Medical Terminology
Medical Terminology 1
Medical Terminology words/terms which make up the language of medicine
Majority of terms are based in Latin or Greek
Serves as a Universal Language
Medical terms are broken down into FOUR word parts:
1. Stem/Root = gives the essential meaning of the term
2. Prefix = added to the beginning of the term
3. Suffix = placed after a word
4. Linking or Combining Vowels = connects roots to suffixes or roots to other words
Word Building
Involves two steps:
1. Knowing how to divide a medical term
2. Knowing the meaning of the term’s components
Example:
DERMATOLOGY
DERMAT/ O /LOGY ( root ) (combining vowel) ( suffix )
Dermat/(refers to skin) /Logy(refers to Study Of)
Study of the Skin
Example:
CEPHALALGIA
CEPHAL/ /ALGIA
( root ) ( suffix )
Cephal/(refers to head) /Algia(refers to pain)
Pain in the Head
Example:
TACHYCARDIA
TACHY/ /CARDIA ( prefix ) ( root )
Tachy/(refers to fast) /Cardia(refers to heart)
Fast Heartbeat
Combining form = combination of the root and combining vowel Examples: DERMATO- For GASTROENTEROLOGY, the combining forms are Gastro- and Entero-
Rules regarding some exceptions on combining forms and combining vowels
For suffixes (-IC), (-AC), (-ITIS), or begins with a vowel, the combining vowel is dropped.
Words ending in (-IC) and (-AC) are adjectives and mean “pertaining to”. Examples:
GASTRIC GASTR / IC pertaining to the stomach
CARDIAC CARDI / AC pertaining to the heart
ENTERITIS ENTER / ITIS inflammation of the intestines
Keeping a combining vowel between two root words, EVEN if the second root word begins with a vowel. Example:
GASTROENTERITIS GASTR / O / ENTER / IT IS
Basic Rules in Word Building
1. Read the meaning of the medical words from the suffix to the
Medical Terminology words/terms which make up the language of medicine
Majority of terms are based in Latin or Greek
Serves as a Universal Language
Medical terms are broken down into FOUR word parts:
1. Stem/Root = gives the essential meaning of the term
2. Prefix = added to the beginning of the term
3. Suffix = placed after a word
4. Linking or Combining Vowels = connects roots to suffixes or roots to other words
Word Building
Involves two steps:
1. Knowing how to divide a medical term
2. Knowing the meaning of the term’s components
Example:
DERMATOLOGY
DERMAT/ O /LOGY ( root ) (combining vowel) ( suffix )
Dermat/(refers to skin) /Logy(refers to Study Of)
Study of the Skin
Example:
CEPHALALGIA
CEPHAL/ /ALGIA
( root ) ( suffix )
Cephal/(refers to head) /Algia(refers to pain)
Pain in the Head
Example:
TACHYCARDIA
TACHY/ /CARDIA ( prefix ) ( root )
Tachy/(refers to fast) /Cardia(refers to heart)
Fast Heartbeat
Combining form = combination of the root and combining vowel Examples: DERMATO- For GASTROENTEROLOGY, the combining forms are Gastro- and Entero-
Rules regarding some exceptions on combining forms and combining vowels
For suffixes (-IC), (-AC), (-ITIS), or begins with a vowel, the combining vowel is dropped.
Words ending in (-IC) and (-AC) are adjectives and mean “pertaining to”. Examples:
GASTRIC GASTR / IC pertaining to the stomach
CARDIAC CARDI / AC pertaining to the heart
ENTERITIS ENTER / ITIS inflammation of the intestines
Keeping a combining vowel between two root words, EVEN if the second root word begins with a vowel. Example:
GASTROENTERITIS GASTR / O / ENTER / IT IS
Basic Rules in Word Building
1. Read the meaning of the medical words from the suffix to the