Ch. 5 Medical Terminology

Using Word Parts…• Prefixes (P): used at the beginning

of a medical term.• Describe, modify or limit the term• Not all medical terms use prefixes• Examples:

• a- without• trans- through• intra- within

Using Word Parts…• Suffixes (S): the word ending

• Changes the meaning of a word…you can make a word a noun, verb, or adjective

• All medical terms have a suffix• Examples:

• -al, -ic, -ar, -y pertaining to• -ectomy excision/surgical removal• -it is inflammation• -pathy disease

Using Word Parts…• Word Root (WR): the basic meaning of

the term• Typically indicates a body part, but not always• All medical terms must have one or more

word roots• Examples:

• neur/o nerve• cost/o rib• oste/o bone• erythr/o red

Using Word Parts…• Combining Vowel

• Usually an “o”• Used between word roots or when a suffix

begins with a consonant.• Examples:

• Neurology• neur/o + -logy

• Osteocyte• oste/o + -cyte

• Neural (drop the combining vowel)• neur/o + -al

Decoding Medical Terms…• “Reading” a medical term is a

step-by-step process.• Start with the suffix and define it• Next the prefix and define it• Then, go to the word root and

define• Lastly, define the word as a whole

Decoding Medical Terms…• Practice:

• Intraneural• Megalocephalic• Cardiomegaly• Costectomy• Transneurocostal• Angiogram• Laryngocentesis• Rhinitis• Bronchitis