word formed from the initial letter of the major parts o a compound term.
Acute
condition that has a rapid onset a severe course and a relatively rpaid duration
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 Means Different: -athr/o and ather/o)
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 Means Different: -otomy and -ostomy)
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 Means Different: -atheri/o and athr/o)
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
Chronic
condition of a long duration; such diseases can be controlled but they are rarely cured
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)
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 physiology pathology and chemistry of the cell
-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 Dx DG Dg Diag diag)
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 D/D DD Diaf. Diag.)
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 difficult painful (Constrasting is ""eu-"")"
Dysfunctional
an organ or body part the is not working properly
-ectomy
surgical removal (Sounds Like Means Different: -otomy and -ostomy)
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 structure operation or procedure named for the person who discovered or described it first
erythr/o
red
Erythrocyte
mature red blood cell
eu-
"good normal well or easy (Constrasting is ""dys-"")"
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 Means Different: Fistula)
Fistula
abnormal passage usually between two internal organs or leading from an organ to the surfase of the body - may be due to surgery injury or draining of an abscess (Sounds like Means Different: Fissure)
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 disorders and problems associated with aging - ANGEL **
Gingivitis
inflammation of the gingival tissue gums. The earliest stage of periodontal disease
-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 with the suffix and work toward the beginning. Identify the meaning of each part using context.
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 Means Different: Ilium) (Memory aid: ileum = intestine)
Ilium
part of the hip bone (Sounds Like Means Different: ileum) (Memory aid: ilium = hip)
Infection
invasion of the body by a pathogenic (disease-producing) organism;p the infection can be: 1. Localized - remain near the point of origin or 2. Systemic - affect the entire body
Inflammation
a localized response to an injury or destruction of tissues. The cardinal signs are: 1. erythema (redness) 2. hyperthermia (warmth) 3. edema (swelling and 4. pain caused by extra blood flowing into the area as a part of the healing process (Abbreviation: inflam Inflamm)
inter-
"between or among (Constrasting is ""intra-"")"
Interstitial
between but not within the parts of a tissue
intra-
"within or inside (Constrasting is ""inter-"" and same as ""end-"")"
Intramuscular
within or into the muscle as an injection (Abbreviation: IM)
-itis
inflammation. NOTE: Also commonly used to mean infection.
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 Means Different: Lesion)
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 Means Different: Laceration)
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 Means Different: mucus)
Mucus
name of the fluid ecreted by the mucous membranes; noun. (Sounds Like Means Different: mucous)
my/o
muscle (Sounds Like Means Different: myel/o and myc/o)
myc/o
fungus (Sounds Like Means Different: myel/o and my/o)
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 then ""/o"" connecting vowel is NOT used"
myel/o
1. spinal cord 2. bone marrow (Sounds Like Means Different: myc/o and my/)
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 participant in an -ology field (Sounds Like Means Different: ""-ology"")"
-ology
"study of; a specialty field in which an -ologist participates (Sounds Like Means Different: "" -ologist"")"
-oma
tumor
-osis
abnormal condition or disease the idea of something not necessarily specified wrong - a more general term often used incorrectly in place of -pathy
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 Means Different: -otomy and -ectomy)
ot/o
ear
Otolaryngology
study of the ears and throat
-otomy
cutting or surgical incision (Sounds Like Means Different: -ectomy and -ostomy)
Otorhinolaryngology
study of the ears nose and throat (Often called ENT)
Palpation
"an examination technique in which the examiner's hands are used to feel the texture size consistency nd location of certain body parts (Sounds Like Means Different: ""Palpitation"")"
Palpitation
"pounding or racing heart (Sounds Like Means Different: "" Palpation")"
path/o
disease
Pathology
study of all aspects of diseases (Abbreviation: path PA pa)
-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 during and just after birth.
viral infection of the grey matter of the spinal cord
Polyneuritis
inflammation of more than one nerve - ANGEL
post-
after
Postnatal
refers to the time and events after birth (Abbreviation: PN)
pre-
before
Prefix
"Indicates location time number status amount color negation size position. Always comes at beginning of word; written ""word-"""
Prognosis
prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disorder (plural: prognoses) (Abbreviation: Px Prx prog progn)
Prostate
"Male gland that lies under the urinary bladder and surrounds the urethra (Sounds Like Means Different: "" Prostrate"")"
Prostrate
"1. to collapse and be lying flat 2. to be overcome with exhaustion (Sounds Like Means Different: "" Prostate"")"
Psychologist
specialist who hold an advanced degree but is not an MD; evaluates and treats emotional problems and mental illness (psych/o = mind)
py/o
"pus (Sounds Like Means Different: "" pyrl/o and pyr/o"")"
pyel/o
"renal pelvis (a part of the kidney) (Sounds Like Means Different: ""py/o and pyr/o"")"
Pyelitis
inflammation of the renal pelvis
Pyoderma
any acute inflammatory pus-forming bacterial skin infection such as impetigo
pyr/o
"fever or fire (Sounds Like Means Different: "" pyel/o and pyr/o"")"
Pyrosis
heartburn; discomfort due to the regurgitation of stomach acid into the esophagus
Pyrosis
abnormal condition of heat or fever - Podcast 2
Remission; Remitting
temporary partial or complete disappearance of the symptoms of a disease without having achieved a cure
rhin/o
nose
Rhinorrhea
runny nose - Podcast 2
-rrhage
"bleeding; bursting forth of blood (See also ""-rrhagia."")"
-rrhagia
"bleeding; bursting forth of blood (See also ""-rrhage."")"
-rrhagic
bleeding; bursting forth of blood (adjective)
-rrhaphy
surgical suturing
-rrhea
(abnormal) flow or discharge - referring to the flow of bodily fluids
-rrhexis
rupture or explosion
-sclerosis
"abnormal hardening. Opposite of ""-malacia."""
-scopy
the PROCESS of making a visual examination - use a -scope to perform -scopy
Sign
objective evidence of disease; can be evaluated or measured by the patient or others
Size Prefixes
macro-; micro-
-stenosis
abnormal narrowing
Stoma
the artificial opening of a body part to the outside of the body - Podcast 3
sub-
"under less or below (Constrasting are ""super-"" or ""supra-"")"
Subcostal
below a rib or ribs
Suffix
"Indicates procedure (operative or non-operative) condition disorder disease diagnoses(es) symptoms. Always comes at end of word; written ""-word"""
Supination
"act of rotating arm so the palm of the hand is forward and upward (Sounds Like Means Different: "" Suppuration"")"
Suppuration
"formation or discharge of pus (Sounds Like Means Different: "" Supination"")"
Supracostal
above or outside the ribs
Symptom
subjective evidence of a disease such as pain or a headache; can only be measured or evaluated by the patient
Syndrome
a set of signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process
tonsill/o
tonsils
Tonsillectomy
surgical removal of the tonsils - Book & Podcast 3
Tonsillitis
inflammation of the tonsils
Trauma
"wound or injury such types that might occur in an accident shooting diseaster fire etc. (Sounds Like Means Different: "" Triage"")"
Triage
"medical screening of patients to determine their relative priority of need and the proper place of treatment (Sounds Like Means Different: "" Trauma"")"
True/False: All medical terms are made up of word parts.
False
-um
Noun Ending
uni-
one
Unusual Plural Forms for Suffixes
1. -a to -ae 2. -ex or -ix to -ices 3. -is to -es 4. -itis to -ides 5. -nx to -nges or -x to -ges 6. -on to -a 7. -um to -a 8. -us to -i
vir/o
virus or poison
Viral
"pertaining to a virus (Sounds Like Means Different: "Virile"")"
Virile
"having the nature properties or qualities of an adult male (Sounds Like Means Different: "" Viral")"
Word Root
Basic meaning of word/foundation of most medical terms; cannot stand alone. Usually indicates involved body part.