

the stomach and the first part of the small intestine”
2
Combining Forms:
When a suffix beginning with a consonant is added to a root, a vowel (usually an

o) is inserted between the root and the suffix to aid in pronunciation.
N.B. A vowel (a, e, i, o, u)
A combining vowel may be added between a root and a suffix.
Example: neur + o + logy = neurology (study of the nervous system)
Roots shown with a combining vowel are called combining forms.
A combining vowel usually is not used if the ending " suffix" begins with a vowel.
Example: neur + itis = neuritis (inflammation of a nerve)
3
Words Ending In x:
When a word ending in x has a suffix added, the x is changed to a g or a c. For

example, pharynx (throat) becomes pharyngeal (fa-RIN-je_-al), to mean “pertaining to
the throat”; coccyx (terminal portion of the vertebral column) becomes coccygeal (kok-
SIJ-e_-al), to mean “pertaining to the coccyx”; thorax (chest) becomes thoracotomy
(thor-a-KOT-o_ -me _ ) to mean “an incision into the chest.”
Suffixes Beginning With rh:
When a suffix beginning with rh is added to a root, the r is doubled:
hem/o (blood) + -rhage (bursting forth) = hemorrhage (a bursting forth of blood)
men/o (menses) + -rhea (flow, discharge) = menorrhea (menstrual flow)
Forming Plurals:
4
Word Root
therm = heat
hypothermia (less heat), thermometer (measuring heat)
Let's look at a real medical term and take it apart.
Myocarditis
(prefix) (root) (suffix)
myo = muscle card = heart itis = inflammation
Prefix change:
myocarditis = muscle layer of heart inflamed
pericarditis = outer layer of heart inflamed
endocarditis = inner layer of heart inflamed
Suffix change:
cardiologist = a physician specializing in the heart
cardiomyopathy = damage to heart muscle layer
cardiomegaly = enlargement of the heart
Color Terms
Leuk/o = white leukemia (overabundance of white blood cells)
melan/o = black melanoma (black tumor of the skin)
cyan/o = blue cyanosis (blueness may be due to cold or not

enough oxygen in blood)
xanth/o = yellow xanthoma (yellow tumor)
5
Directions:
6
Adjective Suffixes
7
8
9
10
11
Word Parts Pertaining to Cells, Tissues, and Organs
12
13
14
Word Parts Pertaining to Body Structure
15
Disease and Treatment
16
17
18
Diagnosis and Treatment; Surgery
19
20
Drugs
21
Body Systems:
In this section, the basics of medical terminology are applied to the body systems.
Each chapter begins with a description of normal structure and function because these
form the basis for all medical studies.
Roots Pertaining to the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems
22
Blood and Immunity
Word Parts Pertaining to Blood and Immunity
23
24
Respiration System
Word Parts Pertaining to Respiration
25
26
Digestion System
Roots Pertaining to Digestion
27
28
The Urinary System
29
The Male Reproductive System
The Female Reproductive System
30
31
32
The Endocrine System
The Nervous System and Behavioral Disorders
33
34
The Senses
35
Word Parts Pertaining to the Eye and Vision
36
The Skeleton
Roots Pertaining to the Skeleton, Bones, and Joints
37
The Muscular System
38
The Skin
References:
 Stedman’s Medical Dictionary. 27th Ed. Baltimore: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins,
2000.
 Medical Terminology FOR DUMMIES, Beverley Henderson, CMT and Jennifer

Dorsey.
 Medical Terminology: An Illustrated Guide (Point (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins))

by Barbara Janson Cohen, Fifth Edition edition (October 10, 2007)
39

Medical Terminology

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PALESTINIAN NATIONAL

Yamen Salem Qeshta

RN, BSN, MPH

Why do we need medical terminology?

Source of medical terminology:

For example, gastroduodenostomy, for example, stands for “a communication between

When a suffix beginning with a consonant is added to a root, a vowel (usually an

N.B. A vowel (a, e, i, o, u)

A combining vowel may be added between a root and a suffix.

Example: neur + o + logy = neurology (study of the nervous system)

Roots shown with a combining vowel are called combining forms.

Example: neur + itis = neuritis (inflammation of a nerve)

When a word ending in x has a suffix added, the x is changed to a g or a c. For

Suffixes Beginning With rh:

When a suffix beginning with rh is added to a root, the r is doubled:

hem/o (blood) + -rhage (bursting forth) = hemorrhage (a bursting forth of blood)

men/o (menses) + -rhea (flow, discharge) = menorrhea (menstrual flow)

(prefix) (root) (suffix)

myo = muscle card = heart itis = inflammation

pericarditis = outer layer of heart inflamed

endocarditis = inner layer of heart inflamed

cardiomyopathy = damage to heart muscle layer

cardiomegaly = enlargement of the heart

melan/o = black melanoma (black tumor of the skin)

cyan/o = blue cyanosis (blueness may be due to cold or not

xanth/o = yellow xanthoma (yellow tumor)

Roots Pertaining to the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

Word Parts Pertaining to Blood and Immunity

Word Parts Pertaining to Respiration

Roots Pertaining to Digestion

The Female Reproductive System

The Nervous System and Behavioral Disorders

Roots Pertaining to the Skeleton, Bones, and Joints

 Medical Terminology FOR DUMMIES, Beverley Henderson, CMT and Jennifer

 Medical Terminology: An Illustrated Guide (Point (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins))

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