Chap 1, Basic Word Structure, Comb Forms Flashcards
aden/o
gland
adenoma
tumor of a gland
The suffix -oma means tumor or mass.
adenitis
inflammation of a gland
The suffix -itis means inflammation.
arthr/o
joint
arthritis
inflammation of a joint(s)
bi/o
life
biology
process of study of life
The suffix -logy is composed of the root log (study) and the final suffix -y (process or condition).
biopsy
To remove & view living tissue under microscope.
The suffix -opsy means process of viewing. Living tissue is removed from the body and viewed under a microscope.
carcin/o
cancerous, cancer
carcinoma
malignant tumor or mass
A carcinoma is a cancerous tumor. Carcinomas grow from the epithelial (surface or skin) cells that cover the outside of the body and line organs, cavities, and tubes within the body.
cardi/o
heart
cardiology
study of the heart
cephal/o
head
cephalic
pertaining to the head
The suffix -ic means pertaining to. A cephalic presentation describes a “head first” position for the delivery of an infant.
What is the most common form of skin cancer or carcinoma of the skin?
Basal cell carcinoma
cerebr/o
cerebrum (largest part of the brain)
cerebral
pertaining to largest part of the brain - cerebrum
The suffix -al means pertaining to.
cis/o
to cut
incision
process of cutting into
The prefix in- means into, and the suffix -ion means process.
excision
process of cutting out
The prefix ex- means out.
crin/o
to secrete (to form and give off)
endocrine glands
glands that secrete hormones within the body
The prefix endo- means within; endocrine glands (e.g., thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands) secrete hormones directly within (into) the bloodstream. Other glands, called exocrine glands, release their secretion (e.g., saliva, sweat, tears) through tubes (ducts) to the outside of the body.
cyst/o
urinary bladder; a sac or a cyst (sac containing fluid)
cystoscopy
process of visual examination of the urinary bladder
The suffix -scopy is a complex suffix that includes the root scop, meaning visual examination, and the final suffix -y, meaning process.
complex suffixes
Many suffixes, like -scopy, contain an embedded root word. Other examples are -opsy (ops is a root) and -logy (log is a root).
cyt/o
cell
cytology
Study of cells
Examples of blood cells
1) erythrocytes (red blood cells)
2) leukocytes (a type of white blood cells)
3) Thrombocytes or platelets (clotting cells)
Cerebrum and the functions it controls:
Sensation from body Movement Eye movement Thought processes Writing Hearing Vision Reading Smell Speech
derm/o
skin
dermatitis
inflammation of the skin
dermat/o
skin
hypodermic
pertaining to under or beneath skin
The prefix hypo- means under or below.
electr/o
electricity
electrocardiogram
record of the electricity of heart
The suffix -gram means record. Abbreviated ECG (or sometimes EKG).
encephal/o
brain
electroencephalogram
record of the electricity of brain.
The suffix -gram means record. Abbreviated EEG.
enter/o
intestines (usually the small intestine)
enteritis
inflammation of the small intestine or of the intestines
The small intestine is narrower but much longer than the large intestine (colon).
erythr/o
red
erythrocyte
A red blood cell
The suffix -cyte means cell. Erythrocytes carry oxygen in the blood.
gastr/o
stomach
gastrectomy
removal of the stomach
The suffix -ectomy means excision or removal. All or, more commonly, part of the stomach is removed.
gastrotomy
incision of the stomach
The suffix -tomy is another complex suffix, which contains the root tom, meaning to cut, and the final suffix -y, meaning process of.
glyc/o
sugar
hyperglycemia
condition of increased blood sugar
The prefix hyper- means excessive, above, or more than normal. The suffix -emia means blood condition.
gnos/o
knowledge
diagnosis
state of complete knowledge
The prefix dia- means complete. The suffix -sis means state or condition of. A diagnosis is made after sufficient information has been obtained about the patient’s condition. Literally, it is a “state of complete knowledge.”
prognosis
prediction about the outcome of illness
The prefix pro- means before. Literally “knowledge before,” a prognosis is a prediction about the outcome of an illness, but it is always given after the diagnosis has been determined.
gynec/o
woman, female
gynecology
study of females & female diseases
hemat/o
blood
hematology
study of blood
hem/o
blood
hematoma
a mass or collection of blood
In this term, -oma means a mass or collection of blood, rather than a growth of cells (tumor). A hematoma forms when blood escapes from blood vessels and collects as a clot in a cavity or organ or under the skin.
hemoglobin
blood protein found in red blood cells
The suffix -globin means protein. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in red blood cells.
hepat/o
liver
hepatitis
inflammation of the liver
iatr/o
treatment, physician
iatrogenic
producing adverse effects from medical treatment
The suffix -genic means pertaining to producing, produced by, or produced in. Iatrogenic conditions are adverse effects that result from treatment or intervention by a physician.
leuk/o
white
leukocyte
white blood cell
This blood cell helps the body fight disease.
log/o
study of
dermatology
study of skin
nephr/o
kidney
nephritis
inflammation of kidney
nephrology
study of the kidney
neur/o
nerve
neurology
study of nerves
onc/o
tumor
oncology
study of tumors
oncologist
specialist in the study of tumors
The suffix -ist means one who specializes in a field of medicine (or other profession).
ophthalm/o
eye
ophthalmoscope
visual measuring instrument of eyes
The suffix -scope means an instrument for visual examination. (To help with spelling, notice that just as there are two eyes, there are two “h”s in this term.)
oste/o
bone
osteitis
inflammation of the bone
osteoarthritis
inflammation of bone and joints
This condition of aging is actually a degeneration of bones and joints often accompanied by inflammation.
path/o
disease
pathology
study of disease(s)
pathologist
one who studies diseases.
A pathologist examines biopsy samples microscopically and examines dead bodies to determine the cause of death.
ped/o
child
pediatric
pertaining to treatment of children
Notice that ped/o is also in the term orthopedist. Orthopedists once were doctors who straightened (orth/o means straight) children’s bones and corrected deformities. Nowadays, orthopedists specialize in disorders of bones and muscles in people of all ages.
psych/o
mind
psychology
study of mind
psychiatrist
specialist in the treatment of the mind
radi/o
x-rays
radiology
study of x-rays
Low-energy x-rays are used for diagnostic imaging.
ren/o
kidney
renal
pertaining to kidney
Ren/o (Latin) and nephr/o (Greek) both mean kidney. Ren/o is used with -al (Latin) to describe the kidney, whereas nephr/o is used with other suffixes such as -osis, -itis, and -ectomy (Greed) to describe abnormal conditions and operative procedures.
rhin/o
nose
rhinitis
inflammation of the nose
sarc/o
flesh
sarcoma
tumor of connective (fleshy) tissue
This is a cancerous (malignant) tumor. A sarcoma grows from cells of “fleshy” connective tissue such as muscle, bone, and fat, whereas a carcinoma (another type of cancerous tumor) grows from epithelial cells that line the outside of the body or the inside of organs in the body.
sect/o
to cut
resection
process of cutting out, removal
The prefix re- means back. S resection is a cutting back in the sense of cutting out or removal 9excision). A gastric resection is a gastrectomy, or excision of the stomach.
thromb/o
clot, clotting
thrombocyte
a clotting cell (platelet)
Also known as platelets, these cells help clot blood. A thrombus is the actual clot that forms, and thrombosis (-osis means condition) is the condition of clot formation.
ur/o
urinary tract, urine
urology
study of urinary tract
A urologist is a surgeon who operates on the organs of the urinary tract and the organs of the male reproductive system.
Hyperglycemia and Diabetes
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) most frequently is associated with diabetes. People with diabetes have high blood sugar levels because they lack insulin (in type 1 diabetes) or have ineffective insulin (in type 2 diabetes). Insulin is the hormone normally released by the pancreas (an endocrine gland near the stomach) to “escort” sugar from the bloodstream into cells. Sugar (glucose) is then broken down in cells to release energy. When insulin is not present, sugar cannot enter cells and builds up in the bloodstream (hyperglycemia).
