Medical Terminology: A Living Language

Seventh Edition

Chapter 1
Introduction to Medical
Terminology

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Medical Terminology at a Glance (1 of 2)
• Studying medical terminology is like learning a new language.

• Basic rules for building terms will help you both build and translate many different words.

• You must be able to put words together or build words from their parts.
– This is like piecing together a puzzle.

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Medical Terminology at a Glance (2 of 2)
• It is impossible to memorize every medical term.

• You can determine the meaning of many terms from their word parts.
– Word roots
– Combining vowels
– Prefixes
– Suffixes

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Building Medical Terms From Word Parts (1
of 2)
• Word roots are the foundation of words.

• Prefixes are at the beginning of words and modify the word root.

• Suffixes are at the end of words and modify the word root.

• Combining vowels connect word parts.

– There are always exceptions to these rules!

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Building Medical Terms From Word Parts (2
of 2)

Word Part Example (Meaning)

Word root cardiogram (record of the heart)
Prefix Pericardium (around the heart)
Suffix carditis (inflammation of the heart)
Combining vowel cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease)

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Word Roots (1 of 2)
• The word root is the foundation of the term.

• It gives a general sense of the word’s meaning.

• It often refers to a body system or part.

– cardi = heart

• It may also describe an action.

– cis = to cut

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Word Roots (2 of 2)
• Medical terms may have more than one root.
– Osteoarthritis contains two roots, one combining vowel, and one suffix.

• Not all medical terms have a root.

– Hypertrophy contains one prefix and one suffix.

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Combining Vowel/Form (1 of 3)
• The combining vowel makes it easier to pronounce long terms.

• It is usually an "o."

• It is used in specific situations:

– Between two word roots
– Between a word root and a suffix that starts with a consonant

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Combining Vowel/Form (2 of 3)
• The combining vowel is not used if the suffix begins with a vowel:
– Arthritis, not arthroitis

• It is used if the suffix begins with a consonant:

– Arthroscope, not arthrscope

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Combining Vowel/Form (3 of 3)
• The combining vowel is typically used between two word roots, even if the second word
root begins with a vowel:
– Gastroenteritis, not gastrenteritis

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Common Combining Forms (1 of 4)
• When writing a word root by itself, the combining form is typically used.

• It is written in the form word root/combining vowel.

– cardi/o
– arthr/o
– gastr/o

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Common Combining Forms (2 of 4)

Combining Form Definition

bi/o
carcin/o
cardi/o
chem/o
cis/o
dermat/o
enter/o
gastr/o

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Common Combining Forms (3 of 4)

Combining Form Definition

gynec/o
hemat/o
immun/o
laryng/o
nephr/o
neur/o
ophthalm/o

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Common Combining Forms (4 of 4)

Combining Form Definition

ot/o
path/o
pulmon/o
rhin/o

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Prefixes (1 of 2)
• Prefixes are added to the beginning of a term.

• They add meaning to terms:

– Location of organ
 sub- = below
– Number of parts
 mono- = one
– Time (frequency)
 post- = after

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Prefixes (2 of 2)
• Not all medical terms have a prefix.

• When written by itself, a prefix is followed by a hyphen.

– intra-
– hyper-
– multi-

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Common Prefixes (1 of 6)

Prefix Definition
a-
an-
anti-
auto-
brady-
de-

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Common Prefixes (2 of 6)

Prefix Definition
dys-
endo-
epi-
eu-
ex-
extra-

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Common Prefixes (3 of 6)

Prefix Definition
hetero-
homo-
hyper-
hypo-
in-
inter-
intra-

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Common Prefixes (4 of 6)

Prefix Definition
macro-
micro-
neo-
para-
per-

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Common Prefixes (5 of 6)

Prefix Definition
peri-
post-
pre-
pro-
pseudo-
re-
retro-
sub-

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Common Prefixes (6 of 6)

Prefix Definition
tachy-
trans-
ultra-
un-

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Number Prefixes (1 of 2)

Prefix Definition
bi-
hemi-
mono-
multi-
nulli-
pan-

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Number Prefixes (2 of 2)

Prefix Definition
poly-
quadri-
semi-
tetra-
tri-

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Suffixes (1 of 2)
• Suffixes are attached to the end of a term.

• They add meaning to terms:

– Condition
 -algia = pain
– Disease
 -itis = inflammation
– Procedure
 -ectomy = surgical removal

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Suffixes (2 of 2)
• All medical terms must have a suffix!
– It is the only mandatory word part.

• When written by itself, a suffix is preceded by a hyphen.

– -logy
– -sclerosis
– -cyte

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Common Suffixes (1 of 5)

Suffix Definition
-algia
-cele
-cyte
-dynia
-ectasis
-gen
-genic

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Common Suffixes (2 of 5)

Suffix Definition
-ia
-iasis
-ism
-it is
-logist
-logy

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Common Suffixes (3 of 5)

Suffix Definition
-lytic
-malacia
-megaly
-oma
-opsy
-osis
-pathy

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Common Suffixes (4 of 5)

Suffix Definition
-plasm
-plegia
-ptosis
-rrhage
-rrhagia
-rrhea
-rrhexis
-sclerosis

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Common Suffixes (5 of 5)

Suffix Definition
-stenosis
-therapy
-trophy

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Adjective Suffixes
• A suffix may be used to change a root into a complete word.

• These are known as adjective suffixes, and they translate as pertaining to.

• The new word created by adding the suffix can be used to modify another word.

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Adjective Suffix Example
• To state that a patient has an ulcer in his or her stomach:
– gastr/o = stomach
– -ic = pertaining to
– gastric = pertaining to the stomach
– gastric ulcer = ulcer found in the stomach

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Adjective Suffixes (1 of 3)
• -ac

• -al

• -an

• -ar

• -ary

• -atic

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Adjective Suffixes (2 of 3)
• -eal

• -iac

• -ic

• -ical

• -ile

• -ine

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Adjective Suffixes (3 of 3)
• -ior

• -nic

• -ory

• -ose

• -ous

• -tic

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Surgical Suffixes

Suffix Definition
-centesis
-ectomy
-ostomy
-otomy
-pexy
-plasty
-rrhaphy
-tome

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Procedural Suffixes

Suffix Definition
-gram
-graphy
-meter
-metry
-scope
-scopic
-scopy

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Word Building (1 of 2)
• Word building involves putting word parts together to form new terms.

• It begins with knowing the meaning of the word parts and selecting the correct ones.

• While doing so, you must remember the rules regarding the location of each word part.

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Word Building (2 of 2)
• For example:
– hypo- = below or under
– derm/o = the skin
– -ic = pertaining to

• Combine these parts to form a term:

– Hypodermic
– This term means pertaining to under the skin.

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Interpreting Medical Terms (1 of 2)
• Term to be translated:
– gastroenterology

• Divide the term into its word parts:

– gastr / o / enter / o / logy

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Interpreting Medical Terms (2 of 2)
• Define each word part:
– gastr = stomach
– o = combining vowel
– enter = small intestine
– o = combining vowel
– -logy = study of

• Together these parts mean “the study of the stomach and small intestine.”

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Pronunciation
• Pronunciation differs according to place of birth and education.

• When in doubt, ask for the spelling!

• New terms in the book are introduced in bold type followed by a phonetic spelling in
parentheses.

• Stressed syllables are in capital letters:

– pericarditis (per ih car DYE tis)

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Spelling (1 of 2)
• There is only one correct way to spell a term.

• Changing one letter can change the meaning of a word.

– abduction (moving away) versus adduction (moving toward)
– ileum (small intestine) versus ilium (hip bone)

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Spelling (2 of 2)
• Sounds like si:
– psy psychiatry (sigh-KIGH-ah-tree)
– cy cytology (sigh-TALL-oh-gee)

• Sounds like dis:

– dys dyspepsia (dis-PEP-see-ah)
– dis dislocation (dis-low-KAY-shun)

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Singular and Plural Endings
• Many medical terms come from Greek or Latin words.

• Rules for forming plurals in these languages are different from English:
– Plural of atrium is atria, not atriums

• Other words follow English rules:

– Plural of ventricle is ventricles

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General Rules for Plurals
Word Ends In Singular Plural
-a vertebra
-ax thorax
-ex or -ix appendix
-is metastasis
-ma sarcoma
-nx phalanx
-on ganglion
-us nucleus
-um ovum
-y biopsy

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Abbreviations
• Abbreviations are commonly used in medical fields to save time.

• They can be confusing!

• If you are concerned about confusion, spell out the term.

• Do not use your own personal abbreviations!

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The Medical Record (1 of 13)
• The medical record details:
– The patient's day-to-day condition
– The type and time of services provided
– The patient’s response to treatment

• All personnel with patient contact complete appropriate reports.

• The medical records department ensures all documents are present, complete, signed,
and in order.

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The Medical Record (2 of 13)
• The electronic medical record (EMR) is a software program.

• It allows entry of patient information into a computer.

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The Medical Record (3 of 13)
• Once digitally stored, EMR information can be:
– Analyzed and monitored to detect and prevent potential errors.
– Easily accessed and shared between healthcare providers.
 Reduces repeating tests unnecessarily.
 Reduces inadvertent medication errors.

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The Medical Record (4 of 13)
• History and Physical
– Written by the admitting physician.
– Details the patient's:
 History
 Exam results
 Initial diagnosis
 Plan of treatment

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The Medical Record (5 of 13)
• Physician's Orders
– Ordered by the doctor.
– Provides a complete list of:
 Care
 Medications
 Tests
 Treatments

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The Medical Record (6 of 13)
• Nurse's Notes
– Completed by the nursing staff to record the patient's care throughout the day.
– Includes:
 Vital signs
 Treatment specifics
 Patient's response to treatment
 Patient's condition

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The Medical Record (7 of 13)
• Physician's Progress Notes
– The physician’s daily record of the patient's condition.
– Generally include:
 Results of the physical exam
 Summary of test results
 Updated assessment and diagnoses
 Further plans for treatment

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The Medical Record (8 of 13)
• Consultation Reports
– Given by a specialist when the physician asks for patient evaluation.

• Ancillary Reports
– From various treatments and therapies.
– May include rehabilitation, social services, respiratory therapy, or dietetics.

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The Medical Record (9 of 13)
• Diagnostic Reports
– Include the results of all diagnostic tests performed on the patient.
– They are often written by the lab or the medical imaging department.

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The Medical Record (10 of 13)
• Informed Consent
– A document voluntarily signed by the patient or responsible party.
– It clearly describes the purpose, methods, procedures, benefits, and risks of
procedures.

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The Medical Record (11 of 13)
• Operative Report
– From a surgeon detailing an operation.
– Includes:
 Pre- and post-operative diagnoses
 Specific details of the procedure
 How the patient tolerated the procedure

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The Medical Record (12 of 13)
• Anesthesiologist's Report
– Provides details of any drugs given to patient during surgery.
– Includes patient response to anesthesia and vital signs during surgery.

• Pathologist's Report
– A report given by a pathologist who studies tissue removed from the patient

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The Medical Record (13 of 13)
• Discharge Summary
– Outlines the patient's entire hospital stay.
– Includes:
 Condition at admission
 Admitting diagnosis
 Test results or treatments
 Patient's response
 Final diagnosis and follow-up plans

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Healthcare Settings (1 of 7)
• Acute Care or General Hospitals
– Provide services to diagnose and treat diseases for a short period of time.

• Specialty Care Hospitals

– Provide care for a specific type of disease.
– Examples: psychiatric hospital or children’s hospital

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Healthcare Settings (2 of 7)
• Nursing Homes or Long-Term Care Facilities
– Provide long-term care for patients who need extra time to recover before going
home.
– They also provide care for persons who cannot care for themselves.

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Healthcare Settings (3 of 7)
• Ambulatory Care Centers, Surgical Centers, or Outpatient Clinics
– Provide services to patients who do not need overnight care.
– They offer simple surgeries, therapies, or diagnostic testing.

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Healthcare Settings (4 of 7)
• Physician's Offices
– An individual or group of doctors providing diagnostic and treatment services in an
office setting.

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Healthcare Settings (5 of 7)
• Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
– A group of primary care physicians, specialists, and other healthcare professionals.
– The HMO provides wide range of services in a pre-paid system.

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Healthcare Settings (6 of 7)
• Home Health Care
– Agencies that provide nursing, therapy, personal care, or housekeeping services in
the patient's home.

• Rehabilitation Centers
– Provide physical and occupational therapy in inpatient and outpatient settings.

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Healthcare Settings (7 of 7)
• Hospices
– Organized groups of health workers that provide supportive treatment to terminally
ill patients and their families.

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Confidentiality (1 of 2)
• Any information or record relating to a patient is considered privileged.

• Healthcare workers have a moral and legal responsibility to keep all information private.

• Proper authorization must be signed by the patient before any information can be
released.

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Confidentiality (2 of 2)
• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) set federal
standards for protecting records and medical information.

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Pharmacology
• The pharmacology content found in this chapter will be presented during the RX
assignment instructions

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Copyright

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