Chapter 1: introduction to Medical Terminology

Ehrlich/Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 8th Edition. © 2018 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Prefixes (1 of 2)
• Added at the beginning of a word
• Usually indicates location, time, or number
• Examples,
o Prenatal: before birth
• (pre-: before; nat: birth; -al: pertaining to)
Prefixes (2 of 2)
Prefixes Describing Direction, Quantity, Size, and Amount

• May have similar spellings, but opposite meanings

• Examples,
o ab-: away from negative, absent
o ad-: toward in the direction of
o dextr/o right side macro- large, abnormal size, or long
o sinistr/o left side micr/o, microsmall
o ex- out of, outside, away from mega-, megal/o large, great
o inter-: between or among olig/o scanty, few
o intra-: within or inside pre- before post-after,behind

Ehrlich/Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 8th Edition. © 2018 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Contrasting and Confusing Prefixes because they
are similar in spelling, but opposite in meaning

• ab- means away from. Abnormal means not normal or away from normal.
• dys- means bad, difficult, or painful. Dysfunctional means an organ or body
part that is not working properly
• hyper- means excessive or increased. Hypertension is higher-than-normal
blood pressure.
• inter- means between or among. Interstitial means between, but not within,
the parts of a tissue.
• sub- means under, less, or below. Subcostal means below a rib or ribs
• ad- means toward or in the direction of. Addiction means drawn toward or a
strong dependence on a drug or substance.
 Contrasting and Confusing Prefixes because they
are similar in spelling, but opposite in meaning

• eu- means good, normal, well, or easy. Eupnea means easy or normal
breathing
• hypo- means deficient or decreased. Hypotension is lower-than-normal blood
pressure
• intra- means within or inside. Intramuscular means within the muscle.
• super-, supra- mean above or excessive. Supracostal means above or
outside the ribs.

Ehrlich/Schroeder/Ehrlich/Schroeder, Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 8th Edition. © 2018 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.
May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Determining Meanings on the Basis of Word Parts

• Knowing the meaning of the word parts often makes it possible to figure out
the definition of an unfamiliar medical term.
Taking Terms Apart (1 of 3)
• First, separate into word parts
• Always start at the end of the word, with the suffix, and work toward the
beginning
• As you separate the word parts, identify the meaning of each
• Because some word parts have more than one meaning, it also is necessary
to determine the context in which the term is being used
• If you have any doubt, use your medical dictionary
• Not all medical terms are made up of word parts
Taking Terms Apart (2 of 3)
• Example,
• Otorhinolaryngology
o Suffix -ology: the study of
o Word root laryng: larynx or throat
• Combining vowel is not used here because word root is joining a suffix that
begins with a vowel
o Combining form rhin/o: nose
• Combining vowel is used here because word root rhin is joining another
word root.
Taking Terms Apart (3 of 3)
Guessing at Meanings
• Attempt to decide the meaning of the word
• Always double-check for accuracy because some terms have more than one
meaning
• A medical dictionary or trusted online resource is an important medical
terminology tool
Medical Dictionary Use
• Important part of mastering the correct use of medical terms
• Spend a few minutes reviewing its user guide, table of contents, and
appendices
• Listen carefully to the term, and write it down
• Most printed dictionaries use categories
• When you are looking for a term that includes more than one word, begin
your search with the last term
• Liixuos medical dictionary
Searching for Definitions on the Internet
• Only use reputable websites
• Refer to at least two websites
• Be aware of search terms
• Double-check spelling and meaning of the term for which you are searching
Pronunciation
• Commonly accepted pronunciation appears in parenthesis next to the term
• Pronounce a new word by saying it as it is spelled in the parentheses.
• Primary emphasis shown in uppercase boldface letters (eh-DEE-mah)
• Secondary emphasis shown in boldface lowercase letters (ah-pen-dih-SIGH-tis)
Spelling is Always Important
• Changing just one or two letters may completely change the meaning of a
word
• Many medical terms are known as "look-alike, sound-alike”
• The spelling shown in this text is commonly accepted in the United States
Singular and Plural Endings
• Many medical terms have Greek or Latin origins
• As a result of these different origins, there are unusual rules for changing a
singular word into a plural form
• English endings have been adopted for some commonly used terms
Basic Medical Terms to Describe Diseases
• Further study may be required in learning medical terms that describe
diseases and disease conditions

• Note it is not enough to study this subject to understand medical terminology,

• So you should learn more about terms that desci
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (1 of 11)
• Many medical terms may look and sound similar but their meanings are
different
• Study these terms carefully
• It is important that you pay close attention to these terms and word parts as
you encounter them
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (2 of 11)
• Examples
o arteri/o: artery
• Endarterial (end-ar-TEE-ree-al) means pertaining to the interior or lining of an
artery
o ather/o: plaque or fatty substance
• An atheroma (ath-er-OH-mah)is a fatty deposit within the wall of an artery
o arthr/o: joint
• Arthralgia (ar-THRAL-jee-ah))means pain in a joint or joints
• Note ; some of the terms have the same sound or word parts.
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (3 of 11)

• Examples
o -ectomy: surgical removal
• An appendectomy (ap-en-DECK-toh-mee) is the surgical
removal of the appendix
o -ostomy: surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body
surface
-otomy: cutting or a surgical incision
• Means cutting or a surgical incision
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (4 of 11)
• Examples
o - Fissure (FISH-ur)
• Groove or crack-like sore of the skin
o - Fistula (FIS-chuh-lah)
• An abnormal passage, usually between two internal organs or leading from
an organ to the surface of the body
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (5 of 11)
• Examples
o ileum (ILL-ee-um): the last and longest portion of the small intestine. Memory aid:
ileum is spelled with an "e" as in intestine.
o ilium (ILL-ee-um): part of the hip bone. Memory aid: ilium is spelled with an "i " as
in hip.
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (6 of 11)
• Examples
o An infection (in-FECK-shun) is the invasion of the body by a pathogenic (disease-
producing) organism
o Inflammation (in-flah-MAY-shun) is a localized response to an injury or to the
destruction of tissues
• Examples
o A laceration (lass-er-AY-shun) is a torn or jagged wound or an accidental cut
o A lesion (LEE-zhun) is a pathologic change of the tissues due to disease or injury
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (7 of 11)
• Examples
o The adjective mucous (MYOU-kus) describes the specialized membranes that
line the body cavities
o The noun mucus (MYOU-kus), which is pronounced the same way, refers to the
fluid secreted by these mucous membranes
• Examples
o myc/o means fungus
o myel/o means bone marrow or spinal cord
o my/o means muscle
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (8 of 11)
• Examples
o -ologist means specialist
o -ology means the study of
• Examples
o myc/o means fungus
o myel/o means bone marrow or spinal cord
o my/o means muscle
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (9 of 11)
• Examples
o Palpation (pal-PAY-shun) is an examination technique in which the examiner’s
hands are used to feel the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body
parts
o Palpitation (pal-pih-TAY-shun) is a pounding or racing heart
• Examples
o pyel/o means renal pelvis, which is part of the kidney
o py/o means pus
o pyr/o means fever or fire
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (10 of 11)
• Examples
o Supination (soo-pih-NAY-shun) is the act of rotating the arm so that the palm of
the hand is forward or upward
o Suppuration (sup-you-RAY-shun) is the formation of pus
• Examples
o Triage (tree-AHZH) is the medical screening of patients to determine their relative
priority of need and the proper place of treatment
o Trauma (TRAW-mah) means wound or injury
Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts (11 of 11)
• Examples
o Viral (VYE-ral) means pertaining to a virus (vir means virus or poison, and -al
means pertaining to)
• Examples
o Virile (VIR-ill) means having the nature, properties, or qualities of an adult male
Using Abbreviations
• Used frequently to record long and complex medical terms
• May lead to confusion and errors
• Be familiar with the "Do Not Use" abbreviations of your facility
• Use only accepted abbreviations
• When in doubt, spell it out
• The Joint Commission, an organization founded in 1910 to standardize
medical practices, publishes an official list of commonly confused “Do Not
Use” abbreviations
Answers to Learning Exercises
Chapter 1 Answers (1 of 9)
Matching Word Parts 1 Matching Word Parts 2
• 1.1 dys- bad, difficult, painful • 1.6 –osis (abnormal condition or disease)
• 1.2 hyper- • 1.7 –malacia (abnormal softening)
• excessive or increased • 1.8 hypo- deficient or decreased)
• 1.3 –megaly (large, great) • 1.9 –itis (inflammation)
enlargemen • 1.10 –necrosis abnormal hardening
• 1.4 –algia (pain and suffering)
• 1.5 –ectomy (surgical removal)
Chapter 1 Answers (2 of 9)
Matching Word Parts 3 Matching Word Parts 4
• 1.11 -rrhage abnormal • 1.16 –scopy visual examination
excessive fluid discharge) • 1.17 –ac “pertaining to
• 1.12 -ostomy the surgical • 1.18 –stenosis (abnormal narrowing)
creation of an artificial opening
to the body surface • 1.19 –sclerosis (abnormal hardening)
• 1.13 –otomy surgical incision • 1.20 –rrhea (flow or discharge
• 1.14 -plasty surgical repair
• 1.15 –rrhaphy (surgical
suturing)
Chapter 1 Answers (3 of 9) answer these from the book?

Definitions • 1.26 leukocyte

• 1.21 myelopathy • 1.27 prognosis
• 1.22 hypertension • 1.28 edema
• 1.23 natal • 1.29 acute
• 1.24 symptom • 1.30 supination
• 1.25 disease
Chapter 1 Answers (4 of 9)
Matching Terms and Which Word?
Definitions 2 • 1.36 gastritis
• 1.31 palpation • 1.37 suppuration
• 1.32 exudate • 1.38 trauma
• 1.33 lesion • 1.39 viral
• 1.34 palpitation • 1.40 appendectomy
• 1.35 laceration
Chapter 1 Answers (5 of 9)
Spelling Counts Matching Terms
• 1.41 eponym • 1.46 tendinitis
• 1.42 inflammation • 1.47 syndrome
• 1.43 fissure • 1.48 tenorrhaphy
• 1.44 neurorrhaphy • 1.49 gastralgia
• 1.45 tonsillitis • 1.50 pyoderma
Chapter 1 Answers (6 of 9)
Term Selection Sentence Completion
• 1.51 arteriosclerosis • 1.56 hypotension
• 1.52 sign • 1.57 angiography
• 1.53 gastroenteritis • 1.58 supracostal
• 1.54 arthralgia • 1.59 differential
• 1.55 dermatologist • 1.60 fistula
Chapter 1 Answers (7 of 9)
True/False Word Surgery
• 1.61 True • 1.66 ot/o, rhin/o, laryng, -ology
• 1.62 False • 1.67 myc, -osis
• 1.63 True • 1.68 poli/o, myel, -itis
• 1.64 False • 1.69 neo-, nat, -ology
• 1.65 True • 1.70 end-, arteri, -al
Chapter 1 Answers (8 of 9)
Clinical Conditions Which Is the Correct Medical Term?
• 1.71 intramuscular • 1.81 neuroplasty
• 1.72 abdominocentesis • 1.82 hemorrhage
• 1.73 acronym • 1.83 arterionecrosis
• 1.74 phalanges • 1.84 interstitial
• 1.75 triage • 1.85 hepatomegaly
• 1.76 diagnosis
• 1.77 pathology
• 1.78 remission
• 1.79 pyrosis
• 1.80 diarrhea
Chapter 1 Answers (9 of 9)
Challenge Word Building Labeling Exercises
• 1.86 cardiologist • 1.96 myel/o
• 1.87 rhinorrhea • 1.97 my/o
• 1.88 arthritis • 1.98 oste/o
• 1.89 neonatologist • 1.99 neur/o
• 1.90 neurotomy • 1.100 arthr/o
• 1.91 carditis
• 1.92 rhinalgia
• 1.93 neuralgia
• 1.94 cardiotomy
• 1.95 rhinitis