Medical Terminology Chapter 1

Building Terms

If the suffix starts with a vowel, a combining vowel is NOT needed to join the parts If the suffix starts with a consonant, a combining vowel IS needed to join the two word parts If a combining form ends with the same vowel that begins a suffix, one of the vowels is dropped. If two or more combining forms are used in a term, the combining vowel is retained between the two, regardless of whether the second combining form is a vowel or a suffix.

Signs

Objective observable signs Can be seen and measured

pre-

before

ante-

before, in front of, forward

Symptoms

Subjective Patients explanation Cannot be see or measured

inter-

between

CARD method

- Check for the word parts in a term - Assign meanings to the word parts - Reverse the meaning of the suffix to the front of your definition - Define the term

dys-

abnormal, difficult, painful

epi-

above

Singular endings

-a -ax -is -ix -ma -on -sis -um -us -nx -y

pertaining to suffixes

-ac, -al, -an, -ar, -ary, -eal, -ic, -ous

plural ending

-es, -ides, -ae, -ces, -itides, -nges, -a, -i, -ies

Instrument suffixes

-graph, -meter, -scope, -tome, -tripter, -trite

Specialties/Specialist Suffixes

-logy, -logist, -ist, -er, -iatry, -iatrist, -iatrics, -iatrician

post-

after

Acute

Acu- means sharp and short beginning suddenly and severely

Chronic

Chron/o- means time long in duration and recurring in nature

Pathology suffixes

Describe a disease process or a sign or symptom -algia, -emia, -ia, -itis, -malacia, -megaly, -ptosis, -sclerosis, -stenosis

diagnosis

Dia- meaning through or complete -gnosis meaning state of knowledge A diagnosis to us is the name of a disease or condition after a healthcare professional evaluates a patient's signs, symptoms, and history

diagnostic suffixes

denote a procedure or test performed to identify the cause and nature of an illness -graphy, -metry, -opsy, -scopy

therapeutic suffixes

denote treatments & observations/examinations of disorders -ectomy, -plasty, stomy, -tomy, -tripsy

ot/o

ear

opthalm/o

eye

ph-

f sound

-tomy

incision

-scope

instrument for viewing

arthr/o

joint

poly-

many

Eponyms

medical terms that carry the name of the person or place associated with the term

Prefixes

modify a medical term indicating Øabsence Ølocation Ønumber/quantity Østate

pn-

n sound

rhin/o

nose

a-, an- anti-

not, against

hyper-

over, excessive

-algia

pain

rh, rrh

r sound

ps-

s sound

Abbreviations and Symbols

short forms of terms used for the sake of convenience. They are commonly used in healthcare documentation, and many will be presented throughout the text.

para-, par-

side by side, abnormal, subordinate

-icle, -ole, -ule

small, tiny

eu-

sounds like you good

gastr/o

stomach

-is

structure, thing

-um

structure, thing, membrane

-logy

study of

-plasty

surgical repair

peri-

surrounding

pt-

t sound

per-

through

hypo-

under, below

sub-

under, below

endo-

within

intra-

within, inside

x-

z sound

Prognosis

•Pro- means "before, in front of" and -gnosis is still a "state of knowledge." •A prognosis is a state of knowledge ahead of time, which sounds a little odd, until you realize that it is a prediction of the future condition of a patient.