Medical Terminology

Introduction to Basic Word Elements

Spelling & Pronunciation

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

Examples of word roots

Word Root Body Part

Gastr Stomach

Gastric juices means acids in the stomach

Example

Word Root Body Part

cardi heart

Cardiac Arrest means heart attack

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

Disorder Suffixes pg 6

Disorder suffix Meaning

-ema swelling

-trophy nourishment

-ia condition of

-iasis abnormal condition of

-megaly enlargement

-oma tumour (mass which may or may not be cancerous)

-osis abnormal condition

-ptysis spitting up

-staxis dripping blood