word formed from the initial letter of the major parts o a compound term.
Acute
"condition that has a rapid onset
ad-
"toward or in the direction of (Constrasting is ""ab-"")"
Addiction
drawn toward or a strong dependence on a drug or substance
agor/a
open space
-al
pertaining to
-algia
"pain (see also ""-dynia"")"
Amniocentesis
withdrawing of amniotic fluid for diagnosti or treatment purposes - Podcast 3
angi/o
blood vessel
Angiogram
film/record produced by angiography
Angiography
process of producing a radiographic (x-ray) study of the blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium to make the blood vessels visible
ante-
before; in front of
Antepartum
before childbirth; labor
Appendectomy
surgical removal of the appendix (Abbreviation: AP) - Book & Podcast 3
appendic
appendix
Appendicitis
inflammation of the appendix (Abbreviation: AP)
arteri/o
"artery (Sounds Like
Arteriogram
record or film of an artery or arteries - Podcast 2
Arteriography
process of recording or filming an artery or arteries - Podcast 2
Arteriomalacia
abnormal softening of the walls of an artery or arteries
Arterionecrosis
tissue death of artery or arteries
Arteriosclerosis
abnormal hardening of the walls of an artery or arteries
Arteriostenosis
abnormal narrowing of an artery or arteries - Book & Podcast 2
arthr/o
"joint (Sounds Like
Arthralgia
pain in a joint or joints
Arthritis
joint inflammation - Podcast 2
Arthrocentesis
withdrawing fluid from a joint - Podcast 3
Arthroscope
the tool or instrument used to visualy examine a joint - Podcast 2
Arthroscopy
process of visual examination of the internal structure of a joint - Book & Podcast 2
ather/o
"plaque or fatty substance (Sounds Like
Atheroma
fatty deposit within the wall of an artery
bronch/o
bronchi of the lungs
cardi/o
heart
Cardiac
heart (adjective)
Cardiologist
heart specialist - Podcast 2
Cardiorrhexis
exploding heart - Podcast 2
Cardiotomy
surgical incision into the heart - Podcast 3
-centesis
surgical puncture to remove excess fluid or to remove fluid for diagnostic purposes
Cholera
"infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae; transmitted through contact with contaminated food or water. Starts with diarrhea and progresses rapidly to severe vomiting
Chronic
"condition of a long duration; such diseases can be controlled
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
persistent overwhelming fatigue of unknown origin (Abbreviation: CFS)
col/o
colon
Colostomy
surgical creation of an artifical excretory opening between the colon and the body surface - Book & Podcast 3
Colostomy
creating an artifical connection between the colon and the outside of the body - Podcast 3
Colotomy
surgical incision into the colon
Combining Form
"Word root with a vowel (most commonly ""o"") at the end so suffix beginning with a consonant can be added. Written ""word/vowel"""
Combining Vowel Rules
1. CV IS used when suffix begins with a consonant 2. CV IS NOT used with suffix begins with a vowel 3. CV IS used when 2 or more word roots are joined.
crani/o
skull
Cranium
portion of skull enclosing the brain (noun)
Crepitus; Crepitation
1. grating sound heard when ends of a broken bone move together. 2. the crackling sound heard in lungs affected by pneumonia. 3. the clicking sound in the movements of some joints
cyan/o
blue
Cyanosis
blue discoloration of the skin caused by lack of oxygen in the blood
cyst/o
bladder
-cyte; cyt/o
cell
Cytology
"the study of the anatomy
-derma
skin
Dermatologist
physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the skin
dextro-
right
dia-
through
Diagnosis
"identification of a disease (Abbreviation: DX
Diarrhea
frequent flow of loose or watery stools
Differential Diagnosis
"attempt to determine which one of several diseases can be producing the signs and symptoms that are present; also known as R/O (rule out) (Abbreviation: DDx
Directional Prefixes
dextro-; sinistro-; ab-; ad-;sub-;super-;supra-
Disease
a condition in which one or more body parts are not functioning normally.
-dynia
"pain. This suffix is used less often. (see also ""-algia"")"
dys-
"bad
Dysfunctional
an organ or body part the is not working properly
-ectomy
"surgical removal (Sounds Like
Edema
swelling caused by excess fluid in the body tissues
end-
"within (Same as ""intra-"")"
Endarterial
pertaining to the interior or lining of an artery
Endoscope
instrument used to visually examine the interior of a body cavity or organ - ANGEL **
enter/o
small intestine
Epigastric
above the stomach or pertaining to above the stomach - ANGEL
Eponym
"disease
erythr/o
red
Erythrocyte
mature red blood cell
eu-
"good
Euthyroid
a normally functioning thyroid
Fissure
"1. groove or crack-like sore of the skin 2. normal folds in the contours of the brain (Sounds like
Fistula
"abnormal passage
Flatus
breaking wind; passing of digestive gas from the body through the rectum
gastr/o
stomach
Gastralgia
stomach pain
Gastritis
inflammation of the stomach
Gastrodynia
stomach pain
Gastropathy
disease or disorder of the stomach - ANGEL **
Gastrosis
any disease/disorder of the stomach
Geriatrics
the CARE of aging patients (asopposed to Gerontology which is the study of the PROCESS itelf **
Gerontology
"study of the diseases
Gingivitis
"inflammation of the gingival tissue
-gram
a picture or other record - a thing or product
-graphy
process of producing a picture or other record -
hem/o
blood
Hemorrhage
the loss of a large amount of blood in a short time (Abbreviation: He)
Hepatomegaly
abnormal enlargement of the liver - Book & Podcast 2
How To Decipher a Word
"Always start at the end of the word
hyper-
"excessive or increased (Constrasting is ""hypo-"") "
Hypertension
higher than normal blood pressure
hypo-
"deficient or decreased (Constrasting is ""hyper-"")"
Hypotension
lower than normal blood pressure
Ileum
"last and longest part of the small intestine (Sounds Like
Ilium
"part of the hip bone (Sounds Like
Infection
"invasion of the body by a pathogenic (disease-producing) organism;p the infection can be: 1. Localized - remain near the point of origin
"within or inside (Constrasting is ""inter-"" and same as ""end-"")"
Intramuscular
"within or into the muscle
-itis
inflammation. NOTE: Also commonly used to mean infection.
Jaundice
"yellow discoloration of the skin
kyphosis
Humpback; Dowager's Hump; abnormal increase in the outward curvature of the thoracic spine as viewed from the side frequently associated with aging (kyph/o = hump)
Laceration
"torn or jagged wound or acciental cut wound (Sounds like
larygn/o
larynx and throat
Laser
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
-lasis
condition of
Lesion
"pathologic change of the tissues due to disease or injury (Sounds like
leuk/o
white
Leukocyte
white blood ecll
lip-
fat
lith/o
stone
Lithotomy
surgical incision for the removal of a stone OR an examination or surgical position with the patient lying on the back with the feet and legs raise and supportef by stirrups
macro-
large
-malacia
"abnormal softening. The opposite of ""-sclerosis."""
-megaly
abnormal enlargement
melan/o
black
Melanosis
any condition of unusual deposits of blsvk pigment in body tissues or organs
micro-
small
Mucous
"describes the specialized mucous membranes that line the body cavities; adjective (Sounds Like
Mucus
"name of the fluid ecreted by the mucous membranes; noun. (Sounds Like
my/o
"muscle (Sounds Like
myc/o
"fungus (Sounds Like
Mycosis
a disease casued by a fungus; any abnormal conndition or disease caused by a fungus **
Myectomy
"surgical removal of a muscle - Podcast 3 NOTE: since wor root ends with a vowel
myel/o
"1. spinal cord 2. bone marrow (Sounds Like
Myelopathy
any pathologic change or disease in the spinal cord **
Myomalacia
Softening of a muscle - Podcast 2
Myopathy
any pathologic change or disease of muscle tissue **
Myoplasty
surgical repair of a muscle
Myorrhaphy
surgical suturing of muscle wound
Myorrhaphy
suturing a muscle - Podcast 3
Myorrhexis
rupture of a muscle
nat/i
birth
natal
pertaining to birth
-necrosis
tissue death
Negation Prefixes
a-; an-
Neonatology
study of disorders of the newborn
nephr/o
kidney
neur/o
nerve
Neurectomy
removal of a nerve - ANGEL **
Neuritis
inflammation of a nerve or nerves
Neuroplasty
surgical repair of a nerve - Book & Podcast 3
Noun Endings
1. -a 2. -e 3. -um 4. -us 5. -y 6. (-ae)
-ologist
"specicalist
-ology
"study of; a specialty field in which an -ologist participates (Sounds Like
-oma
tumor
-osis
"abnormal condition or disease
oste/o
bone
Osteitis
Inflammation of a bone or bones - StudyMate Quiz **
Osteonecrosis
death of bone tissue - Podcast 2
Osteopathy
bone disease - Podcast 2
-ostomy
"(surgical) creation of an artifical opening (Sounds Like
ot/o
ear
Otolaryngology
study of the ears and throat
-otomy
"cutting or surgical incision (Sounds Like
Otorhinolaryngology
"study of the ears
Palpation
"an examination technique in which the examiner's hands are used to feel the texture
Palpitation
"pounding or racing heart (Sounds Like
path/o
disease
Pathology
"study of all aspects of diseases (Abbreviation: path
-pathy
disease
peri-
surrounding (with respect to time)
Pericardium
around the heart muscle - ANGEL
Perinatal
"refers to the time and events surrounding birth. Time just before