Chap 4 Flashcards
1) Define basic prefixes used in the medical language. 2) Analyze medical terms that combine prefixes and other word elements. 3) Learn about the Rh condition as an example of an antigen-antibody reaction.
aden/o
gland
adenoma: tumor of a gland
The suffix -oma means tumor or mass.
adenitis: inflamation of a gland
The suffix -itis means inflammation.
carp/o
wrist bones
cib/o
meals
cis/o
to cut
cost/o
rib
cutane/o
skin
dactyl/o
fingers, toes
duct/o
to lead, carry
flex/o
to bend
furc/o
forking, branching
gloss/o
tongue
glyc/o
sugar
immuno/o
protection
morpho/o
shape, form
mort/o
death
nat/i
birth
nect/o
to bind, tie, connect
norm/o
rule, order
ox/o
oxygen
pub/o
pubis (pubic bone); anterior portion of the pelvic or hipbone
seps/o
infection
somn/o
sleep
son/o
sound
the/o
to put, place
thel/o, theli/o
nipple
thyr/o
thyroid gland; shield (the shape of the thyroid gland resembled [-oid] a shield to those who named it)
top/o
place, position, location
tox/o
poison
trache/o
windpipe, trachea
urethr/o
urethra
-blast
embryonic, immature
-crine
to secrete
-drome
to run
-fusion
coming together, to pour
-gen
substance that produces
-lapse
to slide, fall, sag
-lysis
breakdown, destruction, separation
-meter
to measure
-mission
to send
-or
one who
-oxia
oxygen
-partum
birth, labor
-phoria
to bear, carry; feeling (mental state)
-physis
to grow
-plasia
development, formation, growth
-plasm
structure or formation
-pnea
breathing
-ptosis
falling, drooping, prolapse
-rrhea
flow, discharge
-stasis
stopping, controlling
-trophy
development, nourishment
ad-
toward
adductor: a muscle that draws a limb toward the body.
Memory tip: notice that in adductor, the d faces toward the a.
ana-
up, apart
anabolism: process of building up proteins in cells
analysis: separation of a substance into various parts.
Urinalysis (urin/o + analysis) is a laboratory examination of urine that aids in the diagnosis of many medical conditions. In this term, -lysis means separation.
ante-
before, forward
ante cibum: (a.c.) before meals
The notation a.c., seen on prescription orders, means before meals.
anti-
against
antibiotic: chemical substance that has the ability to inhibit or destroy foreign organisms in the body.
Antibiotics destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria. Penicillin was the first antibiotic (discovered in immature plants called molds).
anti-
against
antibody: protein made by white blood cells in response to foreign substances (antigens) in the blood.
Protein produced against an antigen (foreign body).
anti-
against
antigen: substance that stimulates the production of antibodies.
In this term, anti- is short for antibody. An antigen (bacterium or virus) is a substance that produces (-gen) an antibody.
anti-
against
antisepsis: destruction of microorganisms to prevent infection
An antiseptic (-sis changes to -tic to form an adjective) substance fights infection.
anti-
against
antitoxin: substance produced against a toxin (poison); an antibody.
This is an antibody, often from an animal (such as a horse), that acts against a toxin. An example is tetanus antitoxin given against tetanus, an acute bacterial infection of the nervous system.
auto-
self, own
autoimmune disease: antibodies that are produced against an individual’s own normal cells.
bi-
two
bifurcation: branching or forking into two parts
Normal splitting into two branches, such as bifurcation of the trachea to form the bon chi.
bi-
two
bilateral: pertaining to both or two sides
brady-
slow
bradycardia: slow heartbeat
Usually a heartbeat of less that 60; a slow heart rate.
cata-
down
catabolism: cellular process of breaking down of a complex substance into simple compounds. Energy is released to do the work of the cell.
con-
with, together
congenital anomaly: abnormality present at birth; birth defect.
con-
with, together
connective: tissue that supports and binds other tissues and parts. ex.: bone, cartilage, muscle or fibrous tissues.
contra-
against, opposite
contraindication: a factor that prohibits the administration of a drug or procedure
Contra- means against in this term.
contra-
against, opposite
contralateral: affecting the opposite side of a part of the body.
Contra- means opposite in this term. A stroke affecting the right side of the brain may cause contralateral paralysis affecting the left arm and leg. The opposite of contralateral is ipsilateral. (ipsi- means the same).
de-
down, lack of
dehydration: excessive loss of water
dia-
through, complete
diameter: measurement between opposites points on the periphery of a circular body part (eg. blood vessel or intestine).
dia-
through, complete
diarrhea: frequent passage of loose watery stools.
dia-
through, complete
dialysis: separation of nitrogenous wastes from the blood when the kidneys no longer function.
dia-
through, complete
Literal meaning is complete (dia-) separation (-lysis). In hemodialysis, waste materials are separated from the blood via a machine (artificial kidney) when the kidneys no longer function.
dys-
bad, painful, difficult, abnormal
dyspnea: difficult breathing
Often caused by respiratory or cardiac conditions, strenuous exercise, or anxiety.
dys-
bad, painful, difficult, abnormal
dysplasia: condition of abnormal formation
ec-, ecto-
out, outside
ectopic pregnancy: pregnancy that is not in the normal location (uterus); a fallopian tube is the most common ectopic site.
Ectopic means pertaining to out of place and modifies the noun “pregnancy.”
endo-
in, within
endocardium: inner lining of the heart.
endo-
in, within
endoscope: instrument to visually examine the interior of the body.
endo-
in, within
endotracheal: pertaining to within the trachea
An endotracheal tube, placed through the mouth into the trachea, is used for giving oxygen and in general anesthesia procedures.
epi-
upon, on, above
epithelium: layer of cells covering the external surface of the body and lining the hollow tubes within the body
eu-
good, normal
euphoria: exaggerated feeling of well-being; elevated mood, “high.”
eu-
good, normal
euthyroid: normal thyroid function
ex-
out, outside, away from
exophthalmos: protrusion of the eyeball
Protrusion of the eyeball associated with enlargement and overactivity of the thyroid gland; also called proptosis (pro- = forward, -ptosis = prolapse).
hemi-
half
hemiglossectomy: removal (resection) of half the tongue
hyper-
excessive, above
hyperglycemia: high levels of sugar in bloodstream.
This is a sign of diabetes mellitus. Lack of insulin (type 1 diabetes) or ineffective insulin (type 2 diabetes) causes high levels of sugar in the blood.
hyper-
excessive, above
hyperplasia: condition of increased formation of cells.
Increase in cell numbers. Hyperplasia is a characteristic of tumour growth.
hyper-
excessive, above
hypertrophy: increase in size of tissue or an organ due to increase in size of individual cells.
Increase in size of individual cells. Muscle, cardiac, and renal cells exhibit hypertrophy when workload is increased.
hypo-
deficient, under
hypodermic injection: placement of needle below the skin.
hypo-
deficient, under
hypoglycemia: low/deficient levels of sugar in bloodstream.
in-
not
insomniac: pertaining to without sleep; an insomniac is a person who cannot sleep.
in-
into, within
incision: process of cutting into or making an incision.
infra-
beneath, under, inferior to, below
infracostal: pertaining to below the ribs
inter-
between
intercostal: pertaining to between the ribs
Intercostal muscles lie between adjacent ribs.
intra-
in, within, into
intravenous: pertaining to within a vein
macro-
large
macrocephaly: condition of a larger than normal head.
This is a congenital anomaly.
mal-
bad
malaise: general feeling of bodily discomfort
This is a French word meaning discomfort. It is a symptom of illness often marking the onset of a disease.
mal-
bad
malignant: cancerous; harmful
From the latin ignis, meaning fire. Benign (ben- = good) is noncancerous, whereas malignant means cancerous.
meta-
beyond, change
metacarpal bones: hand bones
The five hand bones lie beyond the wrist bones but before the finger bones (phalanges).
meta-
beyond, change
metamorphosis: conditions of change of shape or form
Meta- means change in this term. The change in development from the larval (caterpillar) stage to the adult (butterfly) is a form of metamorphosis. Embryonic (immature) stem cells spontaneously change (undergo metamorphosis) to form different types of mature cells.
meta-
beyond, change
metastasis: spread of malignant tumour beyond its original location to a distant site.
Meta- = beyond and =stasis = controlling, stopping. A metastasis is a malignant tumour that has spread to a secondary location.
micro-
small
microscope: instrument to view small projects
neo-
new
neonatal: pertaining to a new birth
The neonatal period is the interval from birth to 28 days.
neo-
new
neoplasm: new growth
A neoplasm may be benign or malignant.
pan-
all
pancytopenia: deficiency of all blood cells
Deficiency of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes.
para-
abnormal, beside, near
paralysis: destruction of nerve tissue leading to loss of sensation or motion in a body part
Abnormal disruption of the connection between nerve and muscle. Originally from the Greek paralysis, meaning separation or loosening on one side, describing the loss of movement on one side of the body (occurring in stroke patients).
para-
abnormal, beside, near
parathyroid glands: four endocrine glands on the posterior (dorsal) region of the thyroid gland
Para- means beside. The four parathyroid glands are located behind the thyroid gland. They secrete a hormone that regulates the calcium levels in blood and tissues.
per-
through
percutaneous: pertaining to through the skin
peri-
surrounding
pericardium: double-layered membrane surrounding the heart
peri-
surrounding
periosteum: membrane surrounding bones
poly-
many, much
polymorphonuclear: pertaining to a multi-lobed nucleas (in granulocytic) white blood cells.
poly-
many, much
polyneuritis: inflammation of many nerves
post-
after, behind
postmortem: after death
post-
after, behind
postpartum: after birth
pre-
before, in front of
precancerous: pertaining to occurring before a malignant condition.
pre-
before, in front of
prenatal: pertaining to before birth
pro-
before, forward
prodrome: symptom that appears before the onset of a more serious illness
Prodromal signs and symptoms (rash, fever) appear before the actual illness (such as chickenpox) and signal its onset. Altered mood, fatigue, flashes of light, or stiff muscles may accompany the prodromal migraine aura that occurs before the actual headache.
pro-
before, forward
prolapse: sliding forward or downward
The suffix -lapse means to slide, sag, or fall.
pros-
before, forward
prosthesis: an artificial limb
An artificial limb is a prosthesis.
re-
back, again
relapse: sliding or falling back; as in recurrence of symptoms or decline after apparent recovery
A disease or its signs and symptoms return after an apparent recovery.
re-
back, again
remission: disappearance of symptoms of a disease
Signs and symptoms lessen and the patient feels better. Remission may be spontaneous or the result of treatment. In some cases a permanent remission means the disease is cured.
re-
back, again
recombinant DNA: insertion of a gene (region of DNA) from an organism into the DNA of another organism
Genetic engineering uses recombinant DNA techniques.
retro-
behind, backwards
retroperitoneal: pertaining to behind the peritoneum (membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity)
retro-
behind, backwards
retroflexion: bending backwards
An abnormal position of an organ, such as the uterus, bent or tilted backward.
sub-
under
subcutaneous: pertaining to under the skin
supra-
above, upper
suprapubic: pertaining to above the pubic bones
The pubis is one of a pair of pubic bones that forms the anterior part of the pelvic (hip) bone.
syn-, sym-
together, with
syndactyly: fusion of fingers or toes
A hereditary, congenital anomaly of fingers or toes.
syn, sym-
together, with
synthesis: combination of simple substances to create something new and more complex
In protein synthesis, complex proteins are built up from simpler amino acids.
syn-, sym-
together, with
syndrome: group of symptoms that occur together indicating a particular condition or disorder
syn-, sym-
together, with
symbiosis: close association between organisms of different species or a state in which two people are emotionally dependent on each other
syn-, sym-
together, with
symmetry: equality of parts, literally measured together
Equality of parts on opposite sides of the body. What is asymmetry?
syn-, sym-,
together, with
symphysis: Bones that grow together separated by a piece of fibrocartilage. The pubic symphysis of the pelvis is an example.
A symphysis is a joint in which the bony surfaces are firmly united by a layer of fibrocartilage.
tachy-
fast
tachypnea: excessively fast breathing
trans-
across, through
transfusion: transfer of blood from one person to another.
trans-
across, through
transurethral: pertaining to across or through the urethra
ultra-
beyond, excess
ultrasonography: the use of high frequency sound waves to produce a record or a picture of an organ or tissue
uni-
one
unilateral: pertaining to one side
