Medical Terminology (CSU, OT-215)

hypo-

(prefix) below

dia-

(prefix) complete

hyper-

(prefix) excessive

Suffixes meaning "pertaining to."

-ac, -al, -ale, -alis, -ar, -aris, -ary, atic, -ative, -eal, -ent, -etic, -ial, -ic, -ica, -ical, -ine, -ior, -iosum, -ious, -istic, -ius, -nic, -ous, -tic, -tiz, -tous, -us

hormonal

Pertaining to a hormone

Combining form

Root + combining vowel, written with a dash between the two ex:pneum/o-

chrom/o-

color

-ia

condition of

-ion

condition, action

membran-

cover/skin

-pathy

disease of

nucle/o-

nucleus

-emic

pertaining to a condition of the blood

tens-

pressure

-ation

process of

-ism

process/condition

epi-

(prefix) above

post-

(prefix) after

peri-

(prefix) around the time of

pre-

(prefix) before

pro-

(prefix) before, predict, project forwards

Prefix

A prefix always appears at the beginning of a term. A prefix precedes a root to change its meaning. Prefixes can have more than one meaning. Prefixes never require a combining vowel. An occasional medical term can have two prefixes. Not every term has a prefix. Usually indicate time, number, color, or location.

Roots

A root is the constant foundation and core of a medical term. Roots are usually of Greek or Latin origin. All medical terms have one or more roots. A root can appear anywhere in the term. More than one root can have the same meaning. A root plus a combining vowel creates a combining form. A root can start a term and does not become a prefix. A root can end a term and does not become a suffix.

Suffix

A suffix is a group of letters attached to the end of a root or combining form. A suffix changes the meaning of the word. If the suffix begins with a consonant, it must follow a combining vowel. If the suffix begins with a vowel, no combining vowel is needed. A few medical terms can have two suffixes. A suffix always appears at the end of a term. Suffixes that are different can have the same meaning.

Organism

Any whole, individual living plant or animal

Chromosome

Body in the nucleus that contains DNA and genes

Hormone

Chemical formed in one tissue or organ and carried by the blood to stimulate or inhibit a function of another tissue or organ

protein

Class of food substances based on amino acids

cytoplasm

Clear, gelatinous substance that forms the substance of a cell, except for the nucleus (and organelles)

Connective tissue (function and location)

Function: Bind, support, protect, fill spaces, store fat Location: Widely distributed throughout the body, e.g., in blood, bone, cartilage, and fat

Muscle tissue (function and location)

Function: Movement Location: Attached to bones; found in the walls of hollow tubes, organs, and the heart

Epithelial tissue (function and location)

Function: Protect, secrete, absorb, excrete Location: Cover body surface, cover and line internal organs, compose glands

Nervous tissue (function and location)

Function: Transmit impulses for coordination, sensory reception, motor actions Location: Brain, spinal cord, nerves

nucleus

Functional center of a cell or structure

Lipid

General term for all types of fatty compounds; for example, cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty acids

Combining vowel

Goes between the root and the suffix

steroid

Large family of chemical substances found in many drugs, hormones, and body components

Conception

Latin: something received Fertilization of an egg by a sperm cell to form a zygote

Cell

Latin: storeroom The smallest unit of a living thing capable of surviving on its own (independent existence)

Tissue

Latin: to weave Collection of similar cells

Zygote

Latin: yolk New cell resulting from union of egg and sperm

Organelle

Mini "organs" in a cell, have specialized functions

mitochondria

Organelles that generate, store, and release energy for cell activities

Composition of the body

Organism-->organ system-->organ-->tissue-->cell-->organelle-->molecule-->atom

-lyte

Soluble (usually a salt)

Sutured

Stitched together, or in the case of bone, held together with a fibrous band

Organ

Structure with specific functions in a body system

Histology

Study of the structure and function of tissues

electrolyte

Substance that, when dissolved in a suitable medium, forms electrically charged particles

Catabolism

The breakdown of complex substances into simpler ones as a part of metabolism

Anabolism

The buildup of complex substances in the cell from simpler ones as a part of metabolism

metabolism

The constantly changing physical and chemical processes occurring in the cell that are the sum of anabolism and catabolism

ribonucleic acid (RNA)

The information carrier from DNA in the nucleus to an organelle to produce protein molecules

periosteum

Thick, fiberous tissue that covers bones

Membrane

Thin layer of tissue covering a structure or cavity

Graft

Transplant of a living tissue

Fertilization

Union of sperm and egg to make a zygote

Arthoscopy

Visual examination of the inside of a joint

intracellular

Within the cell

-farct

area of dead tissue

nat-

birth, born

-emia

blood condition

-some

body

bronch-

bronchials

anabol-

build up

-cyte

cell

cyt/o-

cell

metabol-

change

electr-

electricity

ribo-

from ribose, a sugar

-chondr-

granule

cardi-

heart

hormon-

hormone

-itis

inflammation of

-gnosis

knowledge of an abnormal condition

macro-

large

pneumon-

lung, air

my-

muscle

-gnose

recognize an abnormal condition

-gram

record

-oid

resembling

later-

side/side of

-lus

small

micro-

small

-cellul-

small cell

ster-

solid

-logist

someone who studies/a specialist

-plasm

something formed

gastr-

stomach

-um

structure of

-logy

study of

Cytology

study of cells

mit/o-

thread

isch-

to block

catabol-

to break down

intra-

within