Chapter 1 - Basic Elements of a Medical Word Flashcards
A medical word consists of some or all of what elements?
- Word root
- Prefix
- Suffix
- Combining form
Define: Word Root
The main part or foundation of a word.
Define: Combining Forms
A combining form is created when a word root is combined with a vowel. It is usually an o, but sometimes an i. (The vowel is known as a combining vowel.)
Define: Suffix
A word element placed at the end of a word that alters its meaning. Usually describes a pathology (disease or abnormality), a surgical or diagnostic procedure, condition, symptom, or part of speech.
(All medical terms have a suffix.)
Define: Prefix
A word element attached to the beginning of a word or word root. Prefixes usually indicate a number, time, position, direction or negation.
(Not all medical terms have a prefix.)
List the steps for defining a medical word
- Define the suffix
- Define the first part of the word. (Which may be a word root, combining form or prefix).
- Define the middle parts of the word.
What are the three basic rules for building medical words?
- A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel.
- A combining form (root + o) links a suffix that begins with a consonant.
- A combining form links one root to another root to form a compound word. (This rule holds true even if the second root begins with a vowel, such as: oste/o/arthr/itis.
True or False:
A combining vowel is usually an e.
False
True or False:
A word root links a suffix that begins with a consonant.
False
True or False:
A combining form links multiple roots to each other.
True
True or False:
A combining form links a suffix that begins with a consonant.
True
True or False:
To define a medical word, first define the prefix.
False
True or False:
In the term intramuscular, intra is the prefix.
True
Underline the word root:
splen/o
splen
Underline the word root:
hyster/o
hyster
Underline the word root:
enter/o
enter
Underline the word root:
neur/o
neur
Underline the word root:
ot/o
ot
Underline the word root:
dermat/o
dermat
Underline the word root:
hydr/o
hydr
What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:
nephritis
inflammation of the kidney.
nephr
What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:
arthrodesis
fixation of a joint.
arthr
What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:
dermatitis
inflammation of the skin.
dermat
What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:
dentist
specialist in teeth.
dent
What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:
gastrectomy
excision of the stomach.
gastr
What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:
chondritis
inflammation of the cartilage.
chondr
What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:
hepatoma
tumor of the liver.
hepat
What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:
muscular
pertaining to the muscle.
muscul
What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:
gastric
pertaining to the stomach.
gastr
What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:
osteoma
tumor of the bone.
oste
Underline the combining forms and what does it mean?
nephr
nothing to underline.
kidney
Underline the combining forms and what does it mean?
hepat/o
hepat/o
liver
Underline the combining forms and what does it mean?
arthr
nothing to underline.
joint
Underline the combining forms and what does it mean?
oste/o/arthr
oste/o/
bone, joint
Underline the combining forms and what does it mean?
cholangi/o
cholangi/o
bile vessel
Write the suffix:
thoracotomy
-tomy
Write the suffix:
gastroscope
-scope
Write the suffix:
tonsillitis
-itis
Write the suffix:
gastric
-ic
Write the suffix:
tonsillectomy
-ectomy
Write the prefix:
anesthesia
an-
Write the prefix:
hyperthermia
hyper-
Write the prefix:
intramuscular
intra-
Write the prefix:
paranasal
para-
Write the prefix:
polyuria
poly-
Define the word:
gastritis
Inflammation of the stomach.
Define the word:
nephritis
Inflammation of the kidney(s).
Define the word:
gastrectomy
Excision of the stomach.
Define the word:
osteoma
Tumor of bone.
Define the word:
hepatoma
Tumor of the liver.
Define the word:
hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver.
Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the:
spleen
splenectomy
Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the:
appendix
appendectomy
Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the:
pancreas
pancreatectomy
Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the:
gallbladder
cholecystectomy
Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the:
colon
colectomy
Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the:
stomach
gastrectomy
Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the:
spleen
splenitis
Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the:
liver
hepatitis
Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the:
pancreas
pancreatitis
Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the:
gallbladder
cholecystitis
Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the:
colon
colitis
Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the:
stomach
gastritis
Use -megaly (enlargement) to build medical words that mean enlargement of the:
liver
hepatomegaly
Use -megaly (enlargement) to build medical words that mean enlargement of the:
spleen
splenomegaly
Use -megaly (enlargement) to build medical words that mean enlargement of the:
stomach
gastromegaly
Abbreviation:
abd
Abdomen
Abbreviation:
AP
Anteroposterior
Abbreviation:
Bx, bx
Biopsy
Abbreviation:
Dx
Diagnosis
Abbreviation:
LAT, lat
Lateral
Abbreviation:
LLQ
Left Lower Quadrant
Abbreviation:
LUQ
Left Upper Quadrant
Abbreviation:
PA
Posteroanterior
Abbreviation:
RLQ
Right Lower Quadrant
Abbreviation:
RUQ
Right Upper Quadrant
Abbreviation:
Sx
Symptom
Abbreviation:
Tx
Treatment
Diagnostic Word:
CT
Computed Tomography
Diagnostic Word:
CXR
Chest X-Ray
Diagnostic Word:
MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Diagnostic Word:
PET
Position Emission Tomography
Diagnostic Word:
US
Ultrasonography
Define:
Anastomosis
Surgical joining of two ducts, blood vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from one to the other.
Define:
Cauterize
Process of burning tissue by using thermal heat, steam, electricity, laser or dry ice.
What direction is this:
Superior (cranial)
Toward the head
What direction is this:
Inferior (caudal)
Toward the bottom (tail)
What direction is this:
Anterior (ventral)
Toward the front
What direction is this:
Posterior (dorsal)
Toward the back
What direction is this:
Medial
Toward the midline of the body
What direction is this:
Lateral
Toward the side of the body
What direction is this:
Internal (deep)
Away from the surface of the body
What direction is this:
External (superficial)
Towards the surface of the body
What direction is this:
Proximal
Toward the main mass of the body
What direction is this:
Distal
Away from the main mass of the body
What direction is this:
Visceral
Related to internal organs
What direction is this:
Parietal
Related to the body walls